Freeview Problem

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UrbanMyth

120 posts

Master Geek
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Topic # 111454 3-Nov-2012 23:06

Lately, we have started having a lot of problems with Freeview in the house we are renting.
Often the receiver reports that there is no signal. This can happen in stormy weather, but also on clear sunny days. It will work in the morning, then if you go to change channel later, all channels have no signal. Then with no weather change later in the day it works fine.

I have tried deleting the satellite set-up, and adding a new one. This does nothing. I have tried isolating the receiver and using the TV's own inbuilt freeview, but this ends up really block and unwatchable

We live in Taranaki, and I don't know much about Freeview so I am not sure where to start.

The receiver is a Zinwell DV3.

The TV with inbuilt Freeview is a Panasonic42" U series

AidanS

442 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 135

Reply # 711568 3-Nov-2012 23:27

Well if you are getting issues on two different receivers then the problem starts from the cable at the back of your Box/TV all the way to your roof mounted device.

1) Check cabling is in good condition, not chewed, frayed or otherwise damaged.

2) Check the connectors at both ends to see if they are secure.

3) Check if you can actually get signal from your place/direction your equipment is facing

Has this problem started happening recently or have you never had a good quality picture?

Just to confirm are you using a Satellite or a UHF aerial (the fish-skeleton looking one)?

-Aidan

UrbanMyth

120 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

Reply # 711572 3-Nov-2012 23:39

Problem has only recently started occurring.

We are using satellite dish. I have no idea however which direction it should be pointing. I don't think it is lose but I will check this tomorrow (as well as the cable attachments)

hdinsider

546 posts

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Reply # 711599 4-Nov-2012 01:36

The tv will be designed for Freeview UHF so should be plugged into a UHF aerial and not a satellite dish.

The satellite receiver should be connected to the dish. There are many reasons why the dish might not be working well. The lnb in the satellite dish requires power from the satellite decoder. It runs up the coax cable to the dish and so needs good connections to get the power up to the dish. If the dish is an old oval shaped sky one, the lnb could be off frequency. They do this when they get old. It is worth trying to change the lnb frequency set in the decoder to 10745 or 10740 instead of 10750 if this is the case, as it might then lock to the channels better. Another possibility is that the dish could be off target, causing the signal to be low.

If you are in a good Freeview uhf area, it would be better to set up a UHF aerial direct to the tv and avoid the dish/decoder altogether. The picture quality will be better, and the signal will be more robust in bad weather. Check on the freeviewnz.tv website maps to see if you have got the potential to get good UHF coverage. You could even put a small UHF aerial in the ceiling space or on the wall.

Good luck!

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

UrbanMyth

120 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

Reply # 711664 4-Nov-2012 10:57

Ok, I have d/l the manual for the receiver just to make sure it is all connected correctly (up till now, I was winging it); which it was.

Double checked the connections to the decoder and also at the satellite dish end - all seemed secure. The dish is secure and appears to be pointing in the right direction... used the neighbours dish as a reference

I then configured a User Satellite with the frequency set to 10745. It seems to have picked up this morning - whereas the default freq of 10750 was picking up nothing.

Will see how this goes..

I did discover something in my noobness of Freeview. The cable that goes to the decoder has a weird type of connection, which the TV has no connector for. Ideally I would like to connect the TV to the dish direct... what do I need?

The decoder is a Zinwell ZMX 7500 and the TV model is a Panasonic P42U20Z

Thanks for the help so far :)

RunningMan

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Reply # 711672 4-Nov-2012 11:04

There are two types of Freeview

1) Satellite - DVB-S. Your Zinwell box can receive this with a sat dish.

2) UHF - Freeview|HD. Your TV will be able to recieve this with the correct aerial, assuming you are in a coverage area.

Have a look at http://freeviewnz.tv/ to give you the basics.

If you are getting a satellite signal by altering the LNB settings from 10750 to 10745 it is almost 100% certain that the LNB is failing on your dish and needs to be replaced.

The LNB is the little box of electronics on the end of the arm in front of the dish that receives the signal reflected from the dish itself.

If that is the case, these guys (amongst many others) will be able to supply you a new one.

alasta

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Reply # 711673 4-Nov-2012 11:05

UrbanMyth: I did discover something in my noobness of Freeview. The cable that goes to the decoder has a weird type of connection, which the TV has no connector for. Ideally I would like to connect the TV to the dish direct... what do I need?

The decoder is a Zinwell ZMX 7500 and the TV model is a Panasonic P42U20Z

This isn't possible as the receiver built into your TV will be designed for UHF (terrestrial) service and this cannot be received via satellite. You'll need a UHF aerial if you want to use your TV's receiver, otherwise if you want to continue using the satellite service then you'll need to keep using your set top box.

If you have any further problems then you're probably best to get an expert out to check the alignment and test the LNB in the dish as they will have specialist equipment to do this.

grant_k

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Reply # 711675 4-Nov-2012 11:09

UrbanMyth: I then configured a User Satellite with the frequency set to 10745. It seems to have picked up this morning - whereas the default freq of 10750 was picking up nothing.

This sounds very similar to the problem I had earlier in the year. If you go out to your dish and have a look at the LNB and see what brand it says on the label. If by any chance it is SHARP with an elliptical-shaped lens on the front (rather than circular), I would be pretty sure that this was originally installed by Sky, and its LO may be drifting. Mine would work OK at night, and early in the morning, but not for several hours during late morning and afternoon on sunny days. Replaced with a new LNB and adaptor bracket from Freeview Shop and all good with totally bullet-proof reception even during torrential downpours.

UrbanMyth

120 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 711875 4-Nov-2012 19:35

Had a look at the dish... I can't see the brand of it, but it is definitely eliptical

Problem may be averted.. I have spoken to the landlord and he is quite happy for us to get a UHF aerial installed and billed to him :D

alasta

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Reply # 711897 4-Nov-2012 20:48

UrbanMyth: Had a look at the dish... I can't see the brand of it, but it is definitely eliptical

Problem may be averted.. I have spoken to the landlord and he is quite happy for us to get a UHF aerial installed and billed to him :D

That's great to hear. Personally I think that all landlords should treat a working TV dish/aerial as essential building infrastructure, but unfortunately a lot of them don't.

UrbanMyth

120 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

Reply # 711949 4-Nov-2012 22:41

alasta:
UrbanMyth: Had a look at the dish... I can't see the brand of it, but it is definitely eliptical

Problem may be averted.. I have spoken to the landlord and he is quite happy for us to get a UHF aerial installed and billed to him :D

That's great to hear. Personally I think that all landlords should treat a working TV dish/aerial as essential building infrastructure, but unfortunately a lot of them don't.

The landlord - like me - is a bit of a geek and very IT inclined. He could see the sense in moving away from the satellite and towards getting a UHF aerial - primarily for the Hi-Def aspect :)

UrbanMyth

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Master Geek
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Reply # 713309 7-Nov-2012 07:20

Update to this.. aerial man came round yesterday. We now have HD Freeview and can lose the decoder remote now... win/win :D

Thank you all for your help :)