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Macey

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#57237 7-Feb-2010 08:59
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Hi,

I'm looking for some help in setting up Freeview HD. I'm experiencing some reception problems which might be equipment or location based.

I'm located in Khandallah, Wellington, I don't have a direct view of Mt Kaukau, my house is on the lower slopes of Kaukau and the top of the transmitter is behind two of the lower ridge lines.

I've got a Panasonic HD Plasma with a Freeview decoder inside and I have a Hills Signal Master AX323 aerial. The aerial runs through a Hills diplexer combining the VHF aerial signal, through a 4-way splitter that hives the signal off into bedrooms and the lounge. The cabling from the splitter must be original with the house (now 10 years old), the cabling from the aerial to the splitter is newer, approx 6-7 years old.

On auto setup from the TV I can't get any TVNZ channels, and I sometimes get TV3, C4, Prime, etc. The signal strength seems to be about 3/10 but the quality varies greatly, usually poor at around 1-2/10, although sometimes I get surprised and get a watchable picture.

So, is my reception toast because of my house/aerial location, is it my equipment, a combo, or...?

Regards

Macey

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cyril7
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  #296708 7-Feb-2010 09:34
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Hi, getting good reception in your area is often a problem, normally it requires use of a field strength meter and a wander around the roof to find the best location.

Two things are against you, in your location you are under the main lobe of the Tx antenna, so in basic terms the signal is passing straight over your head, this impacts on signal strenght, and secondly as you have non line of sight the signal is full of reflections from the hills/houses all about, this kills both signal level and quality.

PM me if your interested in a site survey with a view to move your antenna to a better location and probably sort/update the cabling.

Cheers
Cyril

 
 
 
 

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mentalinc
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  #296712 7-Feb-2010 09:51
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Not an aerial expert, I'll leave that to sbiddle. but it could be due do the 4 way splitter/ the age of the cabling




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sbiddle
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  #296713 7-Feb-2010 09:55
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mentalinc: Not an aerial expert, I'll leave that to sbiddle. but it could be due do the 4 way splitter/ the age of the cabling


Cyril7 is the real expert on these sorts of things! Smile

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