HTPC'ers in Wellington

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themaskedman

60 posts

Master Geek

#21660 3-May-2008 14:26

Hey ya'll,

I'm looking for a HTPC'er in Wellington to help me out. I live in an apartment building with a single UHF antenna on the roof. I would like to know whether I can receive Freeview HD or not before I shell out for a tuner.

Is anyone with a portable HTPC or a USB receiver able to pop round my place (I won't kill you I promise!) and test it with my antenna output?

eXDee

4033 posts

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+1 received by user: 1070

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#128206 3-May-2008 15:24

If you look at freeview coverage maps and give your suburb it should be fairly easy to tell if you'll get it or not.
Can you get prime clearly?

themaskedman

60 posts

Master Geek

#128209 3-May-2008 15:26

Oh I'm definitely in the zone of coverage (2min from Cuba St).

Prime comes in OK, though not as great at TV1 & 2 (those look bad too, but yeah). I've been reading about people needing to tweak their antenna. This is not possible in my situation, that's why I want to be sure.

Tom.

mentalinc

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#128211 3-May-2008 15:30

Can you see the tv towers from a window in your appartment? if so a little indoor one should do the trick.

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themaskedman

60 posts

Master Geek

#128215 3-May-2008 15:43

Towers (approximate locations in red) I can see from my balcony (green arrow). Are any of these TV towers?

I'm trying to minimize my investment, I don't really want to spend another $50 on an antenna!

Tom.

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#128259 3-May-2008 18:47

Tom,

Look towards the north and see it you can see Mt KauKau. Its the big tower on the hills behind Khandallah. You really cannot miss it provided its not blocked by other buildings. If so, you should be able to get good DVB-T. Otherwise, do you have a view towards the Hutt Valley, if so, you should be able to see Mt Fitrzherbert and get a DVB-T signal from there.

Essentially though, as exDee said, if you can get Prime on UHF, you should be in luck. The Prime signal does not have to be perfect, if you can get a signal that's watchable you have a good chance of a DVB-T signal.

Cheers Mike

themaskedman

60 posts

Master Geek

#128631 5-May-2008 18:37

Is the KauKau tower the one with four lights, but it's in sets of two that alternate?

Tom.

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tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

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+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

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Lifetime subscriber

#128638 5-May-2008 18:52

Buy your tuner from DSE. They have a 14 day right of return, no quibbles if everything in order.

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#128642 5-May-2008 19:05

Rixth

Unfortunately I cannot see the tower from my location so I am not sure what navigation lights it carries, but its the only one above Khandallah - the remainder of the towers on the western side of the city are above Thorndon. So from the central city, you should be looking towards the 11 o'clock position and KauKau will be the only tower to be seen.

Cheers Mike

themaskedman

60 posts

Master Geek

#128643 5-May-2008 19:05

I justhad a look at the website, I don't think they sell a DVB-T tuner.

Could you link it to me, or tell me what model it is?

themaskedman

60 posts

Master Geek

#128644 5-May-2008 19:06

mruane: towards the 11 o'clock position and KauKau will be the only tower to be seen.

Excellent, I have LOS from the window next to my TV! So worst comes to worst, I'll get a little panel antenna.

Thanks a bunch.

Mattv

242 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#128683 5-May-2008 21:40

I had a similar problem with patchy Prime reception and did what tony suggested and got a Freeview HD set top box from Dick Smiths (which I assume is what he means by tuner?) to check it out. Took the box back to DS a week later and got a refund no problem. (They have to send the box away to check you haven't done anything to the firmware etc which I was not told originally but that only took 2 or 3 days)