Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bel @ Freeview on September 20, 2013 at 18:43

Hey Steve,

FACE is the rebranded STRATOS which stopped broadcasting on Freeview in late 2011, citing transmission cost as a barrier for continuation.

Re your Picasso TV3 - have you checked FOUR & C4? Do you have similar issues there?

And do you get Prime, ChoiceTV OK?

Permalink Reply by Steve Lincoln on September 20, 2013 at 20:29

Thanks for that info.  

Yes, 4 and c4 are a bit dodgy but nowhere near as bad as 3.  prime & choice seem to be fine.

(We are in auckland by the way and its a little windy/rainy but not a howling gale with aerials whipping around).

Bel said:

Hey Steve,

FACE is the rebranded STRATOS which stopped broadcasting on Freeview in late 2011, citing transmission cost as a barrier for continuation.

Re your Picasso TV3 - have you checked FOUR & C4? Do you have similar issues there?

And do you get Prime, ChoiceTV OK?

Permalink Reply by Steve J on September 21, 2013 at 9:20

Terrestrial UHF Freeview is transmitted over 3 Uhf Channels 

The majority of areas its ch 32 34 and 36    with Infills on 33 35 37   but there are a few areas like Auckland and Nelson that its different  due to existing analogue tv licences .

I have noticed here there can be huge variations in signal / quality between the 3 frequencies

even with correct antenna. Often a signal / MER quality meter will be needed to find the optimum

location for the antenna . In several cases I have had to move antennas to a different location on the roof .   As a starter look at SIG and Quality for    TV1    TV3    Prime    that covers the 3 different frequencies .  cheers . Steve

Permalink Reply by Bel @ Freeview on September 23, 2013 at 11:39

Thanks Steve J for the tip!

Steve L - I'm in Auckland too (city fringe and can get all channels & frequencies without issues). Though I've come across one case where the Mediaworks multiplex (i.e. TV3, FOUR, C4, TV3+1 and The Shopping Channel) is pixelated similar to what you're experiencing - in that case the aerial is facing a tree and over time that tree cover has obscured the signal path to the point where it may be better to move the aerial - not sure if that's the case for you.

You might also want to check the aerial to make sure there's no corrosion - sometimes corroded portions can affect signal reception for a group of channels too.

If you're not sure how to check the signal / MER quality, it might be best to get an installer and you might already know but here's a directory: http://www.freeviewnz.tv/equipment-installation/installation.aspx

 

Permalink Reply by Steve Lincoln on September 23, 2013 at 11:44

That's a good point.  I will get up and have a look for corrosion, there is a tree nearby so will check that out too.

Thanks for the help.

Bel said:

Thanks Steve J for the tip!

Steve L - I'm in Auckland too (city fringe and can get all channels & frequencies without issues). Though I've come across one case where the Mediaworks multiplex (i.e. TV3, FOUR, C4, TV3+1 and The Shopping Channel) is pixelated similar to what you're experiencing - in that case the aerial is facing a tree and over time that tree cover has obscured the signal path to the point where it may be better to move the aerial - not sure if that's the case for you.

You might also want to check the aerial to make sure there's no corrosion - sometimes corroded portions can affect signal reception for a group of channels too.

If you're not sure how to check the signal / MER quality, it might be best to get an installer and you might already know but here's a directory: http://www.freeviewnz.tv/equipment-installation/installation.aspx

 

Permalink Reply by Steve J on September 23, 2013 at 13:47

Hi Guys 

From what I found with Freeview DVBT  ( UHF ) over the 5 years or so its been running in this area is that if you can see the transmit tower  and all  4 Multiplexes  ( Including Igloo now ) are with in a db or so in level   and well above the minimum rec ITU  sig of 45dbuV  there appears to be few issues with reception .  If one of the Multiplexes is significantly lower I find that often as weather and propogation changes the others can often fade out as well .  So it seems to be necessary in many cases to do a level  and MER test at time of install  and establish the best location for the antenna  .  

Permalink Reply by Bel @ Freeview on September 24, 2013 at 13:51

Hey Steve J, thanks for that - when you have a spare mo, could you please post some instructions (maybe even a vid) or how one might go about doing a level & MER test to determine the best location for a UHF aerial?

Permalink Reply by Brad Scott on September 24, 2013 at 20:09

Hi,
This is a similar issue to mine. The difference been I have this with a satelite connection to Freeview. TV1 tV2 is fine, but TV3, Prime have " high error rates".
I can not see how it is the dish etc.

Permalink Reply by Mike G on September 24, 2013 at 21:33

Brad Scott said:

Hi,
This is a similar issue to mine. The difference been I have this with a satelite connection to Freeview. TV1 tV2 is fine, but TV3, Prime have " high error rates".
I can not see how it is the dish etc.

The loss of one carrier on satellite is probably due to your dish. It works fine here.

Permalink Reply by Steve J on September 24, 2013 at 22:06

I have also struck faulty LNBFs  with a frequency error of the Local Oscillator

Permalink Reply by Steve Lincoln on September 25, 2013 at 16:09

Maybe it should be called free-range view.  it seems to wander hither and yon 

Steve J said:

I have also struck faulty LNBFs  with a frequency error of the Local Oscillator

Permalink Reply by Brad Scott on October 19, 2013 at 23:34

Have replaced LNB but still have similar problems?