In message .com,
Chris123 writes
We would be grateful if anyone as any ideas to solving our problem.

We have recently moved from the UK to St Vincent and theGrenadines in
the West Indies, our TV worked with the local broadcast channel, but
now that we have installed cable tv, we are only getting sound with 3
of the 40+ channels.
From what you say below, you are definitely getting the three channels
with proper colour pictures and sound (rather than getting only the
sound of the three channels).

The cable company were not able to offer any sensible suggestions,
other than purchase a local TV!

I have been advised of a number of possible issues, which may or may
not be relevant, any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

1. that this is due to a PAL NTSC incompatability issue - if this was
true, why are we recieveing 3 channels with pic and sound, and why
were we able to recieve perfectly the local broardcast channel.
You need to know what system standards the cable company are putting
out. They should be able to tell you. Have they told you that they ARE
NTSC? Are the three local off-air channels PAL, while the others are
NTSC (probably off a satellite)?

Is reception directly on the TV set, or is there a set-top box involved?

Even if the majority of the channels are NTSC, you should still be able
to tune in to them, depending on what their frequencies are, and the
frequencies your TV set can tune to. However, if your TV can only
receive PAL, the NTSC pictures will be in black and white, and there
will be no sound (or maybe a loud buzzing on sound).

It the pictures ARE in colour, but with NO sound, that is a bit strange.
It could be that the cable channels are putting out something like PAL-M
(I think that is what it called). I haven't checked, but I believe that
this is 625-line PAL, bit with the sound at 4.5MHz instead of the usual
6 (or 5.5)MHz (but I could be completely wrong). However, although there
used to be some of these 'hybrid' systems around, I doubt if they are
used these days.

2. that the signals we are getting with sound are antena channels,
which is why we also recieved the local station - if this is true, how
do we change the TV set-up to recieve cable?
Are you really getting the three good channels via the cable. It's not a
stray pickup effect, is it, and these are off-air signals?


My TV is a Philips 23" TFT wide screen, model 23PF9945/12, purchased
arround 2003.
I don't know much about these newfangled sets, but have you delved into
the setup menus? It may be possible to select NTSC (assuming this is
what the cable channels are).


Ian.
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