What DVB-T signal strength is needed?

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#620244 5-May-2012 19:24

I'm about 12km line of site from Waiatarua and I can get a signal OK on a Zinwell Tuner (plugged into the PC video capture card) with 1 metre of co-ax with a 12" jumper lead clipped on the inner conductor. Just have to move it about a bit to find a sweet spot.

peejayw

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#620253 5-May-2012 19:58

Aaargh! That is frustrating! I could spit to the transmitter from here. I wonder why signal strength increased as evening approached? Will retest everything tomorrow and see if anything has changed.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Jaxson

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#620318 6-May-2012 08:22

If you are really struggling, you'd want to consider a quick site survey of your area. Is your aerial in the best physical location on your property for instance. Something doesn't sound right with regards to how the aerial to cable connection is being made and/or how the signal is being sent and protected down to your device.

Check the connections start and end, check it's all one run, not split or with remains of an old amplifier/splitter etc in there.

Are you in a location where the box could receive more than one transmitter? That's been known to happen, where the box for whatever reason is actually tuned into something else, not the blindingly obvious tower right in front of you.... Check the tech specs inside the menus to find out exactly what channel it's pickup and make sure that's the ones your preferred transmitter is broadcasting.

B1GGLZ

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#620323 6-May-2012 08:34

peejayw: I had satellite before but changed to get HD. Its a new aerial, new cable, new fittings. Perfect line of sight with no obstruction. Signal quality is 93% if thats significant.

Stupid question!
It is a UHF antenna and RG6 co-ax direct from antenna to the TV? You didn't describe the antenna and co-ax.

peejayw

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#620330 6-May-2012 09:02

Yep new UHF antenna and cable supplied with it. Direct from antenna to freeview box.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Spyware

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#620344 6-May-2012 09:53

And was site survey done with a field strength meter?? to find best location for antenna.

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peejayw

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#620347 6-May-2012 09:56

Seriously? There was an existing J-pole up there on the roof apex, used that.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Spyware

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#620356 6-May-2012 10:11

peejayw: Seriously? There was an existing J-pole up there on the roof apex, used that.

Parahaki is only 630W (28 dBW) so any help you give things the better. Less than 0.5% of the power of Waiatarua. Incorrect polarisation would have reduced signal by a further one hundreth (20 dB) - odd how an installer got things that wrong. Also a field strength meter should have been used to test the install. I would get the installer back.

EDIT: sorry by installed you mean your own install. Have you even installed a UHF antenna. Maybe post a link to an image.

peejayw

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#620390 6-May-2012 11:42

Ross, this is the aerial I got. Still talking to the supplier about it, may try the bigger unit he sells when the rain stops :-)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=470208181

Pat

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

illicit

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#620410 6-May-2012 12:34

Get someone in to test the signal.

Just the same as you can have too little signal, you can also have too much. Also by moving the aerial 30cm you can go from a poor signal to a perfect one - aerials can be a bit of a dark art at times.

The quickest, easiest way to sort your issues is with a proper signal meter, or you can spend a lot of time back and forward on the forum, checking and adjusting this and that without knowing if its improving things or making it worse.

Between 30mins and an hour with the right equipment, a competent technician will be able to tell you if the location of your aerial is good enough or it should be moved, and what the signal is like at each junction between the aerial and TV and if anything needs changed. In my opinion you are just going in blind otherwise.

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#620413 6-May-2012 12:46

And the F type connectors have been crimped with a tool or simply pushed on??

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peejayw

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#620415 6-May-2012 12:47

The connectors were crimped on by the supplier.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

injuised

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#620560 6-May-2012 17:16

peejayw: No its a Dish TV aerial box Ultra T1050. Will get back on the roof tomorrow and test the cable continuity. Funny thing, now that it's evening I am getting 63-65% compared to 49-51% before. Is that of any significance?

id be ringing dishtv ??

B1GGLZ

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#620714 6-May-2012 22:56

injuised:
id be ringing dishtv ??

I'd be starting to wonder about the STB too.
I had a Dick Smith box that deteriorated and died at 2 yrs old. The replacement Zinwell has done the same.
Would be worth trying another box or a Freeview TV for comparison if all the cable checks out.
P.S. The cable in your picture looks suspiciously thin to be RG6. The antenna however should be fine.

Dkeeper

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#621037 7-May-2012 15:36

I have a neighbor with a terrestrial and using a GOG receiver. He seems to have random but regular audio loss for a few seconds when at lower volume levels.. GOG agents guessed that it miight also indicate a poor signal quality causing this.. do you have that problem with yours?

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