Stronger signal if I place my hand on top of my Igloo decoder.

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dipkiwi

51 posts

Master Geek

#121000 20-Jun-2013 17:34

I live quite a distance from Dunedin's Mt Cargill tower and have marginal signal strength at the best of times. This bad weather has pushed it over the edge.
So last night was mucking around with the cable going to the back of the decoder from the outside antenna and discovered that just by placing my hands on the top of the Igloo box dramatically improved signal strength. Quality would jump from around 12% to 60% and I would have a watchable programme again. The moment I take my hands off it would drop back to 12% and I would lose the programme. I felt like Mr Bean.

Is there any kind of internal antenna I can jury-rig to take the place of me standing touching the box?

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459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#840490 20-Jun-2013 18:16

Got another family member (perhaps a child) to replace your hand..

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#840499 20-Jun-2013 18:30

It appears you have found your calling in life. You must have a magnetic personality.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Bung

6480 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#840505 20-Jun-2013 18:44

Is your external aerial actually a UHF one that works?

dipkiwi

51 posts

Master Geek

#840533 20-Jun-2013 19:28

Bung: Is your external aerial actually a UHF one that works?

Yeah it's a UHF and I get channel 1, 2, 3, 4, fine through the same decoder unit. It's Igloo's own channels that are a bit weaker.

Actually I experimented again and it's only the quality bar that jumps up. It goes from very low like 0 or 4% when I'm not touching it to 60% when I have both hands flat on it. Signal strength and SNR and strength dB stay exactly the same. It's just signal 'quality' that changes. That and the actual programme on the screen.

Could it be some kind of earth related problem with the cable and by touching it I am releasing static charge from the box?

SCM

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#840615 20-Jun-2013 20:54

Whats the chances the recent wind has shifted the alignment of the antenna?

bakewells5856

72 posts

Master Geek

#840625 20-Jun-2013 21:20

what happens if u put some other object on it, like a book or something?

dipkiwi

51 posts

Master Geek

#840628 20-Jun-2013 21:25

SCM: Whats the chances the recent wind has shifted the alignment of the antenna?

Quite possible. My place is very exposed on a hillside looking directly out over the ocean. Two trees in my yard came down last night. The antenna is shaking around a lot.

Though I am at a loss as to why placing my hands on top of the decoder dramatically increases signal quality...???

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dipkiwi

51 posts

Master Geek

#840630 20-Jun-2013 21:33

bakewells5856: what happens if u put some other object on it, like a book or something?

Well I've just tried a few different objects of varying weights and no joy. Still only my hands that gets the programme back.

bakewells5856

72 posts

Master Geek

#840633 20-Jun-2013 21:42

maybe you need something organic to appease it. try some meat?

dipkiwi

51 posts

Master Geek

#840642 20-Jun-2013 22:08

I did try a bunch of bananas.

Jizah

236 posts

Master Geek

#840945 21-Jun-2013 11:37

What about a pot or a metal bowl?

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
8854 posts

Uber Geek

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Subscriber

#840951 21-Jun-2013 11:46

bakewells5856: maybe you need something organic to appease it. try some meat?

... a cat to sit there? Or a tortoise + duct tape?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#840993 21-Jun-2013 12:48

A loose connection in/on the box maybe?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

bakewells5856

72 posts

Master Geek

#841030 21-Jun-2013 14:05

or perhaps something ferrous would help, like a frying pan. could even try heating it up to body temperature and see if u can trick it into thinking its a hand

dipkiwi

51 posts

Master Geek

#841094 21-Jun-2013 14:54

Nope, my cat or frying pan doesn't do the job.

Have just discovered that I don't need to be touching the top of the decoder. Having my hands 20mm above the unit does the trick. 50mm above loses it again.

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