Another problem with BBC

[FarmDriver]

Has anyone else noticed a green line flashing whilst watching BBC1. The problem only started a couple of weeks ago and does not happen every day. The line usually only appears for a second before going away, but is occasionally followed by a freeze to both the picture and sound. I have only noticed this on BBC1 but do not watch many programs on the other BBC channels. Sometimes this can happen every five minutes but more commonly it occurs about every twenty minutes on days when it is doing it. I have noticed that neither weather nor time make any difference, nor does the fact that a programe may be being recorded or on live pause/playback. Programs that I have recorded can also have this annoying problem.

If anyone has any ideas it would be nice to hear from you as this is my first post.

 

[Starburst]

Try watching a different BBC1 region and see if the problem occurs on that channel as well.

 

[Paul Young]

I get this only on freeview digital Ch4 since xmas and still then same. It is also on satellite and different areas in the UK that get it too. I thought it will get fixed but not yet.

 

[FarmDriver]

Last night whilst watching the local news on BBC1 (South East) we had the green lines appearing every 5 minutes or so. Later when my wife was watching Eastenders she watched the first 20 minutes on London which was fine. She then swapped back to South East and the green lines reappeared nearly straight away. So if this is causing the problem why does not everyone with Sky+ in the south east have the same problem? We are now going to record some BBC1 problems on London and on South East so that we can compare them as the green lines show on recorded programs. We should then have a better idea as to if switching regions does make a difference. We hope to do this over the weekend and I will post our findings early next week.

 

[ben_e71]

myself and my mum (seperate towns) both get this on South East BBC 1.

I tired calling sky the other day and they told me it was a problem with my scart leads and went through re set up checks when I tired to tell them my mum gets the same and I don't get it on any other channel they suggested I check my mum's leads as well and as it wasn't on their bulletin it can't be happenning.

I would guess we just need to kepp calling them because until a certain threshold do they won't help.

 

[FarmDriver]

Was either out or watching films over the weekend so didn't watch as much BBC 1 as planned. Still saw a couple of programs though, Casualty on BBC1 South East had two lots of flahing lines whilst Jonathan Creek that followed was fine on BBC 1 London. So far have not seen any green lines on London so will stick with that apart from local news. Will have to check South East out occasionally as I don't want to miss Sky finally fixing the problem!

 

[Starburst]

I suspect that the problem since it's only on a certain BBC region has nothing to do with SKY and they couldn't fix it even if they wanted to. The BBC handle all their own transmissions and uplinking etc only paying SKY for an EPG slot so a broadcaster that wants independence from SKY has to accept the fact the problems with their transmissions have to be solved by themselves.

It would be far more productive to contact the BBC to offically report the problem with the SE feed via Dsat, they alone have the option of passing the information on to the relevant department.

 

[FarmDriver]

Last night we had the same thing again with BBC1 South East very bad and London fine. So that seems to be the answer to viewing BBC1 at the moment, now all I need to know is how do I contact the BBC to tell them they have a problem.

 

[itcosthowmuch]

Same problem here (also BBC South East) green line followed by freezing for upto 2 seconds. Brother in law also has this. Anyone got a particular number for the BBC to report fault?

Cheers

M

 

[-Spike-]

I've also seen it but at the times it occured it was very windy and put it down to the dish moving slightly.....maybe that wasn't the reason then?

And yes BBC South East as well.

 

[Starburst]

Originally posted by FarmDriver
Last night we had the same thing again with BBC1 South East very bad and London fine. So that seems to be the answer to viewing BBC1 at the moment, now all I need to know is how do I contact the BBC to tell them they have a problem.

I've had a look on the BBC's website and can't find a phone number for technical complaints although I am sure they used to have one. There are plenty of web based feedback options but none covering transmission problems, two examples here...

1
2

 

[FarmDriver]

Could not find anything on BBC website so phoned them on their reception advice number which is 0870 010 0123. Chap on the other end of line was helpfull and checked if anyone else had reported a similar problem. They had not, but he said they would look into it anyway. Would probable be a good idea if everyone having this problem phones the number I phoned just to confirm to them that I am not the only one. The advice line is only open weekdays and during office hours, I got through straight away and was only on the phone for five minutes.

 

[FarmDriver]

Watched our normal Sky digibox over the weekend and it too was having the green line problem on BBC1 South East but not on the other BBC1 regions. Also heard from my mother in law that their digibox picture freezes so much on South East that they now watch London all the time. This is obviously quite a common problem and I was wondering how many of you have phoned the BBC to report it?

 

[GaryB]

There is an email report form at http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/email.shtml

I've used this to report a problem with patterning in London and received a phone call to ask for more information the next morning. They traced the fault to the London transmitter at CP. Apparently only me and one other person in the London region noticed it.

 

[-Spike-]

Noticed the problem four times tonight
Only evident on BBC SE, no other channels.
Since mentioning this to family and friends they all are experiencing the same problem.
I will give them a call.

 

[itcosthowmuch]

sent an e-mail to BBC Reception and got a phone call from an engineer earlier today. Said he had been watching the signal for 5 hours and had seen no problems. Suggested I tried a system re-boot as he thought it may be a problem with my equipment.

Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to him as he left a message on my answer machine........but he did say he was in the London area and viewing via the same satellite!!!!!

Must be a lot of re-boots needed

M

 

[Starburst]

Originally posted by itcosthowmuch
sent an e-mail to BBC Reception and got a phone call from an engineer earlier today. Said he had been watching the signal for 5 hours and had seen no problems. Suggested I tried a system re-boot as he thought it may be a problem with my equipment.

Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to him as he left a message on my answer machine........but he did say he was in the London area and viewing via the same satellite!!!!!

Must be a lot of re-boots needed

M

Now that's the sort of answer you expect from a commercial operator like SKY not the BBC, ignore the actual details of the fault which confirm it's not just your hardware and then say they didn't see it so that's that.

I assume the engineer was watching the BBC1 SE feed from 2D via a SKY digibox and not checking the outgoing feed or watching the London feed if he was based there. By his use of the word "signal" I do wonder if he was just checking the parameters of the transmission and not watching the channel in the manner the viewer does.
If he did watch the channel you have to question if he watched it for 5 hours none stop and never looked away.

 

[itcosthowmuch]

I wish could have spoken to him direct and then confirmed how he was actually viewing and from which feed. He never left a contact number should I have any questions either......so I guess another e-mail is called for.

I did mention in my original complaint to the Beeb that a thread had been started here and that several people were all saying a similar thing but only on the south east region.

Cushy little number he must have.......watching BBC1 to view a fault! my guess is he fell asleep watching all those Changing Gardens, DIY Hunt & Bargain SOS type of programmes, woke up saw that there was still a picture, looked at his watch and thought 'all's okay there then, another hard day.... time to go home'!!!!

M

 

[bobones]

Originally posted by Paul Young
I get this only on freeview digital Ch4 since xmas and still then same. It is also on satellite and different areas in the UK that get it too. I thought it will get fixed but not yet.

I get a green horizontal glitch on on Ch4 freeview too. Thought it was my tivo at first.

 

[FarmDriver]

I have spoken twice to the same engineer at the BBC and think I am making progress on this. They will be making more investigations over the next couple of days and I should hear back from them next week. If not he said to call them again and to say its about a fault reporting number that they have given to me. He did say what he thought it could be but as that was a couple of hours a go I have forgotton now! He asked me if both sets that I can see the problem on were widescreen and if the satellite box is set up for widescreen, the ansewer to both being yes. Not sure what difference that makes but at least they are asking questions. Unless anything happens sooner I will post what they tell me next week.

 

[StooMonster]

Got the same thing on BBC ONE SE, though I am pretty sure I've seen it on NEWS 24 and CBebbies too. I was worried that it was my LNB; as it's both on Sky+ and my old Sony digibox.

Greenflashing line, sometimes black flashing line and picture breakup, sometimes green flashing line followed by picture freeze.

StooMonster