TV reception/aerial problems

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dpw

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#114673 27-Feb-2013 10:54

I hope this is in the right forum. We are in North Canterbury (on the southern edge) and recently have been having problems with our reception. Back in good old analog days we would just get a bit of ghosting or other fuzziness. Now that we use digital Freeview it goes blocky or just black out with "No signal". Understandable with digital stuff I guess.

The question is... can someone recommend a person/company who will be able to help us sort this out? I've heard from a couple of people they had good service from Ascot TV but I'm not sure if they'd be happy to come out 45 km north of ChCh.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
D.

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B1GGLZ

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#770960 27-Feb-2013 11:14

What sort of antenna are you using? Needs to be a UHF antenna with good quality co-ax. 45km from Christchurch should be no problem for receiving Freeview with UHF antenna. If you can see the Port Hills you should get execellent signal strength. If you're still using the old VHF antenna then you need a new UHF one.

dpw

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#770963 27-Feb-2013 11:18

B1GGLZ: What sort of antenna are you using? Needs to be a UHF antenna with good quality co-ax. 45km from Christchurch should be no problem for receiving Freeview with UHF antenna. If you can see the Port Hills you should get execellent signal strength. If you're still using the old VHF antenna then you need a new UHF one.

Thanks... I've got a couple of aerials on the same pole, one longer than the other. I'm not sure which one is in use though. I think I have a few very large trees in the way, which may be causing these issues?

How do I tell if my aerial(s?) is suitable for this purpose? When the reception is good I have absolutely no problems getting very nice image on our 40" Bravia LCD. If the trees are causing issues I guess the only solution is to relocate the aerial? Chopping bits of the tree is a huge amount of work...

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RunningMan

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#770964 27-Feb-2013 11:22

Any chance of a photo of your aerials?

B1GGLZ

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#770969 27-Feb-2013 11:28

dpw:

How do I tell if my aerial(s?) is suitable for this purpose? When the reception is good I have absolutely no problems getting very nice image on our 40" Bravia LCD. If the trees are causing issues I guess the only solution is to relocate the aerial? Chopping bits of the tree is a huge amount of work...

Have a look here.
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/digital-terrestrial/terrestrial-aerials-c-11/conventional-aerials.html

Also have a look at the Freeview site.
http://freeviewnz.tv/

B1GGLZ

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#770970 27-Feb-2013 11:29

RunningMan: Any chance of a photo of your aerials?

+1
That would help us advise you.

dpw

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#771042 27-Feb-2013 12:50

B1GGLZ:
RunningMan: Any chance of a photo of your aerials?

+1
That would help us advise you.

I shall do that ASAP!

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Dunnersfella

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#771224 27-Feb-2013 19:37

ASI have helped me out from time to time - 3666443.
Good bloke, like most aerial installers he'll be out and about, so odds on he'll be around your neck of the woods at some point. Oh yeah, moving your aerial to avoid the trees would be the likely fix I'd have thought.

dpw

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#771244 27-Feb-2013 19:54

Dunnersfella: ASI have helped me out from time to time - 3666443.
Good bloke, like most aerial installers he'll be out and about, so odds on he'll be around your neck of the woods at some point. Oh yeah, moving your aerial to avoid the trees would be the likely fix I'd have thought.

Dammit! Forgot to take a photo and it's a bit dark now. Thanks for the recommendation - I will give Glynn Lewis a call.

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Skolink

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#771648 28-Feb-2013 12:10

Have you had Freeview digital UHF for a while or have you only just switched? I am only 6km from Sugerloaf and have had reception problems recently, as documented in this thread.

dpw

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#771653 28-Feb-2013 12:23

Skolink: Have you had Freeview digital UHF for a while or have you only just switched? I am only 6km from Sugerloaf and have had reception problems recently, as documented in this thread.

We've had it for ages but the problem has been patchy for at least 6 months.

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Skolink

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#771690 28-Feb-2013 13:34

dpw:
Skolink: Have you had Freeview digital UHF for a while or have you only just switched? I am only 6km from Sugerloaf and have had reception problems recently, as documented in this thread.

We've had it for ages but the problem has been patchy for at least 6 months.

Just the same as for us!