Freeview oddness

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zkarj

36 posts

Geek

#171402 16-Apr-2015 19:19

Running a (rubbish) Dish TV aerialBox T1050PVR with a cheapie indoor amplified aerial.

Initially (for months) everything was fine. Lately the signal has been really badly stuttering. In the last two days that has largely been cured for TV3 (our most watched channel by far) but the TVNZ channels are completely useless. Both channels and their plus one counterparts will play for a second or two and then freeze and the receiver now reports loss of signal for those channels.

I cannot fathom anything that has changed in the last couple of days and I have tried a power cycle with no change.

Any ideas what to do?

richms

28168 posts

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#1285805 16-Apr-2015 19:21

Move the unsuitable antenna for your location closer to a window.

Get a suitable antenna.

Richard rich.ms

butlerboy

457 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1285810 16-Apr-2015 20:03

indoor aerials are complete rubbish, get an outdoor one if possible.

zkarj

36 posts

Geek

#1286160 17-Apr-2015 11:33

Even though the unsuitable, complete rubbish antenna was happily serving up the channels for months previously?

RunningMan

8953 posts

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#1286232 17-Apr-2015 13:01

zkarj: Even though the unsuitable, complete rubbish antenna was happily serving up the channels for months previously?

I think you've answered your own question there. Basically, your symptoms are consistent with a low signal level. With digital, you either get enough signal, or you don't, so a minor variation can be the difference between getting a picture and not. Different channels are on different muxes (frequencies) and it's pretty common for one to be slightly stronger than the others and manage to break through.

A new building, or even a tree growing between you and the transmitter could be enough to lower the signal just enough to stop your reception.

littleheaven

2130 posts

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#1286319 17-Apr-2015 14:26

I was having much the same issue, except for me the TVNZ channels were okay but 3 & 4 kept disappearing. You're definitely suffering from weak signal. I got someone qualified to sort it for me - turns out my signal was borderline at best because the old VHF antenna and the UHF antenna were patched together and all the connectors were rusted out, and the cables oxidising. After removing the VHF, stripping the cable back re-connecting the UHF antenna to the healthy bit, I have 10/10 quality and strength on every frequency. Totally worth the cost.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

MikeB4

18435 posts

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#1286322 17-Apr-2015 14:31

Try rescanning if that does not work get an outside antenna.

zkarj

36 posts

Geek

#1286559 17-Apr-2015 21:17

Oddly, my wife points out, all recorded programs from TV1&2 are fine. Live, they're still useless.

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littleheaven

2130 posts

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#1286587 17-Apr-2015 21:46

zkarj: Oddly, my wife points out, all recorded programs from TV1&2 are fine. Live, they're still useless.

Before I got my antenna fixed, mine was the same. It was like having the telly on was enough interference to kill the signal. Things recorded when I wasn't watching tended to be okay.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.