Signal problem

[merkin]

can someone help I live fringe area perth, installed a new antenna and old sd set top box all good except between 5pm - 7pm pixelates.

can a good HD box help with signal ?

thanks

[mtv]

can someone help I live fringe area perth, installed a new antenna and old sd set top box all good except between 5pm - 7pm pixelates.

can a good HD box help with signal ?

thanks

Without accurate signal measurements, it's difficult to advise, so the more information, the better.

What area/suburb/town are you in?

What make/model antenna are you using?

Was a site test performed to determine the best mounting position for the antenna?

Was the antenna professionally installed?

How many outlets are you running?

Are you using a signal amplifier?

Is all your cabling RG6 Quadshield, if not, what type?

Are all connections F Type?

What make/model of STB are you using and is the antenna connected directly to it?

[merkin]

Area Seabird aboy 90k north of perth

Antenna - VHF 10 elements DV310 channel 6-12

No site test just replace where old antenna was

No done by me

amplifier 34db masthead Kingray

all good coax and joiners

some old bush stb

thanks

[merkin]

oops
yes RG6 Quadshield

only the one outlet

[mtv]

Area Seabird aboy 90k north of perth

Antenna - VHF 10 elements DV310 channel 6-12

No site test just replace where old antenna was

No done by me

amplifier 34db masthead Kingray

all good coax and joiners

some old bush stb

thanks

Seabird is just over 100km from the main transmitters, so signals are likely to a be a bit weak arriving at the antenna.

You are probably getting some kind of impulse noise interference during those times due to changes in atmospheric conditions or industrial noise.

The amplifier is amplifying the noise.

With digital TV signals, especially in difficult/fringe situations like yours, it's critical that you get the strongest signal (Digital Channel Power) and more importantly, the highest signal quality (low BER and high MER) at the antenna.

To obtain this, you must be able to measure these parameters to locate the 'sweet-spot' to mount the antenna, as even a small movement of 50mm in any direction, including up/down can be the difference between reliable digital reception and no reception.

You cannot use an amplifier to improve poor digital signal quality, like you could with analogue, so you need to capture the best signal quality possible at the antenna first.

Given that your reception is pretty good for most of the time, tends to suggest accurate location of the antenna mounting position may improve the signal quality, lifting it sufficiently to give it a greater margin above other interference.

Once again, without accurate signal measurements, it's impossible to know exactly what's happening.

[merkin]

MTV

question are you in WA ?

the signal strength most time shows 57% and quality 98%

thanks

[mtv]

MTV

question are you in WA ?

the signal strength most time shows 57% and quality 98%

thanks

Nope... eastern seaboard, but as a broadcast engineer, what I have told you applies to the behaviour of DVB-T signals in all areas.

A local pro installer should have specific local knowledge of signals your area, but even then, every location can be unique.

You can't go by graphs/meters in tuners, as they are notoriously inaccurate and do not give true readings... eg: 57% of what?

FWIW.... some STB's do handle marginal signals better than others. Healing and Strong are two brands I use & recommend.


The amplifier will also contribute to false readings on STB signal scales.

Digital Channel Power (DCP) is measured in dBuV.

Quality is measured in pre viterbi, post viterbi and reed-solomon BER and MER as to the specific number of uncorrected and corrected errors in the digital data stream.

Only a professional digital field strength meter/spectrum analyser can perform those measurements, which must be made prior to and after any amps in the circuit.

That's why such equipment is required for accurate antenna positioning.

Putting it in simple terms, an installer with the right equipment, plus the knowledge and experience to use it, read and understand all the information it displays, can then determine what is required to improve your reception.

Without the gear.. it's all guesswork and it would be extremely unlikely you'd find that 'sweet-spot'.

[merkin]

Thanks very much,the reason for asking your location was perhaps I could have got you to have a look.

Thanks for your help.

[mtv]

Thanks very much,the reason for asking your location was perhaps I could have got you to have a look.

Thanks for your help.

All things considered, it sounds like your reception is pretty reliable, which is good over that distance.

Unless people are within good signal areas, digital is largely out of the DIY realm unfortunately, so to have what you have is a good effort.