315 replies to this topic

[alanh]

MJ57,

Have you tried my suggestion of getting a much longer HDMI cable and physically separating the Blu-ray player by at least a couple of metres?
The problem is that like computers there is a lot of frey quick switching happening inside the Blu-ray player. This causes interference. It is not helped through the use of double insulated devices.

Unless you have a very weak TV signal from the antenna, it will have no effect on this.

AlanH

[mjt57]

alanh, on May 8 2011, 08:28 PM, said:

MJ57,

Have you tried my suggestion of getting a much longer HDMI cable and physically separating the Blu-ray player by at least a couple of metres?

Hi Alan.

Yes, that was one of the first things that I did.

It sits about a metre above the other gear.

Now, if I move the Pana, say 20mm to one side or if I push it back say 20mm on the shelf then the reception problems emerge. Mostly it's on OneHD or Ten Vic or Eleven. But sometimes I might see it on WIN, Go or GEM. ABC sometimes plays up, too.

Thing is, the Austar box a MystarHD has no problems whatsoever. All devices are connected to the TV via HDMI, cables which cost me $20 each in Officeworks.

[alanh]

MJT57
What town or suburb are you in?

AlanH

[mjt57]

alanh, on May 11 2011, 08:38 PM, said:

MJT57
What town or suburb are you in?

Latrobe Valley, 160 km east of Melbourne.

Mount Tassie is where our TV transmitters are. I'm about 15-20 km away, line of sight when I am up on the roof.

[mjt57]

Just a quick update for anyone interested.

The other day I was up on the roof cleaning gutters. I noticed that a neighbor's tree had been cut back. It allowed me to see Mt Tassie properly. I soon discovered that my antenna was pointing about 20 degrees off to one side.

I lined it back up with where I think the transmitters are. Later on, after finishing my work I fired up the Panny.

It's all working perfectly now.

[coola32]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend an installer for Cardigan Village near Ballarat?

Also what price would I be looking at? I suppose I should go on their recommendation of type of aerial?

I would normally have a go at installation, but have so much to do and don't feel comfortable due to the weather.

Regards

DK.

[alanh]

DK,
I do not know the exact location, however remember that there is a new translator in East Ballarat, as well as the main transmitter at Lookout Hill.
As for installers use one of these Endorsed Digital Installer

AlanH

[coola32]

alanh, on Jul 6 2011, 06:45 PM, said:

DK,
I do not know the exact location, however remember that there is a new translator in East Ballarat, as well as the main transmitter at Lookout Hill.
As for installers use one of these Endorsed Digital Installer

AlanH

Thanks for the info Alan.

Cheers

DK.

[KE70]

I have two double storey properties that will be needing antennas. I am approx 20kms line of sight to the CBD (Northern subs).
The rough in is 5 antenna points of which 4 will be connected via a splitter. The fifth one is there just incase, I don't want it dropping the signal even more. I was hoping to get away without using an amp. Rest of setup is RG6 quad sheild and compressed fittings.

What I need to know is where I can buy some decent priced antennas and mounting poles for tiled roofs?  I don't really want to buy some crap from Bunnings or Dick smith.

Any suggestions for stores that sell good quality antennas and mounting equipment? online or retail.

I might be needing another antenna for my parents cabin in Warranga, any recommendations with ones that will work in regional areas?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT- Sorry i was meant to post this in the Melbourne section. I guess the Warranga bit is still relevant.

Edited by KE70, 29 September 2011 - 02:53 PM.

[mtv]

KE70, on Sep 29 2011, 02:52 PM, said:

I have two double storey properties that will be needing antennas. I am approx 20kms line of sight to the CBD (Northern subs).
The rough in is 5 antenna points of which 4 will be connected via a splitter. The fifth one is there just incase, I don't want it dropping the signal even more. I was hoping to get away without using an amp. Rest of setup is RG6 quad sheild and compressed fittings.

What I need to know is where I can buy some decent priced antennas and mounting poles for tiled roofs? I don't really want to buy some crap from Bunnings or Dick smith.

Any suggestions for stores that sell good quality antennas and mounting equipment? online or retail.

I might be needing another antenna for my parents cabin in Warranga, any recommendations with ones that will work in regional areas?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT- Sorry i was meant to post this in the Melbourne section. I guess the Warranga bit is still relevant.

The type of antenna will depend on signals at the location.

Line of site to the Melb CBD is irrelevant, as you need to point the antenna at Mt Dandenong, so it's the signal path from the houses locations to Mt Dandenong that's important.

Laceys.TV, Hills Industries, etc have quality antennas and various mounting options and much better than Bunnings and DSE.

Once again, without signal measurements from the installation addresses, I couldn't recommend a specific antenna, but a general all-round performer for metro areas is the Fracarro LP34F.

For Waranga, Shepparton (Mt Major) is likely to be the best transmission site, for which you'll need a single cross-polarised Ch 9 & UHF antenna, or separate Band 3 & 5 antennas combined with a diplexer.

[andrewlace]

If you're east so where exactly are you? This will help in determining what aerial to use. Often areas near the city suffer from reflected signals (ghosting). Or the CBD blocks the signals. Depending on where you are the como building has it's own transmitter. You may need an amplifier. This depends on how much signal you can get.
In wangara I'd be thinking separate aerials and a duplexes or amp with separate UHF and VHF inputs. The am210 al as is a personal fave. Cross pole antennas cost a bomb and generally don't work well. If you can live without win go for UHF only. It's always easier to get someone to test properly.

mtv, on Sep 29 2011, 05:04 PM, said:

The type of antenna will depend on signals at the location.

Line of site to the Melb CBD is irrelevant, as you need to point the antenna at Mt Dandenong, so it's the signal path from the houses locations to Mt Dandenong that's important.

Laceys.TV, Hills Industries, etc have quality antennas and various mounting options and much better than Bunnings and DSE.

Once again, without signal measurements from the installation addresses, I couldn't recommend a specific antenna, but a general all-round performer for metro areas is the Fracarro LP34F.

For Waranga, Shepparton (Mt Major) is likely to be the best transmission site, for which you'll need a single cross-polarised Ch 9 & UHF antenna, or separate Band 3 & 5 antennas combined with a diplexer.

[alanh]

Just keep in mind, that when the digital dividend restack happens by the end of 2014, the need for cross polarised antennas will disappear and all the transmitters on that site will be on consecutive RF channels. When it is highly likely that WIN will go to UHF with the others. Date of conversion unknown.

AlanH

[bensl]

alanh, on 06 July 2011 - 06:45 PM, said:

DK,
I do not know the exact location, however remember that there is a new translator in East Ballarat, as well as the main transmitter at Lookout Hill.
As for installers use one of these Endorsed Digital Installer

AlanH

i am having terrible trouble with my reception here in Ballarat.  i can only really watch wintv without putting up with breakups.

do u know now where the translator is located in Ballarat East?  i have googled but i cant find any info.  i thought maybe i would try facing the antenna towards that instead of Lookout Hill.

Edited by bensl, 16 February 2012 - 07:31 PM.

[bensl]

thanks for that.  i am in ballarat central (close to the 2 big supermarkets if u know the town) and in a notoriously bad reception area according to the few antenna blokes i have spoken to.  i bought a new antenna a few years ago and have a booster installed in the roof but reception is still poor.  would it be worth pulling the antenna down and rotating it to face bunninyong or walker street?? i have it pointing at lookout hill atm.

thanks again.

[mtv]

Stump, I wasn't aware of any digital translators for Ballarat.

Do you have frequencies, power, exact locations etc?

Buninyong had analogue translators but I am not aware they were upgraded to digital.... and I've never heard of translators in Walker St, so more info would be helpful.

Other than that, it leaves the main TX site of Lookout Hill.

bensl,

Was you antenna professionally installed, with the installer performing a signal site survey to determine the most suitable antenna, mounting location and height?

You are in a tricky spot, so antenna mounting position can make a huge difference.

[M'bozo]

stump_1100, on 16 February 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

You have a low power RBA site (Walker St) in Ballarat

Location

ACMA details

[bensl]

mtv, on 16 February 2012 - 09:46 PM, said:

bensl,

Was you antenna professionally installed, with the installer performing a signal site survey to determine the most suitable antenna, mounting location and height?

You are in a tricky spot, so antenna mounting position can make a huge difference.

no, when i bought the house the owners were on analogue so i simply replaced the old antenna with a Fracarro PU4A UHF (as recommeded by somone here).  I rang a few antenna installers but when i mentioned where i live they said it was the worst tv 'black spot' in town and there was not much they could do.

that was a few years ago now so i might ring around again to see if anything has changed.

cheers

[mtv]

M, on 16 February 2012 - 11:21 PM, said:

Location

ACMA details

I know the location well.  

I'm just not aware of translator equipment installed at the location or that it has ever operated.

This is often the case where licenses exist (as per the ACMA link) but the physical service doesn't.

Can you provide any confirmation of the operation of these translators?

[alanh]

The estimated coverage area is http://myswitch.digi...ker St Ballarat

The transmitter 207 Walker St Ballarat East.

The problem with experience is it does not account for change

AlanH

[M'bozo]

mtv, on 17 February 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

This is often the case where licenses exist (as per the ACMA link) but the physical service doesn't.

I'm aware of that. It happens in Tasmania as well.

mtv, on 17 February 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

Can you provide any confirmation of the operation of these translators?

I find mySwitch accurate for my purposes. Others may have a different experience.

alanh, on 17 February 2012 - 05:18 PM, said:

The problem with experience is it does not account for change

Yer not wrong there. Half the problem is knowing of what you post:

Ballarat East coverage

[mtv]

Interesting that they are not listed in the ACMA radio & TV Stations book.

The only ones listed for Ballarat are the main Lookout Hill TX.

VTV37 Commercial 592.625 H DA 500k 37 17 2 143 14 47 1156397

Broadcast Tower LOOKOUT HILL

BCV40 Commercial 613.625 H DA 500k 37 17 2 143 14 47 1384098

Broadcast Tower LOOKOUT HILL

ABC41 National 620.625 H DA 500k 37 17 2 143 14 47 1935133

Broadcast Tower LOOKOUT HILL

SBS43 National 634.625 H DA 500k 37 17 2 143 14 47 1935095

Broadcast Tower LOOKOUT HILL

AMV46 Commercial 655.5 H DA 500k 37 17 2 143 14 47 1384011

Broadcast Tower LOOKOUT HILL

Edited by mtv, 17 February 2012 - 09:30 PM.

[mtv]

stump_1100, on 18 February 2012 - 09:41 AM, said:

Probably still catching up...I know it's there (Ballarat RBA site that is) and on because I'm responsible for it (maintenance wise).

Excellent.... I'll do some signal checks in the area when I'm there next.