UHF Installers for Whitby, Wellington

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tchart

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#63269 23-Jun-2010 19:45

Anyone know a good UHF aerial installer in Wellington? Preferably with knowledge of the Whitby area.

Im looking for some advice on existing installs in the area (ie on reception quality etc) and a rough cost to install an aerial & run some cable.

I've had Freeview DVB-S for a few years now but just got a new TV with built in DVB-T. I always thought I couldn't get a terrestrial signal since I cant see baxters knob. However I read a post on another forum saying someone got decent terrestrial reception from the valley below my house - so I figure I may be in luck.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#344658 23-Jun-2010 19:49

Contact cyril7 here on Geekzone.

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rscole86

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#344669 23-Jun-2010 20:20

Where abouts in whitby are you? What can you see... unless you want to post your general address on here?

tchart

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#344674 23-Jun-2010 20:31

freitasm: Contact cyril7 here on Geekzone.

Done!

@rscole86 - Im on the hill above the villas/lakes (western side). I can see right across the whole of Whitby (from mercury drive over to the newer area of whitby, haywards, adventure park).

cyril7

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#344991 24-Jun-2010 19:31

Hi, did a survey today, result, zip, nothing form no where, its not the first time in the Whitby area which is very rumpty that there is no way of getting any signal either from KauKau or Baxters Knob.

Bit further down the valley toward the shops, there is a signal, nothing flash but usable.

Cheers
Cyril

joco

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#349969 11-Jul-2010 17:49

I'm also in Whitby and just spent the weekend trying to get improved Freeview UHF reception. I'm trying to add the DVB-T HD feed to my MythTV backend. I have been using the DVB-S feed for a while with great success and with the advent of cheap dual USB DVB-T tuners thought I would give that a go.

Anyway - after getting a new 43 element UHF antenna and wiring it up I get a SINGLE bar on the signal strength meter. I'm up near the top of the Portage Place "knoll" and honestly thought I would get better than that.

Is anyone else in the area getting a reasonable signal or is DVB-T going to be a curiosity which is doomed to failure?

I haven't done any masthead amp stuff or anything as the cable is going straight from the antenna to the usb tuner. No splitters or anything.

If there are tricks that a pro installer can work through due to better knowledges and test equipment then let me know, I'm prepared to get someone in.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

rscole86

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#349975 11-Jul-2010 18:02

You should get more than one bar from there, I assume you can see colonial knob from your address?

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cyril7

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#349977 11-Jul-2010 18:04

Colonial Knob does not have a DTT Tx on it, infact has no broadcast TV Tx's, you need Baxters Knob.

Cyril

joco

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#350021 11-Jul-2010 20:34

First off. Thanks for responding to my questions. I appreciate your time and input.

I have been using w_scan to see what I can pick up. From that I am seeing some signal from both KauKau and Baxters Knob.
But the signal is so crap that sometimes w_scan gets something then a second time it gets nothing.

I got a 43 element antenna from JayCar - CAT. NO. LT3181. Would this seem a reasonable antenna for the location or should I have gone with something different?

Thanks,
James.

cyril7

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#350076 12-Jul-2010 08:12

Hi James, its normal for that area to be able to see both KauKua and Baxters. Its also common that as both will be non line of sight, any results will be mixed bag over time, ie somedays it works, others its custard.

Often I find that in areas like where you are that a broadside array (or phased array) is a better antenna to deal with non line of sight reception.

Personally from what I know of your area unless you can find a location on the roof that gets a reasonable baseline signal level in good you may be well off just going satellite to save the grief of unpredictable results over time.

Cyril

joco

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#350228 12-Jul-2010 13:03

Cyril - thanks for the reply.

I'll have to look up what broadside/phased array's are/look like and where to source them from.

Last night I was trying reception through MythTV. It was reporting 30-40% signal strength with a S/N of ~2.5dB. Not sure if that mix is good, bad or indifferent. Signal strength is obviously low.

If phased array can up that another 20-30% I would be in business. Then perhaps I might need to amplify the signal to the USB tuner as it has two tuners in it and I suspect the signal will be getting split to the tuners. Just guessing there.

Looking around my area there are quite a few UHF antenna, just no idea if anyone is actually using them. Might have to go door knocking on some neighbors to see if anyone is getting DVB-T successfully.

After watching TV1, 2 and 3 in HD I REALLY would like to get this working. Seeing those channels in 720p+ made the mucking about so far worth it.

Cheers,
James.

tanivula

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#350233 12-Jul-2010 13:20

Looking around my area there are quite a few UHF antenna, just no idea if anyone is actually using them. Might have to go door knocking on some neighbors to see if anyone is getting DVB-T successfully.

I've got the same dilemma.... I'm also in Whitby trying to get Freeview sorted. We've got a UHF antenna on the roof but from the looks of it, it is not aligned properly (comaparing neighbours) but like you not sure if they are using freeview. Plus, while I was in the attic I saw some painfull coax joining so no wonder it didn't work straight off the bat (there's several outdoor and indoor runs everwhere!) but not sure what is connected and what isnt. Staying subscribed to this thread!

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joco

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#350322 12-Jul-2010 16:32

Cyril - is this the type of phased array antenna you were referring to?

Cheers,
James.

Lancealot

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#354246 20-Jul-2010 22:51

cyril7: Hi James, its normal for that area to be able to see both KauKua and Baxters. Its also common that as both will be non line of sight, any results will be mixed bag over time, ie somedays it works, others its custard.

Often I find that in areas like where you are that a broadside array (or phased array) is a better antenna to deal with non line of sight reception.

Personally from what I know of your area unless you can find a location on the roof that gets a reasonable baseline signal level in good you may be well off just going satellite to save the grief of unpredictable results over time.

Cyril

Hi Cyril, I wonder if you can help me with a query. Would you know what the reception like around the police college/Hallidale road area? I will be living there for a while and was wondering if an active flat panel indoor aerial might pick up anything (HD) with my HVR 900 hybrid tuner in my laptop? Baxters looks like it could almost be line of sight, not sure though. I doubt the standard little aerial that comes with it will. Although it might get analogue maybe. Cheers in advance.

cyril7

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#354319 21-Jul-2010 07:56

Hi, firstly James, yes that is exactly what a broadside array is, and a good model, the matchmaster I presume, sorry for not replying earlier, I must have missed the response.

Lance, Baxters Knob is the white mast top you can see peeking over the pines on the hill above the police college, its quite obvious as you leave the lights at SH1 and head up whitford brown. As to if you can recieve it at your location, I would imagine you can get reception its probably less than a 1km away.

Cyril

rscole86

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#354322 21-Jul-2010 08:09

I know of someone who lives on Cassley cres, and with rabbit ears, they can get the TVNZ mux only. Obviously rabbit ears are not ideal, so they may be able to get both mux's with an outdoor antenna.

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