Can't Get Smooth Reception On Tv Digital Frequencies Above 600 Mhz

[WestOz60]

Hello DTV gurus... as per your forum rules here are the specs of my rig...

Q01. Motherboard Manf ? Model ?

A01. Gigabyte GA-EP45T-UD3LR

Q02. CPU Manf ? Speed ?

A02. Intel LGA775 Q6600 Quad Core @ stock 2.4MHz

Q03. Video Card Manf ? Model ?

A03. Nvidia Gigabyte GT240 @ stock clock

Q04. Disk Drives Manf ? Model ? Connection Type ?

A04. 1. Corsair Force3 SSD 180GB system drive. 2. WDC Green 1.5TB storage drive

Q05. DVB-T Card / Device Manf ? Model ?

A05. Leadtek Winfast D3100 H

Q06. Wireless Lan installed ?

A06. Not on PC, only on modem router

Q07. Bluetooth Devices installed ?

A07. No

Q08. Are you Overclocking ?

A08. No, everything stock speeds

Drivers:

Q10. Video Card Driver Version ?

A10. 9.18.13.1106

Q11. DVB-T Card / Device Driver Type ? Version ?

A11. PVR2: 2.0.3.49. Wizard: 12.0.0.2. Server versions respectively: 2.0.3.52 and 13.0.0.1

All other components up to date as per Leadtek UI, update downloads for PVR2 & Wizard continually fail.

Software:

Q20. Operating System ?

A20. Win7 Ultimate

Q21. Service Packs installed ?

A21. SP1 with all essential, recommended & optional updates except for language packs

Q22. DirectX version installed ?

A22. 10.1

Q23. PowerDVD installed ? If so version ?

A23. Only the relevant codec: Unknown source, version details blank

Q24. WinDVD installed ? If so version ?

A24. Yes, through Leadtek software installation: Version details blank

As per title, I can't get good reception for DTV frequencies above 600 MHz . The audio is somewhat choppy and the video is choppy, often still-frames and pixelates. Channels below 600 MHz work flawlessly.

Can anyone help?

[pgdownload]

Sounds like either your aerial is stuffed or your video card is stuffed. Can you test out the rig by swapping these items (eg. go to a mates house and plug in his aerial.

Peter Gillespie

[WestOz60]

Thanks for your reply.

The aerial is near new, all fittings are tight, all channels except above 600 MHz work perfectly (which isn't many - just the WIN group of WIN, GO, GEM.... the video card, while not being high-end, does the job very nicely in every other respect. My PC is "immobile" in the sense that I need it too much for business purposes. Any other suggestions? Cheers, Wayne

[pgdownload]

Something's obviously not working correctly. If your answer to suggested problem points is "I can't be that" then you're unlikely to find out what's wrong IMO.

My best guess is that either something is mechanically busted or something in your home (including the PC itself) is sending out a rogue signal above 600Mhz. If I had to put money on one thing I'd suspect the aerial isn't rated to handle / is busted for 600+ range (but that's just a guess). Can you plug the aerial into another TV and test that signal?

You could also just be near the digital cliff and these 600+ channels are on the wrong side of the ledge. What actual channels are you not getting?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Guest Malich]

& location?

[GoForMoe]

Another thing you could try is picking up one of the dirt cheap USB DVB-T devices off Ebay and trying that.

Give VLC a go as a digital TV decoder as a way of testing the software side of things.

[I am not a duck]

Can anyone help?

Unlikely, as I am unable to take measurements of the signal being fed to your DVB-T card, so any comments made are guesswork at best.

I'll take it your username reflects your location, since you have not mentioned this.

Are you getting your DTV signals from the transmitter servicing the Bunbury WA area?

What does the signal indicator on the PVR-2 show for channels that work, and the channel that doesn't?

Generally, video/audio breakup occurs when the signal level is too high, not high enough, or the correct level, but with a high error rate caused by any number of factors.

If, as you say, "The aerial is near new, all fittings are tight", how is this known?

Was this done by yourself, or an installer that knew what they were doing?

There are many factors that cause poor digital television reception, sometimes it can be as simple as a bad flylead from the wallplate to the receiving device, failing that, interference from an external (or in the case of a computer, internal) source, being in a poor reception area, incorrect antenna type or positioning, a card that has poor perfomance at certain frequencies - and so it goes.

Edited July 12, 2013 by M'bozo

[WestOz60]

@ pgdownload... My main TV is on the same cable (through a splitter/TV Amp) and it works great on all channels. I have relocated the antenna from the shaky gutter mount to the highest point on the roof, secured with with proper guy wires. I'm having trouble with WIN, GO!, GEM and GOLD; all of which are in the 600MHz+ range. The rest are fine below 600MHz.

@ Malich... I'm about 8Km from the TX site on Wireless Hill; I have the antenna pointed exactly at the TX site using angle measurement courtesy of Google Maps, the antenna elements are dead level and the antenna itself is an AntSig of the larger variety.

@ GoForMoe... VLC stopped working on my rig about 6 months ago despite re-install attempts,,, had to give up on it, but I seem to remember the problem was the same

[WestOz60]

@ M'bozo... The antenna re-install was recent (3 weeks ago) and I'm a stickler for checking and reseating all connection points, which I did. Sorry, Yes I'm in Bunbury (Glen Iris). Did the install myself. Don't know how to view the signal strength for each channel on the Leadtek UI.

Is it possible the antenna is too large for the purpose? The largest elements combine to be about 1.5M wide tip to tip and the element base is at least 1.2M long, with a diminishing graduation of 12 elements in total.

I haven't touched the gain control on the TVAmp splitter as yet, would tweaking this help?

Edited July 12, 2013 by WestOz60

[Tazzy2Heads]

Hi Westoz60,

Are you sure you have the correct antenna for the current channel plan ? Isn't WIN TV now the top channel and there is no more channels above WIN, i.e. the channels are 35,36,37,38 and WIN TV 39, or is that not happened yet or is in another area from you ?

You could try turning the gain down if it is fully up or turn it up in increments if it it now fully down.

Can you post a photo of your antenna ?

Have you put your address into the 'myswitch' site to see what your expected signal might be , and what the channels are for your location ?

cheers Tazzy

[WestOz60]

In Bunbury at least, the lower channels range from 571.5 to 592.5 MHz, including the ABC, SBS, GWN7 and TEN groups. The WIN groups are all on 606.5 MHz.

Went to Myswitch site but unsure of how to determine actual signal strengths for each channel. I input my address and got a google map showing that I'm in a Good signal area for all channels, in green.

My scan list shows all expected channels for my area.

[Tazzy2Heads]

Thanks for the photo, I must learn how to do that one day, I'm a computor illiterate pretty much only can do VERY BASIC stuff !

Anyway back to topic,that antenna is a combination VHF/UHF and 90% of the aluminium on it is bird pirches unfortunately, only the very short bars are picking up

UHF and probably Band 4 only which should cover channel 39 WIN TV . However the overall strength of the UHF part of the antenna is not very strong and may

not be strong enough for your location and the cable losses for channel 39 or even all of the UHF channels you receive,its just that CH39 is the first to be trouble

because of any of the things that M'bozo mentions.You need accurate signal measurements at the antenna first of all to begin to understand the full story.

I would be buying a UHF antenna suited to your channel group for your area and tossing that one to the tip unless you are using it for FM radio pick up .

The 'myswitch' only tells you the predicted overall reception not individual channels, however there is a lot of info there if you click on more information etc.

there is a topography profile,antenna direction and suggested antenna type and polarity which may help you .As has been said earlier if you are REAL close to the transmission tower signal overload could also be the issue,

Goodluck Tazzy

[WestOz60]

Thanks for all the input so far guys... Tazzy, I'm now leaning towards the possibility that you may be right about signal overload (wasn't aware that it could be an issue); tried playing with the gain control without a result, although the main TV on the same co-ax still worked perfectly on all channels except at the 1/3 lower end of the gain. Went right through the gain range whist keeping an eye on the PC, but nothing on the WIN group. I do have a spare UHF which I will try in place of the VHF/UHF clunker, will report back here when I'm done.

As for posting pics, suggest open a DropBox account at http://www.dropbox.com , they give you 2GB of server space for free (quite adequate for my needs, but you have to pay if ya want more), then upload photos/files that you want to host. When you install the small software for DropBox, it will place an icon on the taskbar, which when double-clicked will open the DropBox folder as an in-the-cloud extension of your PC folders. I have used it for many years, their servers are lightning fast and they are NOT spammers. Once setup and you have uploaded the pic, all you have to do is right click on the pic and select "copy public link" Then go to your forum page, like this one, and click on the pic icon of your new post (just below the text color & smiley icons at the top of the post), an "Enter URL" box will come up, then paste the URL from the clipboard, and your away.

Thanks guys for all the help so far, will get back to ya's once I've done the aerial swap. :D

Edited July 13, 2013 by WestOz60

[WestOz60]

Done the aerial swap with a smaller UHF antenna, now no signal on the TV card of the PC (except for very choppy on the TEN frequencies), but at least the main TV on the same line is fully working . Too late in the day to climb onto the roof again, but at least I'll get to see the Ashes cricket tonite .

Edited July 13, 2013 by WestOz60

[Tazzy2Heads]

Is this antenna for band 4 or band 5 or maybe both bands 4and 5 ? Time for another photo perhaps, and a close up of the cable connections if possible ?

Thanks for the photo upload tips etc. TV cards can be fiddly with signal strength and quality at times.

Tazzy

[WestOz60]

Thanks Tazzy... dunno what you mean by band 4 / band 5, maybe enlighten me on this?

All connections are either standard co-ax screw-in or plug-in type, or both in combo, nothing special there.

Just got down from the roof (in the dark - just so I could continue to watch the Ashes; slippery roof & all, yeh I know I'm an idiot) after re-installing the VHF/UHF antenna. Now I have the same prob as before, but at least I got all but the WIN group of channels back on the PC.

[Tazzy2Heads]

The term band in this case refers to a group of frequencies or channels used to transmit or receive tv or radio signals on .

Tv in Australia used to go from VHF channel 0 to UHF channel 69 for terestrial transmitted signals and was broken into segments or 'bands' for ease of describing

certain groups of frequencies or channels.

Your combination type antenna combines signals from three different tv bands and sends them down the one coax to the tv. In poor signal areas sometimes 3 separate antennas are needed to maximise the signals.

Your antenna covers VHF Bands 1 for ch 2, Band 3 for channels 6-12 and UHF which depends on the design of the antenna whether it picks all the UHF

channels from 28-69 refered to as Wideband (WB) or band 4 channels 28 to around channels 37/38 refered to as narrow band . Most combo antennas

used in the Capital cities in strong signal areas only cover up to UHF band 4 channels 37/38 and their signal pick drops off at the higher channels,

.

.Some antennas are band 4 plus a few extra lower band 5 channels and are refered to as B4+.

Your UHF only antenna could be bands 4 and 5 (Wideband) or band 4 only or band 4+, or band 5 only from channels 38-69.(narrow band for groups of ch's)

So it depends on what antenna you have and what channels you are after as to what the reception is like at the antenna connections let alone further down the system and coming out the end of the flylead.Signal Quality is a very important part of it all,and there are many sources of grief,some intermittent

As has been said in earlier posts without proper signal measurements it's only guess work as to you even having antenna issues, it maybe the tv card but with the right antenna it's a start and can't be bad for the reception reliability of the other tv's in the house.

Hope that throwes some light on it all,

cheers Tazzy

[I am not a duck]

I'm about 8Km from the TX site on Wireless Hill

According to mySwitch, Glen Iris is ~22Km from the transmitter servicing Bunbury located on Mt Lennard.

Additionally, this is a high powered transmitter, in my opinion, if your antenna is set up correctly, you would probably have too much signal, requiring attenuation, not amplification, to enable good reception.

If I came across an antenna of the type depicted in the image, using a wire balun to connect to coaxial cable, I would replace it. (I'd be replacing it with a band 4 antenna anyway, regardless.)

So, what does your UHF antenna look like? How does the coaxial cable connect to the antenna?

Don't know how to view the signal strength for each channel on the Leadtek UI.

On the dashboard of the PVR2? Does it not have a signal indicator somewhere?

Edited July 14, 2013 by M'bozo

[WestOz60]

Pic of UHF antenna as requested...

M'bozo... Yeh, you're right... the 8Km was a bad underestimation by me. The distance is in fact 22.3Km. And yes it is a wire balun connected to co-ax, what is the alternative?

The UHF antenna has the same wire balun to co-ax connection as the VHF/UHF antenna.

On the PVR2 UI, I do see a signal indicator, never noticed it before... on the WIN group of channels it shows half signal in yellow, whereas the rest of the channels show full signal in green.

[pgdownload]

Based on everything posted so far, I'd say its almost certain your antenna isn't capable or rigged up correctly.

I'd get an antenna guy in to either attenuate the signal or swap the antenna over for another one that's more suitable.

Failing that I'd visit the electronics store in your neighbourhood (Middays?) and ask them for the antenna they sell locally. They should have something under $100 that you can put up yourself.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[WestOz60]

Thanks for the reply... how does one "attenuate" the signal? Due to lack of work, I'm on the bones of my bum right now . Can't really afford to fork out for an antenna guy to check out the system. If you could advise me on how to attenuate the signal, I'm happy to give it a try.

[Tazzy2Heads]

Hi WestOZ60

Like the saying goes 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.

Your pictures are fine the antennas are rubbish, that one is another 'combo' for strong signal areas, it is band 3 vhf and uhf with less elements for uhf than the

green one, and well past it's useby date !

As per 'pg's post have a look at whats on other roofs close by or ask at the local wholesalers that supplies the antenna guys in your area.

Not sure how many tv outlets you have connected, but going by the other posts re distance from towers etc I would ask for an 18 element band 4 yagi or if there

are trees in the way maybe a uhf Phased Array and try that without any amplifier just a 'F' type splitter and see how you go . You could first of all just connect the outlet where the tv card is only and proove that is working ok before adding in the splitter to the other outlets.

As we all say , you need to be on the roof with a meter and the correct antenna for the channels for the area to establish the signal levels and the correct spot for the best Quality signals. As you are close in to the towers the antenna location may not be too critical.

Cheers Tazzy.

[I am not a duck]

And yes it is a wire balun connected to co-ax, what is the alternative?

Throw both of the antennas & the wire balun you have away.

Find an antenna that looks like this or this

Connect it to your existing cable, & providing there are no connection/cabling errors, you should be right.

On the PVR2 UI, I do see a signal indicator, never noticed it before... on the WIN group of channels it shows half signal in yellow, whereas the rest of the channels show full signal in green.

That suggests to me, for whatever reason, the WIN signal, as you have discovered, is not optimum. If it was, it would be green, like the other channels. This is most likely an antenna related problem.

If you could advise me on how to attenuate the signal, I'm happy to give it a try.

This is unlikely to be a consideration with your current set up, however, it might be, once the correct antenna is installed. I'd worry about that if issues arise after the antenna is upgraded.

[WestOz60]

Hey guys...

A weird thing happened... last night we had a serious rain & wind blow which shifted my antenna at least 30 degrees anticlockwise from the TX position; when I saw it had shifted, I decided to just check out the signal for laughs, before I went back on the roof to tighten and adjust the antenna but before I did so, now I'm getting good signal on both TV and PC on all channels? Go figure!!! Seriously, it is pointed well away from the Mt Lennard TX site (which I carefully checked using google earth and the MySwitch app on my mobile). Never thought nature would come to the rescue!

Think I'm just gonna leave things as they are, & see what transpires. Still appreciate all the input so far.....

[I am not a duck]

A weird thing happened...

That can be be the nature of digital reception, particularly when close to a high powered transmitter.

Your antenna/balun could be acting as glorified rabbit ears, as long as the signal is above the reception threshold, you wouldn't notice any difference.

A piece of wire in your antenna socket would probably work as well.

Arf, arf, Speaking of rabbit ears.