Freeview low signal boost

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Tiger1970

160 posts

Master Geek

#114000 4-Feb-2013 16:18

Hi guys just wondering where i can get a booster from and what it does.

I installed a uhf aerial on my house for freeview HD it works but the signal on the channels are quite low, Channel 33 has 34% signal strength Channel 35 has about 15% signal strength and channel 37 has about 9% signal strength.

I am in wanganui i do not have line of sight of the towers but i have aligned it the best and this is the best signal strength i could get.

What do i need to make the signal better.

Currently i only have 1 tv plugged into it but i would like to add a second if possible?

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#755663 4-Feb-2013 16:27

It might pay to go and work out where your aerial is pointing. Wanganui has a small transmitter at Mt Jowett, however there is coverage available from Wharite (Palmy) to a lot of the of city, along with some signals that may make it down from Taranaki too.

DSE along with Jaycar at least will have plug in type UHF signal boosters if that is what you are after

regards

Knoydart

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#755717 4-Feb-2013 18:28

One of these would do the job.
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LT3255&keywords=mast+amp&form=KEYWORD

Spyware

3762 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#755732 4-Feb-2013 18:53

Wharite is vertical, Jowett horizontal polarity. Getting polarity wrong will lose 20 dB.

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JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#755746 4-Feb-2013 19:19

If possible, you want a masthead amplifier rather than one located between the outlet and the TV.

Brunzy

2016 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#755769 4-Feb-2013 20:21

"What do i need to make the signal better".

Preferably someone with a spectrum analyser to walk your roof & put it in the optimum position.
There is a fair chance if you are in a shaded location you could double your signal that way & may not need an amp.
A masthead amp is not the b all & end all ,that should be your last resort not the first.

Tiger1970

160 posts

Master Geek

#756190 5-Feb-2013 17:10

What type of amplifiers are there?

My aerial is in the best spot possible it is because i am a reasonable distance away from the towers have already tried palmy and taranaki transmitters with no luck from either have very weak signals.

Starting to think an amplifier is the best option?
Or how about another aerial altogether went to DSE today and they recommended using a phased array aerial?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#756193 5-Feb-2013 17:17

Tiger1970: What type of amplifiers are there?

My aerial is in the best spot possible it is because i am a reasonable distance away from the towers have already tried palmy and taranaki transmitters with no luck from either have very weak signals.

Starting to think an amplifier is the best option?
Or how about another aerial altogether went to DSE today and they recommended using a phased array aerial?

In a non LOS situation you're not going to know if it's in the best spot without a signal meter, as reflections from DVB-T can deliver very good results. You could go and buy a mast head amp and find that it does nothing to fix the issue.

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B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#756220 5-Feb-2013 19:01

You haven't said if you installed new RG6 co-ax with the antenna.
Can you confirm you have new antenna, new RG6 co-ax and direct to TV from antenna?
That plus finding the sweet spot and best aiming direction on the roof will give the best possible result before resorting to an amplifier or different antennae.
If an amplifier is needed go for a masthead amp and not an indoor distribution amp.
A masthead amp amplifies the signal at the antenna. An amp at the TV end of the co-ax amplifies the signal plus any noise and interference picked up by the co-ax as well.

Tiger1970

160 posts

Master Geek

#756545 6-Feb-2013 13:44

Yes everything i installed was brand new.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#756618 6-Feb-2013 16:37

OK.
Just looked at coverage maps and depending on your location you will get signal from either Mt Jowett or Palmerston North. In town Mt Jowett seems best but to NW or SE Wharite appears better.
When you tried Palmy did you rotate the antenna to vertical polarisation?
Your signal strengths indicate the antenna is performing better on the lower channels but not the upper channels. A masthead amp should help but that can't be guaranteed.
Best solution is get a pro with all the correct equipment to determine best solution.

steadycliffn

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#763460 16-Feb-2013 16:33

hi guys i also live in Wanganui out castlecliff and i also had freeview HD but until recently had been using the transmitter at Mount Jowett only getting about 33% signal from there, then i read that it could be turned across the river as there was a transmitter there that apparently had been boosted and used to broadcast freeview. I changed the polarity of my aerial now vertical and pointed it in the direction of the other transmitter. i now have 90+% signal is this from the tower in Wanganui which is apparently also being used for freeview along with Mt Jowett? or is it the transmitter in Palmy i am receiving very good signal from?

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#763549 16-Feb-2013 19:34

Yes Wharite (above Palmerston North) is on the opposite polarity (Vertical). Mt Jowett is the only Freeview transmitter site in Wanganui, but as you've experience, Wharite (along with Mt Taranaki & Kaukau at times) provide the majority of Wanganui Freeview (and Igloo) services.