Poor tv reception

[ips]

daughter just moved to windsor with new job. She has to have an indoor arial for digital tv and has very poor reception as a result. Have tryed a booster but its either a rubbish one or the reception is that bad it made no diffrence. has anyone experienced a similar problem and can reccomend a solution maybe a particular indoor arial with built in booster or something on those lines.

thanks

[Colin Leake]

It may be worth trying to see if an Avtex arial could be fixed just outside the window. Have a look and see which way others have their external arials fixed for a clue as to if this may work. If they are pointing away from the direction of her window then don't bother. If the window allows access to the direction in which they are pointing then it may be worth a go. Only problem is if it does not work you are left with the cost of the arial and the failure.

[Robinhood]

First thing I would do is to check which transmitter is the best for the particular location, the type of aerial required, its polarisation (horizontal or vertical) and the direction in which to point it.

 

Use the postcode checker under the question "When do I switch?" on

 

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/

 

......., put in the house number if you can, and and make sure you tick the "I am in the aerial installation trade" box .

 

This will give you full information about digital TV services (Windsor hasn't switched yet, and if we are talking analogue I could suggest a different site). Including the best transmitter, the polarisation, and the bearing for it.

 

If your daughter can't get a decent bearing on the transmitter with an indoor aerial because she's on the wrong side of the building, then a good booster may help, but it will always be a bit hit and miss. (I had some success with a surplus Status aerial and a booster at my Daughter's university address!!)

 

It is also worthwhile looking if there are any transmitters other than the prime one which have a better bearing.

 

(e.g. Windsor is largely served by Crystal Palace, but as shown by the above site, Oxford after switchover in two weeks time could give a viable alternative for some channels).

 

(BTW, my experience of digital reception from Crystal Palace at my MIL's not a million miles from Windsor, is somewhat patchy).

 

 

[Brambles]

If Windsor area is switching over in two weeks time then I would wait amd see what happens. The digital signals will be boosted when anaogue switches off so then the TV may work fine with an indoor aerial.

[Robinhood]

Brambles - 2011-09-15 8:15 PM

 

If Windsor area is switching over in two weeks time then I would wait amd see what happens. The digital signals will be boosted when anaogue switches off so then the TV may work fine with an indoor aerial.

 

Windsor (Crystal Palace) isn't, but Oxford, which is a marginal transmitter for the area, is (and any increase in power may make it a viable signal).

[Brambles]

Apologies, I picked up the wrong end of the stick there.

[thebishbus]

Windsor is in one of the last areas to turn off analouge next year. Because of one of the shortcoming of the digital system, reception in some areas will be patchy, ( not able to receive some of the weaker stations ), even when the transmitters are on full power.

If you are affected by this, the solution is to go for a free sat receiver and dish. That is what the system was introduced for, when it was realised that the present terrestrial transmitters could not adequately cover the whole country.

Brian B.

[ips]

Many thanks gentlemen that is all very interesting and informative stuff. Were going down in two weeks so by then it may have been switched and may be better if not will have to try summat cos she keeps texting me to record stuff on dvd from film4 which is one of the many stations she cant get.

[pepe63xnotuse]

Can I be rude and just jump in please?..

Our digital reception has always been very hit and miss..one day we'll have loads of channels,with perfect pictures..the next day(or even just later that evening),they'll be "pixelating" and "freezing",sometimes showing "No Signal"...:-S

 

We're in a bungalow,which is set down in a dip and surrounded by a wall of trees.... so that probably doesn't help much *-)

(..having said that,why would we receive a decent signal one day and not the next...?? )

 

We have considered something like Freesat(..not that we know anything about it)but I'm still not sure we'll get a clear,tree-free "shot" at a satelite anyway...

(..We may try a new digibox first,as ours' is about 7 years old and it was only a cheaper to start with..).

 

Anyone,in the know,got any ideas... :-)

 

Thanks

 

 

[thebishbus]

Hi . TV reception varies with air pressure, this is one reason why you get better reception some days and not others.

Digital signal strength can be very critical for good reception. It consists of two main elements, signal stength, and signal quality. I find that you need at least 60% signal strength and of good

quality. Some TV"s and some freeview boxes show signal strength when changing stations, if yours does,check if it is borderline or not.

Brian B.

[Colin Leake]

Colin Leake - 2011-09-15 4:57 PM

 

It may be worth trying to see if an Avtex arial could be fixed just outside the window. Have a look and see which way others have their external arials fixed for a clue as to if this may work. If they are pointing away from the direction of her window then don't bother. If the window allows access to the direction in which they are pointing then it may be worth a go. Only problem is if it does not work you are left with the cost of the arial and the failure.

 

 

Sorry duf advice re an Avtex arial on my part I'm afraid. It is a special powered arial for use with Avtex sets and get it's power from a setting on the TV that's sends itmthe power required.

[thebishbus]

A PS to my previous post . A NO SIGNAL showing, may not mean no signal at all, but that the signal

strength is below the operating level of the receiver. In this case you need to increase the signal strength.

. You could try a new high gain wideband aerial, mount the aerial higher, add a high gain aerial amplifier, one or all of these may solve the problem.

Brian B.

[thebishbus]

Hi. Me again. I noticed that Pepe 63 said that he did not know much about Freesat, so perhaps there are others out there in the same position. So here goes.

Freesat is a satellite alternative to terrestrial Freeview from your local transmitter. If you cannot receive satisfactory Freeview reception, and you have tried all of the aerial suggesttions, you maybe in a blind reception area, if so Freesat is a viable alternative.

If you are old enough you can have Freesat installed under the analogue turn off scheme, if not you have to buy the equipment, but then have subscription free reception.

The equipment consists of a set top Freesat box, a dish, (recommended minimum size 60cm) ,and an attached LNB amp. If the box has an RF modulator output it can be connected to the TV aerial socket. if not , usually to a scart socket.

The dish, which can be mounted at any height has to have a fairly close clear view above it to the southeast. A sat finder meter helps with accurate alignment of the dish.

Brian B.

 

[mendipman]

:-( :-( I live in Frome where the signal from the Mendip transmitter is retransmitted from the Post Office ariels into the town,which sits in a deep valley.With the old signal I could pick up BBC signals it was OK off my roof ariel.Going to Digital Freeview I have lost all BBC signals but get ITV , Ch 4 and 5 clearly..I also have Sky so can I split the signal from the dish and go to freeview and sky from the one dish?? I know a better ariel would help but that is £100 + !! :-( (?) (?)

[thebishbus]

Hi Dave. Sky and Freesat are on the same satellite Asra Eurobird at 28.2 degrees east, if you change the LNB to a dual output type, you can connect the new output to a Freesat box, that should work ok.

Brian B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pepe63xnotuse]

To Brian B..Thanks for the input...

 

I did swap our ageing aerial for a "48 element High gain aerial..signal up to 15db" (..what ever that lot means (lol) ) about a year back and it did work well originally...and we do still get the BBCs,"some" ITVs & channel 4s(but no film 4 or ITV4)but REALLY annoyingly,the "junk" channels(shopping etc)come through load and clear..!?! *-)

 

It is already mounted on a pole,taking it 6' above the chimney,although as our garden is bordered by 100'+ trees,I'm not sure that's doin' a great deal?!..and I suppose if I go much higher,the pole won't be "rigid" enough anyway?... :-S

 

I didn't however,replace the aerial cable :$ ,so I think this is something I should perhaps also be looking at...!?

 

I did try a new digibox at the weekend(..as ours' is a cheapie one and getting on a bit)but that made no difference..

As for a sat' dish,I don't think we'd have the required view of the sky..(..the only view of the sky we get,is pretty much of that directly above us..! :-( )

So plan of action:

a) Renew cable. b)Try taller pole. c) Fit a "booster"

 

Thanks again

[Robinhood]

If you're going to do 'remedial' work, I'd suggest you start with the website I've mentioned above, and look at the reception predictions for your particular location.

 

Whilst it isn't infallible, it does give pretty good results by postcode and house number (or name), and (as long as you tick the box saying you're in the aerial trade) will indicate which is your optimum transmitter (by bearing, and thus you should be able to work out whether you're pointing at the correct one).

 

If you then decide to replace the cable (which is a pretty good idea if the current stuff has been in use for an extended amount of time), it's worth getting decent quality, rather than generic "low-loss" coax. Something like CT100 or WF100 cable is probably most appropriate.

 

Again, if you're replacing the cable yourself, and you're in a marginal area, it's worthwhile putting a masthead amplifier in place at the same time (much better than using a booster at the bottom end of the cable) and shouldn't cost much more than £25 with the power supply if you look around (If you don't know much about them, the power to the amplifier is supplied up the coax cable by a power supply located near your TV).

 

Good luck!

[pepe63xnotuse]

Thanks for that RobinH'...

 

yeah,I had already checked out your link..and we are pointing the rightway ;-) ..and unfortunately,this final "retune",doesn't look as if it'll make any difference to us..!?

(..as we're as good as we're going to get... :-( )

 

Thanks for the nod toward the masthead amplifier,as I will now look at fitting one whilst I'm at it... ;-)

 

 

[Robinhood]

pepe63 - 2011-09-19 12:47 PM

 

Thanks for the nod toward the masthead amplifier,as I will now look at fitting one whilst I'm at it... ;-)

 

 

.....OK then - one more thing B-) - if you are fitting a masthead amp, and want to feed more than one TV point, it's worthwhile considering a combined amp and splitter (often termed an n-way Masthead Amp).

 

With this, the signal is both amplified and split n ways at (more correctly, close- to) the aerial, and you can run n sets of coax from the aerial to different locations in the house. The main one should have the power supply attached (and it needs to be on if you are only watching from one of the other feeds). You pay very little premium for the extra outlet(s).

 

I'm not a professional aerial fitter, but I've successfully installed a good few units with masthead amps feeding mutiple points.

 

I use http://www.dastv.co.uk/shop/ for my supplies, but only because I can call in and pick stuff up. It will give you an idea of what cable and other equipment I'm talking about, though, and you can then either source locally, or use the web to check prices.. B-)

[Robinhood]

mendipman - 2011-09-18 3:14 PM

 

:-( :-( I live in Frome where the signal from the Mendip transmitter is retransmitted from the Post Office ariels into the town,which sits in a deep valley.With the old signal I could pick up BBC signals it was OK off my roof ariel.Going to Digital Freeview I have lost all BBC signals but get ITV , Ch 4 and 5 clearly..I also have Sky so can I split the signal from the dish and go to freeview and sky from the one dish?? I know a better ariel would help but that is £100 + !! :-( (?) (?)

 

As Freeview (as opposed to Freesat) is digital terrestrial television delivered through an aerial, not through a dish - no you can't split the signal as you set out above - you need an aerial for Freeview.

 

The Freesat service essentially uses the same signals as those used to deliver the channels on Sky which also appear on Freesat, the main difference being that Freesat uses its own EPG and 'engineering' channels, not those that Sky uses. You ought to be able to receive all the channels available on Freesat (other than the EPG) on your Sky box (though some may need to be manually added), so splitting the signal between Sky and Freesat is not really a productive activity.

[mendipman]

(^) Thanks Mr. Hood.....It was staring me in the face...!! Free Sat..Dish ! Freeview ..Aerial only !!! So it will be an uprated aerial !!!!

[thebishbus]

Hi pepe63. If your terrestrial attemps fail, you may still be able to go for Freesat. You said the only clear veiw was over the roof, so this could be the place to fit the dish.

If you have a northish facing house wall, you could fix a vertical pole to it with a wall bracket, have the pole extending above the gutter enough to fit the dish above the gutter, this should give a clear view to the southeast over the roof. Or of course fit it on the chimney.

Brian B.