Kapiti Coast - Poor freeview signal options.

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Kapiti Coast - Poor freeview signal options.

samdouglas

203 posts

Master Geek

#105158 28-Jun-2012 10:38

So I contacted Clearvision and got an installer to come out to put the aerial i bought up on my roof.
He's just left and told me me that my aerial is fine but the signal isnt good enough here (I am in Raumati) and charged me $125 for the call out :(

Seemed a nice guy etc but obviously bummed ive just paid $125 for nothing.

The receipt basically says "Signal test with ts 43, signal extremely low, -3 on first band -2 on second and 3 band not registering".

Do I have any alternatives that arent gonna cost me much more to investigate? or is that low signal just game over for getting freeview? Have 2 freeview capable TVs in the house - one now has sky and the other is being used as a PC monitor in the meantime :(

wellygary

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#647505 28-Jun-2012 11:07

samdouglas: So I contacted Clearvision and got an installer to come out to put the aerial i bought up on my roof.
He's just left and told me me that my aerial is fine but the signal isnt good enough here (I am in Raumati) and charged me $125 for the call out :(

Seemed a nice guy etc but obviously bummed ive just paid $125 for nothing.

The receipt basically says "Signal test with ts 43, signal extremely low, -3 on first band -2 on second and 3 band not registering".

Do I have any alternatives that arent gonna cost me much more to investigate? or is that low signal just game over for getting freeview? Have 2 freeview capable TVs in the house - one now has sky and the other is being used as a PC monitor in the meantime :(

How many elements on your aerial?, what cable did you use to wire it in?

This map tends to indicate that you should get Freeview HD, where exactly are you in raumati, near the coast or SH1 http://freeviewnz.tv/userfiles/pdfs/Ngarara_Standalone_Freeview.pdf

You might need a higher gain aerial or it on a higher mast if you are in a dip, but I would doubt it

nickb800

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#647518 28-Jun-2012 11:21

Whereabouts are you? Are you in a localised dip?

Im installing one for my parent's new house in the Rimu Road area, and with a 43 element antenna lying on the ground the signal was just good enough for full freeview HD. (obviously I'm not going to leave it on the the path - but it suggests that once it is mounted off the roof and directed properly that there is plenty of signal)

samdouglas

203 posts

Master Geek

#647530 28-Jun-2012 11:37

yeah its odd, im not in a dip that i am aware of, we're actually a bit higher up than most of the neighbours.
The installer dude was quite surprised too - but said it was likely due to some trees that are a couple hundred feet away and blocking the signal...?

the aerial is good he said - similar to the biggest one his company sells, so dont think it's the aerial...

samdouglas

203 posts

Master Geek

#647531 28-Jun-2012 11:38

and and im just off Harry Shaw in between Raumati Beach and South

nickb800

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#647534 28-Jun-2012 11:53

Did he get up on the roof, or just test it from inside? Could be a cabling issue, especially if its split to multiple outlets through the house

sbiddle

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#647556 28-Jun-2012 12:27

Cyril7 used to live up there and knows the area well, he might be able to offer some advice if he sees this post.

samdouglas

203 posts

Master Geek

#647561 28-Jun-2012 12:34

he did get on the roof and tested the signal form up there with his meter.
Yeah I checked in with Cyril originally but he's moved to Wellington now and doesnt do site visits to the sunshine coast anymore ;)

What about other ways of getting freeview? isnt there a way to use a satellite dish?
alternative might just be to get another sky decoder, but thats aso gonna cost me a fortune to get it installed ($200ish apparently) and another $25 per week on top.

nothing is ever simple... or cheap :)

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cyril7

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#647569 28-Jun-2012 12:47

Hi Sam, if I am not mistaken there is a rise in the land immediate to the north of you which will obscure a view of Ngarara. I have had similar issues in William Drive (a bit further south) before. That part of Raumati is a bit fickle and satellite may be the only real option.

And yes you can get FreeView on satellite, if the house has an existing Sky dish then you all good to go, just need a FreeView satellite decoder.

Here is a suitable Satellite decoder

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/tvs-dvds/freeview-decoders/dtvs-dtvs-1b-freeview-approved-satellite-receiver/prod44303.html

Cheer
Cyril

samdouglas

203 posts

Master Geek

#647576 28-Jun-2012 13:06

thanks heaps cyril i will investigate!

cheers

Skolink

1081 posts

Uber Geek

#647614 28-Jun-2012 13:53

I assume there is no existing masthead amplifier wired in, but with no power supply?

I've also had an installer at my parents place say that the signal was bad on a particular outlet because it was 'rusty and corroded'. In actual fact it was because the splitter passed power to all ports, so when the second TV was plugged in it shorted out the masthead amplifier power supply plugged at the first TV.
Amusing though, my mum thought the connection was loose, so used a tissue to jam the signal lead in, thereby forming a high-pass filter and getting a reasonable signal.

cyril7

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#647619 28-Jun-2012 14:00

Its quite common in the area that sam is in that existing UHF antennas are about but cannot get FreeView UHF. Reason is that they were installed for TV3 and Prime that come from a different and much more elevated site that is quite visible in that area. However Ngarara is not as its just above sea level so easily obstructed.

Cyril