Tv Reception gone bad - pixellation etc

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Morgenmuffel

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#161974 25-Jan-2015 21:49

Exactly that

Our TV reception has, over the last week gone from no issues to unwatchable in the afternoon, evenings with bad pixellation and stuttering in the mornings it isn't so bad (mind you that could be that i'm not watching TV just glancing at what the sprogs are watching) although it does have quite a bit of interference from what i can tell.

I have retuned both TVs checked all the connections etc that i can get to easily

We are in Putaruru so get our signal from Te Aroha

We have a element aerial with a masthead amplifier

Post 15 of the below thread has the pictures of the amp and aerial

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=57274

[i]Sorry couldn't work out how to copy that particular post into here [i/]

obviously the system has been working fine for the last few years, (apart from when someone mows their lawns, and then we got a bit of interference)

Whilst i would prefer to spend as little as possible, i had a look at the matchmaster website as mentioned in a previous thread and when i put in my address it came up with this aerial (which looks very much like the one my neighbour installed) which doesn't need an amp apparently to work in my area.

http://www.matchmaster.com.au/domestic/uhf-antennas/02mm-mdu36

any suggestions on what to look at next, before replacing the aerial?

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

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#1222082 25-Jan-2015 21:54

Possibly another case of 700MHz LTE interference and the amplifier getting overloaded from the new cell sites going live thru the waikato recently.

Do you really need the amplifier?

In anycase, replacing it with a new one with an LTE filter in it should clear it up, assuming you cant just bypass it.

Richard rich.ms

knoydart

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#1222107 25-Jan-2015 22:21

richms: Possibly another case of 700MHz LTE interference and the amplifier getting overloaded from the new cell sites going live thru the waikato recently.

Have there been any other LTE to DTT interference cases in New Zealand? I would say it is unlikely as you would need to overload the amp to swamp signals that are 150 MHz away - LTE downlink from the base station is above 750 MHz and most DTT services are below 600 MHz.

Can the OP just run one tv direct (or at least bypass) all the splitters and amps to see what happens?

Edit for a typo

richms

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#1222110 25-Jan-2015 22:25

Those amps overload very easily. Even 800MHz cell stuff is enough to overload them in many cases when unfiltered. Digital signals are turned to mush when the amp overloads, whereas analog would usually just get some herringbone lines thru it.

Also from the pictures its a really old one with saddle clamp terminations which have been known to cause problems for digital compared to F plugs.

Richard rich.ms

Apsattv

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#1222160 26-Jan-2015 00:12

Did you ever replace the saddle type splitter as you mention twisting the wires together to join it up. That would be the first part of the setup to check.

Is there any part of your VHF antenna left in the setup? some have removed old VHF antennas and snipped the coax to their combiner or amp but neglected to remove things such as old combiners. Even snipping the old vhf coax input and leaving a stump of caox connected can act like a wick for moisture to get in.

Have you actually checked on your TV set the signal levels and BER errors when it begins to playup?

Morgenmuffel

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#1222361 26-Jan-2015 13:13

1) Previously tested without amplifier in circuit (back in 2010 and couldn't get prime even vaguely watchable), I may try this again but I really dont want to dismantle everything at the mo as it will take a while as it runs from the roof under the house where the splitter is etc

2) When VHF went I completely removed the vhf aerial and cabling in fact the vhf aerial is currently supporting a grapevine in the back yard

3) Yes I put a new splitter in, haven't checked it recently though for signs of deterioration

4) I am trying to figure out how to test signal levels, I have a Magictv box, a 32 Sony tv, and a 46in veon, I see there is a way to do it through the magic tv so I may look at that shortly.

5) It just seems odd it stuffed up at the moment as it is the driest least windy period we have had in a while

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

Morgenmuffel

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#1222395 26-Jan-2015 13:30

Here we go

This is right now on whatever channel is advertising Agent Carter

and below is prime with some god awful trailer trash inbreeding show

The levels seem to fluctuating quite a bit,

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

Morgenmuffel

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#1222922 27-Jan-2015 07:03

well I tested last night about 8pm ish

Strength was about 70-75

and quality was 35 -38 pretty much everytime i checked

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

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E3xtc

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#1222951 27-Jan-2015 08:13

Is the impact the same across all the channels?
We have a situation where just the TVNZ channels are unwatchable - especially in the afternoon, and especially on nice fine still days...all other channels are perfectly fine - which is damn annoying.

Morgenmuffel

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#1223949 28-Jan-2015 11:56

Yes it is consistent across al channels

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Morgenmuffel

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#1224312 28-Jan-2015 20:09

The aerial does appear to have a crap load of moss growing on the elements, might that have an effect might have to see if I can water blast the crap off the aerial as i certainly can't reach the aerial, I balance a ladder on the peak of the roof last time but that was too blinking unsteady.

How much do the installers charge for a complete install, just a ballpark figure would help

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

andrewNZ

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#1224322 28-Jan-2015 20:47

Morgenmuffel: The aerial does appear to have a crap load of moss growing on the elements

Sounds like it must be quite an old areial

Morgenmuffel: I balance a ladder on the peak of the roof last time but that was too blinking unsteady

PLEASE DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN, that's how people die.

Morgenmuffel: How much do the installers charge for a complete install, just a ballpark figure would help

Last I checked I think it was @$200-$300, but I imagine it depends on what's involved.

Amosnz

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#1224402 28-Jan-2015 22:35

Have you installed any LED's recently, or even have your neighbours installed any?
As the main times affected are afternoon/evening it could be interference from dodgy LED's. I've seen a few threads on various forums where they've had quite a range.

Speedtest

Morgenmuffel

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#1224864 29-Jan-2015 18:37

I do have led ligt bulbs around the place, but even with them all turned off it makes no difference to the effect.

Yep I believe it is a fairly ancient aerial, I am looking at a safer way of getting it down as i have no intention of standing on the ladder and working on it , as last time was not fun

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

Morgenmuffel

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#1225978 31-Jan-2015 17:41

Ok so what are the pros, cons of the two below aerials as these seem to be the most common place in my neighbourhood

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/element-aerial-freeview-p-694.html

vs

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/large-phased-array-aerial-freeview-p-595.html

and yes I have done the feature comparison, but it doesn't mean anything to me, I am leaning more to the large phased array as that seems to be the most common for the new aerials going up around me, although the long one (first link) are the majority of the aerials in this area, but i'd say they have probably been here since well before freeview days.

Cheers

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

B1GGLZ

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#1226021 31-Jan-2015 19:21

Morgenmuffel: Ok so what are the pros, cons of the two below aerials as these seem to be the most common place in my neighbourhood

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/element-aerial-freeview-p-694.html

vs

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/large-phased-array-aerial-freeview-p-595.html

and yes I have done the feature comparison, but it doesn't mean anything to me, I am leaning more to the large phased array as that seems to be the most common for the new aerials going up around me, although the long one (first link) are the majority of the aerials in this area, but i'd say they have probably been here since well before freeview days.

Cheers

Basically the 91 element has a very narrow capture area with high gain so is OK when a a distance from the Tx with few obstacles in the way. In theory.
The other one is a wide capture area with high gain suitable when lots of obstacles in the way. In theory.
Unfortunately though you'll never know which is best til you try them both in your location for comparison. IMO the phased array is probably your better choice.
If the ones around you are 47 or 91 elements and have been there for years they're probably old Sky UHF antennae.

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