Setting up DVB-T Tuner

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msn

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Topic # 87419 28-Jul-2011 14:33

I received a tuner in the mail today but I can't seem to get it to work.

http://www.dealextreme.com/feedbacks/BrowseReviews.dx/sku.8309

This is what I bought.

Since then I have read the reviews about the tuner and one person wrote "Not at all easy to setup in NZ but it DOES work perfectly with some H.264 codec tinkering and the use of DVBviewer software"

I am unsure how to go about the "H.264 codec tinkering" and get my tuner to work.

Your help is appreciated

Thanks, msn.

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Reply # 498997 28-Jul-2011 15:33

If you're on Windows 7, and the DVB-T a, has BDA drivers, and b, can been seen by Windows, then you should be able to get it going for NZ Freeview HD, as windows 7, natively has the codecs (video and audio) required.

This is using Windows 7 Media Center BTW.

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msn

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Reply # 499054 28-Jul-2011 17:57

The drivers did install automatically, and windows media center does detect the tuner. But it fails to find any channels when I do the search. How strong does the reception need to be to receive a channel? Perhaps it's that the aerial is too crap to receive any channels.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 499079 28-Jul-2011 19:17

msn:
How strong does the reception need to be to receive a channel? Perhaps it's that the aerial is too crap to receive any channels.

With an indoor antenna you need to be in sight of the Transmitter and have a very strong signal.
Without a rooftop UHF Antenna you're probably wasting your time unless you live close to the Transmitter.

msn

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Reply # 499088 28-Jul-2011 19:31

Looks like I'm wasting my time then

What does a transmitter look like?

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 499155 28-Jul-2011 22:32

msn: Looks like I'm wasting my time then

What does a transmitter look like?

The large mast usually on a hilltop that transmits the TV signal.

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Reply # 499462 29-Jul-2011 15:10

Where do you live?

msn

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Reply # 499518 29-Jul-2011 18:04

Tauranga. On the freeview map it says that if your house is "Very likely" to have DVB-T then you can possibly use an indoor antenna. (My house is in a "Very Likely" area and we do already use DVB-T on the home television) I have noticed that the antenna that came with the adapter is a 5dBi one and I was wondering if something such as http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Peripherals/Other/auction-395192076.htm would give me enough reception. If an indoor antenna is not possible my last resort would be to install a splitter and run a wire into my room (I am unsure as to how easy this would be to do), but if there are simpler methods I would like to give them a try.

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Reply # 499530 29-Jul-2011 18:51

msn: Tauranga. On the freeview map it says that if your house is "Very likely" to have DVB-T then you can possibly use an indoor antenna. (My house is in a "Very Likely" area and we do already use DVB-T on the home television)

Try plugging the indoor antenna into your TV and use the TV menu to check signal strength.
If you get little or no signal on the TV then it's highly unlikely you will get a picture with any indoor antenna.
I'd go for the splitter. I use one of these
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LT3046&keywords=splitter&form=KEYWORD
It is high quality diecast metal construction and uses f plugs (screw on type) and is not difficult to install. Also cheaper than an indoor antenna that probably won't work.

msn

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Reply # 499551 29-Jul-2011 19:39

Do indoor splitters work as good as the ones outdoors? Might save some time.

Also I would be purchasing an RF Coaxial cable to come out of the splitter right?

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 499632 29-Jul-2011 23:51

msn: Do indoor splitters work as good as the ones outdoors? Might save some time.

Also I would be purchasing an RF Coaxial cable to come out of the splitter right?

A splitter is a splitter. Outdoors or indoors makes no difference but better kept dry. It just splits the co-ax into 2 or more outlets with some loss of signal hence the need for either a masthead amp or distribution amp depending on the circumstances.

Naturally you will need some co-ax as well for the splitter outputs to the TV and your USB Tuner.
In fact if your antenna and co-ax are old it would be best to replace the whole lot as discussed in another thread over the last few days. (Digital over Aerial - no tv3 or 4)

richms

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Reply # 499832 30-Jul-2011 18:13

I have several of those tuners - they are a lot less sensitive than the old DSE/Zinwel box (when it was working) but about onpar with an inbuilt panasonic digital tuner. Will lock and somewhat work here 18km from the site, and the tuner will work perfectly in a friends office in the CBD which doesnt have line of site to the top of the skytower.

There are many crap adapter cables from a PAL plug to the MCX one available on trademe/ebay etc, I found a better looking one on ebay that they made on demand so I was able to get some made longer - that actually made a noticeable improvement over the 150mm long cheap and nasty MCX to PAL socket cable I got earlier.

Richard rich.ms

msn

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Reply # 500560 1-Aug-2011 21:04

So you are picking up channels 18km away from the tower?

I did recently buy a MCX to PAL adapter but it was a very short one. Are you saying that a trader on ebay sells custom length MCX to PAL cables? Would they be able to make one which is around 15m long as I will need a long cable if I'm going to get it to the aerial. What do you recommend I do?

richms

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Reply # 500569 1-Aug-2011 21:15

msn: So you are picking up channels 18km away from the tower?

I did recently buy a MCX to PAL adapter but it was a very short one. Are you saying that a trader on ebay sells custom length MCX to PAL cables? Would they be able to make one which is around 15m long as I will need a long cable if I'm going to get it to the aerial. What do you recommend I do?

Yes, but it is line of sight to the bedroom and study where just the stub antenna works. downstairs a loopy amplified settop antenna works ok.

15m is way too long as it is a thinner cable so higher losses.

Here is the one I got http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220699222797&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT - ended up being US$20 inc airmail for 8 of them at 600mm long. thats enough to get from the splitter on the floor to the sticks in the back of the PC, only running 4 of them on a single PC at the moment and its fine.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 500573 1-Aug-2011 21:30

What cable would you recommend if I was to try and setup the tuner from 15m away from the aerial? I'm sorry that I don't have too much knowledge in cables/adapters to do with aerials and may be asking stupid questions.

richms

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Reply # 500574 1-Aug-2011 21:32

msn: What cable would you recommend if I was to try and setup the tuner from 15m away from the aerial? I'm sorry that I don't have too much knowledge in cables/adapters to do with aerials and may be asking stupid questions.

RG6 to close to the computer, then a joiner onto the thin adapter cable. Stick with F connectors because the PAL/Belling-lee ones are horrible pieces of crap that I had hoped that the move to digital would have eliminated but sadly did not.

Richard rich.ms

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