12 replies to this topic

[Steery]

I live in Mandurah, which is between perth and bunbury. Currently, Perth digital channels are broadcast on channels 6 - 29, and when GWN starts broadcasting in bunbury, they will be using channel 30. I am looking for a diplexor that will work with 6-29, and 30-69.

So far I have looked at Hills, GME, Matchmaster and Jonsa and have not found anything that suits. Does anything know of anything that will work?

The bunbury digital channels are 30-37, so even a diplexer that has channels 1-69 on input 1, and input 2 only has 30-37 will also work.



Thanks
Steery

[alanh]

Steery,
Read Get the Best Reception, Southern WA and read the links.
You will notice the following;
ABC & SBS have identical programs on Perth, Bunbury and eventually Mandurah digital transmitters. So you you can use the VHF input for Perth commercial, and UHF for ABC & SBS and the eventual GWN, WIN +.
ABSW and SBS are already on air

Hopefully Mandurah will get digital translators on Turner Hill Pinjarra.

AlanH

[Steery]

Thanks AlanH. I can already get ABC from bunbury with my uhf antenna thats pointing at pinjarra, but sbs has a low signal strength.

I need to change my perth antenna as i am getting a bit of impulse interference through my current setup (hills  opimax) and i was hoping to install a new diplexor at the same time so all I need to do is turn my uhf 90deg toward bunbury when gwn and win are online.

I rarely (never) watch sbs anyway, so if I cant pick it up from bunbury as digital, i will just have to watch it from pinjarra in analogue until they upgrade that to digital as well. Then I can get away with a matchmaster j35bf amp to do the job.


Thanks again
Steery

[alanh]

Steery,
A couple of issues,
GWN analog is on channel 3 in Bunbury which is not receivable using a UHF antenna.
Turning the antenna around to face south will also require you to rotate it to horizontal as well. You should then be able to get WIN analog, ABC & SBS digital.
If you want GWN, you should leave your existing antenna pointed at Pinjarra, connect it to a band 5 diplexer with a new phased array antenna for Bunbury. A second VU diplexer would then be used for Perth.

You must remove the Hills omnimax, because it will pick up impulse interference and the UHF section will stuff up all the other UHF signals.

It is up to you on how far to go. I think Laceys.TV have the diplexers.

AlanH

[Steery]

Hi AlanH. I am going to leave the anteanna pointing at pinjarra until win and gwn are broadcasting in digital, then I will turn it to bunbury.

But the Optimax is definately going, as impulse interference is a problem. I am tossing up between a Fracarro LP345HV, or a VHF Band 3 only antenna to replace it. I figured that since I am only getting band 3 from perth, there is no point in haveing a antenna that receives 3 4 and 5. But I have heard of excellent results from people with the LP345HV, and its also a cheaper option.

Thanks
Steery

[alanh]

Steery,
Do not get the LP345, because you do not need or want UHF. It is no where near as sensitive as a 11 element Yagi.

AlanH

[Steery]

Hi AlanH,

So I would be best off with a Matchmaster DR3010 Band 3 Antenna or similar to replace my Optimax. I have wideband amp, so I will change that too for at Matchmaster J35BF amp, which has 2 inputs, Band3 and UHF.

Thanks again for all your help.

[alanh]

Steery,
You have the right idea

AlanH

[Steery]

Thanks again for all your help.
Steery

[dig2all]

if steery is trying to mix up to channel 28 from 1 direction and from channel 30 from another, regret this is impossible without compromize unless he uses a highly slective single channel filters like the fracarro kf/....   you need at least 2 or 3 channels space for crossover in a dipelexer.  a splitter back to front could do it if you equalize the levels first.  an antenna switch is another possibility.  another way is to look closely at the channels you really need and say forget about channel 30!

[Steery]

Unfortunately channel 30 is GWN, which will be live footy next year when its back on 7 so I do really need it. But Channel 29 and 34 are both SBS, one from Perth and one from Bunbury. So I will not worry about the one on 29, and just diplex channels 6-12 - Perth, 28-69 - Bunbury.


Thanks
Steery

[alanh]

Sterry,
Unfortunately GWN  has not said when they will go digital so you may be stuck with analog from Pinjarra.

AlanH

[Steery]

Bugger!!