Is my tv digital?

[Caterina]

Hello.

I'm having an 'empty head' moment and cannot figure out if my tv is digital or not. I bought it in either 2005 or 2006, and it's a DSE G5179.

Can anyone help me, because I need to know if I need to start saving for one of those set top box things, and if so, which brand do you recommend?

Thank you in advance.

Cath

PS I have checked the manual, but I can't see anything that tells me either way.

[Fernbay]

I'll try to hold back with the blond jokes

Your TV is analog.

Yes, soon it will need 'one of those set top box things'

Your going to need to save up about $50 for a standard definition box, or about $100 for a high definition box so you had better start squirreling those pennies away

[Caterina]

Thanks for that! I'll start saving then.

Next blonde moment - are the set top boxes all the same or is one brand better than another?

Sad thing is I am actually blonde, and well and truly living up to our reputation.......

C

[mtv]

I'd recommend you choose a high definition HD set top box, as it will give you more channels than an SD box.

You will still only see the HD picture quality in SD quality on your current TV, but you'll have a greater choice of channels and of course, if you upgrade the screen at some stage, you'll have the benefit of already having the HD box (although, most screens nowadays have HD tuners inbuilt).

I've had great success with Healing STB's.

They work well in marginal signal areas.

Depending where in Victoria you are, the channels you may receive now will vary (in country areas) if you're in Melbourne, you'll receive all channels.

With digital, you'll need to have good signal strength & quality, which sometimes means upgrading existing TV antennas.

Try a set top box first to see how your reception is, then if it's not the best, look at recfitying reception problems only if you have them.

[mate]

Next blonde moment - are the set top boxes all the same or is one brand better than another?


C

oils aint oils as the saying goes, some are adequate and some offer more than your TV will require (connection types etc.) Get a professional to help you out, or at least a teenager who thinks they know what they are doing!

[gordon_s1942]

Mate, that teenager you recommend must be just under or at 17 years of age because once you turn 17, its all down hill from then.

[Bibliophile]

If you live in the suburbs and your picture & or sound breaks up whenever you switch on a light or open the fridge door and you loose the ABC when it rains then yes, your TV is digital.
Seriously though, I think it's time I got a new antenna.

[petefie]

I thought I was the only one that has a plasma like that.
Every time a light gets switched on or off the sound drops out then comes good again.
Is there any way of reducing this effect?
I have a great picture on the screen.
Peter

[mtv]

I thought I was the only one that has a plasma like that.
Every time a light gets switched on or off the sound drops out then comes good again.
Is there any way of reducing this effect?
I have a great picture on the screen.
Peter

What you have is a classic case of impulse noise interference.

The fix is to ensure the interference level is much lower than the TV signals, by ensuring you have the most-suitable high gain antenna for your area, installed in the 'sweet-spot' on your roof where in receives the highest channel power, the lowest BER and highest MER.

Note... these measurements can only be made with a professional digital signal meter/spectrum analyser.

The antenna should not be designed to receive any channel below channel 6.

There are no digital channels below channel 6 used in Australia.

Antennas designed to receive channels below channel 6, eg: Band 1 & 2, ABC analogue ch 2 etc, are prone to picking up impulse noise interference.

Ensure you are using good-quality coax with a high-level of shielding, such as RG6 Quadshield..... including any flyleads from the wall outlets to the TV/s.

Use F type fully-shielded connectors, outlet plates (can be PAL on the front F on rear) splitters, etc.

Do not use amplifiers to try & compensate for poor signals, use better antennas instead. Amps should only be used to reduce distribution losses.

Ensure all coax cables are installed in ceilings, wall and or under floors where they are positioned as far away from power cables as practically possible.

Power & coax cables shold never touch.

If you must cross over a power cable with a coax run... do it at right angles.

Once impulse noise is in the system, it's almost impossible to remove it, so the key is to ensure you do everything you possibly can (as above) to minimise the chances of it getting into your digital tuner.

[ozbrit]

Hello.

I'm having an 'empty head' moment and cannot figure out if my tv is digital or not. I bought it in either 2005 or 2006, and it's a DSE G5179.

Can anyone help me, because I need to know if I need to start saving for one of those set top box things, and if so, which brand do you recommend?

Thank you in advance.

Cath

PS I have checked the manual, but I can't see anything that tells me either way.

All TV' are analogue. But you might have an analogue TV with a digital tuner, but most TV's of 3-4 years ago only had analogue tuners so you will most likely require a set top box. To get all the channels available buy a High definition set top box.

[petefie]

Thanks MTV. I will look at all the conections first.
I think the wall socket maybe just a little dodgy.
I do have a splitter in the roof that splts for the other TV's in the house.
Prob time to get up there and check the lot out.
Pete