Clear QAM reception problem

plughplover · 01-10-07, 12:30 AM

I'm reposting a modified version of this here, as I didn't have any luck in other forums.

I bought an LG 30FS4D 'slim crt' a few weeks back. It has both ATSC and clear QAM tuners. I hooked it up to TW cable (and an antenna). Scanned, and it found the various DTV signals, including the WLWT and KET streams on channel 84.

I also have a PC with an AccessDTV card. It, too, can receive ATSC and clear QAM. (However, it can only capture OTA streams.)

The issue:
The TV set has problems with the streams on this channel. This is the only QAM channel that gives me any problem. My AccessDTV PC card has no apparent problems receiving this channel, though it can take a *LONG* time to sync up. Both the set and the PC card's signal meters shows good signal strength.

By 'problems' I mean - one of two scenarios (so far):

1) During the day, I can tune to any of the KET streams on that channel, and the TV set seems happy for "long" periods of time. However, if I tune to either of the WLWT streams on that channel, after some variable period of time the screen blanks and I get a 'no signal' icon (even though the signal strength meter is fine). It will stay in this state until I tune away and back - for example to one of the KET streams and then back to the WLWT stream - at which point it will work again, for a while.

2) During the evening, there are periods when I can't tune to ANY of the channel 84 programs. They all give me 'no signal' icon (even though signal strength is ok).

I have yet to identify what the change is that shifts the set between flaky and completely non-functional and back. In both cases, my AccessDTV PC card is able to tune/decode the streams on that channel, though as I said it can take quite a while for it to 'sync up'. The only thing I've found that looks 'fishy' is that the HDTV card sometimes says that a few of the programs on this channel have "MPEG2 PSI" with "PMT Program number 0" and "Number of Streams 0".

Is this a fault in the set - that only affects *1* channel?
Is there something odd about this transport stream?
Why the apparent day/night difference in behaviour?

Who do I call? The TV manufacturer? Time Warner? Even if I can convince them that there is a problem, they'll both just point the finger at the other party...

The only thing I can think to do at this point is to buy a PC HDTV card that *can* capture a QAM transport stream (perhaps an MDP-130 - assuming of course it also doesn't choke on the stream) and see what various analysis tools say about it. Comments? Thanks!

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plughplover Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 301	Clear QAM reception problem I'm reposting a modified version of this here, as I didn't have any luck in other forums. I bought an LG 30FS4D 'slim crt' a few weeks back. It has both ATSC and clear QAM tuners. I hooked it up to TW cable (and an antenna). Scanned, and it found the various DTV signals, including the WLWT and KET streams on channel 84. I also have a PC with an AccessDTV card. It, too, can receive ATSC and clear QAM. (However, it can only capture OTA streams.) The issue: The TV set has problems with the streams on this channel. This is the only QAM channel that gives me any problem. My AccessDTV PC card has no apparent problems receiving this channel, though it can take a LONG time to sync up. Both the set and the PC card's signal meters shows good signal strength. By 'problems' I mean - one of two scenarios (so far): 1) During the day, I can tune to any of the KET streams on that channel, and the TV set seems happy for "long" periods of time. However, if I tune to either of the WLWT streams on that channel, after some variable period of time the screen blanks and I get a 'no signal' icon (even though the signal strength meter is fine). It will stay in this state until I tune away and back - for example to one of the KET streams and then back to the WLWT stream - at which point it will work again, for a while. 2) During the evening, there are periods when I can't tune to ANY of the channel 84 programs. They all give me 'no signal' icon (even though signal strength is ok). I have yet to identify what the change is that shifts the set between flaky and completely non-functional and back. In both cases, my AccessDTV PC card is able to tune/decode the streams on that channel, though as I said it can take quite a while for it to 'sync up'. The only thing I've found that looks 'fishy' is that the HDTV card sometimes says that a few of the programs on this channel have "MPEG2 PSI" with "PMT Program number 0" and "Number of Streams 0". Is this a fault in the set - that only affects 1 channel? Is there something odd about this transport stream? Why the apparent day/night difference in behaviour? Who do I call? The TV manufacturer? Time Warner? Even if I can convince them that there is a problem, they'll both just point the finger at the other party... The only thing I can think to do at this point is to buy a PC HDTV card that can capture a QAM transport stream (perhaps an MDP-130 - assuming of course it also doesn't choke on the stream) and see what various analysis tools say about it. Comments? Thanks!