Analogue to Digital TV in 2002 S8

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Slight problem with TV video signal, it worked OK initially then started losing sync.

Sadly, not my wiring, it's the unit itself. After a few minutes the video out loses sync.
Turning it off to change cables fooled me, as it cooled down or whatever reversed the failure.

I feel a PayPal claim coming on. Though strangely when I look on eBay it's not due to arrive yet and hasn't been delivered.
I can't even make a claim for nearly another 3 weeks according to eBay!

Edit: Tested in the morning and it lasted about 5 or 6 minutes before degrading. Sound is fine, it's just the video that loses sync and scrolls rapidly.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

I feel a PayPal claim coming on.

Just ordered another one from a different seller (lower price ) and will get a refund on this one!
It's possible there's a design fault, but more likely it's a badly soldered joint ("dry joint") inside, moving apart as components warm up.

I can carry on testing and installing, then when the new one arrives just swap the actual tuner box and set it up. Simples.

If that swap works OK I'll open up the faulty one (might do that sooner) and see if it's fixable - I have another possible use for it.
(Though I think the HDMI output is OK anyway)

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Just ordered another one from a different seller (lower price )

Supposedly coming from HK but tracking shows it starting in Mingle (Shenzen) just over in mainland China.
Nonetheless it's now in the UK so I should get it this week (or not, forgot Easter holidays!)! Not bad for ordering on Saturday!
Edit: Sitting at my local delivery office ready for delivery, which means Tuesday at best.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Sitting at my local delivery office ready for delivery, which means Tuesday at best.

No, it arrived!

Same as the previous unit except there's an extra wire in the power connector.
Reading the "Chinglish" manual (both are the same) again this appears to be something to do with automatically switching the picture to an A/V input from a reversing camera.

I might have a play with that and see if it provides a simpler solution than my current one which uses a separate relay.

[HPsauce]

The new unit works fine and has much better reception than the old one, so whatever fault that has appears to have wider consequences than just losing video sync.

Though the now revealed/understood reversing camera input will not be used, as noted in the relevant thread, as it loses the TV/Radio sound unlike my relay solution.

To do the initial tuner setup I ran an aerial cable out to the car from the house distribution amplifier, makes sure it's got a comprehensive list of channels.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Just ordered another one from a different seller (lower price ) and will get a refund on this one!

The plot thickens on eBay, though I won't expose too much detail here.

Lets just say there seems to be a very close link (via a UK address used for returns) between apparently independent eBay sellers and some questionable practices in the way returns are handled.
I have seen evidence that some people (not me) have returned faulty goods (following instructions from the seller but NOT totally using eBay processes) but were not refunded and also paid the return postage when they shouldn't have.
Furthermore those faulty items may be being sent out again if they appear cosmetically OK; I think that's how I got my first (faulty) one so quickly, it apparently came from the (shared?) returns warehouse not China! There are comments in the listing about the goods being in China but using alternative warehouses "for fast delivery".

I'm following eBay's processes carefully to protect myself, based on my own previous "learning experiences" and will certainly not be out of pocket at the end. The doubtful sellers on the other hand...

All now resolved satisfactorily. Lessons learned.