Great picture on TVNZ Freeview but issues with other ...help!

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Great picture on TVNZ Freeview but issues with other ...help!

dipper

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#28986 18-Dec-2008 08:21

Hi all, I am not sure if I am posting this in the correct forum or not but I have a problem with freeview and I am hopping that it is not hard to fix. I have splashed out and purchased an LCD with built in freeview …plugged in the aerial and got a great picture with all TVNZ channels (strength +80 and no bit errors) but the same can not be said for the other channels. Tv3 and C4 have strength of 27 and bit error level of 10 out of ten and all the other channel have a strength of 45 with bit error rate of 8. Is it just a case of my aerial not being aligned correctly? I live in Christchurch and have very good line of site with Sugarloaf. Thanks for any assistance

butlerboy

457 posts

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#184904 18-Dec-2008 08:44

I would assume it's your aerial.
I'm in Waikuku, Nth Canterbury, and get about 65-75% signal strenght and 96-100% signal quality on all channels. I get a bit of pixelation a couple of times a night for 1-2 seconds at a time. Otherwise, the picture quality is fantastic and I have no other issues.

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sbiddle

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#184905 18-Dec-2008 08:46

What type of aerial do you have? I'd be 99% certain this is the issue.

dipper

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#184912 18-Dec-2008 09:16

Hi guys thanks for such prompt responses.

I am not sure how to describe my aerial so I have attached a picture for you.(hope it comes through ok)

Thanks again for your help.

My Aerial

sbiddle

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#184914 18-Dec-2008 09:21

That is a UHF aerial and does look in OK condition. Is the aerial pointing to the transmitter and is the polarity it aligned the correct way? Aerials are either horizontal or vertical polarity so the V shape reflector at the back will eiter be how it is now or be turned 90 degrees.

If it is all OK then I suspect you have a cabling issue.

dipper

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#184924 18-Dec-2008 10:08

Thanks for that, yes pointing directly at Sugarloaf. I will get up and alter the aerial to at rotate it to the other way. Once again many thanks for you assistance.

butlerboy

457 posts

Ultimate Geek

#184925 18-Dec-2008 10:16

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=83&TopicId=28884

Have a read of this post. It sounds very similar to your problem.

sbiddle

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#184930 18-Dec-2008 10:52

dipper: Thanks for that, yes pointing directly at Sugarloaf. I will get up and alter the aerial to at rotate it to the other way. Once again many thanks for you assistance.

If your aerial is pointing in the right direction and is the same polarity as others nearby then there is no need to move it.

wellygary

8212 posts

Uber Geek

#184951 18-Dec-2008 12:14

Sugarloaf is Horizontal so it appears to be the correct polarity, just point it in the same direction of every other aerial around you, While you are up there you might want to also check that the connections are firm and clear from corrosion.

Jaxson

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#184961 18-Dec-2008 13:08

Yeah as sbiddle and wellygary have said, make sure it's orientated like everyone elses in your street and that the cable connections are nice and firm and clean.

There are some basic points to cover along the way. Make sure you're using good cable, where the middle core is a thick solid wire and there is lots of usually greasy silver braid sheilding around the outside. Make sure the contacts are clean, might even have to sand it a bit lightly to clean it up. What else is connected to this signal, like does it go to 5 other tv's/vcrs etc? How long does the cable run and are there any older amplifiers or odd boxes connected along the way? Might have to go investigate the ceiling etc!

The other thing is that some aerials were ok for the frequencies the normal/older analogue channels came on, but in some areas the newer digital channels are on frequencies quite a distance away from these. I'm sure there may be some places where the current uhf aerial simply doesn't receive much signal strength on the new frequencies being used. This despite the usual test that 'yes I get prime ok', if prime happens to be a fair way away from the newer digital channels.

dipper

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#184972 18-Dec-2008 14:20

Thanks for the detailed reply Jaxson. The Aerial is 5 years old. The total run of cable is about 11 meters including a split to another room. From the wall the cable goes to sky and they to a DVD Recorder and then to my new TV.

I will get on the roof on the weekend and check all the connections and the cable

Thanks Again thanks to all for your advice

Spyware

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#184974 18-Dec-2008 14:39

Best thing to do would be to take the Sky decoder and DVD recorder out of the circuit. It is likely that your problem is related to the RF modulated crap produced by either or both of these devices. Also, all fly leads should be RG6 with crimped F types (with necessary belling lee adapters as required). The roof is probably the last place to look.

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.