Atec 37" LCD TV - PIP problem

[Davecobweb]

I've recently purchased this LCD from Novatech. As I currently don't have a digital aerial, I have tuned the tv in using the normal aerial. The picture is ok but I wasn't expecting much to be honest.
I also have Sky connected via the 1st scart and the DVD player via the 2nd scart.
My problem is I cannot change the PIP setup from DTV. This ,means I cannot watch 2 inputs at once.
The manual states I should be able t select any source but when I'm in the menu screen or even via the remote, the PIP option will only show DTV which I currently don't have.
Can anyone help me or advise me please?

[gwendes]

You cannot use two inputs that utilise the same hardware in the display. The manual defines which inputs can be used which other inputs for the PIP feature.

Regarding the picture quality you should check the signal strength as this could be causing loss. Obviously the tuner is only capable of a standard definition and the display is high definition - you will notice a huge difference as the HD DVD players and Sky are introduced.

[Davecobweb]

I accept the loss of picture quality for normal tv. The current aerial is not that good so that was not my concern. Sorry if it came across that way, and I do understand that the quality will improve once I have a digital aerial.

So, if I'm playing sky through scart 1, dvd/ps2 through scart 2, and normal tv through a standard aerial lead, I cannot use the PIP function?
I would have thought the scart and aerial points were seperate. I guess i'm wrong.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

[djm.rocksoft]

Please can you tell me the relevant page of the manual that lists the possible combinations for the PIP Sources? The actual example shown in the manual has Source set to TV and shows all other inputs (DTV, Scart1 and Scart2) as available for selection (see page 2-13), even though the S-Video, Component, DVI and PC are disabled as presumably they are not connected.
Your sales blurb states "The built in PIP Function enables users to simultaneous enjoy multiple channels and even DVD all at one". How is this done?

Djm

[Alec]

Unfortunately there is no way of distinguisihing between two versions of this set which have different firmware and have different PiP functions.

Some experimentation on your part with PiP would be helpful. If you can tell me what you CAN get from PiP then I will hopefully be able to identify which version of the set you have and assist you further

Alec

[djm.rocksoft]

Alec,

Not sure what information might be useful but .....

When only Scart1, scart2, RF connected I can only choose combinations that are DTV + one of the other. If Main is Scart1 (where my sky box connects) then DTV is the only option available for second source. Same for Main=Scart2 (Video/DVD) or Main=TV. If Main=DTV, then I can choose Scart1, Scart2 or TV as second source.

If I plug DVI, VGA in then these become available as second sources.

I cannot have Main=Scart1 and second=TV; M=Scart2 and S=Scart1 which I would like when viewing a DVD with a PIP for the Sky box.

Is there any 'engineering' info that the box can report to identify which version I have? Does the serial number assist? Based on other posts in this forum, it looks like I might need the firmware updating for using this set with a Sky HD box anyway!!!

DJM

[Alec]

The problem you are having is, as a previous poster said, cuased by the fact that you cannot use the same hardware twice. In this instance what is limiting your freedom is the TV appears to have large number of the inputs you have sharing video channels inside the set.

What you are seeing a good demonstration of is how the video signal channels are organised in your TV. PiP can display one channel on the main picture, and one on the sub picture. From your description it would seem you only have two internal video signal channels available, one handles SCART1/2 + TV, the other handles DVI DTV & VGA.

This is a feature of the hardware of the device and cannot be changed without redesigning the internal circuitry, sorry.

Alec

[djm.rocksoft]

Thanks Alec, that certainly seems to be borne out by what I am seeing.

It might seem pedantic but I must ask the question(s) again...

Quote:- "The manual defines which inputs can be used which other inputs for the PIP feature". Which page in the manual details the allowable combinations - I cant find in the English section and my French/German et al, aint up to it!!

Secondly, how can Novatech support the sales blurb (which is still there) that the PIP functionality "... enables users to simultaneous enjoy multiple channels and even DVD all at one (sic)"

Can anybody at Novatech detail the connections that would allow me to achieve this?

Dave