Freeview set top box problem

[SAH]

Can anyone tell me why the picture on my Freeview set top box is in black and white, the scart lead is plugged in OK at both ends and I can watch the picture in colour OK on my TV if I don't use the set top box......

[badams]

There are a number of possibilities the most likely being that either the Freeview box or the TV is set to S-video, and the other is set to composite.

If you have more than 1 SCART connector on your TV, try changing to the other one - some TV's have one SCART set up for composite, and the other for S-video.  In some instances, the same connector can work for either format just by selecting a different Aux input using the remote.

[Zen]

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewhelp.html

Everything's working fine, but instead of a colour picture from your Freeview box, you're only getting a monochrome black & white picture. If this is what you're experiencing, then you probably have a mismatch between the mode that your box is outputting, and the mode that your TV is expecting. For example, the set-top box may be set to output S-Video (also known as Y/C) and your TV set to RGB or PAL. To solve the problem, change the setting on either the TV or the set-top box to ensure they are the same.
If in doubt, set the AV setting of both to RGB. Refer to the manual if you're not sure of how to do this.

[SAH]

Thanks for your advice people, but I've checked the menu and there doesn't seem to be an option to change these settings. I think there must be a fault with the SCART socket or something, I just hope it's not too expensive to repair! Just for the record the set top box is a Ferguson FDT500.

[badams]

Ferguson are owned by Thomson - you may want to try their helpline - 01788 541 970

Don't forget, there are settings on the TV you can change as well as the Freeview box.

It's bigger brother, the FDT2000, looks identical to a Grundig GDT2000 - and funny enough, Grundig too are apparently owned by Thomson.

[SAH]

Thanks Badams, I'll give that a try! I did try and change the settings on my TV but without any luck.