251 replies to this topic

[alanh]

Col,
The dipole length is specified in the first post of this strand making the half wavelength at the centre of band 3.
The antenna recommendations only include a UHF section with a little more directivity.

mEh,
You need to read Get the Best Reception, Melbourne and read the links. You can see the coverage area of various transmitters.

AlanH

[mEh.]

mtv, on Jul 14 2009, 01:13 PM, said:

Firstly, indoor antennas are generally unreliable for digital reception, so the best results are obtained from installing an external antenna optimised for digital reception, on the roof.

7 and 9 are most likely using the channel 7 tower on Mt Dandenong whereas the other stations are using the channel 10 tower and NTL (ABC) towers, also on Mt Dandenong, so the signal patterns may vary enough to make a difference to your reception.

The extendable rods on your indoor antenna should each (in theory) be about 40cm long and not fully extended.

Without accurate signal measurements, it's impossible to know what is likely to work and what isn't. (as mentioned, a roof-mounted antenna designed specifically for bands 3 and 4 is the best solution).

Yeah, I understand that an outdoor antenna is always the best solution.

I'm just really confused at why there could be such a difference in the signal strengths between 7/9 and 10/ABC/SBS (from none to full). I would have thought that because they are both in Mt. Dandenong, that if I could get channels 10, ABC and SBS at perfect signals, I could at least get SOME signal from 7 and 9.

Also, I forgot to mention, I am using the tuner on the second floor of the house, and placing it on a shelf that is high up almost reaching the ceiling. Looking out my window, by my judgement, my indoor antenna is actually higher up than many outdoor antennas of my neighbours.

And with the extendable rabbit ears, I actually did have a go with them being around 40cm each (as I would prefer: takes up less space, less of an eyesore, etc), but it didn't pick up any signal on 10 at all, compared with full signal when fully extended.

Thanks for your reply.

[mtv]

There's numerous reasons why some channels/frequencies vary compared to others, with some reasons explained in my previous post.

Some channels can be perfect, and others non-existent, as you've discovered. That's the nature of digital..... perfect, breaking up, or nothing at all.

Digital signals have a 'window' of operating to deliver reliable reception. If the signal strength is too low, or too high and if there are too many errors (Bit Error Ratio) the tuner will not be able to decode the signal.

Have you tried entering the frquencies for 7 and 9 manually, rather than doing an auto search?

177.500 and 191.625 respectively.

It may also be a quirky thing with your USB tuner.

Have you tried a STB connected to the same antenna?

[mEh.]

mtv, on Jul 14 2009, 05:24 PM, said:

Have you tried entering the frquencies for 7 and 9 manually, rather than doing an auto search?

177.500 and 191.625 respectively.

It may also be a quirky thing with your USB tuner.

Have you tried a STB connected to the same antenna?

I haven't manually entered the frequencies for 7 and 9. However, when I first got the tuner, I moved my whole computer over to a wall socket, this detected every channel (I did this to test whether or not if the USB tuner was faulty before I went to buy an indoor antenna).
So now, even if I don't enter the frequencies manually, they are still in the listed channels to choose from, just that when I select it (7 and 9), there is no picture/sound, and it shows that there's no reception.

What is an STB?
I haven't connected the indoor antenna to anything else.

[charlesc]

mEh., on Jul 14 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

What is an STB?

Set Top Box

[Doug]

I can kind of follow the theory here about vertical and horizontal antenna's - but where I live in Camberwell in Vic, I find that having the rabbits ears at 45 degrees gives me the best signal for digital.  

I use a powered indoor antenna I bought from Jaycar about 2 years ago and it works fine on all digital channels.

[Timmy Downawell]

Doug, on Jul 14 2009, 09:47 PM, said:

I can kind of follow the theory here about vertical and horizontal antenna's - but where I live in Camberwell in Vic, I find that having the rabbits ears at 45 degrees gives me the best signal for digital.

The idea is an internal antenna works the same way an outdoor one does. If antennas in your area have elements horizontal then that is what is appropriate... have you seen any antennas at 45 degrees?

[charlesc]

Doug, on Jul 14 2009, 09:47 PM, said:

..I find that having the rabbits ears at 45 degrees gives me the best signal for digital.

The indoor environment for reception is not 'typical'.

There are many reflections and signal impairments that happen.  
I've seen notes in technical references from time to time that suggest 45 degrees has benefit.

[mtv]

mEh., on Jul 14 2009, 07:25 PM, said:

I haven't manually entered the frequencies for 7 and 9. However, when I first got the tuner, I moved my whole computer over to a wall socket, this detected every channel

There's your solution then.... use the external antenna.

If you need a longer cable from the wall outlet to the computer, ensure the cable is good-quality, like RG6 Quadshield.

If this isn't convenient, have an antenna outlet installed where you need it.

[plasma]

mtv, on Jul 14 2009, 05:24 PM, said:

There's numerous reasons why some channels/frequencies vary compared to others, with some reasons explained in my previous post.

Some channels can be perfect, and others non-existent, as you've discovered. That's the nature of digital..... perfect, breaking up, or nothing at all.

Digital signals have a 'window' of operating to deliver reliable reception. If the signal strength is too low, or too high and if there are too many errors (Bit Error Ratio) the tuner will not be able to decode the signal.

Have you tried entering the frquencies for 7 and 9 manually, rather than doing an auto search?

177.500 and 191.625 respectively.

It may also be a quirky thing with your USB tuner.

Have you tried a STB connected to the same antenna?

Hello

I am a newbie..live in wentworth falls blue mountains..have new panasonic plasma with built in tuner. lots of reception problems. have just lost channel 9 completely and even on clear nite ch 2 is variable. can you recommend good antanae person. I have an old antanae..nothing replaced since i got new tv. But even before with old tv and STB had better reception on some channels.  Can i make contact with you directly? is there a way to send you a PM ? cannot seem send Pm at moment.

would be very grateful for help.
thanks

[charlesc]

photo88, on Aug 14 2009, 10:51 AM, said:

I am a newbie..live in wentworth falls blue mountains..
can you recommend good antanae person.
is there a way to send you a PM ? cannot seem send Pm at moment.

You need 5 posts or more to be able to PM.
See my signature below for details on how to quickly get this up.

Suggest you PM mtv, he works in your area.

[alanh]

Photo88,
There are plenty of other posts from Wentworthville along with Get the Best Reception, Sydney and read the links.

AlanH

[melmac]

Hi

We are having problems with reception on an indoor antenna we brought from Harvey Norman which had a built in Amplifier.  We are located in Alma Rd East St Kilda I have read through all the stickies and found them a bit confusing but I think if I've understood it all right that we should be using the Mt Dandelong transmitter, antenna type H34. Which I think means that the arms should be horizontal and as short as possible is this right ?  Would the amplifier be making it worse and perhaps I should just plug in the antenna but not the power would it even work if we did that?
Thanks in advance

Mel

[mtv]

photo88, on Aug 14 2009, 10:51 AM, said:

Hello

I am a newbie..live in wentworth falls blue mountains..have new panasonic plasma with built in tuner. lots of reception problems. have just lost channel 9 completely and even on clear nite ch 2 is variable. can you recommend good antanae person. I have an old antanae..nothing replaced since i got new tv. But even before with old tv and STB had better reception on some channels. Can i make contact with you directly? is there a way to send you a PM ? cannot seem send Pm at moment.

would be very grateful for help.
thanks

photo88,

Most of Wenty has good digital reception, with the correct antenna/s mounting and alignment.

Yes, you can PM me directly, but you need a minimum of 5 posts for the PM feature to work (for both sending and receiving PM's)

You can get your post count up in the thread in the link.

http://www.dtvforum....showtopic=67990

[mtv]

alanh, on Aug 14 2009, 06:48 PM, said:

Photo88,
There are plenty of other posts from Wentworthville along with Get the Best Reception, Sydney and read the links.

AlanH

photo88, on Aug 14 2009, 10:51 AM, said:

I am a newbie..live in wentworth falls blue mountains

Two entirely different places Alan, but yes, there other post from the area in the Sydney forum.

[mtv]

Mel, on Aug 28 2009, 02:41 PM, said:

Hi

We are having problems with reception on an indoor antenna we brought from Harvey Norman which had a built in Amplifier. We are located in Alma Rd East St Kilda I have read through all the stickies and found them a bit confusing but I think if I've understood it all right that we should be using the Mt Dandelong transmitter, antenna type H34. Which I think means that the arms should be horizontal and as short as possible is this right ? Would the amplifier be making it worse and perhaps I should just plug in the antenna but not the power would it even work if we did that?
Thanks in advance

Mel

Mel,

It depends on the particular antenna as to how it works for VHF and UHF channels.

Usually the extendable rods are for VHF and a separate section, with a small dish, small yagi elements or circle, small flat panel. etc for UHF (SBS)

Yes, in theory the elements/rods should be horizontal, but often moving them around to different positions can help, so just experiment.

If horizontal, the rods should ideally be around 78 cm from tip to tip, but once again, experiment with length.

Placement of the antenna itself can also make a huge difference and sometimes an extension cable can help locate the antenna in a better position.

No, turning the power off to the amplifier will not work, as that will stop any signal getting through. If the amplifier is causing overload, you should use an antenna which is not amplified.

Unfortunately, you have a lot of buildings between you and the transmitters, so the signals are likely to be reflecting off multiple surfaces, which can cause errors in the digital data stream.

If possible, the best solution is to install a roof-mounted band 3 and 4 antenna, pointed to Mt Dandenong.

[melmac]

Hey Col
Thanks for the advise I was posting on behalf of my brother and have passed the info along

Thanks for taking the time

Mel

[Prime]

Hi, I'm in Bulleen, Melbourne, if that matters at all. I'm using some crappy old rabbit ears and have managed at different times (when they fall from their perch) to get all the channels at  different times and occasionally at the same time. I tried the horizontal thing, that did no good at all, but my question is about those amplified indoor antennas and if they'd help at all. With how I've currently positioned the two 'ears' I'm getting everything except SBS, so would a better antenna in the same position likely be any more useful?

[alanh]

Prime,
On all your channels except SBS the answer is no, every rabbits ear is the same. I have only recommended 2 antennas in the first post because they are directional at UHF hence SBS and channel 31. The Jaycar one has an amplifier as well.

Read the first post in this strand.

AlanH

[Pina Brandi]

mjstokesy, on Jul 20 2006, 04:19 PM, said:

A good indoor antenna I use is one from Dick Smith. It has the rabbit ears but also a small UHF antenna built-in. If you wrap the cable from the base to the UHF antenna around the little pole then plug it in to the set top box, it seems to work well. I recieve the ABC at 91% and SBS at 95%, signal strength wise on my computer. Hope this manages to help someone.

Hi, could you please give me the antenna spec. so I can buy one? or see which one are you talking about?
thanks

[mtv]

Prime,

Bulleen has a lot of hills and gullies.

If you are not on one of the higher points, with a clear view of Mt Dandenong, you probably have either a blocked signal path, multipath reception (several reflected signals) or both.

Only experimentation with placement of your indoor antenna will determine if it can perform reliably at all.

You may notice a lot of houses with tall guyed masts in Bulleen.

You may also require a correctly-selected and installed roof-mounted antenna for reliable digital reception.

[mtv]

Mel, on Aug 31 2009, 08:41 PM, said:

Hey Col
Thanks for the advise I was posting on behalf of my brother and have passed the info along

Thanks for taking the time

Mel

It's been a while Mel... any update on how your brother got on?

[Boochan]

Pina Brandi, on Dec 1 2009, 04:01 PM, said:

Hi, could you please give me the antenna spec. so I can buy one? or see which one are you talking about?
thanks

L4017, $25-

[alanh]

Links updated 3rd December 2009
You should access this first post from the "Get the best reception post" in your geographic viewing area.
AlanH

[Royal Knight]

Hi I hope this is the right place to post this, but I'm living in Chirnside Park VIC and having difficulty getting good picture for all digital channels. I can't use an outdoor antenna so I have to rely on indoor is there any recommendations of an antenna I could buy or something? the one I am currently using is the L4005 from DSE. I've tried reading all the in depth details but it's pretty complicated stuff