Forum Home
PC World Chat
Thread ID: 134240	2013-06-13 06:42:00	Freeview HD still feasible?	Nomad (952)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1345698	2013-06-14 03:52:00	It is connected ok, the flat strips going into either side of the connection box are the signal inputs. I assume you disconnected the coax feeder from the screw connector (photo 2) in order to take the photograph? I'm not sure what the hole in the front of the box is for, but it could be an alternative coax connection if you don't have the tools to connect up the screwed version. I repeat, if you are not using analogue VHF/UHF, get rid of all that and have just the one UHF antenna connected. Leaving the old antenna connected more than halves your signal strength and also adds a risk of multipath digital signals to the decoder, which can confuse it and cause image break up and complete drop-outs. How many elements are there after the dipole/black box too? Your antenna could be inadequate for the job. The easiest way to assess this is to check the "District Average" i.e. if the neighbours all have UHF antennas with twice the number of elements you have, or they are all a different type/much higher/pointing in a different direction, then it is time to follow the herd. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
1345699	2013-06-14 07:44:00	The guy at the store suggested upgrading an aerial may not fix it b/c I get a v good picture without the splitter. Yes - the VHF has been dismantled and taken down. Without the splitter I get 55% Signal and 100% Quality. Now with the splitter in place, I don't even get a picture. The aerial hasn't been moved. I also now have a masthead amp which works like PoE. With the splitter I have tried both outputs. What I can do tomorrow is run a fresh cable from the splitter to the laptop and see if that fix it. I tried a new splitter today to no avail ... The aerials - mine is a Triax 15 Element. www.nzsat.com The neighbours - across the road has a Phased Array. The houses tend to have a 91 or a 40 odd element or like mine but those houses are higher than me. Many/most houses on this street only have a sat dish. Yep I took the coaxial cable off and took the photo ...	Nomad (952)
1345700	2013-06-14 08:25:00	What is the signal strength and quality you guys are getting? Just to give me an idea of the benchmark.	Nomad (952)
1345701	2013-06-14 10:01:00	I couldn't wait . Pulled the aerial cable out from under the house and put thru the window . Just cable to the aerial - all channels smooth apart from #17 TV9 . Earlier today, I did put in a new 2 way splitter but same thing . I also put in a PoE style mast amp on the bedroom's tv wall socket - there is not digital tv in that room . There is then a 2 way splitter and then a aerial above it . Did nothing . In the tv room, no video, no sound, no channels after tuning . Maybe I could try a larger aerial :confused: Maybe the signal is ok for one tv but when a splitter is used it's too weak and maybe the 10m cable to the tv room weakens it also?	Nomad (952)
1345702	2013-06-14 12:46:00	The aerials - mine is a Triax 15 Element . The neighbours - across the road has a Phased Array . The houses tend to have a 91 or a 40 odd element or like mine but those houses are higher than me . So, the 'district average' indicates that 15 element antennas won't cut it . If your neighbours have more metal in the sky, you may have to follow suit . Yours is defninitely only 15 element by the way, the crossed ( X ) elements you see on other antennas each count as four, so a 91 element antenna will have 22 director assemblies (88) + one collector dipole and two reflectors . You may well need a much better antenna that your present example, or you may have to raise it a metre or more higher . Phased arrays are another option, but from the sound of your location, you might need an expert with a signal strength meter to find the best antenna type and height . If you do not have a clear line of sight to the transmitter then once again, the 'district average' is the collective wisdom of all previous installers and will show you both where to aim your antenna and an idea of what height it should be mounted . If you are behind a hill or in a gully then tilting the antenna upwards may also help . It sounds to me like you need a much better antenna and that it should be mounted higher . Amplifiers won't help much if the signal is too weak and are a last resort once all other problems are resolved . Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
1345703	2013-06-14 20:26:00	Also check the splitter you are trying to use. Is it a VHF only splitter perhaps that's killing the UHF signal? If it says on it VHF or has a rating if 5 to about 600mhz then it won't work.	CYaBro (73)
1345704	2013-06-14 22:28:00	The splitter should be ok b/c it says UHF on it ... I tried a new one yesterday. The layout: Aerial - 8m cable - 2 way splitter then 30cm to master bedroom or to the tv room 10m. I took the splitter out and put in place a cable joiner - the tv room gets a perfect connection. So the cable is good. Before with the splitter in place, I got 0% Signal, 0% Quality. Couldn't even tune channels. Will try a larger aerial today. Then if that happens dunno - hire a pro for an evaluation or just split our Sky Dish and go sat dish Freeview. Yeah - there is a hill above us. Adjacent to us the cars drive up on that main road. So there is hill there and houses there and the neighbour have some trees which is in the direction of Mt Kaukau tv tower. The pro could maybe use a meter at the front of the house maybe a bit further away from the nearby trees but there is still the houses on the hill above us. Yeah we are sort of on a valley - at least on one side that that side is towards the tv tower. Yesterday if took the same layout but instead of the 10m cable to the tv room if I added in a fresh new 30cm cable to the computer (still using the 2 way splitter). I get a connection but all channels stutters.	Nomad (952)
1345705	2013-06-14 22:38:00	Also check the splitter you are trying to use. If it says on it VHF or has a rating if 5 to about 600mhz then it won't work. The current old one says 5-2050Mhz.	Nomad (952)
1345706	2013-06-14 23:25:00	I think something is up with the splitter, going from 50% signal to 0% is not right - it should drop the strength by slightly more than half. You sure you are wiring it correctly with the input from the aerial and the two outputs to the rooms ? Also if using a masthead amplifier with a splitter you need one with a power passthrough port that allows power to feed though it and you have to use that port where the power connection is or the amp will not get power.	dugimodo (138)
1345707	2013-06-15 00:59:00	Yep the current old one says power pass thru or something on that line. The guy at the store got me to try the new splitter said it does the same thing .... This 55% signal is off my laptop's USB tv tuner's software. 55% signal, 80-100% quality, 10m cable from aerial. If I use a joiner with another 10m cable to the tv room - I get 55% Signal and 45% Quality. May be due to the length of the cable of the weak aerial .... But still viewable. The store didn't have a 91 element, I got a phased array. Failing this, will put a stop to it. Either then call in a pro or go sat dish. PS. I did get the masthead amp working but only if: Aerial - 10m - thru a bedroom window. There I have the amp and tv (computer) connected with a fresh new 30cm cable. Even TV9 works good. However if I put in a splitter too the Signal is still 55% I think but the Quality drops to 15% ~ .... and every channel stutters. Yep - I got the input and output correct on the splitter. Input is from aerial and output is to the rooms. Have pulled the aerial cable out and just direct into computer which works great. Have also joined the aerial cable with the tv room 10m cable (without splitter) and that works satisfactory too. But immediately I put in the splitter and it turns to custard.	Nomad (952)
1 2 3