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Digital TV Reception quality

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awg

Joined
25 September 2007
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13
Analogue TV got switched off here in Nov.

My DTV always dropped out, especially on the ABC channels.

Stupidly optimistic, I hoped the promised "improved reception" would eventuate..but no...so I fitted a new you-beaut DTV antenna...no better...next thing is to try new, upgraded cable, but I doubt that will solve my trouble.

My neighbours are vague...they watch Foxtel!

Reception has always been poor here, but at least with analogue you still get sound, no DTV means nothing at all.

So my question is do others have much DTV dropout ?

(I estimate that it would affect me about 1/3 of the time with maybe 5-10% unwatchable...storms are bad...but so is hot weather, maybe dusty air?...when a plane flys in the transmission path, forget it )
 
I find it is good where I am. In the past the Win based channels used to have quirks.

Maybe call out a professional that has good testing equipment. Do you have direct line of sight to the transmission tower? Any large metal or trees along the path? Etc.
 
I'm not that far from you AWG on the Central Coast. I got a Tivo and digital TV and I have never in the 3 years of living here been able to get the ABC. All others are fine, just not the ABC. It is not a critical station for me so I don't care but I find it odd that I can't get it.
 
Hi , This will sound silly , but if you can hose you antenna with a good strong blast of water. I've had the same problem and it seems to work. I think salt spray , dust , spider webs ect upset the signal. Digital is very touchy and needs a stable clean environment to work at it's best and that's why storms , high winds and heavy rain will effect the signal. A good example is Tour De France coverage ,they get a lot of signal break up in their coverage compared to the old days , they use digital signals now and it breaks up behind hills , trees and when it rains. They said something about the digital signal needing a direct line of sight and it doesn't bounce off things like analouge did. Hope this helps and please take care and I don't suggest you get on any ladders or roof to hose it. Mine could be reached with the hose from ground level .
 
Digital they either work or they don't not like the old analogue where you get ghost and noise if you have weak signal....Digital require a certain signal strength to work else you wont get anything at all...

Suggest you boost your signal via a better antenna or signal booster..
 
Either you have sufficient signal strength or you don't. That's how it is with digital.

The actual frequencies are however (at least they are around here) the same as that used for analogue transmissions. There is thus no need for "digital" antennas and the like (assuming you already have an adequate antenna).

First question - is everything in good order? The antenna pointing the right way etc?

Second question - do you have more than one option (in terms of transmission frequency) for receiving any of the stations? If so, have you tried tuning to the others to see if they work?
 
Hello smurf, can you explain how I can get every single digital channel clear as a bell but not the ABC? I get GEM, 99, Go, 7Mate, and many more but not ABC? They are all crystal clear. I did the Tivo auto channel search and no ABC. Just wondering in my case what the problem could be, cheers.
 
Should add I am a qualified technician, so have a fairly good understanding of issues. Already have a signal amplifier fitted

Bill, the ABC, will not "detect" ie pick up if the signal strength is insufficient.

No amount of scanning will find it...presumably you dont get ABC 22 or 24 ?

As others noted, its like digital phones re signal

my antenna is pointed at Sugarloaf, I am shadowed by a hill.

As a side issue ABC local AM radio 1233 has a crap signal as well.

One could possibly presume the ABC transmission is not of the same power as other stations ?

I guess my question is directed at regional areas...I had a feeling we would get screwed when that honky-ass clown Conroy promised my TV would be better
 

So what's the signal strength? there should be an indicator of sorts on the STB or the TV


If reception is your problem (Sugarloaf) then a dish is your answer...a dish, sat box and an Optus Aurora card, but as a "qualified technician" you knew that already.

As for my DTV, its perfect as my antenna has line of sight with the tower 17Kms away.

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I found a DTV fact sheet for issues with the ABC on the Central coast.

http://www.digitalready.gov.au/Cont...t-Reception-difficulties-for-ABC-digital.aspx

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Well Well looks like there is a new free to air satellite TV service to...Viewer Access Satellite Television.

http://www.digitalready.gov.au/what-is-the-switch/VAST-service.aspx
 
burglar said:
I often get lips not synchronizing with sound!?
Click to expand...

I get that a bit too...and im not 100% sure of the answer but think its in the broadcast, though i have done channel flips and think i have seen the syncing improve.

cynic said:
Light happens to travel much,much faster than sound, could that have anything to do with it?
Click to expand...

LOL its all digital...packets the same as the internet.

Ok so doing a bit of reading up it appears that the video and the audio can be sent in different streams, but still packets so there can be no speed difference.

http://www.interactivetvweb.org/tutorials/dtv_intro/dtv_intro
 

You must be sitting the wrong distance from your television set then. Simple solution, calculate the time difference between the picture and sound, then calculate how many kms you need to move your lounge chair away in order for light and sound to fall back into alignment. A large screen, loud sound, binoculars and hearing aid are also recommended equipment for enhancement of the efficacy of this remedy. Best of luck!
 
awg said:
Bill, the ABC, will not "detect" ie pick up if the signal strength is insufficient.

No amount of scanning will find it...presumably you dont get ABC 22 or 24 ?
Click to expand...

So_Cynical said:
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I found a DTV fact sheet for issues with the ABC on the Central coast.

http://www.digitalready.gov.au/Cont...t-Reception-difficulties-for-ABC-digital.aspx

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Click to expand...

Thanks for the link So Cynical it explains the problems where I live.

Last night we had a pretty bad electrical storm, the power blacked out for a few seconds and everything was knocked out on my entertainment unit.

This morning I discovered my surge protector blew up. I have now replaced it and took this opportunity to rediscover my Tivo and digital settings. I did a full scan, again the ABC I can not get, not even 22 or 24. It actually comes up with an 80% signal strength but there is no picture. It must have something to do with the conflicts that were in the link SC posted. Again, all other channels are good. My next step is to get a technician in I guess.

Can anybody tell me how good are those boosters you use that plugs in at the antenna out socket at the wall behind the TV? Do they boost your signal? Would that make my ABC come on? I'm not that clued up on those gadgets. Currently I'm using one but I don't know how good/powerful it is, cheers.
 

Bill get a guy in to have a look...if the signal strength is 80 then that should be enough, a GOOD amplifier with simply amplify the signal you already have, if packets are missing from the signal then when amplified they will still be missing.

You seriously need to consider a satellite setup, they are available to anyone, anywhere that cannot get a reliable signal to one or more channels..could end up being 500 or 600 well spent.

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Oh and the little amps that go in behind the TV are the low end crappy ones, you want a masthead amp so the signal is boosted at the antennae before any loss...but get a guy in to have a look and recommend a solution...just beware that most TV guys wont care or recommend a satellite solution.
 
I tried to 'upgrade' my mum to DTV (she still has a old CTR TV though, LOL).

Purchased her a DTV box
Installed it
Ran a scan
A few channels came up - but never worked properly, cut out a lot, unwatchable.
Went back to normal TV
Only hope is NBN (streaming) or Foxtel
 

Have you checked the antenna?
Some old antennas don't work well enough on digital. Also, depending on the area your mum lives in, the digital signal may be broadcast from a different location.
We called the Antennaman and got all our problems fixed for under $200 bucks.
 
Thx for the replies, added my rusty tech quals to "flush out" so to speak, more detailed responses such as So_Cyn

will try upgraded cable next, aerial guys want over $1k for sat, they sure dont miss you atm!

Bill, its weird if you are scanning, detecting ABC and showing 80% signal strength, but no picture ?

neighbours or local shopkeepers should be able to tell you if ABC is a local problem
 

Is her Antenna set-up 30 years old? Ribbon cable run and wall socket? a strong signal is required and sometimes that means a new Antenna and cable run.

Households that can just plug DTV into the old system and have everything work fine 99.5% of the time should be considered lucky and in the minority.
 
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