Kamo, Whangarei (DVB-T)

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hamisht

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Topic # 113765 27-Jan-2013 17:01

Hi there,

can anyone in Kamo get FreeviewHD? My sister just bought a house around the area Greenfingers is located. The house has a large UHF antenna and several coaxial cables coming out through the lounge, bedroom and sleepout..

I tried out the UHF cable into her Panasonic DVD/Freeview recorder, but no signal was found. I went under the house and it looks like it goes into a splitter box, and one of the output cables has been cut.. would that stop it from working?

I cut out the splitter box and went directly to the freeview box but still no signal. According to the Freeview coverage info, the street across the road is 'Very Likely' but her street is 'Unlikely'. Blimmin odd.

I also noticed the VHF antenna is spliced into the UHF antenna..

Would be cool to know if any locals are around who have had experience.

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m506/KaiGusto/IMG022_zps84b24461.jpg

Across the Road: http://i49.tinypic.com/rsr809.jpg
Her Road: http://i47.tinypic.com/2s6rber.jpg

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DarthKermit

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Reply # 751534 27-Jan-2013 17:07

Try eliminating the VHF from the circuit and see if that helps.

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hdinsider

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Reply # 751700 27-Jan-2013 23:15

Just confirming that the aerial is pointing to Mt Parahaki?

That's the only place Freeview DTT comes from up there. I know a lot of aerials in the Whanagarei area are aiming at the Horokaka transmitter.

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CYaBro

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Reply # 751714 28-Jan-2013 00:33

More likely the arials are pointing at hikurangi on that side of Kamo.
As already said you need to be pointed at parahaki for frevieew hd.
But where the house is going down that hill you may be in a dead spot.
Probably why the site says unlikely.
Can only try.

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Reply # 751724 28-Jan-2013 06:47

Hikurangi analog UHF is horizontal though so very unlikely that this install points to it.

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hamisht

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Reply # 751749 28-Jan-2013 08:58

Yeah it's not pointing to Hikurangi, but I will check the exact location it is pointing at just to be sure.. other houses in the area are going in the same location though.

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B1GGLZ

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Reply # 751755 28-Jan-2013 09:17

Try removing the VHF antenna comletely.
The UHF antenna is far to close to the VHF antenna which is having a serious effect on the UHF antenna's reception capability.
I had a similar situation with an install in a fringe area. With the antenna anywhere close to the VHF I got no signal. When I moved it about 4 metres away and installed by itself on a new mount on a barge board (and about 2 metres lower) I got around 80 -90% signal. Also that box under the aerials looks suspiciously like an amplifier. Find out if it is an if it is then make sure it has got power going to it.

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Reply # 751756 28-Jan-2013 09:20

Would be a good idea also to contact the previous owners and ask them how the system worked and what the signals were like.

hamisht

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Reply # 756497 6-Feb-2013 11:47

Just a slight update..

Got on the roof today and disconnected the VHF antenna, although I couldn't take it down completely because the nuts are rusted :(

this is what the VHF and UHF cables were going into:

http://www.imagebam.com/image/c5c6ec235895585

Disconnected the VHF but still no signal.. really don't know what else to do other than calling in a professional to see if either that box is buggered, or we just can't get the signal at our place.

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B1GGLZ

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Reply # 756544 6-Feb-2013 13:43

OK. Thats a Kingray masthead amplifier and needs a power supply connected at the TV end of the co-ax. The power supply plugpack is available from Jaycar. No power supply = no signal at the TV.

hamisht

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Reply # 756571 6-Feb-2013 14:35

There is a Kingray amplifier/power box on the wall in the lounge, but it has satellite plugs rather than UHF (makes me wonder if its the right thing for it)..

I bought a couple adapters to change the ends from Satellite to UHF, plugged them in and turned it on, but still no signal.

It looks a lot like this: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LT3287&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=yes&Keyword1=KJ8

but with only 1 Input and 2 Outputs.

Or is this what I should get?

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LT3258&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=yes&Keyword1=KJ8

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Reply # 756614 6-Feb-2013 16:12

hamisht: There is a Kingray amplifier/power box on the wall in the lounge, but it has satellite plugs rather than UHF (makes me wonder if its the right thing for it)..

Or is this what I should get?

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LT3258&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=yes&Keyword1=KJ8

The amplifier you show is a distribution amp which amplifies the signal from the antenna to multiple outputs and I'm pretty sure it doesn't supply power to the masthead amp as well. If it doesn't there will be no signal to amplify. You could check with a multimeter for 17v on the antenna input.

Get the Plugpack (LT3258) in your link from Jaycar, plugin to the wall, connect the co-ax from the antenna and the output direct to the TV.
If that works you can then consider using the other distribution amp.

Presumably as there are amps present the previous occupier must have had it all working?
Logically if it is all connected properly and everything is powered then it should work.

In fact your first starting point should be to bypass the masthead amp and run the antenna direct to the TV. Make sure the co-ax is RG6 and in very good condition. That should indicate what your starting signal strength is. Start improving from there with amp and splitters. The co-ax appears to be in good condition from what can be seen of it so should be OK but new RG6 (like they use for Sky dishes) is best.

Alternatively a professional installer could sort it out pretty rapidly as he would have all the right test equipment.

hamisht

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Reply # 756628 6-Feb-2013 16:53

Thanks very much for the suggestions.

When tuning in a television to FreeviewHD, do you get partial signals or is it you either get it, or you don't get it ?..

I might try and bypass the masthead box to see what happens..

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B1GGLZ

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Reply # 756687 6-Feb-2013 20:07

hamisht:
When tuning in a television to FreeviewHD, do you get partial signals or is it you either get it, or you don't get it ?..

You usually get it or don't get it.
Once tuned, if the signal is marginal you will get frequent pixellation and/or dropouts.
Manually tuning each channel should indicate the signal strength on screen.

Just re-read your original post and got some further questions.
Are you receiving analogue TV OK? If you have analogue OK it would indicate the amp has power.
If so, what channels?
Prime is on UHF so if you can receive Prime analogue then you should be able to tune Freeview.
How are you connecting the equipment. Should be antenna co-ax to DVD then to DVD to TV. DVD also to TV via HDMI.
What model of TV and DVD Recorder?

hamisht

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Reply # 756705 6-Feb-2013 20:41

Before we cut out the VHF antenna (which was connected to that Masthead box), we tried to tune in the Freeview via a Panasonic DVD/HDD/Freeview player, i'm sure of the exact model right at this moment, but it's fairly new.. can record a couple of shows at the same time apparently. It's just connected through the HDMI port (working as we can access the Setup menu).

I did try and tune it in via a smaller, 22" in Built-Freeview television, and we got some really bad signals, but nothing Digital.

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B1GGLZ

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Reply # 756736 6-Feb-2013 21:38

hamisht:
I did try and tune it in via a smaller, 22" in Built-Freeview television, and we got some really bad signals, but nothing Digital.

That would definitely indicate no power to the masthead amp and/or break in the co-ax circuit somewhere.