[jason555]

Hi All

I have a Sony Trinitron TV made in 2003 with a built-in digital tuner. Since the digital service upgrade on 30th September I have lost a number of channels. Before re-tuning I decided to contact Sony; they advised that if I re-tune I may loose even more channels. Sony didn’t have a solution to this problem apart from don’t re-tune and buy a new television or new tuner. Sony also advised that as time goes by I would loose more and more channels until 2012 when I would loose all of them!

Are there any better solutions than don’t re-tune and buy a new television or new tuner..?

Is there a way of updating the software/firmware enabling my built-in tuner to receive all Freeview channels?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ROYOLD]

No.

Your cheapest solution is to purchase a freeview STB to use with this TV.

You could also consider purchasing a twin tuner PVR. This would allow you to watch one channel whilst recording another or even record two and watch one depending on the muxes used for recording.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/as...15_Sept_09.pdf

[Matt_C]

What??! Is the tuner in your Sony for Freeview? Does it pick up the normal freeview channels?

If so then re-tune! I have a Sony Trinitron with built in Freeview Tuner, and after the Sept 30th channel change, I retuned and have all the freeview channels.

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by Matt_C

What??! Is the tuner in your Sony for Freeview? Does it pick up the normal freeview channels?

If so then re-tune! I have a Sony Trinitron with built in Freeview Tuner, and after the Sept 30th channel change, I retuned and have all the freeview channels.

It depends how critically early the digital tuner is.

Early digital tuner hardware only supported the 2K transmission mode.

They do not support the 8k transmission mode which the whole freeview platform is ultimately moving to.

The majority of tuners built after that early start will support both mode types.

But there is nothing that can be done to make 2k-mode only tuners capable of receiving 8k mode.

[Matt_C]

Well, the way I see it. If the OP doesn't retune, he faces having lost channels, and if Sony are to be believed, more channels will be lost till he has none. IN which case he'll need to get a cheap STB from £20 from Tesco/wherever

If he does retune, and indeed has a 2k tuner, and loses all channels, he'll need to get a cheap STB from £20 from Tesco/wherever

If he does retune, and it works fine, like my Sony IDTV did, then he will get all channels and won't have to buy a cheap STB

So I say retune. See what happens. Nothing to lose, as he may well have to get a cheap STB anyway...

[mattrixdesign2]

try the retune, if it fails you can:

*buy a cheap set top box £20ish
*buy a lovely new flatscreen TV with a built in HD tuner when the come out - the stupidly expensive option, but will future proof you the most
*if you like your current TV, see if there is a slightly newer model going 2nd hand as old style CRT tvs are as cheap as chips
(my mum and dad are thinking about shifting their rather large sony CRT soon, they spent a lot on it several years ago, just as everyone was switching to flat TVs)

[jason555]

Hi All

Thanks for your help.

When I spoke to Sony they did say that my model had a 2k tuner in it.

I’m not a technical guy but thought there may be a way, be it via software, firmware or hardware, to upgrade this 2k tuner to make it compatible with today’s digital service.

It’s not the cost of buying a STB that annoys me its just that I didn’t fancy having another box and set of controls; I quite like my digital tuner inside the TV with one set of controls.

[mattrixdesign2]

Originally Posted by jason555

Hi All

Thanks for your help.

When I spoke to Sony they did say that my model had a 2k tuner in it.

I’m not a technical guy but thought there may be a way, be it via software, firmware or hardware, to upgrade this 2k tuner to make it compatible with today’s digital service.

It’s not the cost of buying a STB that annoys me its just that I didn’t fancy having another box and set of controls; I quite like my digital tuner inside the TV with one set of controls.

I think you are out of luck, its either an external box, or a new TV - sorry to hear about it. It seems as technology "advances" things become obsolete quicker and quicker. LCD/Plasmas will perhaps be on the scrap heap in 5/10yrs time, as we all jump on the band wagon for the next big thing.

[Jamie]

Although if you prefer a single remote its a good opportunity to splash out on a decent universal remote like a Harmony.