FREEVIEW HD with VHF Antenna

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#26671 30-Sep-2008 09:11

I just bought a new Sony 32" LCD which is HD ready, decided to get the Zinwell DVB-T HD Receiver as one of my fried gets crystal clear reception with ONEFORALL Internal VHF/UHF Antenna. After seeing his reception I decided to buy the same gear as i don't have a UHF antenna on my roof, only VHF.
Box is connected thru HDMi to the TV and with the internal antenna I am getting true HD picture but sometimes Channel 2 Freezes and then you have to restart the box. I kept trying different positions for the antenna and it works fine only if antenna is kept outside. So, I decided to try the jack on the wall which is connected to the VHF Antenna on the roof and to my surprise I still get crystal clear picture. Can someone please explain how I am getting Freeview HD with VHF aerial connection??

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#167911 30-Sep-2008 09:22

If you are in strong signal area then a VHF aerial can easily give you a good signal - infact a piece of wire can easily give you a good signal. If you are in a weaker signal area then a UHF aerial is essential.

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#167912 30-Sep-2008 09:23

Details like your location, and how close to the transmitter would be usefull.

A VHF antenna is not designed to recieve UHF frequencies, but thats not to say it will, however how well and how much is an unknown figure as they are normally not characterised outside the band of interest. Further, their response outside of the band of interest will normally be significantly lower (100x - 1000x the power response) than the desired band and will most likely change wildly across the UHF band. The fact that it works to some extent is probably because DVB-T works at significantly lower signal levels than analog would, and if you are reasonably close to the transmitter it will give sufficient signal.

But the catch is, you have an unstable antenna, that might work now, may not work tomorrow. Will most likely be coupling in VHF band noise that may at some point totally destroy your recpetion. If also may have a unknown directional response to unwanted UHF signals from other transmitters that you cannot control.

If you want a consistant and correctly engineered solution, install an correct band (UHF) antenna, this will ensure you pickup as much desired signal as you can, and from the right direction, and with a consistant response across all three muxs.

Cyril

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#167952 30-Sep-2008 11:28

Not too sure if I am in a strong signal area but my location is near moyrus Crescent in Dannemora. At the moment I am getting very good picture, so am I getting actual HD or not?

Getting a UHF antenna costs a lot, does anyone know if PRIME still install at a susidized cost?

Thanks for the replies. Also, where to get new firmware for this box, at the moment its got 1.0.8 dated 10.07.2008
it's also got a USB and ethernet at the back, what are they for?

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#167955 30-Sep-2008 11:34

If you get a good picture with a VHF aerial and don't get any dropouts there is no need to get a UHF aerial installed.

As for firmware updates for the Zinwell boxes they are upgraded automatically over the air - the box will download an update automatically if and when they become available.

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#167959 30-Sep-2008 11:41

As you are in a prime coverage area of Auckland and presuming you have clear site to Waitarua you probably have plent of signal to hand.

I dont agree that a UHF antenna costs a lot compared to the cost of the box and a HD capable TV to view it, but your view may be difffernt.

Cyril

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#167960 30-Sep-2008 11:41

Yes you are getting HD, there is afterall only one H.264 stream (for each channel), if you receive it then you decode it, simple as that.

Subsidised Prime installs are DVB-S mpeg2 (from Optus D1) in areas where UHF is not available. There are no subsidised UHF installs.

EDIT: OK, I was wrong. So they are actually subsidising DVB-T installs.

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#167962 30-Sep-2008 11:50

I just searched and found tha PRIME still installs at a cost of $145 including GST, it seems subsidised as I took a quote form an antenna installer and he says $250.00 + GST

As per Help section on the PRIME TV Website -

"If you live where Prime’s UHF signal is available, installation of a UHF aerial and tune-in will cost $145 including GST. (Some pockets within UHF transmission areas do not receive good reception due to terrain or obstructions such as trees, buildings etc. Making use of one of Primes special satellite offers below via SKYs digital platform remedies this. The technician will advise accordingly when he visits your home)."

Does anyone know any cheap installers or is it not too hard to install as I already have a VHF on the roof and maybe can use the same wire using a splitter or something or do i have to run a separate wire even if the UHF is going on the same pole as UHF.

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#168002 30-Sep-2008 14:56

You need a diplexer to combine the signals, but if you have an ok signal level and good quality on all the channels then dont bother. DVB seems really good at working on less then ideal reception because its not a 70 year old AM transmission thats prone to noise and reflections like analog tv is.

Richard rich.ms

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#168005 30-Sep-2008 15:10

unlocker:
Does anyone know any cheap installers or is it not too hard to install as I already have a VHF on the roof and maybe can use the same wire using a splitter or something or do i have to run a separate wire even if the UHF is going on the same pole as UHF.

Why do you still feel that you need a UHF aerial? Are you wanting this just so you can view Prime which I am assuming you won't be getting with just your VHA aerial.

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#168043 30-Sep-2008 16:26

Agreed, if the box is reporting good signal levels and good quality figures (go into manual tune and run through to each of the muxs (538MHz, 570MHz, 666MHz for Waitarua) then stay with your non ideal but obviuosly working antenna. However if you start having regular drop outs then concider an antenna.

As stated you will need a diplexer, (DSE L4469, $22) and a suitable antenna (DSE L4711, $50). I dont normally use saddle and clamp diplexers, but for home installers its a viable option. If all your watching is via DTT then just ditch the VHF antenna altogther and couple the L4711 to the current lead.

Alternatively replace to whole VHF antenna with a V/UHF combination antenna (DSE L4715 $90), again normally I dont recommend coupling VHF into the input to a DTT reciever, but still a reasonable option, just means your left with a large antenna in 4-5yrs time with no Txs to listen to.

Cyril

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#168083 30-Sep-2008 18:30

One more thing, sometimes the reception freezes, picture gets distorted and then I can't even change the channel on the box,have to turn it off and restart, could this be an antenna issue or something wrong with the box?

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#168115 30-Sep-2008 19:40

That could be reception issues.

If you want a uhf installed the best deal is the prime one since they will usually sort the whole system out to at least one tv for that price.

Richard rich.ms

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#168118 30-Sep-2008 19:43

Classic poor BER due to inapproptiate signal reception. If you want it too work properly then install the correct antenna.

Cyril

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#168129 30-Sep-2008 20:21

cyril7: Classic poor BER due to inapproptiate signal reception. If you want it too work properly then install the correct antenna.Cyril

Thanks for the reply Cyri, can you please tell what does BER stand for and how can inappropriate reception freeze the box to a state where I cannot even change channels, have to restart it. I think I will have to get a UHF antenna but just worried that my box is 100% ok or not.

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#168142 30-Sep-2008 20:46

It was freezing very often so just now I removed the VHF Antenna and put back the ONEFORALL Internal antenna, was working fine for few minutres but just now it froze on internal antenna too. Please confirm that it is defnitely reception issue and not the box as I bought the box from a friend at a good price and can return it if thi problem could be coz of box coz he lives in Flat Bush and never had this problem, he was using only internal antenna.He used it for 6 months.

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