topic Re: Freeview box flaw? in TV

Freeview box flaw?

mrstiggywnkle — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 14:00:02 GMT

Got a new Freeview box and all the kit, including modem,which was recently replaced when we moved from BT to EE in October last year.

Everything seemed to be OK but TNT sports kept dropping out yesterday, so decided to look for a problem. Only thing I could see was on back of the Freeview box, where the Ethernet cable was inserted. The yellow connection is constantly flashing. I tried reversing the cable and tried another one but still flashing. The connection is from the back of the box to a "smartplug" which gives us our broadband connection for the TV via the box.

So, question is- Do I have problem or not, 'cos I don't know if the flashing is normal or a fault needing fixing/replacement.

Re: Freeview box flaw?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:36:56 GMT

@mrstiggywnkle Ethernet connectors often flash, but usually Green.

Any way of connecting the EE TV Box bypassing the Powerline Adapter (I think you mean)?

Re: Freeview box flaw?

DarrenDev — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:13:35 GMT

There are no specific rules about what colour the lights on an ethernet port should be, but there are conventions - normally a green light indicates that it's connected at 1Gbs, and a yellow light indicates 100Mbps or less. The light flashing is an indication that data is currently being transferred, so on the TV Box it will flash almost all the time.

Powerline adapters (smart plug) aren't ideal, as they're reliant on the quality and layout of your home wiring.

You currently have 2 Smart Wifi discs in your home @mrstiggywnkle - is one of them near your TV Box? If you connect the ethernet cable into the back of one of the discs, you should find that it will perform better.

Re: Freeview box flaw?

mrstiggywnkle — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:16:32 GMT

Thanks to my 2 responders.

TV and box are at the opposite diagonal of the house to the router and concrete throughout so no easy way to run cabling so th powerline adaptors with 2 discs is only way to get a fairlystable signal router to TV/box.

As for the flashing, it is reassuring to be told it is not a problem.

Previous box didn't seem to have the flashing Ethernet cable, hence a bit concerned.

It is a steady green on the left and a flashing orange on the right.

Grateful for your guidance.

Re: Freeview box flaw?

DarrenDev — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:42:17 GMT

Is one of the wifi discs near the TV @mrstiggywnkle ? Or could it be moved near the TV? If so, connecting the TV Box to that may product better results.

Looking at your TV Box statistics, it does appear to suffer with significant signal loss many times a day, every day.

Re: Freeview box flaw?

mrstiggywnkle — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:57:00 GMT

Thanks.

I have no more plug outlets near the TV.

The disc is about 8 feet away from th TV.

As for the variable signal, I am not aware of it but the TV is rarely on during the day and evening reception isOK. TNT sports, afternoons, is pretty pathetic but what is the solution? BT/EE seem to be making no effort locally to improve things although there was a "promise" to improve things by end of 2025! Virgin /O2 have spent an enormous amount of money on cabling locally but I don't know anyone who uses it. Quickline apparently have very fast broadband locally but their service is very poor.

I had hoped that with the new box and discs that the new EE set up would improve things but.........

Re: Freeview box flaw?

XRaySpeX — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:59:14 GMT

@mrstiggywnkle wrote:
I have no more plug outlets near the TV.

Use a multi-plug adapter:

Re: Freeview box flaw?

mrstiggywnkle — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:50:17 GMT

Thanks but already have 1 socket supporting 5 plugs from tablelamps to TV/box/soundbar/aerial booster.

Don't like it but have no alternative.

Currently using "proper" unit with power surge protector.