Freeview HD aerial orientation (North Shore)

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gcorgnet

1078 posts

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#48885 17-Nov-2009 10:31

Hi,

I live in Birkdale (Auckland / North Shore) and I am having trouble getting Kordia Mediaworks channels (TV3, etc) to work properly on Freeview HD. (weak signal)

The UHF aerial on my roof, seems to be pointing towards Waiatarua (South - SouthWest).

Before I go through the trouble of trying to find a ladder, etc to go on my roof and try moving the aerial, does anyone have an idea as to where my aerial should point?

Sky Tower ? Pinehill?

Does anyone have experienced trying to setup Freeview HD in this area?

Thanks,

Guillaume

Hi,

I live in Birkdale (Auckland / North Shore) and I am having trouble getting Kordia channels (TV3, etc) to work properly on Freeview HD. (weak signal)

The UHF aerial on my roof, seems to be pointing towards Waiatarua (South - SouthWest).

Before I go through the trouble of trying to find a ladder, etc to go on my roof and try moving the aerial, does anyone have an idea as to where my aerial should point?

Sky Tower ? Pinehill?

Does anyone have experienced trying to setup Freeview HD in this area?

Thanks,

Guillaume

bazzer

3438 posts

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#273782 17-Nov-2009 10:59

I point to Pinehill, but I'm down the hill in Rothesay Bay. I'm not sure about Birkdale. It's an awfully long way to Pinehill and it's not a very strong transmitter. Ditto, with Sky Tower.

Someone with experience will hopefully chime in with more definitive answers.

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#273788 17-Nov-2009 11:05

Thanks, bazzer for your reply.

Looking at a map, I understand why you are pointing to Pinehill !

In addition, most of my neighboors seem to be pointing to Waiatarua also, but with me having issue with TV3, I am exploring all possible solutions.

Birkdale seems to be at equal distance from Pinehill and the Sky Tower and slightly furhter away from Waiatarua. But then I guess it's all a matter of hils/line of sight...

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#273790 17-Nov-2009 11:06

gcorgnet: I live in Birkdale (Auckland / North Shore) ... The UHF aerial on my roof, seems to be pointing towards Waiatarua (South - SouthWest). Before I go through the trouble of trying to find a ladder, etc to go on my roof and try moving the aerial, does anyone have an idea as to where my aerial should point?
Sky Tower ? Pinehill?

I'm sorry that this reply isn't going to be immediately helpful, but the North Shore is far from flat and the numerous bumps and hollows can mean that the best transmitter changes from Pinehill to Waiatarua to the Sky Tower over a relatively short distance on the ground. That's one of the reasons why there are three transmitters covering a relatively small area.

if you can actually see one of the transmitters, then that would be the best one to aim your aerial at. Failing that can you find a close neighbour who has good Freeview|HD reception? If so point your aerial at the same transmitter. Keep in mind that Waiatarua and Pinehill are horizontal polarisation, but the Sky Tower is vertical.

gcorgnet: I am having trouble getting Kordia channels (TV3, etc) to work properly on Freeview HD.

Just a minor point - the Kordia mux carries Prime, Maori TV, Pariament TV etc. TV3, TV3 Plus 1 and C4 are on the Mediaworks mux.

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#273792 17-Nov-2009 11:10

Hi, Deev8

Thanks a lot for your reply and explanations. Much helpful.

I guess it's all matter of getting up on the roof and trying it then...

And I don;t think I can actually see one transmitter from my place. But Waiatarua looks so far away on the map, that I have a hard time believing that it would give me the best signal.

Thanks for the clarification over Kordia / Mediaworks confusion

bazzer

3438 posts

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#273803 17-Nov-2009 11:26

gcorgnet: Thanks, bazzer for your reply.

Looking at a map, I understand why you are pointing to Pinehill !

In addition, most of my neighboors seem to be pointing to Waiatarua also, but with me having issue with TV3, I am exploring all possible solutions.

Birkdale seems to be at equal distance from Pinehill and the Sky Tower and slightly furhter away from Waiatarua. But then I guess it's all a matter of hils/line of sight...

It does look equidistant from Pinehill/Sky Tower but remember they are much lower power, maybe 10% or less of the power of Waiatarua I think?

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#273804 17-Nov-2009 11:28

gcorgnet: And I don;t think I can actually see one transmitter from my place. But Waiatarua looks so far away on the map, that I have a hard time believing that it would give me the best signal.

Distance is far less important that obstacles in the way - hills in particular, but also nearby buildings and even trees. Looking at a map it's the contours that are most important - if you draw a line between your home and a transmitter high ground between you and the transmitter is a problem.

Also, once the aerial is roughly right, fine-tuning the direction the it is pointing can make a significant difference. If you have to do that by sight (making a small adjustment, then check the picture on the TV) it's much better to do it tuned to an analogue UHF channel than a digital one - analogue shows a gradual transition from very poor fuzzy picture, to watchable to perfect picture whereas digital quickly moves from no picture at all to good quality picture.

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#273806 17-Nov-2009 11:30

Thanks for the tip. I might try some "adjustments" next weekend, if I can find a ladder !

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Behodar

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#274255 18-Nov-2009 16:03

bazzer: It does look equidistant from Pinehill/Sky Tower but remember they are much lower power, maybe 10% or less of the power of Waiatarua I think?

The Skytower is higher power than Pinehill, but Waiatarua is higher than both. This may help.

If you can see Waiatarua then you shouldn't be having problems; I'm in Whakatane and get Freeview from Te Aroha, which is a MUCH greater distance than Waiatarua to North Shore!

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#274258 18-Nov-2009 16:08

Thanks a lot for that document. Very helpful and it now makes sense to see all my neighbors' aerials pointed towars Waiatarua

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#274292 18-Nov-2009 18:43

Behodar: The Skytower is higher power than Pinehill, but Waiatarua is higher than both. This may help.

It's a useful map, and one I refer to for transmitter locations and frequencies, but the key indicating whether each transmitter is high, medium or low power could be a little ambiguous when a particular location has both analogue and digital transmitters. It certainly indicates the power of the analogue transmitters that were in place prior to the inception of digital terrestrial TV, but I'm not convinced that a digital transmitter co-located with a high power analogue transmitter is necessarily any higher power than one co-located with a medium power analogue transmitter.

Behodar

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#274392 19-Nov-2009 07:51

Hmm, interesting. I assumed that the analogue and digital transmitters at any particular site would be the same power. However, either way, Te Aroha is powerful enough to reach Whakatane (slightly northwest of Ohope on that map) so Waiatarua should reach North Shore without any issues.

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#274422 19-Nov-2009 10:06

Behodar: Te Aroha is powerful enough to reach Whakatane (slightly northwest of Ohope on that map) so Waiatarua should reach North Shore without any issues.

That may be correct, but distance isn't the most important factor. Obstacles in the way are far more important, particularly high ground between the transmitter and the receiving aerial. Auckland's North Shore certainly isn't flat terrain, and anyone who happens to live in one of the many dips or hollows can have a real reception problem.