How to test for terrestrial signal before buying TV/decoder etc -- Putaruru

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Morgenmuffel

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#57274 8-Feb-2010 11:34

Greetings

Ok recently moved to putaruru can only get TVNZ channels on the old analogue, I notice my aerial has uhf and VHF as do most of my neighbours, decided to check out freeview and found i can apparently get terrestrial with a high aerial. How do i test this in practise as i don't want to buy a terrestrial decoder or tv if i can't use it.

From the locals i have spoken to most say that you can only get tv1 and tv2 (analogue), yet every second house seems to have both UHF and VHF aerials.

Anyhelp would be greatly appreciated

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

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#297017 8-Feb-2010 11:52

See if you can tune in Prime on analog UHF? Freeview will be coming from the same place.

In Putaruru your aerials are all likely to be point to Te Aroha.

Behodar

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#297022 8-Feb-2010 12:25

You should be fine. Here is Freeview's coverage map, and here you can find a list of frequencies that Prime is transmitted on. With Te Aroha you should also be able to see TVCentral over UHF.

coffeebaron

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#297025 8-Feb-2010 12:37

I'm in Putaruru too and get free-view terrestrial just fine with a little UHF area. If you live anywhere in the upper areas of town, you should be fine. As for rural, guess it would depend on whether or not you're down a valley or behind hills.

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Morgenmuffel

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#297026 8-Feb-2010 12:39

We haven't been able to tune prime in at all, although i will try a manual scan later today

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

wellygary

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#297035 8-Feb-2010 13:24

nigelt74: We haven't been able to tune prime in at all, although i will try a manual scan later today

Prime's on Channel 60, 783.25 Mhz,

Morgenmuffel

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#297048 8-Feb-2010 13:48

ummm a meant with the uhf aerial I haven't been able to tune prime with our old tv, it was tuned at our old place in the south island but I assume the frquency is different up here

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

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#299488 16-Feb-2010 13:10

I have lived in 2 houses in Torbay in the last 12 months. Both had UHF antenna's but couldn't get Prime. Turns out they had UHF/VHF combiners with amp which requires a power supply to feed back up the coax. Once fitted prime was just about watchable but freeview works fine with 80%+ quality. I think the UHF antenna and amp was old Sky UHF kit and the power supply may of been built into the UHF sky box. I got one for $15 from Tradetech. My UHF antenna is more of a weather vane (moving with the wind) at the moment but freeview keeps going.

This could be the answer if you have a UHF antenna but can't get any UHF channels

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Morgenmuffel

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#299530 16-Feb-2010 16:54

How would I be able to tell that?, does the combiner look any different?

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

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#299536 16-Feb-2010 17:25

nigelt74: How would I be able to tell that?, does the combiner look any different?

I am afraid not without opening it up. The one in my first house was near the loft hatch and was a Kingray Masthead amplifier with VHF diplexer. Without power the UHF signal is dead. If you have a UHF antenna pointing the same direction as your neighbours then is must of been put up for some reason. If you can't get any UHF signals, even scrambled sky (the audio is good) then either the wiring is really bad or a power supply for the amp is required.

This is the one I got from tradetech http://www.tradetech.co.nz/shop/Outdoor+Aerials+&+Accessories/Masthead+Amplifier+Power+Supplies/PSK08.html

I can understand you want to know if it is possible to get Freeview before parting with any cash. Does Dick Smith have the return with no questions policy still?

Morgenmuffel

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#300104 18-Feb-2010 12:40

Ok i tried tuning prime, and we get a grainy black and white and the sound is by no means perfect.

I guess this doesn't help, we are in Totara street just past the kennedy cres? turnoff (for those Putaruvians amongst you who may know the area)

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

wellygary

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#300118 18-Feb-2010 13:28

nigelt74: Ok i tried tuning prime, and we get a grainy black and white and the sound is by no means perfect.

I guess this doesn't help, we are in Totara street just past the kennedy cres? turnoff (for those Putaruvians amongst you who may know the area)

Thats a good start, at least the aerial appears to get some signal,

How many elements (bar)s are on the UHF aerial? the more the better,

According to Freeviews coverage site, Kennedy Dr is the point it goes from being "very likely" to " likely with a high aerial"

I would guess you will get HD, but you will likely need a high pole and high gain antenna.

Morgenmuffel

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#300121 18-Feb-2010 13:45

12 bars on the aerial, our neighbours look to have more sound right

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

coffeebaron

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#300276 19-Feb-2010 08:28

Try adjusting the antenna direction a little and see if it improves. You will definitely be able to get Freeview from where you are; it may just require a bit of re-tuning or bigger antenna.
I suggest adjust antenna until you get best available Prime, then get a Freeview decoder. If you then still have issues, then upgrade the antenna.

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Morgenmuffel

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#300459 19-Feb-2010 16:46

update, its too blasted high for me to adjust

1) the mast has 10 bars not 12, that'll teach me to count from the ground
The aerial

2) I have taken a photo of the combiner, i believe it is an amplified one
The combiner box

3) I managed to snap the splitter in two while tracking the cables under the house, is it OK to replace it with any old splitter or do i need a special type if it is going to be working with an amplified thingie?
Two piece Splitter

Any and all help greatfully received

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

Morgenmuffel

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#300464 19-Feb-2010 16:54

and how exactly do I install the power adaptor.
and will i be able to watch tv in 2 rooms (provided i get the splitter sorted), or do i need to get 2 power adaptors, or will that barbeque the sparrows

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

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