Loranz freeview receiver LZ0031STB-USB setup problem

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MHarvison

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 128664 18-Aug-2013 18:48

Hi,

Thanks in advance, don't know much about these things so we're having some trouble!

We just bought a Loranz freeview receiver LZ0031STB-USB from Dick Smith. We've now got it home and tried to connect it, but can't get any channel! It's plugged into the UHF aerial cable, the initial instalation menu comes up, all the settings are the same as the instruction manual, it scans for channels, but it then comes up "database empty" and there are no channels at all!

Does anyone have any ideas? We've done the factory reset a few times and checked all the cables, but have now run out of ideas.

Thanks very much!

Monique

Spyware

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Reply # 880712 18-Aug-2013 20:09

Most likely no signal. Please tell us exactly where in the country you are and the name of your nearest transmitter.

Ross

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MHarvison

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 880730 18-Aug-2013 21:28

Hi,

Thanks for reply. We are in Wilton, Wellington, from what I can tell we should have pretty good coverage from the Kaukau transmitter (we're on the outside of a hill, near the top, not hidden down in a gully...).

Thanks,

Monique

robjg63

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Reply # 880736 18-Aug-2013 21:41

Do you normally get Prime/Maori TV over this aerial?

Hardly a fool proof check - but those channels are broadcast on the UHF band (as opposed to TVNZ/TV3 which are on VHF). As a rough rule of thumb, as the Freeview HD signals are also broadcast on UHF it would be a good thing if you also got Moari TV/Prime clearly on that aerial.

Do the neighbors get freeview HD ok?
Is your aerial pointing in the same direction?

Hmm - you do have the aerial lead plugged in to the RF in socket?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 880766 18-Aug-2013 23:14

robjg63: Do you normally get Prime/Maori TV over this aerial?

Hardly a fool proof check - but those channels are broadcast on the UHF band (as opposed to TVNZ/TV3 which are on VHF). As a rough rule of thumb, as the Freeview HD signals are also broadcast on UHF it would be a good thing if you also got Moari TV/Prime clearly on that aerial.

Do the neighbors get freeview HD ok?
Is your aerial pointing in the same direction?

Hmm - you do have the aerial lead plugged in to the RF in socket?

+1
and what sort of antenna do you have?

MHarvison

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 880981 19-Aug-2013 13:16

Hi,

No, we don't usually get Maori TV or Prime. I'll check with the neighbours when I get home tonight whether their reception is OK. We're the bottom flat and share the aerial with the upstairs flat, so if that is the problem I guess they should be in the same situation.

It's definitely plugged into the RF in socket, and definitely a UHF antenna (a friend checked, although I don't know if there are sub-types?).

Thanks for all the advice!

Monique

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 881044 19-Aug-2013 15:03

Well according to the Freeview coverage maps here
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/coverage/coverage-maps.aspx
you should be in a good coverage area so I don't understand why you can't get a signal.
Either you have the wrong antenna or the antenna is not connected to the wall socket.
If you can't receive Maori or prime then you won't get freeview. What analogue channels are you watching now and what quality.
If the antenna really is a UHF one then reception of some of your current channels should be pretty bad as they are all VHF except Maori and Prime.

robjg63

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Reply # 881088 19-Aug-2013 15:56

A UHF antenna is either a smaller one - shorter elements - or if its a combination VHF/UHF then they have a mix of long and short elements.

Sometimes its quite possible to get OK VHF TV reception off just a long piece of wire - so its possible that its not connected all the way to the aerial...

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

MHarvison

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 881809 20-Aug-2013 20:52

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies.

It seems that maybe our aerial is a combination UHF/VHF, we get channels 1, 2 and 3 fairly good, although reception is a bit patchy when it's windy. We can only get a super fuzzy version of Prime and Maori, almost complete static.

The landlord is going to get someone in to have a look at the aerial connection and check that it's properly connected, and to check if there's actually any coverage here although like you say from the coverage maps it looks to be well covered and we're up high, not in a gully at all.

Thanks again for all the tips and explanations, will update once it has been inspected.

Thanks!

Monique

JimmyH

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Reply # 881823 20-Aug-2013 21:10

MHarvison: [...] We can only get a super fuzzy version of Prime and Maori, almost complete static. [...]

Monique

OK, based on that it seems pretty clear the problem lies with the aerial and the quality of signal you are getting. I hope the landlord is prepared to do something about it.

If the issue is that you can't get a good signal because of where you are, rather than because there is a fault with the aerial, then your fall back is the satellite option. Which is what I had to sort for an elderly relative living in the reception shadow of a hill. The good news is works OK, although the picture quality isn't as good. The bad news is that the Loranz unit won't work on a satellite hookup.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 881855 20-Aug-2013 21:51

MHarvison: Hi,

It seems that maybe our aerial is a combination UHF/VHF, we get channels 1, 2 and 3 fairly good, although reception is a bit patchy when it's windy. We can only get a super fuzzy version of Prime and Maori, almost complete static.

Monique

In that case it sounds like a combination Low Band/High Band VHF combination with no UHF component at all which explains why your Prime and Maori reception is fuzzy. It's no good for Freeview.
UHF antennae look like this
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/digital-terrestrial/terrestrial-aerials-c-11.html
One of these should solve your problem.

MHarvison

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 889170 3-Sep-2013 18:52

Hi everyone,

Just to say thanks again for all the advice!

The landlord was really great and sent someone to have a look at the aerial, turns out that the aerial plug in the wall wasn't actually attached to an aerial anymore, just a long cable in the wall which meant that we got reception previously. So today they attached an aerial and now everything is working fine, so much better than before! :)

So just wanted to say a big thank you for all the help, it was great being able to explain the potential problems/troubleshooting steps to her, definitely made things quicker and easier.

And hopefully this post might be useful to someone else in the future.

Thanks!!!

Monique

Mischief

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Geek
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Reply # 889200 3-Sep-2013 19:47

Hi. I have the same sort of problem, with the exception that I finally got a good picture.

Sat down and watched Sonett Sports....no problems. Next day, switched it back on, and nothing, zip, zilch. Just a fun message saying no signal.

Checked & rechecked connections.....couldn't find any issues.

I have a new UHF aerial installed, as well as new coax for main tv upstairs. (Professionally installed)

I put a 3-way splitter box in, and as above, got a great picture downstairs (eventually). There are no issues with the picture upstairs at all. Have tried both tvs on at once, as well as separately - no luck for downstairs.

I am thinking it could be a faulty unit.

Does anyone else have any suggestions??

Thanks. (I hope this doesn't appear to be a hi-jack - it seems its the same sort of problem as the original poster had)

Spyware

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Reply # 889492 4-Sep-2013 10:05

More likely faulty terminations given you did it yourself??, did you use a crimping tool??

Ross

Spark FibreMAX using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+

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PLawrence

1 post

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 911362 9-Oct-2013 13:38

Hi there, I'm having exactly the same problem as Monique had, with the same type and number of set top box from Dick Smith and an indoor aerial which is also from Dick Smith. (This is for the TV in my bedroom - I live in Lyall Bay in Wellington, and our main TV in the lounge has been getting Freeview off an outside aerial for over a year now with no problems.) I just went to Dick Smiths now, and the guy there told me that that particular type of set top box may be faulty, as a lot of customers havehad problems with it. He said if I bring it into the store, they can exchange it for another type, so I'll try that.

Mischief

40 posts

Geek
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Reply # 911395 9-Oct-2013 14:36

Yep.....ended up taking mine back to NL.

They replaced it without any problems.

New one works a treat