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GENERAL STUFF => GENERAL DISCUSSIONS => Random Chit Chat => Topic started by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 10:03:02

Title: I am at a loss !
Post by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 10:03:02
My  :argh: Television is driving me nuts.

I need help,

Over the 4 years we've been in our house, we have had problems with the TV signal and lately it has become worse.

History.

A new high gain digital aerial has been fitted, I installed all the wiring, etc.
There is no signal available without a masthead amp, due to our location.
All channels are great 90% of the time.

At random times, I get noise in the signal which the digital tv can't cope with, so I can't schedule someone to be here to see it. I get 1 word in 10 Audio which is most annoying.

Now the question is of all 35 channels tuned, WHY ARE ONLY CHANNELS 1, 10, 11 & 12 AFFECTED.
Note, all these channels belong to the 0-10 network in Australia.

I have a small video as a sample, I hope it plays, since making it, the signal has disappeared completely, all I can receive is the message "Data Signal".  :blubber: :blubber: :blubber:

Today was a dry day 30 Deg C so I undid all the antenna wiring and checked inside. All was dry but I have replaced the insulation tape with self amalgamating tape to improve water resistance.

There is a dude with a HF radio, but his frequency is a long way from digital frequencies.

Any thoughts, anyone.

2014-03-20-377.mp4 - Google Drive (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8ANHWfNw-qjeloxWE1jUjlDeG8/edit?usp=sharing)
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Hati on March 20, 2014, 10:13:38
You are not alone. Also CH 10 and its sub channels the problem. Only. For me it's only when rains, doesn't even need to get heavy either. Might add that all this despite being in line of sight of the repeater tower.


It looks like Ten is not keen to push signal strenght a high as the other channels.


On a side note, similar thing is happening with Nova FM in Perth. Many places I get bad reception, but changing stations in those spots only proves that Nova is lacking signal strenght, all the other major stations are perfect.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: eye30 on March 20, 2014, 10:16:31
Could be signal strength being broadcast from the station.

Can you check signal strength to see if 0-10 is a weaker signal?
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: The Gonz on March 20, 2014, 10:20:02
I haven't looked into it because our in-roof Yagi is fine. However, the simple extending indoor rabbit ears on the bedroom TV do need some minor adjusting to sometimes acommodate channels at the far ends of the spectrum. I haven't considered whether TEN emits at any lower power levels but it's feasible. Google might have something to reveal.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: rustynutz on March 20, 2014, 10:23:30
Welcome to digital tele, Phil.... :fum:

Seems this sort of thing is a common occurrence. I get something similar here too, maybe not quite so bad but bloody annoying all the same.
I regularly turn on the idiot box and find the station I wanted has dropped out or is basically unwatchable.

Next day I'll turn the tele on and it will tell me there are new stations so I then have to go through the process of retuning the channels yet again.

No wonder I usually just get online and download any tv show I want to watch.......  :neutral:
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 10:24:24
@Hati,

That makes me feel better, but doesn't solve any problems. We are a long way from the towers and can not see them which is why the masthead amp is required. Remember that the amp, amplifies all signals, including interference unfortunately.

@eye30,

Autotuning doesn't display any signal strength when tuning, so I wouldn't know whether is is below par or not.

Time to ring 0-10 network and complain, I think.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: The Gonz on March 20, 2014, 10:25:40
Quote from: rustynutz on March 20, 2014, 10:23:30
No wonder I usually just get online and download any tv show I want to watch....... 
That can get expensive. :whistler:
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: rustynutz on March 20, 2014, 10:30:41
 :P
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Just Rick on March 20, 2014, 10:48:35
I had foxtel for years because we could not get much signal from any stations,mind you we are in a very poor reception area,but since we have had digital and I got a Television and radio specialist around,he simply changed the Arial cable to the correct type,installed the mast booster I have had for years,tuned the Arial,the TV and mostly things are great,but like Hati if there is any sign of rain about,the ten network and associated channels are all affected similarly like this,when I spoke to out Tech,he just varified what Hati also said,the cheap arse barsteds are just to stindgy to boost their output signal
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 10:54:33

We have 4 networks and only 3 towers on our tallest hill, Mt Lofty.  Being South Australia, we don't have one of those whizzbang Telecom tower construction that other cities have.

The 7 network and 0-10, share the centre tower, somehow. :Dunno:
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: rustynutz on March 20, 2014, 11:06:17
Our channels don't discriminate....most of them drop out at one time or another.
It's definitely worse over summer....  :undecided:
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 11:18:32
It was bad last week, then I fiddled and was able to watch the GP and Neighbours :razz: for a few days, then yesterday signal downhill and now, extinct.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: The Gonz on March 20, 2014, 11:22:46
Quote from: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 11:18:32
...I fiddled and was able to watch the GP and Neighbours...
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: eye30 on March 20, 2014, 13:16:54
Quote from: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 10:24:24

@eye30,

Autotuning doesn't display any signal strength when tuning, so I wouldn't know whether is is below par or not.



On my TV if I'm on a channel then go into set up or similar, it will display that channels signal stength.

I can then do this for a number of channels and see how each is.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Lakes on March 20, 2014, 20:33:15
sorry can't help you Phil, just thought i'd mention, when i first moved down the coast the TV that was here could not get many channels. but as all i watch is the news & sometimes sport, was not worried.
then got a new larger TV & my m8 told me to see a tv antana specialist that live up the road as said he is good & don't rip you off. so got the old guy here he found a broken wire on roof & put few new things up on roof, lined things up checked all channels & showed me that they all got full strength reception.
i'm a free to air man, have not counted how many channels but there more than i need ( bit like USA ten years back ) but i know Fox is better just don't like paying when i would not get enough use out of it. would love Fox sport. but can walk to clubs or pubs for that. phil you can run a cable over here & share my reception m8  :rofl:
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Aussie Keith on March 20, 2014, 20:52:10
Whirlpool shows plenty of folks have the same with no definitive answer unfortunately.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 20:57:12
In the early days I used Jim's antennas because I was at a loss then as well. All he did was align the antenna with some equipment that I don't possess. Nothing changed, except the amount of $ that were left in my pocket, total rip off, not going there again.  Not interested  in pay TV, the dish is here already it provides support for my tv mast.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Lakes on March 20, 2014, 21:07:53
No worries Phil, this guy had to climb a ladder two floors up, i did not have a ladder at the time, thought it was cheap he was not one of the Jim's chain just a word of mouth local.
cheers
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Dazzler on March 20, 2014, 21:23:10
Hi Phil,

As I've mentioned before despite 2 antennas, a masthead amplifier AND a booster/splitter in the roof we still have the same problem occasionally. The 10 network is the worst, followed by the 9 network and sometimes lately even the 7 network (usually when we are trying to watch MKR or Crash investigations or something) :Pout:

Fortunately we lashed out and got the VAST satellite dish and decoder set up as an additional aerial point for our two main TV's at a cost of $1200 + about $70 to make one of them recordable. If we have dropouts I just switch to HDMI 4 and all is rock solid unless there is very heavy rain (not often) and in that instance we just switch back the the normal Antenna.

We paid full price because we were borderline blackspot area I think. But best thing we ever did!

Be worth looking into it and see if you can be approved. Probably only $600 or $700 for one TV outlet (less if you get approval and then intall it yourself) 
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 21:34:28
As much as you have solved your reception problems, Dazz, I couldn't justify the expense and wouldn't enjoy TV knowing how much it's cost to get what others take for granted. Most of it is trash anyhow.
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Dazzler on March 20, 2014, 22:14:17
Quote from: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 21:34:28
As much as you have solved your reception problems, Dazz, I couldn't justify the expense and wouldn't enjoy TV knowing how much it's cost to get what others take for granted. Most of it is trash anyhow.

I won't pay ongoing charges if I can get away with it. If the Satellite boxes and stuff last OK it was a worthwhile investment for us. I'm not a big TV watcher but Trish is and you know what they say about "Happy Wife happy life". If it makes you feel any better hardly anyone I know that doesn't have VAST has stable TV signal all the time... Digital appears to be very flaky (so much for new technology!)

We also have Foxtel on T-box which gives us another 11 channels for $19.50 a month (5 of which are worth having - more if you are into sport and news) and they don't drop out unless the internet is playing up  :goodjob:
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Phil №❶ on March 20, 2014, 22:17:04
I'll contact the station today and tell them to pay their electricity bill.  :foottap:
Title: Re: I am at a loss !
Post by: Surferdude on March 20, 2014, 22:49:49
Quote from: The Gonz on March 20, 2014, 10:25:40
Quote from: rustynutz on March 20, 2014, 10:23:30
No wonder I usually just get online and download any tv show I want to watch....... 
That can get expensive. :whistler:
I have Foxtel - for NRL ad for some of the Lifestyle and History shows.
But FTA reception is fine.
Most importantly, my web provider doesn't charge for catchup shows on Ch 2 and SBS. So they don't affect my download quote.
Which is 20GB/Month anyway.

Gotta watch a lot of TV to reach those figures.
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