TiVo Community Forums Archives - ghosting on RF

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ghosting on RF - HELP!!
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Posted by: gazza

I use an RF network to 4 TVs arround the house and my TiVo is used as a server for recordings. Viewing TiVo on RF gives a repeated image similar to the image below:

http://www.radio.gov.uk/publication...figure7.htmrver

The ghosting is really only seen when there is movement on the screen or when there is a light image next to a darker background. It is seen in both recordings and Live TV.

I have used direct feeds from the TiVo to my main TV (by-passing the signal booster), checked all the cabling and changed the RF output channel but the ghosting is still present.

I have also tried rebooting the TiVo as described in TiVobugs.co.uk.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

Posted by: gazza

the full address should read:

http://www.radio.gov.uk/publication...323/figure7.htm

Posted by: sanderton

Is the ghosting there if you view by SCART?

Posted by: gazza

The picture on scart on the main TV is perfect. The main difficulty is that I can only use RF on the sets in other parts of the house

Posted by: sanderton

What happens if you put a VCR in place of the TiVo - do you get ghosting on the pictures that sends?

Posted by: gazza

The ghosting only eminates from the TiVo - I have had a RF network for 3 years distributing my Cable (NTL digital) around the house. All channels are perfect on all TVs with the exception of the TiVo output

Posted by: sanderton

Have you tried changing the RF channel Tivo uses?

Posted by: gazza

Yes I've changed the RF output channel for TiVo several times but no joy - Ive also disconnected the RF in to remove any other possible signal interference.

Posted by: sanderton

And you get the ghosting with no RF input and just an RF output connected to a single TV? is the ghosting on the TiVo menus too?

If so it sounds like a hardware fault in the TiVo. Cycling the power sometimes resets the RF hardware.

Posted by: gazza

There doesn't 'appear' to be ghosting on the menus - the problem in apparent when there is movement of a vertical object moving across the screen. Sort of like a faint old fashioned 'Top of the Pops' effect!!

By 'Cycling the Power' do you mean turning it off at the mains??

Posted by: sanderton

Yes.

Posted by: sanderton

As a workaround, you could put a VCR on the VCR scart and feed your systeme from the VCR's RF out?

Posted by: gazza

I'll give it a go!!

Thanks!

Posted by: gazza

Success!! no ghosting!

Thanks a lot for sticking with me Sanderton!! I owe you!

The TiVo is now totally by-passed on RF. All to do is find a space behind the main TV for the old Video and By-pass the various videos around the house linked to their respective TV's (all tuned to the same channel unfortunately!)

Posted by: gazza

I've just networked my DVD on RF with this set-up - TiVo by scart to AV1
and DVD by scart to AV2!

An old VCR certainly has many uses!!
Far superior performance than an RF Modulator.

Posted by: Vikash

I have this problem too. Gazza, are you saying you've connected TiVo's TV output to the VCR, then split the VCR's RF-Out to each TV?

If so, that would still be a pain for me. I have the TiVo TV scart going to my main TV, and the RF-Out going to my second TV. I still want to have a direct SCART connection to the main TV mainly for the auto WS switching.

Any ideas from yourself, or from Sanderton?

Posted by: gazza

My set up is this:

1. NTL (scart) > TiVo (AUX scart)

2. TiVo (VCR scart) > VCR (AV1 scart)

3. VCR(RF out) and NTL(RF out) > Combiner > 4way Signal Booster > 4x TVs

4. TiVo(TV scart) > TV (main) (AV1 scart)

So all TVs receive RF signal (the Main TV also has AV) - none of the the signal goes via the troublesome TiVo RF system.
So thanks to Sanderton I have a networked RF system with a TiVo server to be proud of!!

All remote Tvs are controlled via a 'One for all' remote extender. The combiner is a Ł1.99 job from B&Q

I've also networked my DVD using the VCR AV2 using a scart as well. Neat eh!

Posted by: sanderton

quote:
Originally posted by Vikash
I have this problem too. Gazza, are you saying you've connected TiVo's TV output to the VCR, then split the VCR's RF-Out to each TV?

If so, that would still be a pain for me. I have the TiVo TV scart going to my main TV, and the RF-Out going to my second TV. I still want to have a direct SCART connection to the main TV mainly for the auto WS switching.

Any ideas from yourself, or from Sanderton?

You don't have to touch the TV SCART. The VCR SCART has exactly the same picture on it (no RGB or WS swicthing baut that doesn't matter). Feed taht into a VCR and use it's RF output to send the the second telly. You're just using the VCR as an RF modulator to replace the dicky TiVo one.

Posted by: mrtickle

Blimey I hadn't thought of doing that. Nice one.

Posted by: Vikash

Maybe a silly question, but... If I do this, do I assume that the VCR must be in standby mode to see the TiVo output, and I will see the VCR output if it's not on standby? If so, I suppose that on the rare occasions I record using the VCR, I will not be able to see TiVo on TV2.

Posted by: gazza

For your second TV to receive a TiVo signal on RF the VCR must be on and the VCR channel set to AV1. The second TV will be tuned to say Ch39 (the usual video RF output) unless you use the little screw on the back to re set this as well.

(with my setup I had to re-tune all of the videos to a different RF out channel)

So yes using the VCR to record won't allow TiVo on RF with this set up.

One alternative would be to buy a RF modulator but I wouldn't recommend these as the picture quality is v.poor I have found.

Get yourself an old VCR which doesn't work (tape-wise) say and use this as your RF modulator - So long as you can split the signal from your source you could loop a working (second) VCR (re-tuned to say CH42) as part of your setup to your setup and record from that.