Troubleshooting DVB-T / UHF - Moving from Sky Satellite

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Rick0r

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#195689 29-Apr-2016 20:53

So I'm making the move from Sky Sat to the UHF based Freeview HD. For some reason, my TV (Recent Sony Bravia) is not picking up the digital UHF signal. I've never used the UHF aerial at this property, so I'm actually unsure if it's both pointed in the right direction, and if the attached cable is any good.

Before i call for assistance, I'm eager to do some initial troubleshooting.
Are there any analogue UHF broadcasts anymore that I could at least test my aerial and cable with?
Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

CodeSourcerer

138 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 49

#1544264 29-Apr-2016 21:32

I think analogue is dead.

Also, Freeview Coverage Maps should be useful.

ps2jak2

67 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 28

ID Verified

Subscriber

#1544265 29-Apr-2016 21:33

Not an expert in this field but a couple of things to verify. Unfortunately there is no analogue broadcasts anymore to test with and many older installs have degraded with age which might be most of your issues.

1.Firstly make sure the TV is setup for New Zealand if it has a location option as I've had TV's hooked up to known good aerial not work because of this. Also can you borrow a receiver thats known to work and pretuned for your transmitter ideally? - It does pay to check this if possible.

2.Confirm you have Freeview UHF coverage and then which transmitter you should be pointing at here (if the aerial is pointing the wrong way you will need to change direction and it might pay to just upgrade it if rusty and old). Coverage Maps (Freeview NZ). Keep in mind polarity matters so sometimes people have it pointed the right way but horizontal instead of vertical or vice versa.

3. You need to work out how everything's connected. Are there multiple outlets for UHF around the property? - If there are you need to locate the splitter and make sure there are no signal boosters that need power or anything, - if you find stuff like this you might be better off just getting the whole thing redone as in my experience without the setups history its much more difficult to deal with. To help everyone out, try and identify if its a single run or split, the type of cable used (RG 59 or RG 6), and if your OK with getting on the roof check the connections up there as things like water damage may have occured.

4. If you do find splitters and stuff and feel confident try and plug the aerial directly into the TV or a Freeview box by removing the splitter - you may have issues with it not having a belling lee plug but if you can get an adapter then try it as if it still doesn't work then at least you know it has to be upstream somewhere. Sometimes Sky used to install Sat dishes for digital by plugging it into the same cable that the UHF was carried on, and either used a duplexer or just disconnected it from the aerial all together though if you have a plug for the UHF inside ideally its still going to be connected at the other end. If you can work out how its connected, try and map it out for other posters, and depending on your area they might be able to put you in contact with an expert if you decide to go that route.

5. If the aerial looks really rusty and / or you identify RG59 cable and its anything longer than a couple of meters, I'd personally consider just rewiring the damn thing and possibly wacking a new aerial up because chances are if you have that type of cable the aerials going to be ancient too. If your planning on using UHF for a solid amount of time then this will pay for itself compared to a Sky Bill and give you peace of mind for years to come.

turb

880 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 135

#1544345 30-Apr-2016 05:31

ps2jak2:
Not an expert in this field but a couple of things to verify. Unfortunately there is no analogue broadcasts anymore to test with and many older installs have degraded with age which might be most of your issues.

1.Firstly make sure the TV is setup for New Zealand if it has a location option as I've had TV's hooked up to known good aerial not work because of this. Also can you borrow a receiver thats known to work and pretuned for your transmitter ideally? - It does pay to check this if possible.

2.Confirm you have Freeview UHF coverage and then which transmitter you should be pointing at here (if the aerial is pointing the wrong way you will need to change direction and it might pay to just upgrade it if rusty and old). Coverage Maps (Freeview NZ). Keep in mind polarity matters so sometimes people have it pointed the right way but horizontal instead of vertical or vice versa.

3. You need to work out how everything's connected. Are there multiple outlets for UHF around the property? - If there are you need to locate the splitter and make sure there are no signal boosters that need power or anything, - if you find stuff like this you might be better off just getting the whole thing redone as in my experience without the setups history its much more difficult to deal with. To help everyone out, try and identify if its a single run or split, the type of cable used (RG 59 or RG 6), and if your OK with getting on the roof check the connections up there as things like water damage may have occured.

4. If you do find splitters and stuff and feel confident try and plug the aerial directly into the TV or a Freeview box by removing the splitter - you may have issues with it not having a belling lee plug but if you can get an adapter then try it as if it still doesn't work then at least you know it has to be upstream somewhere. Sometimes Sky used to install Sat dishes for digital by plugging it into the same cable that the UHF was carried on, and either used a duplexer or just disconnected it from the aerial all together though if you have a plug for the UHF inside ideally its still going to be connected at the other end. If you can work out how its connected, try and map it out for other posters, and depending on your area they might be able to put you in contact with an expert if you decide to go that route.

5. If the aerial looks really rusty and / or you identify RG59 cable and its anything longer than a couple of meters, I'd personally consider just rewiring the damn thing and possibly wacking a new aerial up because chances are if you have that type of cable the aerials going to be ancient too. If your planning on using UHF for a solid amount of time then this will pay for itself compared to a Sky Bill and give you peace of mind for years to come.

I've been thinking for a while that we need a sticky on this forum that points people in the right direction (haha).
This is basically it - maybe with a few pictures showing the different antennae, polarity, and connectors?
Well done mate.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

ps2jak2

67 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 28

ID Verified

Subscriber

#1544369 30-Apr-2016 08:05

10 Minute Paint Diagram I made - could probably be improved upon. Also to mods / anyone I am happy for my post to be used as a sticky with / without adjustments if desired.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 136

#1544381 30-Apr-2016 09:04

turb:

I've been thinking for a while that we need a sticky on this forum that points people in the right direction (haha).
This is basically it - maybe with a few pictures showing the different antennae, polarity, and connectors?
Well done mate.

Or they could just go to the Freeviewnz support page which has a complete overview and how to get it.

http://www.freeviewnz.tv/support/