My relative, who lives in Hoyland, has a problem with this digital TV.

The fault is that now, when it is on Channel 4 - Digital, it habitually, for no apparent reason, turns the screen blue, and then flicks back to Channel 1 (BBC 1). This happens, sometimes, up to 15 to 20 times in an hour. This is very annoying, particularly during Deal or No Deal, I am told.

It was bought in January 2006.

Any ideas guys and gals ? Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

So it only happens on Channel 4, no other channels? :huh:

TV make and model?

1st check is signal strength as it works off the aerial( digital tv freeview)
ie you are on about freeview tv watching c4???sounds like losins signal then going to strongest channel ie bbc1
otherwise scart cable bad connection
if not freeview tv itself faulty

sounds like a connection fault more than a TV fault

I was thinking signal strength as well. I had an early Freeview box, which would sometimes "crash" due to low signal quality. It would reset itself and end up on the first channel, BBC1.

Many thanks for all these comments.

Putting two and two together I will look at the connection; the person recently purchased a Roomba, a robotic carpet cleaner. I believe that this little '' Sputnik '' may have bumped into the scart/other connections as the problem started just after Sputnik commenced duties.

Well, apparently a bloke came round and, reading between the lines, the TV was a little too complicated for him. The scart was OK, and it seems that the signal was OK.

I did discover however, by telephone questionning my relative tonight, that he has two of these electrical '' plug in the wall pest repellants '' . I have a couple of these and it says on the instructions (twice in CAPITAL LETTERS), DO NOT PUT NEAR A TELEVISION.

His are both within about 9 feet of the TV.

I have had him take them out.

Do you think that 9 feet constitutes '' near '' ?

I will let you know how it goes on; has anyone had problems with these things messing up TV reception ? In the alternative, has anyone put two of them as close as this to a quality TV ?

All the best.

May I ask what brand his digital receiver is? And does he display subtitles?

Reason I'm asking is I'm aware of cheaper digital receiver (eg Sagem) freezing and restarting themselves regularly, whereupon the receivers display the last station they were viewing when they were cleanly shut down.

Sagem units are notorious for this, and it's usually when they have difficulty displaying / interpreting subtitles. The workaround is to turn subtitles off, then you can watch in peace.

:|

May I ask what brand his digital receiver is? And does he display subtitles?

Reason I'm asking is I'm aware of cheaper digital receiver (eg Sagem) freezing and restarting themselves regularly, whereupon the receivers display the last station they were viewing when they were cleanly shut down.

Sagem units are notorious for this, and it's usually when they have difficulty displaying / interpreting subtitles. The workaround is to turn subtitles off, then you can watch in peace.

:|
The Freeview is buit into the TV.

In fact, it is like my Sony Bravia of exactly the same age ( January/February 2006).

I shall ring my Sister (who visits each Thursday).


My sodding computer is bombing out now, I will try to you contact again tomorrow.

I am gonna have a couple of sherbets now.

Many thanks.

I think that I may have thrown a bit of a '' Hospital Pass'' in my question, for which I apologise. The exactitude of the problem is as follows;

The Philips TV, with its built in Freeview, now, I am more correctly told, does the following:-

1. Uncle is watching Channel 4 on this digital HD ready TV

2. For no apparent reason the screen turns blue, then jumps to Channel 1 (BBC 1)

3. Uncle then presses 4, for Channel 4 and gets back to Channel 4

4. Channel 4 then plays

5. Channel 4 works, then turns blue screen, many times an hour, but THEN goes back to Channel 4

It beats me, but a £1400 TV should last more than 2 and a half years I think.

Are subtitles being shown?

I'm wondering if, as well as the video and audio signal, other information is being downloaded by the Freeview receiver that it is unable to handle properly.

The TV's Freeview module is very likely "crashing" and resetting itself.

It could be, as suggested, either subtitles or some kind of interactive service that TV just doesn't like.

Over the air software updates for Digital TVs and boxes are available, the timetable is here:

http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/download_schedule.pl

You might have to wait a while for the TV's make and model to appear (if it ever does), but you might get lucky.

The TV's manual should tell you how to do a software update.

I have tried all of your very helpful suggestions, for which many thanks. No joy however.

Does anyone know of a TV repair outfit who could '' sort it '' please.

As I said previously it was only bought, brand new from Comet in or around January 2006.

I am no expert, but upon inspection, it does seem to me to be something which needs some technical gadgetry to sort it.

Can anyone recommend some organisation please ?

I am getting my ''ear bent'' and I need it sorted.

If it costs a £100 or so to fix it.You might aswell sling it.And get a new one for less than £500