Checking UHF aerial is working

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Checking UHF aerial is working

OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#150604 28-Jul-2014 10:42

Is there anyway to do this, without having to get an aerial specialist out?
We have both a sky dish and a UHF aerial on the roof and have had sky TV in the lounge since we moved in 18 months ago - but we've just bought a freeview unit to put in the bedroom.
I drilled a hole in the wall between the lounge and bedroom, fed the cable through the wall to the bedroom and set it all up to the TV only to get a "Can't find any channels, please check aerial connection" message on the TV - I've double checked everything is set up ok, so it must be the aerial.

can you plug a multimeter or something into the aerial sto see if any signal is comingthrough?

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222 posts

Master Geek

#1097013 28-Jul-2014 11:42

The best way would be to pay a tech to fix this issue, or you can pick up a cheap 'signal' meter from TradeMe or any electrical wholesaler and check the signal yourself. Using a standard multimeter won't help find your channels.

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OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1097020 28-Jul-2014 11:59

overkill: The best way would be to pay a tech to fix this issue, or you can pick up a cheap 'signal' meter from TradeMe or any electrical wholesaler and check the signal yourself. Using a standard multimeter won't help find your channels.

yeah - might have to get someone to look at it.... when I drilled the hole I had to 'un-screw' the actual connector bit and once I got the cable through the hole I re-connected the plug connector so I'm not sure if that'e the problem or not... I just want to know if the problem is at the aerial end or at the end in the bedroom...

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1097045 28-Jul-2014 13:02

Stupid question. Have you confirmed you are in a UHF reception area and that your antenna is indeed UHF?

bfginger

1237 posts

Uber Geek

#1097080 28-Jul-2014 13:19

A Freeview receiver should have a signal strength monitor feature.

OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1097097 28-Jul-2014 13:34

B1GGLZ: Stupid question. Have you confirmed you are in a UHF reception area and that your antenna is indeed UHF?

Yes to both.....

Spyware

3261 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1097099 28-Jul-2014 13:37

Is coaxial cable stranded core or solid core??

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OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1097101 28-Jul-2014 13:39

bfginger: A Freeview receiver should have a signal strength monitor feature.

I will check but it just comes up with "no channels found, check connection" when I use the Auto Tune on the freeview box - I can always try a manual tune and see if that makes a difference?

Gordy7

1744 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1097102 28-Jul-2014 13:40

... bought a freeview unit ....

Freeview TV?
Freeview UHF Decoder?
Freeview Satellite Decoder?

Cheers

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1097107 28-Jul-2014 13:51

Spyware: Is coaxial cable stranded core or solid core??

I've got no idea what you mean sorry.... when I unscrew the connector there is a pointy needle thing and some other wire sticking out (looks like loose wire from a pot scourer pad or something)

The needle thing fits into the connector and tightens with a very small screw then the plastic casing bit goes on top and I scew the 2 bits together - not really sure what the wire sticking is for, or where it goes.... maybe I'll take some photos tonight and post them on here?

Spyware

3261 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1097108 28-Jul-2014 13:53

We don't need photos. Sounds like solid core into a Belling Lee plug. Make sure you have no shorts.

OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1097109 28-Jul-2014 13:57

Gordy7: ... bought a freeview unit ....

Freeview TV?
Freeview UHF Decoder?
Freeview Satellite Decoder?

Cheers

we have a TV (no freeview) and bought a Freeview Hard Drive / DVD recorder unit - the man in the shop says they run off a UHF aerial and there is only a UHF aerial connection at the back of the freevbview unit - not a sattelite dish connection.

I have connected the freeview unit to the TV ok and the picture comes up on the TV ok so that's not the issue - it just can't find any channels and asks to check aerial connection

OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1097117 28-Jul-2014 13:59

Spyware: We don't need photos. Sounds like solid core into a Belling Lee plug. Make sure you have no shorts.

well that may be my problem - how would I test for shorts or anything?

Bung

5432 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1097119 28-Jul-2014 14:11

Make sure that the plastic bit with the screw is tight against the insulation around the centre wire and none of the "pot scrubber wire" is caught in the gap.

How does your aerial look compared with neighbouring houses, is it pointing towards the same place? It may have been twisted by the wind.

Spyware

3261 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1097121 28-Jul-2014 14:14

Also the cable you describe may simply be a fly lead, i.e., not identify the cable in the wall.

jtan

122 posts

Master Geek

#1097137 28-Jul-2014 14:42

We found shortly after moving into our new place a similar story - There is a clearly marked 'UHF' aerial port in the wall of the lounge but after connecting the TV to it (which has a built in Freeview receiver) we got 'no signal found'.

I had a look up on the roof and can't seem to spot an aerial, funny how we assume that these things are 'just going to be there'... typically me and my partner don't watch all too much TV but I have thought recently that it might be good to get it eventually sorted at some point. Does anyone here have any recommendations for a Freeview installer for the Wellington City region, and/or a rough estimate of costs to get an aerial installed if required?

Thanks

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