Mystar and FTA reception

[viewer]

That sounds like a good test, put the HD box on at your place as well & see if it scans the channels in.

Sounds right, but cannot do, as although we live in the same area, we both receive signals from different transmitters.

I cannot receive the problematic one here, which is the Boambee East transmission site, as we have mountainous hills between us, and the signal is not meant for here anyhow.

[Tiny]

Sounds right, but cannot do, as although we live in the same area, we both receive signals from different transmitters.

I cannot receive the problematic one here, which is the Boambee East transmission site, as we have mountainous hills between us, and the signal is not meant for here anyhow.

It would eliminate the box as the problem thou if it can tune in all the channels on any of the transmitters in the area at your place.

[viewer]

It would eliminate the box as the problem thou if it can tune in all the channels on any of the transmitters in the area at your place.

True

[coalminer]

why not feed the terrestrial feed directly to the tv it means using two controllers all the time but you get a better picture i have found you lose picture quality feeding it through the mystar box

[gordon_s1942]

We also had another thought, but means disconnecting all our stuff, a bit of a nightmare....we also have mystar, but not the hd model, even though it accepts 10 and the others ( not HD channels), and I could take that there and try as well, if need be!!

Good idea so long as your both using the same translator for your reception.

[viewer]

why not feed the terrestrial feed directly to the tv it means using two controllers all the time but you get a better picture i have found you lose picture quality feeding it through the mystar box

Then how do you record the fta....that's the idea of the mystar, it incorporates both terrestrial and satellite tuners.

[viewer]

Nothing has been done so far, due to the busy time of year.

I was looking on ebay, and saw this, in line variable control/maximum attenuation is 20dB.




Is this worth a try, or worth forgetting...I don't know what value attenuator he put in...if I ask them to look, would it be printed on it somewhere?

[Antennaman]

I was looking on ebay, and saw this, in line variable control/maximum attenuation is 20dB.

You can get the same from

You'll need suitable adapters to insert it.

Is this worth a try, or worth forgetting

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.



I carry one of these in my kit for terrestrial testing purposes:

...I don't know what value attenuator he put in...if I ask them to look, would it be printed on it somewhere?

It should be. The most common value I have come across (& I have a heap that I have recovered over the years) is 6dB, with an occasional 10dB or 12dB for good measure.



Edit: But I would try bypassing the masthead amplifier first.

[viewer]

Thanks Antennaman...

your gizmo looks better, as it just has the simple connectors on it...if you don't mind, where would one of those be available from?

I am still listening to your bypassing method, but I have to try convince the owner to cut the wires, do the rejoining etc, but as not being in the know, he is worried he will bugger up what he already has.

[Antennaman]

Obtained mine from


Page 82 of catalogue.

[gordon_s1942]

I was rethinking (dangerous when that happens) that if your both in the same Postcode, the Mystar most likely would be programmed for both translators unless like in the days of the now departed Aurora, there is a magical line drawn on a map and depending which side of the line your located, that determines if they authorise the transmitter or not.
Now, if this is the case I would think it would be well nigh impossible to get Foxtel to admit thats how they divide up the areas and equally as impossible to get them to reprogram the Mystar.

[Tiny]

My Mystar box scans every postcode/transmitter in Tasmania, that's a lot of transmitters, it takes quite awhile.

A year or so back it only did the transmitters in the north of tas, that was bearable, then they expanded it. I politely called the Tech Assistance line & asked the level 1 if that can be changed or removed - as in no scan for FTA. Was told; "no".

I'm sure yours would cover a fair bit more than 1 post code, probably not the whole state though.

[viewer]

Obtained mine from


Page 82 of catalogue.

I have emailed them earlier for price and availability and received an auto response they are on leave until Monday. Will chase it up then...ta

[viewer]

Got a reply to my email to lacey's (pasted under)....need to convince the owner now..

We are out of stock here in Coffs of this one, but the first one you sent (the F connection one) we do have some here.
We could give you adapters for the F connection, and it would cost $16.00.

[viewer]

After all this time, they still haven't done nothing to fix their reception issue. All they have done is to let austar be connected into the main tv in the lounge room, minus those channels. They then moved their t-box to the tv in the bedroom, and watch/view/record one hd etc in there.

Given I can't make 'em do anything, it irks me to see this still sitting unresolved.

To see how close they are to the tower, here is an image/path profile ex google earth, distance house to site 0.8 Km.


Do you reckon a cheapo antenna like this would pull a signal...maybe that's their lazy way out?

[gordon_s1942]

People are bloody funny, some say they never watch TV and are not interested in having it and in the same breath will complain long and loud about any lack of reception but wont do anything about fixing it.
I have often found those who 'Never watch TV' know more about whats on than I do and I have square eyes from all the years of watching TV !!

Aldi had an Indoor Amplified 'Digital' antenna for sale recently (cant remember the price) but being 'Indoor' I dont much like them but at that distance, its a fair chance it would work provided you havent got any major obstacles blocking the signal path.
Plus if it doesnt work, theres always the refund option.


PS, I was told the other day my M.i.Law is having problems with WIN (9) on the TV in the Lounge room, it is back to back with another TV on the other side of the wall.
Apparently the 'other' one has no problem with WIN (9) at all so my guess its in how the 2 are connected.
I made the offer the other day that if one of the 'Boys' (he's 45) would help we could try to fix the problem but the past has taught me to offer People help where I can but not to push the issue, rather letting them decide what to do.