7 replies to this topic

[bfi2906]

Sorry for the repost, but there seems to be more activity here than on the HD STB sub-forum.

I purchased a Strong SRT 5431 yesterday, and so far it seems to work well - particularly for the price.

My question is (and apologies for the simplicity), I live in a poor reception area, and it took some manouvering to get the unit to pick up the channels. By manouvering, I mean of the coax cable between the unit and the wall. It seemed as though the cable was acting like an antenna. Is this usual, or could it be that as I moved the cable, it was wriggling the connection to the box, and that connection isn't completly sound?

The reception is OK, but not great - it pixelates (sound and vision) on some channels. I'd love to get this sorted out.

Also, the cable I have is about 5 - 10 metres (no joins) in length (from whan the room was laid out differently), would it help, hinder or make no difference to use a shorter cable? My concern is, if I use a shorter cable, and it is helping pick up the channels, I may not get any reception with a shorter cable.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[pgdownload]

bfi2906, on Apr 4 2011, 11:58 AM, said:

Thanks in advance for your help.

In general you want the coax cable not to receive any outside interference (its job is to relay the signal from one end to the other without change). Its possible your current cable is getting interference (rather than improving the signal). Trying another cable is a good idea (and shorter can only help. However its also possible the issue is at the wall plate (where the cable is attached behind, or the plate itself). If you get no luck with a new cable and you feel up to it you could take off the wall plate and maybe re strip the coax etc. Otherwise call an antenna guy (FWIW it sounds like getting improved reception wouldn't be hard for your situation)

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[bfi2906]

Thanks for that, Peter.

I did have a look behind the wall plate, and it was a bit loose - but I didn't think to strip the end again (silly, I now). Working on the basis of starting with the simple things, I'll pull it off again, restrip the end, replace the wall plate completely and try a shorter cable. And see what that achieves, if anything!!

If it comes down to it, and I need to get someone out, I'm sceptical (maybe without reason) of these "franchise" antenna operations. Any tips from anyone on a good person to call in Sydney (North Shore / Beaches)?

Thanks again

[johndee]

It may pay to make sure you are using decent coax from the wall plate; many of the cheaper ones are not that good.
I replaced mine with ones I made myself using RG6 cable. They are a bit stiff, but it solved a problem I had with the kitchen TV.
JB

[boonta01]

hi, not to hijack your thread, but i'm in a similar position as yourself. i just bought a 5430 today and can't seem to get a good signal on channel 10 and sbs.

the weird thing is that my previous stb (teac hdb820) which i had for 5 years managed to pick up these channels without any problems.

could it be that there is a problem with the stb itself?? any help would be appreciated.

cheers

[Lobby Dosser]

boonta01, on Apr 5 2011, 10:12 PM, said:

hi, not to hijack your thread, but i'm in a similar position as yourself. i just bought a 5430 today and can't seem to get a good signal on channel 10 and sbs.

the weird thing is that my previous stb (teac hdb820) which i had for 5 years managed to pick up these channels without any problems.

could it be that there is a problem with the stb itself?? any help would be appreciated.

cheers

Me too.  Got a 5431 and can't pick up SBS.  The other channels are fine.  I took it out to our place in the country and did an autoscan.  It found 10 and SBS but lost some of the other channels.  It is back down in Perth now and still doesn't get SBS although all the other channels have returned.

There is a new software update on the Strong site.  V1.1 dated 27/6/2011.  I'll wait a few weeks before I try it to let the bugs come out the woodwork.  I can't see it improving the tuner reception though.

[Lobby Dosser]

Lobby Dosser, on Jul 3 2011, 02:53 PM, said:

Me too.  Got a 5431 and can't pick up SBS.  The other channels are fine.  I took it out to our place in the country and did an autoscan.  It found 10 and SBS but lost some of the other channels.  It is back down in Perth now and still doesn't get SBS although all the other channels have returned.

There is a new software update on the Strong site.  V1.1 dated 27/6/2011.  I'll wait a few weeks before I try it to let the bugs come out the woodwork.  I can't see it improving the tuner reception though.

The new software was a false alarm.  It seems that it is just version V1 and they mislabelled it when they posted it on the website.  It has now been corrected.

[Tazzy2Heads]

Lobby Dosser, on Jul 30 2011, 09:30 PM, said:

The new software was a false alarm.  It seems that it is just version V1 and they mislabelled it when they posted it on the website.  It has now been corrected.

Hi Guys,
Sounds like a SIGNAL QUALITY problem at both locations , you must be near the cliff edge on the channels you are receiving and past the cliffedge on the ones you cant.There are a few things you can check yourselves but you need a digital signal meter to see what and where the problems are. If you get the  signal bar out of the set top box up on the tv as a reference it may give you some idea of whether your making progress on improving the signal quality or not.
You need to have Quad Shield cables and flyleads and preferably "F" compression type cable connectors if possible at the wallplates and any splitters in antenna line, also at the antenna .If you are using cheap white flyleads the best  place for them is in the bin , just changing them and the wallplates may get the signal quality up enough to get you the missing channels.Otherwise you will have to bite the bullet and get an installer out to go over your system with a meter.
Tazzy