Keith,

Marcus,

I agree totally, and that was going to the my next step, I just wanted to be sure that Tom's converter really could support 300 watts. Generally speaking if a converter has a larger load than it can support, the voltage drops because the transformer saturates which in turn would try and draw more current (Ohms law)

Well I went to a Radio Shack near here in Frisco to buy fuses, and explained my problem to the owner.  She said she would sell me the fuses, but she assumed they would just continue to blow.  She just happened to have a 250-watt step-up transformer and suggest that I take that as well as the fuses – if the fuses worked I could bring it back.  So…  the new fuse blew, but… the new transformer worked!

 

I still have several problems – on TV I have no sound, in Setup I cannot get the Auto Tuning to work.  It scrolls through the frequencies and you can see it stop on frequency that has a channel, but when the sequence is complete the channels are not registered on the TV List.  I tried to do it manually and I registered one, but when I went to name it there was no alphabet and there were a number of European stations named and numbers that you could select. 

 

I forgot to bring a CD – so I was unable to test that, but a US DVD works just fine – sound and all.  So I am really puzzled by the lack of sound on TV.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

 

Tom

Ah excellent to read you now have it working! Now it sounds like the TV tuner may not be compatible in the US, why don't you try a set top box? You'll enjoy better PQ than the analouge reception, and this would fix your tuning and sound problem.

I didn't think the tuner would work in the US. You will need to use a set top box as at a guess you have a PAL type TV.Even if it uses the same transmission type, there can be problems. My LX6000 came from Germany and needed a new sound card to work in the UK. The STB does all the clever decoding and will send a standard signal to the TV. You will need a Scart cable preferably - which could be interesting to find in the US!

Glad to hear the TV is working though! 

There are plenty of good cheap scart cables on ebay.com.

Tom,

I am very pleased to note that the new converter from Radio Shack worked.

As previously stated you will NOT be able to use the internal tuner because in the US you use a combination of UHF & VHF channels in different frequency ranges. As Peter stated you will need to use a STB (Set Top Box). You will not get any sound until a channel is in tune i.e. the sound is muted until the channel is fully tuned, so this is not a fault, but the design.

 

Love this thread! Shows the power of Beoworld.

Like a doctor working on a remote distance operating a soldier on the battle field or a plane with no pilot runned by a passenger guided by the flight tower!

Keith Saunders:

As Peter stated you will need to use a STB (Set Top Box). You will not get any sound until a channel is in tune i.e. the sound is muted until the channel is fully tuned, so this is not a fault, but the design.

 

Aw hey i stated this, no fair! 

I agree with you totally – not sure what I would have done without the input from the forum – I’d probably own another television buy now!

 

So.. I still need some help.  What recommendations does anyone have on what set-top box to purchase and from where?  I know I need a 21-pin cable to connect to the Avant, but AI assume I need to wait to purchase that until I know what kind of cable comes out of the set-top box?  Will I be able to use my Beo4 with the set-top box?  Again my thanks to everyone – it was great to watch a DVD the other evening!

I will not be going back up to Keystone until November 10, but I would like to get everything I need before I leave.  

 

Tom

I like your new picture -- great logo!  

So.. I still need some help.  What recommendations do you have on what set-top box to purchase and from where?  I know I need a 21-pin cable to connect to the Avant, but I assume I will need to wait to purchase that until I know what kind of cable comes out of the set-top box?  Will I be able to use my Beo4 with the set-top box?  Again my thanks – it was great to watch a DVD the other evening!

I will not be going back up to Keystone until November 10, but I would like to get everything I need before I leave.  

Tom,

Pleased that you were able to watch a video the other evening.

Normally a new STB will come with a SCART cable, but if you purchase a unit without a cable then be sure to purchase a fully wired SCART cable.

With regards to the STB, this is almost certainly going to have to be a Satellite STB because I am sure you don't have cable passing your home in Keystone and I expect there is no DVB-T available there either. Do correct me if I am wrong...

So, when selecting a STB, it needs to either:-

• Be listed in your AVANT STB Controller (I can tell you how to look at this list if needed)
• Controlled by AVL on pin 8 of the SCART cable

I suggest you go for option 2 mainly because neither you or me currently know what the table version is installed in your STB controller in the AVANT and you will not be able to find out until you return on 10th November.

So, with the above in mind, I suggest you look for a second hand Force 1122S which is compatible with B&O's pin 8 AVL signal meaning you do not need to use the STB or connect its IR Blaster. You can review this model HERE Whilst this model has been about for many years, its one of the few to be B&O compatible units which will work without the use of the STB controller

You will also need to have a motorised satellite dish installed and the cable brought down to where the AVANT is located.

If you cannot get a B&O AVL compatible STB, then we will have to wait for your next visit to keystone and then we can review which STB's your AVANT currently supports. Whilst the STB controller can be updated (one chip change) for the latest STB controller table, I suggest if you go this route to choose a box already in the list

I guess I should have mentioned up front that I have cable in Keystone -- the condos are set up to rent to ski tourists so we have cable & high-speed Internet.

Tom,

Well, that is good and bad news

The good news is that a cable modem is very low cost in the US and as you know many suppliers provide them as part of the cable package, the bad news is the STB controller table has very few, if any, US type cable modems. I have never looked into it, but B&O has always had a policy of not supporting cable.

Who is your cable provider in Keystone ? and is it connected and enabled now ? if not I suggest you get it connected at least you will be able to watch TV, even if initially it is not controlled by the STB controller.

Keith -- I got back yesterday from Keystone ( the slopes are open, but the snow is not very good).  I visited my cable provider (Comcast) and got a set-top box from them.  The connection to the condo is live.    New issue -- the connection to the set-top box are coax, so I cannot plug it into the television.  Does a 21 pin to connect to the AV, Decoder connection, and then to a coax cable plug to connect to the set-top box exist?  Do I need to find another set-top box not provided by my cable company?   Thanks!

Tom,

The problem we have here is that getting a STB in the US with a SCART connector is very unlikely because it is a very European thing. In fact it was invented by the French and SCART stands for Syndicat des Constructeurs d"Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs if I have my French correct this morning.

You say that the connection to the STB is coax, well the link from the cable company will be coax TO the Comcast STB, however if the output from the STB is also coax it means it is providing a modulated NTSC signal intended for the aerial socket which is not good even if you had a US TV and certainly cannot be used on the AVANT. What is the make and model of the STB they provided you ?

What you need is a STB which provides outputs such as RGB, then using a conversion cable with a SCART plug at one end and tyipcally RCA plugs at the other end you could get this working. Also an S-Video output from a STB would be the simple solution because S-Video outputs are quite common in the US and the AVANT does have an S-Video socket for use with a Camcorder.

So, please provide me with the make and model number of the STB they have provided you and also ask the cable company if they have a STB with S-Video output, in fact almost any other output form except modulated NTSC coax signal.

Keith I had to take one of my B&O speakers to the repair shop the other day (there was a hum -- it's gone now).  While I was there I spoke with the technician about my set-top box issue -- he says he can make me a cable that will work SCAT on one end and coax on the other -- he says that it will work through the VCR connector on the back of the television, but I will not be able to use my B&O remote. Do you think he is correct?  

Happy Thanksgiving!  Tom 

Tom,

Well, have a very happy thanksgiving and don't eat yourself out of house and home.

Well, your technican could be correct depending on exactly what is the output of the STB. What your B&O technician is talking about is using pin 20 of the SCART connector which is "composite video in" (sync).

If your STB has a Coax out AND left & right audio sockets on the box, then it maybe a composite out signal, but if there is NO seperate audio out sockets on the STB ,then it is very unlikely to be a composite video signal output and will be a NTSC modulated signal meaning it cannot be used with your AVANT.

So, lets go back to the STB, exactly what connections/sockets does the STB have other than the COAX in from the cable company and the COAX out which is likely to be a modulated NTSC signal ?

the thing i love aboot the avant is it's staggering picture quality .

 last week some friends came over and said  'oh so you've got high definition tv , what's it like ?'

nuff said  :)

That's why many members like me still use the AVANT as the main viewing TV, the picture is really difficult to beat

Keith -- great news -- we have television via cable.  The B&O tech shop made me a cable for me -- SCAT on one end -- RCA plugs on the other.  The SCAT portion is plug into the V-Tape slot so I cannot use my B&O remote, but... everything is working.  

 

I cannot thank-you enough for working me through the process.  Without your help I am sure I would have given up by now and bought an new television.  Happy Holidays!  Tom 

tslover7:

Keith -- great news -- we have television via cable.  The B&O tech shop made me a cable for me -- SCAT on one end -- RCA plugs on the other.  The SCAT portion is plug into the V-Tape slot so I cannot use my B&O remote, but... everything is working.  

 

I cannot thank-you enough for working me through the process.  Without your help I am sure I would have given up by now and bought an new television.  Happy Holidays!  Tom 

So you have one yellow and one red and one white cable going from the set top box? If so you have a composite signal trough the yellow cable and audio trough the red and withe cables..

Composite have sadly the worst picture quality in the signal range sadly, but it works =)..

Can you take a picture of the connectors of the set top box??

1. HDMI/DVI  =Digital component 

2. Component YpbBpr

3. BNC RGB with Vertical and Horizontal sync( 5 coaxial cables).

4. VGA RGB with sync

5. Scart RGB  (=separates Red Green and Blue)

6. S-video  (=separates Blacks and whites signals)

7. Composite (=mixes all color signals to one signal..) 

 

So if you find a set top box with S-video or RGB coaxial outputs you are going to get a much greater picture..!

 

Regards Fredrik L 

tslover7:

Keith -- great news -- we have television via cable.  The B&O tech shop made me a cable for me -- SCAT on one end -- RCA plugs on the other.  The SCAT portion is plug into the V-Tape slot so I cannot use my B&O remote, but... everything is working.  

Good to hear!

Get a Lintronic box so you can use the Beo4.

Tom,

Its good to hear that you have your AVANT working now.

I have to say that you should take up Daniels suggestion about the Lintronics box, it really will do the job. The initial setup may take you a few hours, but once setup, you will never touch it again and you will able to control both your AVANT and your cable box with your Beo4

Thank-you for your note. I do not have a digit camera -- there is a S-Video connection on the back of the STB -- not sure if there is a RGB coaxial output there -- my knowledge base is weak -- shoes I know.  There is a female connector on the back of the STB that would accept male -- five pins on the top and 4 pins on the bottom in rectangular shape, except the two longer sides are different shapes (the top is longer than the bottom -- the sides are the same length) -- sorry my geometry knowledge is 40+ years in the past.  

Happy Holidays!  Tom