Theoretical UHF Freeview signal range

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Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 64996 27-Jul-2010 12:15

Hi All
I live in Blenheim and am going to try to get Freeview HD from one of the wellington sites (KauKau)
One of the signal coverage maps (http://www.freeviewnz.tv/images/uploads/pdfs/Kaukau_Standalone_Freeview.pdf) it shows arapawa Island as getting good signal strength.
i live approx 28km SSW from there and have a direct line of sight to roughly where the tower should be (been on the roof with my compass!)
Am I LIKELY to be able to pick up a signal considering the distance required with this:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/TVs/Cables-aerials/auction-305105313.htm

We used to receive prime from a wellington site via UHF with the standard little UHF aerial you see on almost every house. And when my friend brought a signal meter we could pick up that there was a signal coming from the Kaukau area with this standard aerial, but it was only just that there was something there - nothing more.

This shows my house and the site
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Manatu+Place,+Marlborough&sll=-41.46537,174.339294&sspn=0.716241,1.229095&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Manatu+Pl,+Solar+Heights+7201,+Marlborough&ll=-41.292254,174.407959&spn=0.71815,1.229095&z=10

What's everyone's thoughts?

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Reply # 357070 27-Jul-2010 12:43

So are you not able to pick up the UHF Prime signal from the "Wellington site" anymore? And when you were able to pick it up, were you living where you are now?

Generally speaking, if you can't get prime UHF, then it's unlikely that you will receive Freeview|HD UHF.

However, it could be worth a try with the bigger aerial.
The aerial you suggested combined with one of these - http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/kingray-34db-shielded-digital-mast-head-amplifier-p-485.html - would be your best bet.

oxnsox

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Reply # 357073 27-Jul-2010 12:55

When you watched Prime before on your existing aerial what was the picture like?

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 357101 27-Jul-2010 13:42

Picture was rather snowiny before, but it was from a different site - up near paraparaumu. Blenheim is officially listed as not receiving prime via UHF, but we could get it to a degree. Bad weather ment it was unwatchable.
I currently have DVB-s but was thinking of being able to have DVB-T as a luxury that might be weather dependent.
So the fact that I could pick up Prime via UHF before with a small aerial indicates that I have a pretty good shot at being able to receive DVB-T at times with a better aerial?

BTW, what PSU would I need for the amp? How does it install? ie do i need to run the power up to the box or just up the coax aerial cable?

dontpanic42

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Reply # 357120 27-Jul-2010 14:15

Rollux: ... BTW, what PSU would I need for the amp? How does it install? ie do i need to run the power up to the box or just up the coax aerial cable?

Good point. As you can see on the product listing on the freeviewshop website, there are two options.
17.5V AC 100mA $27.95 or
14V DC 150mA $29.95

I actually don't think it matters which power supply you use because the unit will accept power from either power supply unit.

However, I am running the 17.5V AC unit on the same 34db Masthead Amplifier unit I suggested, and it works extremely well. I have a fair bit of RG6 cable running throughout the house too.

The way it works:
The main amplifier box (or masthead amplifier) is installed AT the UHF antenna (i.e. between 300mm -1m of cable from the UHF antenna to the masthead box). The power is supplied through the coax cable. All you do is place the power injector between the aerial socket on the wall and your Freeview|HD receiver.

BTW, I know it is a lot of extra cash ($199.00) but here is another UHF aerial to consider.
http://www.dtvs.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=74
It apparently offers 19db compared to the 14-16db gain from the trademe one.
There may not be much it in, and it could just be specs competing with each other, but could be worth considering.

Also, do you know what type of cabling you currently have. RG59, RG6, RG6quad?
If you have anything other than RG6 or RG6quad it might be worth upgrading it to at least RG6, and preferably RG6quad. The type of cable used is extremely important, as cable signal losses play a huge role in being able to get a quality signal to the TV/receiver.

kiwitrc

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Reply # 357122 27-Jul-2010 14:24

Email Steve Joyce and get him to roll out HD Freeview to the provinces. Or at least Blenheim.

Oblivian

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Reply # 357149 27-Jul-2010 15:04

Threads on the freeview forums tend to indicate nope..

Theres installers in blenheim with huge poles and all the whizbangs and still can't get FV:HD

And remember with amps.. if theres lots of noise/interference, it amplifies that too :) doesnt just pick out the awesome signal and boost that only.

Behodar

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Reply # 357182 27-Jul-2010 16:00

I'm surprised that you can't get anything with direct line of sight. There's officially no coverage here in Whakatane either, but I can get it from Te Aroha (approx 120 km) with a 91-element aerial. Google Maps shows that Wellington to Blenheim is well under 100 km so I'd be surprised that you can't get it, if there's line of sight.

duckquack

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Reply # 357294 27-Jul-2010 18:55

This info might help. I note it also talks about Blenheim.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=39575

diogratia

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 357425 27-Jul-2010 22:17

We live around 45 km from Sugar Loaf in Northern Canterbury and get Freeview HD just fine. There should be coverage maps that indicate the the expected coverage.

http://www.freeviewnz.tv/all_about_freeview/coverage

bfginger

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Reply # 357440 27-Jul-2010 22:28

It's not just about the number of km in distance from the transmitter but the strength of the signal the transmitter is putting out.

oxnsox

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Reply # 357451 27-Jul-2010 22:39

Kaukau probably doesn't have much of a lobe going West.... and there'd be horrid multipath over the water.

If the local installers ain't doing it, thats a good clue right their. You'll just have to stick with SD freeview on the old Sky dish like the rest of us.

diogratia

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 357495 27-Jul-2010 23:49

Seeing as the map say unlikely, it's a matter of trying with a high gain antenna. The furthest claim I found by googling is 57 km, and that wasn't over water which should be about as good as it gets in calm seas. Those kind of distances the weather is bound to affect reception anyway as well as sea state. We get heavy rains toward Sugarloaf that cause reception problems, not too frequently though. Probably associated with high wind. Our straight line passes over part of Pegasus Bay which is sheltered. The Cook Straits sound like the sea state might affect reception. The best reception with UHF is generally with thick and low cloud cover, where the sea state might be important.

Google maps shows you apparently have a continuous downslope to the sea, and I take it you a straight through shot via the number 2 empty lot. The only way to find out would be to try. Maybe a loaner on anticipation of further business opportunities? HD antenna manufacturers in the 'States recommend 30 foot mast heights which doesn't sound compatible with your neighborhood, more a rural dream. They're faced with customers suddenly having reception problems with digital signals.

See if you can contact someone at an Antenna manufacturer.

From casual reading there are no current plans to do more terrestrial broadcast sites here. We might end up with real Internet TV before then. I'd imagine radiating in your direction isn't a particular concern of anyone doing engineering in Wellington, either. Even if you could receive the signal now it might still go away in the future. In any event you are at risk of spending you can't recoup.

We used to watch Soviet TV on the Kara Sea in Turkey, a lot greater distances, lower frequencies and ideal conditions without any ground clutter over protected water. Bigger antennas and SECAM analog TV, too.

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 357593 28-Jul-2010 10:08

oxnsox: Kaukau probably doesn't have much of a lobe going West.... and there'd be horrid multipath over the water.

If the local installers ain't doing it, thats a good clue right their. You'll just have to stick with SD freeview on the old Sky dish like the rest of us.

I fyou look at the map it shows some of the marlborough sounds getting signal fine, so in theory the water and west direction shouldn;t be bad.

I looked at the link above posted
"I live in blenheim and would love to get freeveiw from Wellingtons Mt Kaukau.. In theory it should work but i haven't heard of any success story's, one of our satellite installers has a demo freeveiwHD unit setup from Kaukau but it has a very average signal, dropping out all the time.. Its in the middle of town "

That's all the inspiration I need. It is possible. I live higher up so will try the mother of all aerials like suggested with an amp and see how I go.

Anyone want to buy a high gain aerial and amp? Good cond, used once for about 2hrs.... Lol

24grape

18 posts

Geek

Reply # 360874 31-Jul-2010 23:26

Hi there, new here and just adding my 2 cents worth to this thread. Sorry not a technical person but looking for some advice ss i keen to get better freeview |HD TV.

Just got sony HD TV and out of interest started the digital tuning with the built in freeview. Much to our surprise our first attempt found 17 channels, those as advertised on UHF freeview|HD. However that day must have been a fluke as most of the time the only channels that show well are TV1, 2, 6, 7. The rest of the channels tv3, Maori, prime, Chinese TV, freeview HD demo etc. and radio NZ come and go depending on the weather and signal strength i presume?

The UHF aerial has some kinda Hills booster plugged into indoor aerial socket, and if i remove this and just plug the TV in no freeview is picked up at all. So my question: is there another type of booster that could increase the number of channels reliably received?

bfginger

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Reply # 360908 1-Aug-2010 06:15

24grape, please tell us where you are located.

The TVNZ digital broadcasts are on a lower frequency than the others which may be why you're getting more reliable reception from them. Are you sure you don't have a VHF aerial?

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