Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike G on September 23, 2013 at 20:14

Hi Craig, it sounds like the aerial might not be good enough to pick up the UHF signals well anymore. If you're reception isn't line of sight with Waiatarua you might need a higher gain aerial as UHF signals don't work as well over hills.

Old aerials and cables aren't great for freeview. A well set up aerial system should give you a quality reading of 8/10 or better on all channels.

A good check is to see what the analog UHF channels look like. If you can get the analog Maori TV and Prime tuned in and they look reasonable, your aerial is probably ok for freeview.

Permalink Reply by Lethal29 on September 23, 2013 at 21:54

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your reply.  I thought it would probably be a problem with the aerial, it just surprised me that all the channels disappeared between going out at lunchtime and coming back late afternoon.  I expected it to be a slow deterioration, rather than them just being there one minute and gone the next.

Because it's a tv with built-in Freeview, I don't think I can see any quality readings, but I have tried tuning in the analogue channels and they're ropey to say the least, so I would guess it's a new aerial that's required.

It wouldn't surprise me if there was also a problem with the cabling, because I've never seen a set-up like there is in this house with a little old powered box attached to the wall in the master bedroom (amplifier possibly?) which seems to split the signal between the rest of the house, but with Sky connections in every room too.

When you say a "higher gain aerial", do you mean something like the phased array type available from the Freeview Shop? Like this one, for example:

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/large-phased-array-aerial-freeview-p-...

Once again, thanks for your reply.  I'll try and get up onto the roof tomorrow and have a better look at the existing aerial and will take a pic then and post it up.

Cheers

Craig

Mike G said:

Hi Craig, it sounds like the aerial might not be good enough to pick up the UHF signals well anymore. If you're reception isn't line of sight with Waiatarua you might need a higher gain aerial as UHF signals don't work as well over hills.

Old aerials and cables aren't great for freeview. A well set up aerial system should give you a quality reading of 8/10 or better on all channels.

A good check is to see what the analog UHF channels look like. If you can get the analog Maori TV and Prime tuned in and they look reasonable, your aerial is probably ok for freeview.

Permalink Reply by Bill McMurray on September 23, 2013 at 23:16

Hi Craig,

It sounds like you've lost the "Kordia mux". There are three muxes = The TVNZ mux which transmits TV1/2, etc, the MediaWorks mux for TV3/4,etc, and the Kordia mux for all the other channels and the radio channels.

A sudden loss of signal for no apparant reason (usually on all channels, but it can be just one mux if that one is a lot weaker) is often traced to an amplifier. - Check that the power is still turned on to your amplifier; Or turn the power to the amplifier off for 30 seconds. - Some amplifiers automatically trip if there is a power glitch, and they need to be turned off to reset them.

Cheers,   Bill.

Permalink Reply by Lethal29 on September 25, 2013 at 10:11

Well, randomly, after trying everything I could think of, including turning the amplifier off and on and not having any joy, the missus just text to say that the channels have all come back, and now we have 800, 801, 802 and 803 I think as well, although there's nothing on them.

That's a day after I last actually did anything.  The reception for Prime and Sommet, and others is still crap, but that won't be being helped by the weather at the moment I guess.

A pic of my existing aerial is attached...it's a bit rusty and corroded by the looks, so probably needs replacing.

What would you recommend?

Is there any way I can tell what sort of signal strength I'm getting other that the fact that Prime is rubbish?

Attachments:

• aerial.jpg, 1 MB

Permalink Reply by Biggles on September 25, 2013 at 15:35

Well looking at the picture of your antenna it's not surprising you are having reception issues. Apart from the fact that at least one set of elements appears to be missing the main elements and attached balun box have dropped off the boom and are hanging on the co-ax. That's not good for reception. Time to replace the antenna I reckon.

Lethal29 said:

Well, randomly, after trying everything I could think of, including turning the amplifier off and on and not having any joy, the missus just text to say that the channels have all come back, and now we have 800, 801, 802 and 803 I think as well, although there's nothing on them.

That's a day after I last actually did anything.  The reception for Prime and Sommet, and others is still crap, but that won't be being helped by the weather at the moment I guess.

A pic of my existing aerial is attached...it's a bit rusty and corroded by the looks, so probably needs replacing.

What would you recommend?

Is there any way I can tell what sort of signal strength I'm getting other that the fact that Prime is rubbish?

Permalink Reply by Lethal29 on September 25, 2013 at 15:42

Hi Biggles,

Yeah I agree. 

Anything you'd recommend in particular?  I've had a look at the Freeview Shop selection and confused as to what I actually need. Should I replace like for like, or would I be better to look at one of the phased array type?

Would I be best to get an installer to come and have a look and recommend/install, or could I do it myself?

I'm reasonably "handy" with installing things, but want to make sure I would be able to line it all up etc.

Cheers

Biggles said:

Well looking at the picture of your antenna it's not surprising you are having reception issues. Apart from the fact that at least one set of elements appears to be missing the main elements and attached balun box have dropped off the boom and are hanging on the co-ax. That's not good for reception. Time to replace the antenna I reckon.

Permalink Reply by Bill McMurray on September 25, 2013 at 15:51

Lethal29 said:

A pic of my existing aerial is attached...it's a bit rusty and corroded by the looks, so probably needs replacing.

What would you recommend?

Hi Craig,

As Biggles said, you'll NEVER get a reliable reception with the balun hanging down off the boom like that. The elements collect the signal and reflect it onto the balun (which is a bit hard to do when the balun is hanging down below the elements!)

 The balun probably fell off in the wind, which caused the sudden loss of signal. Clip it back up into place around the boom, and see how it goes. If you still have problems, get a new aerial anyway.

Cheers,    Bill.

Permalink Reply by Lethal29 on September 25, 2013 at 15:54

 

Thanks Bill, I'll give it a go tonight, if I feel like braving the elements.

Bill McMurray said:

Lethal29 said:

A pic of my existing aerial is attached...it's a bit rusty and corroded by the looks, so probably needs replacing.

What would you recommend?

Hi Craig,

As Biggles said, you'll NEVER get a reliable reception with the balun hanging down off the boom like that. The elements collect the signal and reflect it onto the balun (which is a bit hard to do when the balun is hanging down below the elements!)

 The balun probably fell off in the wind, which caused the sudden loss of signal. Clip it back up into place around the boom, and see how it goes. If you still have problems, get a new aerial anyway.

Cheers,    Bill.

Permalink Reply by Biggles on September 25, 2013 at 16:17

Trying to clip it back on is worth a go but the flexible clips get brittle with long exposure to wind, rain and ultraviolet so it may be broken. I've broken one or two here when adjusting my antenna occasionally (painting the roof). As for a new antenna - depends on location. Talk to Freeview Shop and they should help get the right one.

Lethal29 said:

 

Thanks Bill, I'll give it a go tonight, if I feel like braving the elements.