How to test for terrestrial signal before buying TV/decoder etc -- Putaruru

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › How to test for terrestrial signal before buying TV/decoder etc -- Putaruru

1 | 2

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#300478 20-Feb-2010 08:03

coffeebaron: Try adjusting the antenna direction a little and see if it improves. You will definitely be able to get Freeview from where you are; it may just require a bit of re-tuning or bigger antenna.
I suggest adjust antenna until you get best available Prime, then get a Freeview decoder. If you then still have issues, then upgrade the antenna.

The reason his prime is crap is he needs to provide power to the UHF amplifier/combiner

You only need one, and generally you install it on the nearest outlet to the aerial.

You local aerial store should be able to hook you up with one.

Morgenmuffel

639 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 58

Lifetime subscriber

#300489 20-Feb-2010 10:40

I didn't know it was an amplified thingie until i actually cracked the box open, i should have checked earlier but i had assumed (naively) something like that would have been left by the previous owners.

I'll have to get one from tradetech as i don't know of any aerial shops in Putaruru

Cheers

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

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3567

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#300529 20-Feb-2010 15:12

Do ya need VHF? I'd just connect through the UHF only. If ya need help, send me a PM (email) with your contact details and I can maybe drop round next week sometime for ya.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Morgenmuffel

639 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 58

Lifetime subscriber

#300552 20-Feb-2010 17:55

ok we went to Rotorua today

I got a splitter and a power supply thingie

with it plugged in Prime is sweet as, all other analogue channels are sweet as, except the canwest ones tv3 and TV3 is watchable but not great, and C4 is unwatchable.

Where exactly should I put the splitter as previously (I think) the splitter was between aerial and the amplifier,
eg
aerial --> splitter--> Amp --> TV

when I asked at the shop the guy said the splitter should be after the amp (Which I admit makes more sense)
eg
Aerial --> Amp --> Splitter --> TV

Unfortunatly (if I need to change the position of the splitter) I forgot to get some Co-ax connectors (or F connectors) to join up the cable where the old splitter was, any stores in Putaruru stock them or Tokoroa if I am really desperate as I don't feel like doing a big run and the wires are currently twisted together.

Thanks for the offer coffeebaron, I will let you know, as I think I have got it sussed, its just the splitter that I have to figure out, the canwest stations aren't massively important if I am going to be using freeview as they should be on there as well.

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

Morgenmuffel

639 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 58

Lifetime subscriber

#300579 20-Feb-2010 20:05

Also what is a good budget terrestrial receiver, we only have a couple of crappy old crts, and as we have just shifted money is tight as a tight thing

I notice the warehouse (according to the freeview site) has a sanyo one which does SDtv and HDtv
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/products/detail/sanyo_hd_receiver
(I assume sdtv is standard definition), which i think should work fin for me, but is there a better budget option?

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

Morgenmuffel

639 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 58

Lifetime subscriber

#301024 22-Feb-2010 15:07

And I am back yet again, what are the white, red and yellow ports on the back of a tv called, as the tv doesn't have hdmi or whatever that new fangled thing is called

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

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3567

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#301030 22-Feb-2010 15:26

nigelt74: And I am back yet again, what are the white, red and yellow ports on the back of a tv called, as the tv doesn't have hdmi or whatever that new fangled thing is called

White + Red is Audio
Yellow is video

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Morgenmuffel

639 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 58

Lifetime subscriber

#301038 22-Feb-2010 15:51

oops I should have said what is that scheme called, is it composite?

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

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#301039 22-Feb-2010 15:53

nigelt74: And I am back yet again, what are the white, red and yellow ports on the back of a tv called, as the tv doesn't have hdmi or whatever that new fangled thing is called

Red/Yellow/White are called composite connectors, ( generally they are also called crap connectors)

It will only give you a signal in Standard Def.

Terrestrial boxes are generally more expensive than sat boxes 'cause they will all do HD

kiwisat

147 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#301174 22-Feb-2010 19:17

Edit. Subject covered.

1 | 2