Hi over the last week we have lost all freeview channels, it started with TV1 & TV2 going first, pix-elating and then No Signal.  Than a couple of days later we lost TV3 & Four, Edge & Duke.  Up until last night we could still see Prime, Choice & HGTV and all the other shopping, political & foreign channels.

Nothing has changed ,we have a UHF aerial and it looks to be pointing the same as all the other in the area.  We have a signal booster inside.  I have found that if I touch the plugs in the signal booster we get reception. Aaaarrrrggggghhhhh it is driving me crazy. I have a Panasonic 42" TV with freeview in it in the lounge & a freeview Box (DishTV) on an older TV in the bedroom.  Help Please.

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It's been very wet lately. Check your antenna co-ax connection. The symptoms you describe sound like water getting into the co-ax which would significantly degrade signal strength.

Thanks, that makes sense as it was after a large storm things starting going wrong.  If that is the case, we I need to replace the co-ax cable?

Biggles said:

It's been very wet lately. Check your antenna co-ax connection. The symptoms you describe sound like water getting into the co-ax which would significantly degrade signal strength.

Not necessarily. If the problem is water in the co-ax, wait til it all dries out and see if it the picture quality comes right and then the co-ax can be sealed at the top end. Depending on it's condition though it may need replacing. I've had water dripping out the bottom end of some of my Amateur Radio co-ax leads in the past and they were quite OK after drying out and re-sealing. Self-amalgamating tape or just plain insulation tape works well. They are 1/2 inch co-ax though so probably handle water ingress much better than TV co-ax.

Angela Pratt said:

  If that is the case, we I need to replace the co-ax cable?

Hi Guys, 

Got told about this forum today when enquiring about our reception problems similar to yours Angela.

We have had pixelation and lost signal on occasions in the past,but usually very briefly. 

The last few weeks it has been getting real bad, but guess what ! only on Saturday evening when we want to watch 'Britains got Talent' Pretty much 7:30 bang on for an hour or more, to the extent that the program is un watchable. (wife gets really rarked up !)

The weather conditions are always perfectly calm, cold, and dry.

We cannot recall having any problems in wet or windy conditions. Tonight is identical conditions to last night and everything is perfect.

We have a UHF aerial on the roof, the TV has Freeview, but the Freeview is being decoded through our Panasonic DVD recorder.

Chap in Noel Leemings I spoke to today didn't know much other than he has the same problem.

We have been having pixelization on most channels from Mt Campbell, Nelson. On TV freeview and igloo. I see we are now on backup system, hoping that will fix the issues?

FROM THE TRANSMISSION PROVIDER:

It seems Biggles has two issues:

We've had problems with the program linking system into Nelson over the past week or so. This service is provided by others but it appears that it's working properly now. Symptom is pixelation.

I was interviewed by Nelson Mail and there should be an article in the paper explaining the problem further.

In Biggles' case it appears that water in the cable is causing a problem unrelated to the above and I agree with the advice in the responses.

It's been a busy week with the introduction of HGTV on Ch 17, The Shopping Channel on Ch 18 and Mediaworks' addition of Bravo on Ch 4 and Bravo +1 on Ch 9 and removal of FOUR on Ch 4.

These changes generally require a re-scan (or "re-tune") of the TVs and viewers are advised to try that first if you're having problems.

Work by Kordia in Dunedin will cause the backup linking system to be unavailable for a short time in the near future but unless the main system fails it won't cause any problems.

Happy viewing and apologies for the frustration.

Warren Harding
JDA

Hi Warren

It wasn't my case. I was just trying to provide an answer and solution to Angela's problem. I'm quite capable of investigating, solving and fixing any problems in my own system by myself  if they ever occur.

Warren Harding said:

It seems Biggles has two issues:

In Biggles' case it appears that water in the cable is causing a problem unrelated to the above and I agree with the advice in the responses.

Warren Harding

JDA

Oh sorry.  Wrong person.  Same advice for Angela though.  :-)

Biggles said:

Hi Warren

It wasn't my case. I was just trying to provide an answer and solution to Angela's problem. I'm quite capable of investigating, solving and fixing any problems in my own system by myself  if they ever occur.

Warren Harding said:

It seems Biggles has two issues:

In Biggles' case it appears that water in the cable is causing a problem unrelated to the above and I agree with the advice in the responses.

Warren Harding

JDA

So any ideas whats wrong in my neck of the woods (Rotorua)
I know my coaxial cable is dry :-/

Hi Warren

I'm in Auckland, and have now tried to watch TV again since the rain has stopped and things are drying out, Nothing still, it really annoys me it is supposed to be be freeview yet I have paid more for this service than I ever did before.

So frustrating as all we would like to do is watch TV, I don't think that I am asking for too much.  I now have to pay someone to get up on my roof (yet again) to check it all out for me.

We don't do Auckland (Kordia does) but I can give you some advice.  First of all you need to make sure you have your (outdoor, roof mounted) antenna pointing at the best transmission site for your location.  There are at least four in Auckland

Waiatarua (Waitakeres)

Sky Tower

Remuera

Pine Hill (Browns Bay)

Then you need to make sure the antenna is mounted with the right polarisation for that site (horizontal or vertical).

If the antenna and cable are in good shape and you have a line of sight to the transmitter, you should get a good signal.  Your problem will almost certainly be related to one of the above things not being right.

Cheers


Angela Pratt said:

Hi Warren

I'm in Auckland, and have now tried to watch TV again since the rain has stopped and things are drying out, Nothing still, it really annoys me it is supposed to be be freeview yet I have paid more for this service than I ever did before.

So frustrating as all we would like to do is watch TV, I don't think that I am asking for too much.  I now have to pay someone to get up on my roof (yet again) to check it all out for me.

Just another thought. If touching the plugs in the signal booster gets you reception then it could be a fault in the signal booster itself. Either faulty connections or other problem. What happens if you by-pass the booster? If you are in a weak signal area then you should be using a masthead amp and not an indoor signal booster. I'd try by-passing the booster completely and run the coax direct from antenna to the Panasonic TV only and see what happens. If that provides good picture then proceed from there. Do you have a splitter somewhere as well? Perhaps you could post a picture of the booster showing connections so we no what we are dealing with.

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