Follow-up: Freeview HD in Kelson, Lower Hutt

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Follow-up: Freeview HD in Kelson, Lower Hutt

Drewpy

54 posts

Master Geek

#56112 12-Jan-2010 15:33

Original post:

I'm in a conundrum in regards to whether or not I can get FreeviewHD or not.

I've recently purchased a house in Kelson, Lower Hutt and wasn't sure if I could get FreeviewHD. I've purchased a Pinnicale HD USD TV Tuner to test before dedicating more money to the cause.

I can receive 5 channels and just get an occasional frame from the reception on the tuner with the small 100mm aerial that comes with it (when on the roof).

I've tried connecting the USB tuner to our aerial setup, but I have a feeling the system is either wired up badly or the amplifier it is going through has burnt out. It passes a continuity test with my multimeter so there is connection termination from TV to aerial.

I'm just wondering if it's worth even trying to get a new aerial system and then trying this out.

Any help would be appreciated..

Follow-up:

I've since bought a Sony KDL-40W5500 and it has a built in Freeview Tuner, and it's marvelous, because it shows that my original setup is at least 90% there (did it without the USB tuner which failed to work)

TV3, TV3 Plus1, C4, Maori, Prime, Parliment, and a few others show up but aren't perfect (a lot of dropping and pausing) and occasionally I can get the EPG going.

I've been told to point towards Mount Fitzherbert, but I'm not sure exactly where that is.

Can someone give me the long/lat for this transmitter so I can sit on my roof and see if it's anywhere near what I can see ?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#289298 12-Jan-2010 15:44

Fitzherbert is the big transmitter above Naenae. Your aerial needs to have vertical porarity, if you look around you'll probably see every other UHF aerial there pointed to the same site.

Drewpy

54 posts

Master Geek

#289300 12-Jan-2010 15:51

Indeed, it's vertical polarity and I've pointed it in the direction of neighbours UHF aerials.

I'm thinking Naenae direction is directly through a hill, closest I can point in that direction without blocking line of sight is Epuni.

wellygary

8811 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5289

#289303 12-Jan-2010 15:55

What sort of UHF aerial do you have on your roof currently??, you may need to bite the bullet and get a better aerial?

Pretty much everyones aerial will be pointing across the valley at Fitzherbert, it should be fairly line of sight, with maybe a slight upward elevation from Kelson.

CYaBro

4708 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1182

ID Verified

Trusted

#289311 12-Jan-2010 16:04

I have a brand new UHF aerial for sale if you want it :)
Cost me about $90 but would sell for $50.
It's the biggest UHF you can get.
It's never been installed.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#289313 12-Jan-2010 16:08

What type of coax cable and connectors are you using?

Drewpy

54 posts

Master Geek

#289314 12-Jan-2010 16:10

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=-41.203456,174.912987&spn=0.075813,0.154324&z=13&msid=108692868823878371023.00047ceef04762491208e

This is my line of sight, I'm just chatting with ventolin about the type of Aerial I have which maybe the cause.

Continuity is fine, cabling is fresh and antenna is fresh.

My Antenna: http://www.freetv.co.nz/webapps/site/61418/52840/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=306852 , which I was told would be "fine" from where I was.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

Drewpy

54 posts

Master Geek

#289318 12-Jan-2010 16:14

sbiddle: What type of coax cable and connectors are you using?

RG-6 Coax Cable and Type-F connectors

Drewpy

54 posts

Master Geek

#289319 12-Jan-2010 16:16

wellygary: What sort of UHF aerial do you have on your roof currently??, you may need to bite the bullet and get a better aerial?

Pretty much everyones aerial will be pointing across the valley at Fitzherbert, it should be fairly line of sight, with maybe a slight upward elevation from Kelson.

I have purchased one recently which I was told, "would be more than enough". I'm wondering if it's my line of sight (see maps link above).

I've mimicked everyones direction and polarity around me.

Drewpy

54 posts

Master Geek

#289323 12-Jan-2010 16:26

CYaBro: I have a brand new UHF aerial for sale if you want it :)
Cost me about $90 but would sell for $50.
It's the biggest UHF you can get.
It's never been installed.

Link to Antenna ? :)

wellygary

8811 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5289

#289336 12-Jan-2010 16:59

Drewpy: Indeed, it's vertical polarity and I've pointed it in the direction of neighbours UHF aerials.

I'm thinking Naenae direction is directly through a hill, closest I can point in that direction without blocking line of sight is Epuni.

Point it at the hill and see what happens,you might be able to get enough spillover to make it work.
You appear to be in a bit of a hole, signal wise, and might need a longer mast to mount your aerial on, but freeview's website doesnt appear to rate your chances :(

Drewpy

54 posts

Master Geek

#289411 12-Jan-2010 20:38

I hate technology, arrive home to test it out, TV3 flawless, TV3 Plus 1 flawless, C4 flawless, yet nothing else. EPG worked fine.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

WildBill

50 posts

Geek

#289493 13-Jan-2010 02:23

Drewpy: I hate technology, arrive home to test it out, TV3 flawless, TV3 Plus 1 flawless, C4 flawless, yet nothing else. EPG worked fine.

Hi Drewpy,

Welcome to the frustrating world of digital on UHF.

That's why I shuddered when I first heard that Freeview was going onto UHF.

Cheers, Wild Bill

Hamilton, NZ.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#289502 13-Jan-2010 07:06

With your location I wonder whether you'd possibly get a better signal from Haywards? If moving your aerial is easy there may not be any harm in moving it around (polarity is the same) and try aiming it up the Valley.

The site there is co-sited with Vodafone and is on the hill near the River Rd/Ferguson Drive intersection.