Virgin Media Picture Pixelation - Cisco Box (Tivo)

Mel_P

Mel_P

Mel_P

Soldato
Joined
27 Feb 2004
Posts
2,571
Location
Kent
No real problems since "Blueyonder" install years ago! Very low user of "basic" TV service. However I have recently started getting pixellation. It happened very badly on Alibi last week when I tried to record Annika. No usable picture. Tried Alibi+1 - even worse. Sky Arts also pixelating. Can watch on "catch-up".

I had, several years ago, put a longer cable (F-F) between the inside wall box and the virgin box but this has worked for years! However when I replaced this today with the shorter Virgin (2m) supplied pixelation was less. Obviously a deprived signal issue.
I know that I have a "brown box" outside where there is a internet / TV splitter and the phone "birds nest". I took the lid off and loosened each of the 3 F-type plugs and wiggled / rotated each one. This produced a much better result on the TV signal and Alibi is now OK. Alibi +1 and Sky Arts show some random pixelation but are usable.

Main channels BBC, ITV, 4, 5, All OK.

So it seems a signal issue.

If I put my longer (Maplin!) cable back in this worsens the situation again - but this as 6m long (to enable me to hide the cable round a french window and not drape it across the floor....) so not liked by my better half.

How do I resolve this please?

QUESTION - is there a maximum length for a connection cable from inner wall box to virgin box?

Mel P
 
it sounds like a weak signal, which can be due to too long a cable, or something like the signal being split too many times either before your house or at your house.

It probably something like corrosion on the connectors in the brown box affecting a slightly weak signal (hence the improvement when you wiggled them), but it's an engineer fix as they may need to do something like redo the termination of the cable or replace the splitter.
Sort of the equivalent of the old thing where a phone line might get a bit of a crackle, especially in wet weather.
 
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I logged on and did an automatic TV test - it implied that there was a local issue which they would try to fix - and check the status in 24 hrs - we''ll see!!
 
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Been in "conversation" with a VM Mod via VM Forum. They reckon further work is in hand in the area which may resolve the issue.
Fouond it impossible to contact VM via "chat" (no response) or phone (no answer). The Forum does seem to work.
 
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