335 replies to this topic

[timoxx4]

Alista, on Jan 13 2011, 03:26 PM, said:

Hi everyone,

Is anyone having a bit of trouble with WIN from Mt Barrow? It has random drop out and pixelation problems. It started yesterday afternoon and got worse. It appears to have got a little better today but it still drops out on occasions. The weather really isn't helping it but it seems to have high Bit Error Levels and they happen out of the blue and in waves.
Last night I had to watch the cricket in analogue because it wasn't watchable. Analogue on 58" Plasma isn't exactly nice either but at least it didn't drop out.

I checked out Ts Reader and Continuity Errors were in the thousands! TEI errors were also similar. I don't really know what all this means but none of the other stations have any of these errors.

I might give WIN a call if it continues.

Regards
Alista

I have the same problem with WIN.  Never had any problems before until about a month ago when it all started. And its still like it now. All other channels are perfect. Just seems to be WIN, GO and there other one. I am just outside Devonport with antenna pointing to MT Barrow.

Do WIN transmit at a lower power than all the other stations ? Even though my STB says the signal strength is 98% and signal quality is 85% but it's got distorted sound half the time and lots of pixilation on and off.

What have WIN done to cause this ?  Because something has changed for the worse what ever they have done ?

[M'bozo]

timoxx4, on Mar 5 2011, 10:26 PM, said:

Do WIN transmit at a lower power than all the other stations ?

No. (Seems to be a common misconception when something goes wrong.)

timoxx4, on Mar 5 2011, 10:26 PM, said:

What have WIN done to cause this ?  Because something has changed for the worse what ever they have done ?

Saw a bit of breakup last week, seemed to be a transmission problem.  
(No RS errors noted on the mux when it happened).
I don't watch WIN, except for when installing stuff.  

Guess you could bring this to the attention of WIN, with dates, times, programmes affected.

[B.A.T.]

To all the antenna installers in the Launceston & surrounding areas.

I am hanging up my crimper. Time to clear out all my antenna & MATV stock.  

Leader 952 sat/terrestrial TV meter. In excellent condition. Leather case, manuals, charger included. I can't seem to be able to attach photos, so here and here is a link to one similar.
Heaps of F type taps (6.5 - 30dB tap), sat & terrestrial splitter/combiner,  F splitters, bags of crimp RG6 F connectors, boxes of crimp RG11 F connectors, bags of connectors & adapters, wall and skirting F outlets, distribution & masthead amps, mounting hardware, TV Pivotele, AV transmitter, AV-RF modulator, boxes of new/unused 12V, 7Ah SLA batteries (~50 in total) etc etc.
All must go.
Make an offer...

Garage sale 08:00 AM Saturday 4/6/2011
1 Neptune Dr Blackstone Heights Launceston
Come one, Come all

Edited by B.A.T., 02 June 2011 - 10:57 PM.

[BigBadBaz]

BigBadBaz, on Feb 12 2011, 11:16 PM, said:

I've had this in Ulverstone for a couple of weeks now, I receive directly from Barrow. Did you call WIN Alista?





I Agree, it is fairly intermittent and some people would not even notice.

Bump

I'm still seeing this. Have ruled out problems my end as I get the same problem on two totally seperate antennas and TV's'

Anyone else having this problem?

[M'bozo]

BigBadBaz, on Nov 19 2011, 07:17 PM, said:

Anyone else having this problem?

It's been on-going for some time.

I brought it to the attention of WIN in Hobart maybe 3/4 months ago, and had a call back from someone on the mainland a few days later.

I was informed that their "observers" were not seeing any problems for either Burnie, Ulverstone or Devonport.

I don't normally watch WIN, but did catch Frozen Planet last Wednesday, and saw a few glitches there. It's almost like a momentary timing glitch in the TS.

I advise people when I'm doing antenna installation work for them they may experience problems on the WIN bouquet, and to contact the station if it annoys them.

[BigBadBaz]

M'bozo, on Nov 19 2011, 07:48 PM, said:

It's been on-going for some time.

I brought it to the attention of WIN in Hobart maybe 3/4 months ago, and had a call back from someone on the mainland a few days later.

I was informed that their "observers" were not seeing any problems for either Burnie, Ulverstone or Devonport.

I don't normally watch WIN, but did catch Frozen Planet last Wednesday, and saw a few glitches there. It's almost like a momentary timing glitch in the TS.

I advise people when I'm doing antenna installation work for them they may experience problems on the WIN bouquet, and to contact the station if it annoys them.

Thanks mate, I receive direct from Barrow. Most people I ask say they have experienced the same "glitches". Will call WIN myself and advise.

[M'bozo]

This afternoon from about 1600 onwards it's been almost impossible to watch WIN with constant breakup across the multiplex.

I've had my T40 monitoring the channel from Kelcey Tier since this morning, and have perfect data reception, zero RS uncorrected errors, so it's not the transmitter to antenna path for me that's the problem.

I've called the after hours service and reported it, the person answering the 'phone said that no one else has called in about it.

[aquanita]

M'bozo, on Nov 20 2011, 04:30 PM, said:

This afternoon from about 1600 onwards it's been almost impossible to watch WIN with constant breakup across the multiplex.

I've had my T40 monitoring the channel from Kelcey Tier since this morning, and have perfect data reception, zero RS uncorrected errors, so it's not the transmitter to antenna path for me that's the problem.

I've called the after hours service and reported it, the person answering the 'phone said that no one else has called in about it.

I'm having same problems,what is the after hours phone number i should be complaining about,I'm only getting the problem on win northern tasmania
By the way i'm in burnie

Edited by aquanita, 20 November 2011 - 09:53 PM.

[clipper]

M'bozo, on Nov 20 2011, 05:30 PM, said:

This afternoon from about 1600 onwards it's been almost impossible to watch WIN with constant breakup across the multiplex.

Marc, I guess you have tried applying various offsets to the center frequency.

[M'bozo]

aquanita, on Nov 20 2011, 10:51 PM, said:

what is the after hours phone number i should be complaining about,I'm only getting the problem on win northern tasmania

Ring the number for WIN in the white pages. It goes through to an answering service.

It seems to have been fixed now.

clipper, on Nov 21 2011, 09:48 AM, said:

Marc, I guess you have tried applying various offsets to the center frequency.

M'bozo, on Nov 20 2011, 05:30 PM, said:

I've had my T40 monitoring the channel from Kelcey Tier since this morning, and have perfect data reception, zero RS uncorrected errors, so it's not the transmitter to antenna path for me that's the problem.

No need. My other instruments also reported no channel errors, and they apply CFO automatically, anyway.

[SATKING]

Ok maybe I just aint looking hard enough, I am a regional VIC installer and have been asked by a King island resident about the Digital Tv coverage for King Island, they have related some confusing storys about how some people have got a Govt Subsidy for VAST etc etc , looking at the Digital ready site King Island supposedly should get Digital Coverage am not sure if this is from mainland Tasmania transmitters or thru the old shire run re-transmitter. Anyway I need to know what is available on King Island and what frequency's for antenna selection etc. All help much appreciated.
TK

[Alista]

Hi SatKing,

According to ACMA transmitter list the main broadcaster owned radio tower on top of "Gentle Annie" is only transmitting ABC digital (has been for some time I believe) on 732.5 MHz (57) Horizontal @ 6.5Kw. Details here: http://www2b.abc.net...c...00&presdir=

I'm assuming the other stations will arrive some time soon but we all know how long the commercials take lol

There is also a Council Self Help site at Currie on "Tower Hill" that transmits all channels in Digital mode. (no analogue) Not quite sure where this tower is fed from either... Maybe by a powerful microwave link from the Tasmanian main land.
SCTV 613.5MHz (40)
TDT 655.5 MHz (46)
WIN 634.5 MHz (43)
ABC 592.5 MHz (37)
SBS 571.5 MHz (34)
@ 200 watts Vertical.

From this information and coverage maps it appears the Gentle Annie site covers the island to a large extent but no doubt there are people in really remote parts putting up with a sub standard analogue signal. I don't know a lot about how VAST is issued to people but the mySwitch site says if you have Aurora installed you can apply for special permission to access VAST now.

Hope this is some assistance.

Cheers,
Alista

[alanh]

SATKing,
If you read the first post in this series, there are all the answers to your questions and more. The channel allocations are in the transmitter list and have been there since 12 November 2011. The Gentle Annie transmitter will have to change channel when the regional Victorian/Tasmanian digital restack occurs because channel 57 will be sold to the WiFi industry.

As for VAST the information is in the above post. The VAST remote licence area covers part of Tasmania as shown on the linked map, but King Island is part of Northern Tasmania.

AlanH

[SATKING]

[quote name='alanh' date='Nov 29 2011, 01:10 AM' post='1762650']
ALANH,
If you read the first post in this series, there are all the answers to your questions and more. The channel allocations are in the transmitter list and have been there since 12 November 2011. The Gentle Annie transmitter will have to change channel when the regional Victorian/Tasmanian digital restack occurs because channel 57 will be sold to the WiFi industry.

As for VAST the information is in the above post. The VAST remote licence area covers part of Tasmania as shown on the linked map, but King Island is part of Northern Tasmania.

AlanH
ALANH, you assume I havnt attempted to decipher your channel list wrong ! I just gave up !  
Yes on VAST it would have to be on  a case by case basis the client claims his next door neighbor has VAST and got Govt assistance , I know have is full address so will do a cursory check,  next door neighbor's story's aint always correct.

Alan I dont see anywhere that YOUR list takes into account the shire run repeater.. to be honest I also have alwasy found your list impossible to navigate I guess I am just a bit to logical..

[SATKING]

Alista, on Nov 29 2011, 12:39 AM, said:

Hi SatKing,

According to ACMA transmitter list the main broadcaster owned radio tower on top of "Gentle Annie" is only transmitting ABC digital (has been for some time I believe) on 732.5 MHz (57) Horizontal @ 6.5Kw. Details here: http://www2b.abc.net...c...00&presdir=

I'm assuming the other stations will arrive some time soon but we all know how long the commercials take lol

There is also a Council Self Help site at Currie on "Tower Hill" that transmits all channels in Digital mode. (no analogue) Not quite sure where this tower is fed from either... Maybe by a powerful microwave link from the Tasmanian main land.
SCTV 613.5MHz (40)
TDT 655.5 MHz (46)
WIN 634.5 MHz (43)
ABC 592.5 MHz (37)
SBS 571.5 MHz (34)
@ 200 watts Vertical.

From this information and coverage maps it appears the Gentle Annie site covers the island to a large extent but no doubt there are people in really remote parts putting up with a sub standard analogue signal. I don't know a lot about how VAST is issued to people but the mySwitch site says if you have Aurora installed you can apply for special permission to access VAST now.

Hope this is some assistance.

Cheers,
Alista

[SATKING]

Thanks Alista.
The last I had heard the shire run tower didn't have all the commercial channels but from what you say they now do so that is useful do you happen to know the bands or frequency's the Shire transmitter uses?

Many thanks for your help

The hassle is in getting there with the right stuff ( mainly from an antenna perspective) to get the job done..

[M'bozo]

SATKING, on Nov 29 2011, 05:54 PM, said:

The last I had heard the shire run tower didn't have all the commercial channels but from what you say they now do so that is useful do you happen to know the bands or frequency's the Shire transmitter uses?

You might like to read this: Document ID: 128908 | Last modified: 27 May 2011, 4:20pm, and contact the shire direct to see what is happening.

[Tazzy2Heads]

SATKING, on Nov 29 2011, 05:54 PM, said:

Thanks Alista.
The last I had heard the shire run tower didn't have all the commercial channels but from what you say they now do so that is useful do you happen to know the bands or frequency's the Shire transmitter uses?

Many thanks for your help

The hassle is in getting there with the right stuff ( mainly from an antenna perspective) to get the job done..

Hi 'SATKING'
I would be taking some gear to do VAST installs as back up,as everyone is able to access all ABC and SBS via VAST and those with a LEGAL AURORA CARD
  INSTALLATION now can go over to VAST for all the Commercial channels as well. The others can apply next year when it is closer to Analogue turn off.
  The VAST boxes are usually activated with in an hour or two of applying on the web site, I've had some with in 15 mins depending on how busy they are I
  guess.
  Some of the subsidy talk is 'scuttle butt and hearsay' you would have to talk directly to the person concerned for the facts.They have to be on the Pension
  for a start I think , haven't been involved with a Subsidy job.
  Good luck
  Cheers Tazzy

[alanh]

Satking,

You have made it harder by not specifying what part of King Island you are talking about.

Note:
There has never been any analog translators on the Council Site in Currie.
Gentle Annie has ABkT11 which has a digital brother on channel 57 as well as analog TVT6 and analog TNT8.

The Transmitter list is broken up in to Hobart Southern Tasmania and then Northern Tasmania.

The listing for Currie is as quoted by Alista and covers all Tasmanian programs. The council has installed these digital translatorsand are probably receiving Mt Barrow as a signal source..

Note these transmitters are Vertically polarised so a UHF phased array would be ideal unless the path is blocked, then a very high gain Yagi-Uda array is better.

There there is only one digital transmitter at Gentle Annie which is an ABC transmitter on channel 57. By the end of 2013 SBS and the 3 commercial networks will join it. This is usually the reason why the ACMA will not allow VAST commercial authorisations to occur until within 6 months of analog switchoff. All of the transmitters on Gentle Anny is or will be horizontally polarised band 5. Since channel 57 will be used for WiFi this channel will definately change to another channel.

As I have stated already the final planning for Tasmania by the ACMA is yet to be completed. This includes ACMA testing field strengths to justify the need for any translators or retransmitters.

If you look at the link to Remote area reception for Northern Tasmania, the ACMA map does not include King Island as part of the remote area service. So VAST service has to be justified as inadequate terrestrial signals at 10 metres etc according to the ACMA B58 form. This requires slgnal level measurements etc. No point in recommending Aurora as it will be off the air by the end of 2013 plus there is only 4 programs avaliable rather than 15. Remember that VAST programs do not carry specific Tasmanian programming but may contain a news bulletin in the mix of Eastern and Central Australian news bulletins.

I would check out what assistance the next door neighbour got for a VAST Installation. This is not available unless you are a full rate pensioner or an analog translator is to be permanently switched off. Either way this will not happen until 1st January 2013 in Tasmania. Any earlier installations will not be subsidised

AlanH

Edited by alanh, 30 November 2011 - 01:14 AM.

[Alista]

SATKING, on Nov 29 2011, 05:54 PM, said:

Thanks Alista.
The last I had heard the shire run tower didn't have all the commercial channels.

M'bozo, on Nov 29 2011, 10:22 PM, said:

You might like to read this: Document ID: 128908 | Last modified: 27 May 2011, 4:20pm, and contact the shire direct to see what is happening.

Yes, it seems M'Bozo might be onto something here. The licences are issued but of course that does not always mean they are transmitting. I did think it was rather odd that Currie had Commercials but the main site did not, it seems to make sense now.

It would be good if we knew what channels were going to be used on Gentle Annie...

[SATKING]

Tazzy2Heads, on Nov 29 2011, 10:59 PM, said:

Hi 'SATKING'
I would be taking some gear to do VAST installs as back up,as everyone is able to access all ABC and SBS via VAST and those with a LEGAL AURORA CARD
  INSTALLATION now can go over to VAST for all the Commercial channels as well. The others can apply next year when it is closer to Analogue turn off.
  The VAST boxes are usually activated with in an hour or two of applying on the web site, I've had some with in 15 mins depending on how busy they are I
  guess.
  Some of the subsidy talk is 'scuttle butt and hearsay' you would have to talk directly to the person concerned for the facts.They have to be on the Pension
  for a start I think , haven't been involved with a Subsidy job.
  Good luck
  Cheers Tazzy

Alista yeah on the VAST side an Govt subsidy I think you are right, its a pity they wont let people apply for the commercial stations until the cutover as they are having trouble with the current analog. we do a few VAST setups already but the customer as they all do wants everything so if its only sbs and ABC they will likely wait until they can apply for the commercial stations.

Thanks for the help

[SATKING]

Alista, on Dec 1 2011, 11:16 AM, said:

Yes, it seems M'Bozo might be onto something here. The licences are issued but of course that does not always mean they are transmitting. I did think it was rather odd that Currie had Commercials but the main site did not, it seems to make sense now.

It would be good if we knew what channels were going to be used on Gentle Annie...

Thanks will look at that document an call the Shire .

The customer doesn't have Aurora otherwise yep it would be easy they could just go to VAST with all channels.
cheers

[glyndavid]

Not happy, analogue went off yesterday and so did my SBS. I live in Binalong Bay and it was only available on analogue. All digital channels are perfect as I'm only about 300m from the tower on Gardens Rd.

[Alista]

Gardens Road never had an SBS analogue service. You were receiving this from the St Helens site. The SBS licence was operated by the council under the self help scheme. In the last report on Digital Transmission and Reception available here (http://www.dbcde.gov...n_and_reception) details that the SBS is planning to convert the St Helens and Derby site for the licence holder so I assume a digital service can't be too far away.
Edit: Might be advisable to give the council a call and see if you can find anyone that knows what is going on since they are the licence holder.

Edited by Alista, 10 April 2013 - 11:31 AM.

[glyndavid]

Alista, on 10 April 2013 - 11:26 AM, said:

Gardens Road never had an SBS analogue service. You were receiving this from the St Helens site. The SBS licence was operated by the council under the self help scheme. In the last report on Digital Transmission and Reception available here (http://www.dbcde.gov...n_and_reception) details that the SBS is planning to convert the St Helens and Derby site for the licence holder so I assume a digital service can't be too far away.
Edit: Might be advisable to give the council a call and see if you can find anyone that knows what is going on since they are the licence holder.

Thanks for the info...I really miss SBS