Analogue UHF is fuzzy. Will digital UHF be better?

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Analogue UHF is fuzzy. Will digital UHF be better?

dmw

59 posts

Master Geek

#95067 26-Dec-2011 13:51

We have good VHF signal. Our UHF aerial, though, is angled slightly above the horizon (like the neighbours') to receive signal from the Waiatarua transmitter -- Prime, via analogue signal, is quite fuzzy. MaoriTV is more watchable.

Can I expect to have reasonable digital signal from that aerial?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#561535 26-Dec-2011 14:04

Quite likely but you'll most likely have to ditch the VHF antenna and diplexer and make sure the co-ax runs direct from the UHF antenna to the TV and is in excellent condition.
Similar situation at my son's place in Glenfield needed a new UHF antenna and new RG6 co-ax. The new antenna and co-ax direct to the TV is well away (about 5 metres) from the old VHF antenna and co-ax to avoid interaction. The old antenna is still in use but only for the Analogue DVD recorder although any recording is usually via Sky.

dmw

59 posts

Master Geek

#561539 26-Dec-2011 14:24

I'm also in Glenfield (well, we were until our street was renamed as being in Totara Vale)!

Thanks for the aerial suggestions.

We have a Sony HDD recorder (the model is RDR-HX750) and an old Sony CRT tv. I'm thinking of buying a Sony KDL-32CX520 LCD tv. I understand that this has a built-in Freeview receiver.

Is there any way that I can record digital TV programs with our HDD recorder? If so, what connections do I need to make?

huckster

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#561544 26-Dec-2011 14:53

Can't help with the HDD stuff, but I can say that I too had a not-so-good Analogue UHF signal, but Digital has been fine with the same aerial.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#561545 26-Dec-2011 14:57

dmw:

Is there any way that I can record digital TV programs with our HDD recorder? If so, what connections do I need to make?

Only via a Sky decoder. Freeview licensing doesn't allow external recording from TVs.
Modern TV with Freeview such as the EX520 don't have any video out to allow recording. Only Audio out and Audio/Video in.
To record Freeview you need a STB (SD only, not HD) to connect to your current recorder or buy a new Freeview recorder or PVR.
All new TVs have freeview digital tuners. No point in selling a new one if it doesn't have a digital tuner.
I upgraded this year to Sony EX720 (3D) and Panasonic BW-880 recorder. Well worth it.
Pretty good deals in the shops today.

Brunzy

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#561563 26-Dec-2011 16:27

B1GGLZ:
dmw:

Is there any way that I can record digital TV programs with our HDD recorder? If so, what connections do I need to make?

Only via a Sky decoder. Freeview licensing doesn't allow external recording from TVs.

Modern TV with Freeview such as the EX520 don't have any video out to allow recording. Only Audio out and Audio/Video in.

To record Freeview you need a STB (SD only, not HD) to connect to your current recorder or buy a new Freeview recorder or PVR.
All new TVs have freeview digital tuners. No point in selling a new one if it doesn't have a digital tuner.
I upgraded this year to Sony EX720 (3D) and Panasonic BW-880 recorder. Well worth it.
Pretty good deals in the shops today.

Customer asked me the same question about a month ago , & I said no , only to look behind his Panny Plasma and find a composite video out.
It works, but of little value

robjg63

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#561572 26-Dec-2011 16:54

Re: Reception - analogue v digital
It will either work or it wont. Digital needs a certain level of signal to work. But if it works it will be 100% - otherwise you wont get anything....

Re: Recording
Probably your cheapest option is to buy one of the cheaper freeview HD tuner boxes like this one ($88 at the mo):
http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/loranz-freeview-terrestrial-receiver.html

You can plug a USB stick or a USB hard drive into it and record whatever you want. It will be full HD recording as well(assuming the program was broadcast that way). So it will look as good as it was broadcast. As mentioned above Freeview approved TVs dont tend to have output facilities for recording purposes. Pretty sure I saw a pile of these at HN a week or so back.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

dmw

59 posts

Master Geek

#561575 26-Dec-2011 17:26

So my Sony PVR is defunct (or at least will be when analogue TV ceases)? Presumably, I could keep using it for VHF channels until then (if my UHF works on digital without cable changes) -- but that would be analogue and therefore lower resolution?

Does the Loranz have an on-screen display (on the TV)? It looks like I can output sound from it to my mini-stereo.

What is the Ethernet port on the Loranz used for? Sounds like content from the internet? (Puts on "Waiting for FTTH" hat.)

We watch very little TV, but almost every time we do, I record it and watch it later or on "chase play" to skip the ads.

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B1GGLZ

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#561588 26-Dec-2011 17:55

dmw:

Does the Loranz have an on-screen display (on the TV)? It looks like I can output sound from it to my mini-stereo.

What is the Ethernet port on the Loranz used for? Sounds like content from the internet? (Puts on "Waiting for FTTH" hat.)

They all have some sort of Menu shows on the TV.
Beware it may not connect to your TV though. Specs say 1 Co-ax out, but don't say if it's audio or video, and HDMI plus stereo and Ethernet. Presumably your TV doesn't have HDMI in so you will only get SD if the Co-ax out is composite video. It doesn't mention USB but the socket is visible on the front panel.
Advantage is you can plug in an external USB HDD and record and playback.
The ethernet is probably for updates only or of no use at all.
My Zinwell has an ethernet port but is of no practical use.

Behodar

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#561594 26-Dec-2011 18:21

robjg63: It will either work or it wont. Digital needs a certain level of signal to work. But if it works it will be 100% - otherwise you wont get anything....

If the signal is weak then it could run for a few minutes then drop out for several seconds, then start working again. Be sure to test it for a decent amount of time.

robjg63

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#561603 26-Dec-2011 19:06

B1GGLZ:
dmw:

Does the Loranz have an on-screen display (on the TV)? It looks like I can output sound from it to my mini-stereo.

What is the Ethernet port on the Loranz used for? Sounds like content from the internet? (Puts on "Waiting for FTTH" hat.)

They all have some sort of Menu shows on the TV.
Beware it may not connect to your TV though. Specs say 1 Co-ax out, but don't say if it's audio or video, and HDMI plus stereo and Ethernet. Presumably your TV doesn't have HDMI in so you will only get SD if the Co-ax out is composite video. It doesn't mention USB but the socket is visible on the front panel.
Advantage is you can plug in an external USB HDD and record and playback.
The ethernet is probably for updates only or of no use at all.
My Zinwell has an ethernet port but is of no practical use.

The OP was talking about getting a new TV so it will have multiple HDMI inputs I would think. I imagine you will just connect it to the *new* tv via an HDMI connection and have the stereo L/R sound to your stereo.

The harveynorman site mentions "This Loranz high definition Freeview receiver features a USB port so you can record programs and play videos".

Who knows if they have anything planned for the ethernet port. A few boxes have them and they arent used on any that I know of (yet).

EDIT: BTW - there was this thread about those units:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=91870
I am not recommending that particular unit - I dont know anything about it - sounds like they have tried to resolve the initial problems. If it doesnt work properly HN are usually ok to deal with though. There are other freeview STB boxes with USB record facilities. Have a look around and compare I guess.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

sbiddle

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#561606 26-Dec-2011 19:17

robjg63:
Who knows if they have anything planned for the ethernet port. A few boxes have them and they arent used on any that I know of (yet).

Freeview have demonstrated interactive capabilities using MHEG5 and an internet connection using Ethernet and there are large number of very cool possibilities since MHEG5 is purely an interpreter. There are probably a number of reasons why nobody has launched anything, but the fact Media Works are broke and TVNZ keep wasting their money elsewhere wouldn't help.

There is technically no reason why streaming content can't be offered direct to the boxes over the internet, and there was talk before Freeview launched of a TVNZ/TV3 On Demand style setup being launched.

dmw

59 posts

Master Geek

#561828 27-Dec-2011 14:17

So, to answer my original question -- since the definitive answer was to try it out with something that receives Freeview -- is YES. Even without any aerial or aerial cable changes.

Prime was unwatchable before. Now it is crystal clear. (The advantages of Digital over Analogue.) But so are ONE, TV2 and TV3. And some more channels I've never seen before!

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#562180 28-Dec-2011 17:17

dmw: So, to answer my original question -- since the definitive answer was to try it out with something that receives Freeview -- is YES. Prime was unwatchable before. Now it is crystal clear. (The advantages of Digital over Analogue.) But so are ONE, TV2 and TV3. And some more channels I've never seen before!

That's good to hear, but the "try it out with something that receives Freeview" advice was good. When you have poor analogue UHF reception, it's difficult for anyone to say if you will get good digital reception. If your analogue UHF reception is a bit fuzzy, you will probably get a good picture with digital broadcasts. on the other hand if your analogue UHF reception is very fuzzy you might not get any picture at all with digital broadcasts. As others have said it's almost all or nothing, with very little in between.

This website gives a reasonable explanation of the so-called Digital Cliff Edge where, if you are in a marginal reception area, you can move from a good quality picture to no picture at all with a small drop in signal strength. That's why it's worth improving your aerial, cables and connectors to reduce signal loss as much as possible if you are in a marginal reception area.