[TelstraClear] Cable signal strength and Free TV

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K123

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#9340 9-Sep-2006 22:04

I am trying to get the free tv channels from TCL. I have cable internet and have split the cable to my tv via around 5m of extra wiring. Unfortunately i could only get Weather, Prime, C4 and Maori channels, no sign of 1,2 or 3!

It is possible the signal strength is too low so I have posted what my modem (http://192.168.100.1) shows below:

Downstream
Frequency                            717000000 Hz
Signal To Noise Ratio            31.6 dB
Power Level                        -3.0 dBmV

Upstream
Channel ID         3
Frequency               32400000 Hz
Power                     36.0 dBmV

Can anyone tell me if this is a weak signal? The internet works fine but maybe I need a power splitter for free tv. In an old post someone said tv 3 was on multiple frequencies so it seems strange that I haven't found it at all.

freitasm

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#45747 9-Sep-2006 22:20

I am not sure on how to do to getting the TV from the cable, but here is my reading:

Downstream
Frequency                            717000000 Hz
Signal To Noise Ratio            39 dB
Power Level                          5 dBmV

Upstream
Power                                  31.0 dBmV

cyril7

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#45752 10-Sep-2006 08:50

Does your TV support tuning through the CATV bands (often refered to as S channels)? Many TV's even some new ones dont tune to sections of the band not used by Broadcast TV but is used by CATV operators (as its their own self regulated spectrum).

Over the years folk have asked me to "tune up" their TV's so they can get the FTA's on TCL seperate to the decoder, it is sometimes quite surprising what tuners dont support CATV channels, and as I recall the FTA's have been placed in those channelings.

Try another TV or maybe your VCR, remember what that is??.

Cyril

sbiddle

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#45754 10-Sep-2006 10:39

I too would suspect it's a case that your TV tuner isn't capable of picking up the frequencies used by 1,2 and 3 which are all very low down and don't use standard VHF channel stepping.

K123

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#45771 10-Sep-2006 13:03

Ah, yes that definitely will be the problem, it's an old TV. I'll try the VCR but thats old too, and well it no longer plays tapes so it would be good to find a use for it. Maybe I'll split the cable again at my PC and buy a tuner card, that will be cheaper than a new TV or VCR.

Is it possible to merge the TCL cable with an antenna at the TV? I'm sure I could use a splitter backwards but that would surely cause all sorts of problems.

sbiddle

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#45772 10-Sep-2006 13:12

K123: Is it possible to merge the TCL cable with an antenna at the TV? I'm sure I could use a splitter backwards but that would surely cause all sorts of problems.

If you want TCL knocking on your door within a few days threatening to disconnect your service go right ahead. People trying to do things like that causes all sorts of trouble with the network. RF propagation into their network is one of the biggest problems they have.

K123

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#45779 10-Sep-2006 17:09

Exactly why I am asking rather than the trial and error approach. Even though it took TCL five technicians, 9 weeks and many many hours on the phone to install my cable in the first place I don't want to mess up the network for everyone else. I was actually promised by a technician that they would split the cable for my tv for me but the last guy said I had to book that with TCL... yeah right.

lchiu7

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#45812 11-Sep-2006 11:15

I don't use it myself but I am sure the TCL cable boxes, both digital and analogue have an aerial input so you can merge the incoming signal with the cable output.

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cyril7

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#45818 11-Sep-2006 11:57

Only of the RF modulator circuit, the main cable input does not have a mix through mode.

Cyril

inane

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#46131 14-Sep-2006 13:12

I havent tried with a splitter, however,

when I unplug my cable modem it all tunes in fine, 1,2,3, saturn weather, etc.

have you tryed tuning without your modem plugged in?

K123

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#46207 14-Sep-2006 20:05

Just to summarize... I've got all the standard free channels, weather and one or two preview channels. Using the VCR did the trick. The TV has the bunny ears and VCR has the TCL cable. As easy as that. Thanks everyone.

antoniosk

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#46220 14-Sep-2006 22:56

Happy in Hataitai then.

Good to see it's sorted