TV Aerials ?

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Kelem

188 posts

Master Geek

#105961 15-Jul-2012 10:34

On the roof i have a UHF and VHF aerial, from memory these run into a combiner, then the signal comes into the house via one cable, i have got rid of my last old school TV and replaced it with a TV with built in DVB-T, i get pretty good pictures on most all apart from TV 3 and 3 plus 1 (Auckland / Waiatarua)

I have a couple of questions, am i right in amusing i could get up on the roof and disconnect the VHF leaving only the UHF and possibly get a better picture on the missing channels, the cable has a power injector on it and FM filter.

Thanks CW

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#655982 15-Jul-2012 14:11

Kelem:

I have a couple of questions, am i right in amusing i could get up on the roof and disconnect the VHF leaving only the UHF and possibly get a better picture on the missing channels, the cable has a power injector on it and FM filter.

Thanks CW

Most likely yes but not guaranteed. Depends on location and other factors.
Ditch the VHF and combiner.
Ideally you should have only a UHF antenna and good quality RG6 co-ax direct to the TV.
What is the power injector for?

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#656001 15-Jul-2012 14:58

Are you sure you have tuned and are watching digital channels? Either you get them or you don't, no such thing really as "bad" reception for digital.

The TV should show in the channel information if you are on DTV or analogue

Most TV's still have an analogue (old style signal) tuner in them. Suggest you do a re-scan of the available channels and if possible in the scan menu select 'digital' only.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Behodar

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#656002 15-Jul-2012 15:03

scuwp: Are you sure you have tuned and are watching digital channels? Either you get them or you don't, no such thing really as "bad" reception for digital.

With a marginal signal you can get pictures with intermittent multi-coloured stripes, but otherwise OK. When it comes to digital, there really is a "sort of" between "working" and "not working".

As far as I know, 3+1 is a digital-only channel which would indicate that it's definitely on digital.

Kelem

188 posts

Master Geek

#656037 15-Jul-2012 16:50

Thank you for those replys, so far as the injector goes i couldn't say it was all set up when we renovated some years ago by someone with alot more knowledge than me, The channels when present are digital i believe, pushing the "info" button displays 576i and HEE something on various channels, i can't find any analogue channels at all.
Now the weather has turned a bit for the worse here and started raining, the picture has disappeared pretty much all together when i does come on its very "blocky" and freezes alot.

Thanks again

Jaxson

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#656054 15-Jul-2012 17:37

It's probably a mast head amp, which often do the same as a diplexer but amplify the signal as well and require a power supply. Try a direct line from the UHF aerial and you may find you don't even need the amplifier.

With a marginal signal it's possible to receive just some of the digital channels if you can only receive one mux out of the 3. And there is a section where you can just get the channel to lock but it breaks up a fair bit.

Kelem

188 posts

Master Geek

#656087 15-Jul-2012 18:30

Try a direct line from the UHF aerial and you may find you don't even need the amplifier.

I did try connecting the cables straight through to the new TV without the power injector and FM filter, but alas no change, i will get on the roof when the rain stops and disconnect the VHF aerial in hope that helps.

Thank you

Jaxson

8041 posts

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#656098 15-Jul-2012 18:55

Kelem:
Try a direct line from the UHF aerial and you may find you don't even need the amplifier.

I did try connecting the cables straight through to the new TV without the power injector and FM filter, but alas no change, i will get on the roof when the rain stops and disconnect the VHF aerial in hope that helps.

Thank you

To test the above you will need to create one single length of cable direct from the UHF aerial to the TV, not with the 'combiner' still in place.

I had a similar setup at my house and was able to obtain a full strength signal with no amplifier once the existing masthead amplifier had been removed from the system and a single cable run connecting the UHF aerial direct to the TV, and all out legs to other unused wall outlets disconnected.

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Kelem

188 posts

Master Geek

#656110 15-Jul-2012 19:23

To test the above you will need to create one single length of cable direct from the UHF aerial to the TV, not with the 'combiner' still in place.

I will definitely give this a crack, once the weather picks up and the wife has gone out for a while.

Just to be sure i take the cable straight from aerial itself to the TV and without the inline power injector and FM filter?

Thank you

Jaxson

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#656134 15-Jul-2012 19:55

Kelem: i take the cable straight from aerial itself to the TV and without the inline power injector and FM filter?

Yes try this first. It can't hurt to test it like this and on a good day you might get lucky and not need anything else. You have nothing to lose trying it at least.