Info and forum posts by 'Fred Smith'

RE: I`ve run out of ports on my router.. need two devices to connect to one - but no power..

How about these? CAT 5E cable economiser:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/adf/cat-5e-cable-economiser-data-data/dp/CS13200

This item was edited on Sunday, 4th July 2010, 19:26

RE: Hitachi FHD1080P LCD TV @£399 any good??

Don`t be taken in by the name. Hitachi haven`t made a TV for the European market for years. It`s probably a re bagged Beko or some other Turkish manufacturer.

RE: Choosing a DVD/HDD recorder for use with Humax Foxsat HD (receiver only)

The Panasonic can`t record via HDMI it`s output only. The Panasonic can`t record HD. The Humax can`t output RGB via Scart if the HDMI is enabled so recording will be SD and in Composite video.

Forget getting two separate units if you want to view and record HD get the Humax Foxsat PVR.

The Panasonic might work with the French version of DTT called TNT but I would suggest you get a TNT receiver and or recorder there to be sure.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 20th January 2009, 13:29

RE: Virgin mobile - whats it like??

Well I been with then for a year now (NTL PAYG customer offer).

Network piggy`s backs on T-Mobile so much to my surprise no issues works virtually every where I go.

Not used CS just on line billing etc.

Downside no data tariffs so it`s costs £5 per Mb. I use T-Mobile for data (contract ending shortly so I will not be renewing) and have taken out a contract with Three for data.

RE: Wharfedale DVDRHD400F DVD Recorder with Freeview/80Gb HDD

smurfette,

Your correct it does have external input recording. Posted last night after a few tinnies.

Anyway, the `fault` is probably that the Virgin box is outputting RGB if using the TV Scart and the Wharfdale probably only accepts composite video. The OP needs try using the Virgin boxes VCR Scart to connect to the Wharfdale.

RE: Wharfedale DVDRHD400F DVD Recorder with Freeview/80Gb HDD

It`s a Freeview PVR, it does not have an external source recording facility.

You need DVD recorder with or without HDD.

RE: lcd tv

There has never been small screen TV with a built in digibox if that is your question, yet! There was a 28" CRT LG and a large Panasonic I think.

If you mean LCD TV with built in DTT / Freeview try Argos amongst others.

This item was edited on Friday, 6th April 2007, 18:25

RE: Panasonic DMR E55 problem

There is a known PSU problem with both the E55 and E85, but you usually find the machine gets stuck in "Self Check".

Have a look at the AV Forums there is about four threads about the PSU issue. Yours might not have the same issue and the repair might not sort it, but it`s worth a read.

RE: aerial systems in hotels?

Every hotel I have stayed in is different. You have to try and see what you get. There no standard hotel specification.

RE: Casino Royale - In Store for £007

Loads in Asda Lower Earley Reading, just by the store entrance.

RE: Connecting Digi Boxes to old tvs

Digibox is a Sky brand name for a Sky digital satellite box.

All Sky digiboxes have an RF modulated output, so you can tune your old TV in OK.

If you mean Digital Terrestrial i.e. Freeview boxes, some have an RF modulated output but most don`t, you can get add on RF modulators for around £15 to £30 have look in Maplins for example

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=rf%20modulator&source=15&SD=Y

This item was edited on Monday, 19th March 2007, 21:26

RE: PAYG Mobile phone - Orange Network

453

RE: 1 ethernet cable going 2 ways?

Get a switch / hub,

If you have a free USB port (for power) on either games box or get a USB charger as well:

www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/106510

If not get a self powered like this:

www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/38043

Note these are examples, not recommendations.

This item was edited on Saturday, 24th February 2007, 17:25

RE: Cheap DVD Players

I have two cheap DVD players a £26 Maxim and a £9 Asda, both play my home made DVD+RW`s fine.It`s my £400 Pioneer 626 that won`t play them. :(

RE: Poundland SD\MMC card readers.

Loads in the Bexley Heath branch today, in particular yellow

RE: Contract mobile phones......Question?

Full price from month seven until the end of the contract at twelve or eighteen months depending on which you choose. And if you keep it longer still full price.

This item was edited on Saturday, 10th February 2007, 17:19

RE: TV problem - strange coloured rings have appeared. Help*

Quote:
and the left/right edges of the screen started closing inwards, and distorting.

That`s yet another fault. It sounds like a Bush with a Vestel AK19 chassis. To be honest it`s not worth repairing, you can get a new 28" non widescreen in Asda for £100 with a years guarantee.

A visit to the local tip is all it`s worth. I certainly would not buy it might take if it offered free. A local TV shop if they repaired it would have to offer some kind of guarantee, at least one month, by the time it was repaired there would be no profit in any sale as it`s unlikely to fetch as much as £50 in working condition.

This item was edited on Monday, 29th January 2007, 13:30

RE: Jeff Wayne`s War Of The Worlds 2 CD Set £4.99

Link page has now been changed, was £4.99 when I ordered mine last night. Just received an e-mail to say it has been dispatched.

Thanks to the OP..

This item was edited on Monday, 29th January 2007, 07:34

RE: TV problem - strange coloured rings have appeared. Help*

Quote:
Most likely the LOPT or possibly a capacitor is on its way out.

Unlikely, more likely a linearity inductor.

LOPT`s don`t whistle, they either smell awful as the insulation breaks down and burns or arcs or cause tripping a regular thumping sound and the TV remains in standby. Capacitors dry out but never heard of one whistling, unless it went S/C and flew past your head at a great rate of knots. :D

RE: TV problem - strange coloured rings have appeared. Help*

Sounds like the de-gauss thermistor has failed.

Any TV repair shop should be able to fix it.

The high pitched whistle is unlikely to be connected to this fault, but again should be repairable.

RE: DVD player breakdown within 18mnths

Seems to be about right for some DVD-R`s. My Panasonic E85 broke down at about eighteen months, which I have now repaired myself, big thread on the AV Forums.

I also have a Philips DVD-R70 and the Pye 645 (made by Philips) both working fine, touch wood. Bearing in mind the Pye only cost £70 new I would say a repair is likely to be uneconomic, Asda are now selling a Funai for £60.

Cheap UPS`s in Staples

Picked up a Belkin 650VA UPS for less than £20 (at the till), which was priced at just under £30 on the shelf in Staples Oxford and Amazon are selling it for over £52!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-F6H650ukUNV-Superior-Serial-Interface/dp/B0006374ZK/sr=8-1/qid=1168032110/ref=pd_ka_1/203-9936060-0033522?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&tag=myrev09-21

No Belkin UPS`s in Staples High Wycombe, Oxford or Slough but in Wycombe an APC 325VA UPS for £19.99. Which Misco are selling for £46.99.

http://www.misco.co.uk/productinformation/~Q59663~WW~/APC%20BE325-UK%20SurgeArrest%20%2B%20Battery%20Backup%20325V*.htm

This item was edited on Friday, 5th January 2007, 21:59

RE: Staples VOIP

Well, looked in Oxford, High Wycombe and Slough (again) today, no sign of any. Maybe moy got the last?

Worth the effort though as I got a cheap UPS, see new thread.

This item was edited on Friday, 5th January 2007, 21:41

RE: Staples VOIP

Rassilon,

Good spot but:

Tried Slough, three different assistants did not know what VOIP adapters were despite other manufactures VOIP products on the shelves.

Tried Reading, apparently they don`t stock it.

Did search both shops before asking.

Give us a clue where your local store is if they have any left.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 2nd January 2007, 20:21

RE: Help Needed with Maxim MX11-21 DVD Player

I live near a TV and electronics repair shop (I don`t work for them). Their minimum charge is £10. Add parts the bill would probably be over £20 (I am an Electronics Engineer so do my own repairs and know where to get spares at trade prices). It would not be worth the time and effort to take it there when I could walk the other way to Richer Sounds, Argos etc. and get one from £15.00 with years guarantee. Repairs come with a one to three month guarantee depending on final repair price.

This item was edited on Monday, 6th November 2006, 22:28

RE: Help Needed with Maxim MX11-21 DVD Player

I`ve got one of those. Fortunately mine is working well. But when it does go faulty it`s in the recycling at the local council tip.

They only cost £25 new. Forget it you can get a new DVD player from £15 upwards nowadays.

RE: Please I need help!! with the Philips DVP 3005

For some reason the original thread is closed.

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/forums/thread.asp?Forum=211&Thread=607930&Type=1

ferncastro, you say in that thread you have Google but do you actually know how to use a search engine?

Anyway the answer is here on page 17 of the manual:

http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/d/dvp3005_05/dvp3005_05_dfu_eng.pdf

This item was edited on Sunday, 15th October 2006, 13:00

RE: NTL Phone Line and Broadband what are my chances?

You can`t get ADSL on a NTL line. You can however get NTL ADSL on a BT line. That I think maybe where the confusion comes from.

RE: PHILLIPS 703 (phase-alternating line PAL) HELPPPP!!!

Esruiz,

Page nine of the owners manual:

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?scy=NZ&slg=ENG&cat=DVD_PLAYERS_RECORDERS_CA&sct=DVD_PLAYERS_SU&grp=HOME_AUDIO_VIDEO_GR&session=20061009151728_82.3.222.10&ctn=DVD703/751&mid=Link_UserManuals&hlt=Link_UserManuals

You can switch the NTSC/PAL setting of the DVD player to
match the video signal of your TV. This setting only affects
the television's on-screen display that shows the stop and
setup modes. You may select either NTSC or PAL. To
change the DVD player setting to PAL or NTSC, follow the
steps below.
1 Press the POWER ON/OFF button on the front panel of
the DVD player to turn OFF the DVD player.
2 Press and hold 9 and T on the front of the DVD player.
While holding 9 and T press POWER ON/OFF.
3 After PAL or NTSC appears on the display panel of the
DVD player, release 9 and T at the same time. The PAL
or NTSC indicator that appears on the display panel
indicates the current setting.
4 To change the setting, press T within three seconds. The
new setting (PAL or NTSC) will appear on the display
panel.


biddenden_sue

PAL B would only affect an RF connection, connections through Scart or phono leads would not be affected.

Also if the unit could output PAL B by RF (it can`t as is has no RF modulator, anyway) it would display a picture on a PAL I TV but there would be no sound.

This item was edited on Monday, 9th October 2006, 20:27

RE: 28

Thanks Edindevon.

Knew it was not Akura just could not remeber what it was as I have never heard of the brand before. Expect it`s OEM from Vestel.