Can only receive TVNZ digital channels on Sony integrated freeview

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jrat

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Topic # 24532 26-Jul-2008 19:23

I just bought a Sony Bravia W series with built in freeview tuner. Set it up the other night and it looks great. Only problem is I can only recieve the TVNZ digital channels (TV1, TV2, TV6 and TV7). I have tried manual tuning as well as auto and cant seem to get any joy. I had a look in the system information under technical set up and the signal fluctuates between low and good. So I went to DSE and bought a signal amplifier and that hasnt made a difference. The weather tonight probably isnt helping but earlier in the week when the weather was ok I still couldnt get all the channels. I popped into the Sony shop in Sylvia Park and they thought it was probably the reception, but werent sure. Is something wrong with the TV? Is it just poor UHF reception? (My UHF sky is not great either). Will a different amplifier make a difference? Do I need better aerial cable?

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Reply # 151658 26-Jul-2008 20:00

You talk about uhf reception and uhf signal, but do you have a vhf aerial as well? Most likely tv1, 2, 3 and c4 are on vhf with prime on uhf.

If you can get prime, but not the others, they its probably something with your vhf aerial. Did the tv that you replaced work with these channels?

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Reply # 151659 26-Jul-2008 20:07

All channels on Freeview...

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Reply # 151662 26-Jul-2008 20:34

Pretty much guarentee reception is the issue, when we bought a 91 element and tested it indoors, we used a signal meter to align it. TVNZ worked fine, but all the others had no service.
My guess is that the TVNZ mux has a much higher transmit power than kordia or mediaworks, since we had to ajust the antenna more to get them working, and they were more prone to going blocky and cutting out.

cyril7

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Reply # 151671 26-Jul-2008 21:31

Just to clarify one important bit of mis information that seems to be happening here, on each Tx site Kordia have installed the identcial equipment for all three transmissions. There is no old boys club, lets get this straight once and for all, they are all the same Tx gear on each Tx site, same power, same setup, only difference is the frequency of each Tx as one one expect.

Cyril

jrat

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 151672 26-Jul-2008 21:51

Ok, so if TV3, C4, and Maori are just transmitted on a different frequency but with the same strength, what can I do to get any reception for these channels? If I can get TV1, TV2, TV6 and TV7 in beautiful digital quality why can I get nothing on the others?

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Reply # 151677 26-Jul-2008 22:23

What you do is call an aerial installer and have them realign, shift or install antenna (you haven't even confirmed that you do indeed have a UHF antenna), rewire with RG6 if required, or all of above. Either that or do it yourself but without a meter that displays DVB-T signal strength and bit error rate it may not be easy.

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safboy

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Reply # 151681 26-Jul-2008 22:38

I had the same problem when I got my Freeview|HD decoder box. Is the aerial you are using split for multiple TVs? If thats the case, run a direct cable to just your TV so the Freeview can receive a stronger signal. This should let you tune in all the channels. Once that is done, you can reconnect the split, and you should still have the channels in your TV. I hope this helps...

jrat

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Reply # 151686 26-Jul-2008 23:01

Thank you safboy! A wannabe geek with a very helpful suggestion! I live in a complex of 65 units with one UHF aerial split between all, so that will be the problem. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to get my own UHF aerial, or run a cable directly to my unit so I will have to get the body corporate to get an aerial installer to resolve the issue. Who knows how long that will take. Maybe then I will also get decent reception on my Sky UHF. Thanks for the comments all, back to the rugby.

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Reply # 151708 27-Jul-2008 01:42

I found I got excellent signal using a Dick Smith powered indoor aerial.
http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/488b291a0b60c624273fc0a87f3b06c7/Product/View/L4016

I had marginal signal with my high gain UHF, line of sight to Waitara, new RG6 cable direct to freeview box. The powered aerial actually does a great job hidden on the floor at the back of my house as far away from line-of-sight as you could get.

I think DSE have a returns policy so try it, if it doesn't work you can always return them.

cyril7

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Reply # 151713 27-Jul-2008 08:00

Jrat, in an MDU (multi dwelling unit) there is normally an head end processor, which essentally is a preamp, filter bank and distribution line amp, the filters can be configured to allow certain channels or groups of channesl to pass and reject others, this is to limit the amount of noise and unwanted signals from other non broadcast services into the system which if not controlled can cause all manner of issues..

The body corporate will need to arrange to have a MATV/SMATV company come back and adjust the processors filter bank to pass through. When the system was installed the installer would have had no need to pass the channels now used by the DTT services. The fact that some are getting through only relates to the fact that the filters are not always precise single channel ones but may pass upto 6 channels through one filter, and the DTT channels you can recieve are within those bands of channels.

As others have said you may need to resort to your own antenna, which will only really work if you have clear sight of Waitarua (Ch29,33,45 Horizonal), or clear sight and reasonably close to the Sky tower (Ch28,32,40 Vertical).

Cyril

jrat

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Reply # 151765 27-Jul-2008 12:11

Thanks cyril7 for the info. Can you recommend a MATV or SMATV specialist that would know what they are doing here? The body corporate wont have a clue and I'll need to recommend someone. In the mean time I think I'll try an indoor aerial as I dont want to wait for them. I live in Papatoetoe, will it work there? Where is waitarua?

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Reply # 151767 27-Jul-2008 12:15

It certainly raises an issue that would no doubt become very common in the coming years. I'd suspect that probably by this time next year the bulk of flat panel TV's sold in NZ will have IDT's and users encountering issues with exactly the same problem you have.

cyril7

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Reply # 151775 27-Jul-2008 12:32

Yes Steve, there will be issues in time to come I can see that already, then again once the analog network is shut down it is also benificial to have the VHF inputs removed to further reduce noise ingress, as typically these processors have a filter for BI/II/III and only multiple segmented filters for BIV/V.

Jrat, sorry dont work in Auckland so not farmilar with any MATV installers there, try Paul on 021 681371 or 09 5273848 or email freetvnz@gmail.com. he might be able to point you in the right direction.

Otherwise you may be better off with your own antenna, Waitarua is the very large mast on the top of the Waitakari ranges, so out to your west.

Cyril

jrat

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Reply # 151872 27-Jul-2008 18:20

Thank you smbunn for the tip, I purchased the exact indoor aerial you recommended and I can now recieve all of the digital channels perfectly. Success! Relieved that nothing is wrong with my TV although that would be unlikely. Will now try and get the body corporate to fix the external aerial. What is also interesting is that when I connected the new aerial directly to my Sky UHF STB, the reception was actually worse than the external aerial. The indoor aerial is better for the digital channels but external aerial is better for Sky UHF, doesnt seem to make sense to me? So have left Sky plugged into external aerial to get the best reception for everything. Thanks again for the tips.

sbiddle

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Reply # 151879 27-Jul-2008 18:55

jrat: Thank you smbunn for the tip, I purchased the exact indoor aerial you recommended and I can now recieve all of the digital channels perfectly. Success! Relieved that nothing is wrong with my TV although that would be unlikely. Will now try and get the body corporate to fix the external aerial. What is also interesting is that when I connected the new aerial directly to my Sky UHF STB, the reception was actually worse than the external aerial. The indoor aerial is better for the digital channels but external aerial is better for Sky UHF, doesnt seem to make sense to me? So have left Sky plugged into external aerial to get the best reception for everything. Thanks again for the tips.

Analogue TV signals require the aerial to be pointed at the transmitter with the correct polarity otherwise you'll suffer from poor picture quality. Digital DVB-T signals on the other hand are in many ways like a cellphone and providing you have an adequate aerial then you will get a signal.