Intermittent pixilation on some channels for a couple of weeks

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RustyViewer

296 posts

Ultimate Geek

#201960 11-Sep-2016 19:07

I have been getting intermittent pixilation on some channels for about a couple of weeks but not all.

I have no problem with TV1,2 or Duke.

I have problems with 3,4, The Edge and maybe others but I haven't tested them all.

I know that some of the channels use different UHF. Has there been transmissions problems that you know of lately? Have there been any technical issues?

BTW, I am in Christchurch.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Awrrr
18657 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1627562 11-Sep-2016 19:31

Digital tends to be all or nothing. If your reception is right on the edge, slightly stronger signals may be fine, slightly weaker pixilated. Possibly your overall signal has dropped somewhat. There could be many reasons for this.

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Spyware

3761 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1627571 11-Sep-2016 19:51

Sugarloaf emissions are el perfecto, i.e., no issues. I'm in Northwood.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

pegi

37 posts

Geek

#1627587 11-Sep-2016 21:17

The same here. Only problem with pixilation (or today no signal at all) on Channel 3 and 4. Other channels look alright.

I live in West Auckland.

Rickles

2933 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1627629 11-Sep-2016 22:49

I'm in Wellington and a few times over the last month we have experienced random pixilation, usually the bottom half of the screen .... what looked odd was that the picture on the top half continued as well as no interruption to audio

I put it down to weather (seemed to happen when we had the nasty rain and wind storms), or power fluctuations because Channel 2 twice went blank for a minute or so a couple of times as well.

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#1627632 11-Sep-2016 23:07

RustyViewer:

I have been getting intermittent pixilation on some channels for about a couple of weeks but not all.

I have no problem with TV1,2 or Duke.

I have problems with 3,4, The Edge and maybe others but I haven't tested them all.

I know that some of the channels use different UHF. Has there been transmissions problems that you know of lately? Have there been any technical issues?

BTW, I am in Christchurch.

TV3, Bravo (4) and The Edge are all on the MediaWorks mux - so it sounds like you are having problems receiving one frequency only. If you do not watch anything on the new fourth mux (eg HGTV), then the MediaWorks mux is the lowest frequency one you are watching. Problems with signal level from an aerial normally show up first in either the lowest or highest frequency mux, depending on the frequencies involved - I do not know which it would be for Sugarloaf.

The first thing to do when getting new reception problems is to check the cables and the aerial. Cables often cause problems because they hang off the back of the TV and get bumped by vacuuming, kids, the cat, or anything else going by. So check they are firmly connected, and it is best to unplug and replug them a couple of time in case there is a bit of corrosion causing problems. Is there now some furniture sitting on a cable? If so, then that cable may need replacing. If there are splitters or amplifiers in your aerial cables so multiple devices can be run from the same aerial, check their connections and make sure the amplifier(s) still have power. Then do a visual check of your roof antenna, if you can - has it moved from pointing in the correct direction, is it all rusty now, is it still all there, and so on. How does the cable running down from the roof look? Is there a new tree (or branch) growing between your antenna and the transmitter site?

One other thing to check for, although it usually causes problems with all frequencies rather than just one, is a dying street light nearby. Ever since the DVB transmission frequencies were all moved a few years ago, they now transmit on frequencies that some street lights put out when they go faulty. If you are only having reception problems when the street lights are on and reception is fine during the day, this is the likely culprit. Most councils know about this problem by now and will urgently fix street lights that are causing problems if you tell them about it.

frankv

5680 posts

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#1627647 12-Sep-2016 06:54

Watching docos about porn?

MikeB4

18435 posts

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#1627659 12-Sep-2016 07:35

When that happened to us we installed a new antenna problem was solved.

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knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1627661 12-Sep-2016 08:05

To the OP, what is your set up?

illicit

553 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1627664 12-Sep-2016 08:24

Please try a new cable from the outlet to the TV first - they are usually the problem in cases like these

RustyViewer

296 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1627811 12-Sep-2016 11:47

The pixilation is only on channel 32, but it is happening in both the TV and the recorder which have separate aerial feed from a 5-split signal amplifier. I have done some rearranging and its still happening but isn't as bad as it was. I had connected from a daisy chain through my Panasonic recorder into a new Freeview Plus box and I think it was causing some sort of feedback. Putting it onto its own separate connection helped.

Since someone else has also reported similar problems with channel 32, I might hold off and see how things are in a few days or weeks. I mainly record off TV2 & Duke, but record Family Feud daily and that is where I have really noticed the problem in the last few days. Having now removed the daisy chain issue however may make the problem less apparent. Every time I walked near the TV or switched on an appliance it was causing problems but that had stopped after the aforementioned change.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1627855 12-Sep-2016 13:01

RustyViewer:

The pixilation is only on channel 32, but it is happening in both the TV and the recorder which have separate aerial feed from a 5-split signal amplifier. I have done some rearranging and its still happening but isn't as bad as it was. I had connected from a daisy chain through my Panasonic recorder into a new Freeview Plus box and I think it was causing some sort of feedback. Putting it onto its own separate connection helped.

Since someone else has also reported similar problems with channel 32, I might hold off and see how things are in a few days or weeks. I mainly record off TV2 & Duke, but record Family Feud daily and that is where I have really noticed the problem in the last few days. Having now removed the daisy chain issue however may make the problem less apparent. Every time I walked near the TV or switched on an appliance it was causing problems but that had stopped after the aforementioned change.

Sounds to me like your trying to run to many appliances off one antenna. One antenna split 5 ways then 2 again even with an amplifier is asking for trouble unless it's a properly designed distribution amp system. Also walking anywhere near the TV and upsetting reception points to a poor quality co-ax from TV to wall. I'd suggest installing another dedicated antenna just for the main TV and Recorder.

Spyware

3761 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1627857 12-Sep-2016 13:09

Maybe use a crimping tool when making your fly leads.

Note: I do a 2 way and then 4 way split off each of these two runs with no amps @ 16 km from Sugarloaf. Also only using RG-59 but cable runs are short. Never had or seen any issue since transmission started in 2008 and watch TV3 more than any others.

richrdh18

210 posts

Master Geek

#1627858 12-Sep-2016 13:13

Check you connections at the antenna end. Several years ago, we had the same, got a TV guy to check for me and the connectors were all rusted. Been crystal clear since he fixed it.

Rickles

2933 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1627876 12-Sep-2016 13:52

>Check you connections at the antenna end<

Good advice ... when I fitted a new LNB I found the connector a touch rusted ... gave it a good going over with a wire brush, plus some Vaseline just inside the rubber boot/cover.

mattyb

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1627905 12-Sep-2016 14:21

I just had a tech from Aerials Direct visit at the weekend to improve UHF reception - I've been having a hard time getting decent signal for a DVB-T card in a media PC. He made some measurements and was able to get the signal from ~40dB up to 53-55dB just by removing a splitter I had in the line, and also replacing a cheap (Trademe) connector. Well worth the $95. Unless you can get hold of the right gear for making the appropriate signal measurements you're basically in the dark. He also advised me that the cowboy (Grabone) that installed my UHF antenna (brand new 2yrs ago) had only installed half the elements, and missed off half the mast length. Guess it pays to spend some money upfront to get good quality - I've learned a lesson :)

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