My Thompson Freeview box keeps stuttering/time lapse freezing.

The main system control memory IC to this device is faulty. Contact any service technician to replace it.

can you try a external antenna on it?

Hi,

The problem you describe is called "Digital Cliff Edge" and it's caused by signal loss. I wont go into the specifics of that at the moment as it's not going to help solve your problem. I you want more information about DCE, try an internet search.

As you are using the same aerial and booster/splitter for both TVs, you are correct in ruling these out as the cause of the problem. The fault is probably in the co-ax cables or connections but you might have a faulty freeview box. Please run through the following checks to establish the source of the fault.

1. Swap your Freeview Boxes - you shouldn't need to re-scan/tune as they are running off the same aerial..
If the Freeview box from the TV that is working correctly freezes and stutters on the other TV, the fault is probably in the cables or cable connections. Next, try the "faulty" Freeview box on the TV that is working correctly. If you get stuttering sound and freezing/pixellation you probably have a faulty Freeview box. DO NOT SWAP ANY CABLES FOR THIS TEST.

If the problem is the same after swapping the freeview boxes:

2. Swap any non-fixed cables, e.g the co-axial "fly-leads" and scart cables - one at a time. See if the fault "moves" with the swapped cables. "Fly leads" are the short co-ax cables that link the Freeview box to the TV or the TV to a wall mounted aerial socket. If the fault "moves" with the swapped cable, you have identified the source of the fault and should either repair or replace this cable.

Try these tests first and post back with the results. If you haven't identified the source of the fault, I will try to assist you further.

Regards,
BElectric

This is very common to a number of Samsung models built at the same time as yours and using the same in-built Freeview receiver.

There is no fix, the built in receiver is simply incompatible with the most recent updates to Freeview (as happened to many external boxes) and cannot be modified, the only puzzle is the length of time that your receiver kept going for. If your tv has a warranty still then you may wish to see if the fault is covered.

Without a warranty, all you can do is continue to use an external Freeview receiver. They're usually better quality anyway, and are easy to replace when they go wrong or become out of date.

The retuning process is as follows:

1. Press the [i+] or MENU button on the remote control to display the DIGITAL INFO menu.
2. Press the BLUE button to display the MAIN MENU.
3. Press the UP or DOWN buttons to highlight AUTO TUNING then press the OK button to display the AUTO TUNING MENU.
4. Press the RED button to start the auto tuning process for all available digital channels.
5. Wait for the process to complete.

If you wish to CANCEL the auto tuning process whilst it is processing then press the BLUE button at any time.

You may lose some channels when you retune the TV as the channels have been rearranged. To locate them look at the EPG although you may still find that some channels are no longer available on FREEVIEW. See the following link for additional information

http://www.freeview.co.uk/_retuneinfo/

If the above process does not work then check the link above for additional information and also visit the accompanying site links below to find more information for your model of TV / FREEVIEW box.

For troubleshooting the retune procedure visit http://tvretune.co.uk/troubleshooting/

For specific model information visit http://tvretune.co.uk/productmanuals/

Please see the following pages

http://www.freeview.co.uk/_retuneinfo/

http://www.freeview.co.uk/_retuneinfo/_format/downloads/ChannelGuide30September.pdf

Can you try a non-working box in the Thompson box's location in the lounge? If you swap the boxes in the lounge and they both work normally then you must suspect that the cable supplying the conservatory must be the problem.

Please see the following pages

http://www.freeview.co.uk/_retuneinfo/

http://www.freeview.co.uk/_retuneinfo/_format/downloads/ChannelGuide30September.pdf

The retune should sort this out

After scanning the box should save the channel automatically. If the box does not save the preset after scanning channels, then it is probably faulty.
Some box has a pinhole reset button at the back, if you have this reset button keep it pressed with a pencil for 10 seconds to reset the freeview box.
If it does not work, the nbox is probably faulty.

With freeview you only pay for few scrambled channels, the most of them are free and do not need any additional fee.

Freeview is not available in all areas, check that you have freeview in your location, and that aerial is well connected to the box, otherwise not finding channels is normal.

OK, I think I see the problem there.
The aerial lead from the DVDR to TV should be removed.
You should have it setup the same as the other Freeview - VCR - TV
Nutshell time:
Main aerial to Freeview input.
Loop aerial from freeview output to DVDR areial input (all this does is allow you to watch freeview, or standard both out of the DVDR)
So..
Scart from Freeview to DVDR input
Scart from DVDR output to TV
Set DVDR to AV input mode.
Set TV to AV (whatever number you need for that..you now won't get anything on screen unless you have the right input selected)

If you can now see the Freeview picture on the TV and change the channels with the Freeview remote then you should be set for recording.

Having the aerial and a scart lead both going to the TV is not needed.