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Thread ID: 69881	2006-06-15 04:37:00	Free to Air Digital TV - will it make a difference?	Rutherford (10399)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
463340	2006-06-30 12:32:00	have you got the aerial the right way up? (horizontal/vertical) i do take it that aerial is wired direct to tv and not joined to other aerials ?? otherwise not much else i can suggest without being there. I have it vertical, I presume thats how its meant to be? Anyhow, Its highly likely its my dodgy cable making thats the issue, Though I intend to deny it to the death. Cheers for the input.	Metla (12)
463341	2006-06-30 12:35:00	Yikes! No picture at all ! Something is very wrong. From this site: (www.dba.org.au) I've heard that it is important to measure signal levels, even in simple domestic installations. Why is this? Simply to ensure that all signal levels are within the operating window of the receiver. Signal levels that are too high can impair or prevent reception. Signal levels that are too low can sometimes go over the Digital Cliff. For a reliable installation, both of these conditions must be avoided. Generally, installers who check signal levels have far fewer return visits. Exactly what kind of antenna do you have? Look at the 16 db gain antenna on this page. (fox40.trb.com) Also from this page: Booster Amplifiers All televisions sets, particularly older ones, add some noise or "snow" to weak UHF signals. A booster (or preamplifier) may reduce the snow, but first be sure a good antenna installation is in place. Keep in mind, outdoor booster antenna are more efficient than indoor models mounted at the set. A decent high gain antenna with an amplifier to boost the signal, would have to work - but there are problems with too much signal which would be a funny case if you finally got to this point!	Strommer (42)
463342	2006-06-30 12:36:00	i would simply get a tech in to do a signal test, as you may be wasting your time. even with too low a signal to get a decent picture out of, there is usually a lot more of a pic on the screen that what you have. it may be cheaper to get sky sat, wait till the free to air sat comes in, ditch the sky and use the dish for the free to air. much cheaper than what the aerial system will cost you.	tweak'e (69)
463343	2006-06-30 12:44:00	hmmm....Sky Sat is over 60 a month, for a minumum 12 month contract, then if freeview isnt launched by this time next year I will have to continue with it just for the rugby,...$1500. For that amount of money I could watch every game at the pub and quench my thirst at the same time. Prime's site has this If you live where Prime’s UHF signal is available, installation of a UHF aerial and tune-in will cost $145 including GST. and then this # If you live where Prime’s UHF signal is not available, you can now install a SKY Digital dish and decoder, with the Prime Television service only, at a cost of $145 including GST. (The decoder rental will be waived for this connection). which is what I would like. What I want to avoid is spending the dosh and ending up with a poor picture, any defect blown up to wall size looks a tad ugly.	Metla (12)
463344	2006-06-30 12:46:00	Alrighty, What I may do is replace the lot, I would apreciate it if the required items could be pointed out on the DSE site. Antenna cables connections. booster. OK, I already gave you the booster URL. As for the cable, look here. (www.dse.co.nz) As you can see, it is not cheap. Might be better to check with an electrical place that caters for tradesmen. They would also be able to advise you of the correct type, or refer you to a friendly installer who would not mind giving you advice. The antenna (www.dse.co.nz) would be something like this DSE one. Again, it may be best to try where the aerial installers go. BTW, these high gain yagi antennas must be aimed just right. I can picture you having Mrs Metla up on the roof while you yell at her to point it this way or that way. :lol:	Strommer (42)
463345	2006-06-30 12:50:00	i would simply get a tech in to do a signal test, as you may be wasting your time . even with too low a signal to get a decent picture out of, there is usually a lot more of a pic on the screen that what you have . :thumbs: Get a quote for the signal test, or simply tell them where you live and ask if it is a bad spot . And while you are at it, ask for a quote or at least an estimate for them doing the entire job .	Strommer (42)
463346	2006-06-30 12:52:00	cheers, though the antenna is mounted on a pole attached to the wall with bent over 6 inch nails, I can just open the window and rotate it at will (with a bit of effort). Asking Mrs Metla to go up on the roof would have me eating toast for tea for the next year. Which reminds me, my neigbour just erected a new antenna (he cant get prime either) after much discusion amonst themselves he was instructed by his wife to point it in the same direction I had mine. He came over the other day and asked me to stop rotating my damn antenna, as everytime his wife compares them they are different and he gets it in the neck for not doing as told.....	Metla (12)
463347	2006-06-30 21:02:00	Asking Mrs Metla to go up on the roof would have me eating toast for tea for the next year . . . . He came over the other day and asked me to stop rotating my damn antenna, as everytime his wife compares them they are different and he gets it in the neck for not doing as told . . . . . Good one Metla . :lol: Keep us informed of your progress . It will be informative and certainly amusing I am sure . I have heard people talk of not being able to get TV reception due to being in a bad area, but I think its mostly bullocks . With a proper antenna and all the rest, everyone should be able to get all free to air TV as long as they are not in the wop wops far away from the transmission . But I have yet to get a definitive answer on this from an experienced TV aerial installer . Hmmmnn, just thought . . . the son of a friend of mine changed jobs and is now an aerial installer so I'll ring and ask him for info . Back to coaxial cable: cheap coax, even if new, can attenuate UHF signals a huge amount (not so with lower frequency VHF channels such as TV3 in our area or FM radio) . Add a few years, moisture and poor connections, plus a low gain antenna pointed in the wrong direction, and it all adds up to a snowy picture such as what you have .	Strommer (42)
463348	2006-06-30 22:58:00	Good one Metla . :lol: Back to coaxial cable: cheap coax, even if new, can attenuate UHF signals a huge amount (not so with lower frequency VHF channels such as TV3 in our area or FM radio) . Add a few years, moisture and poor connections, plus a low gain antenna pointed in the wrong direction, and it all adds up to a snowy picture such as what you have . As Steve says, the attenuation in coax at UHF is very much greater than VHF . This is very significant . How long is your coax Metla, from antenna to receiver? Can you receive other UHF channels better than Prime? Or are they all bad . I live in a very good signal area, but reception of UHF is poor via about 40 feet of coax from the roof UHF/VHF antenna . VHF is fine . I get better UHF reception using rabbits ears at the TV, so avoiding the UHF losses in the coax length .	Bazza (407)
463349	2006-06-30 23:08:00	hmmmmm....there are other UHF channels? Ok, I'll have to come clean, The coax cable im using came off a demolition job, It could be 20 years old for all I know, And Ive been hacking it to bits and joining it together for years with sticky tape. Lmfao. Guess I should **** and go buy some real cable.	Metla (12)
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