I've never owned a STB before and last night got a cheap MTV SD one from Coles. I've done the automatic program search but there is no Channel 9 or SBS. It comes up with all the variations of Channel 7, Ten (including One) and ABC (including ABC2) but it's like 9 and SBS just don't exist. I haven't done a manual search because frankly I don't know anything about it and don't want to risk 'losing' the channels I do have. It's not end of the world stuff as the STB is on a spare TV but I'm going to be giving it to my mother down the track and I'm sure she'd like to be able to watch 9 and SBS.

I'd really appreciate any help, thanks.

Adam_79,

It might help if you mentioned your location and the type of antenna you are using. eg: indoor, own antenna mounted on the roof, shared antenna in apartments, etc.

Sounds like a reception issue.

Check all your connections are tight and cables are in good condition. If possible, try another antenna outlet (if you have one) just to rule out the cabling

Thanks guys. I'm in Adelaide and have an indoor antenna on top of the TV. All the cables seem to be in right. I plugged the STB cords into the TV and took the aerial out of the VCR and put it into the STB. Ten, One, ABC & ABC2 look great but Channel 7 just says no signal now and haven't touched anything. It still seems like 9 & SBS don't exist.

Should I stick the aerial back into the VCR? I've just found the manual very difficult to decipher as it's not laid out in a straight ahead format but is all over the shop.

Unless signals are excellent in the room where the indoor antenna is located, digital reception is generally unreliable.

Do you get ghosting on the analogue channels by any chance?

The solution is a roof-mounted antenna designed for the channels in your area.

Also, some cheap STB's don't fully-comply with the Australian DVB-T standard and only tune in 10KHz steps.

In Adelaide, channel 9 (8 digital) frequency is offset by 125KHz, which these cheap STB's often won't find with an auto scan, so you will need to enter the frequency manually. 191.625MHz

A more-reliable STB like Healing or Strong, etc may have better chances of working, but even the best tuners still require good quality digital signals from the antenna.

Beat me to the punch Col.

Adam, why don't you take the STB to your Mum's now and check it out? The antenna is probably your problem.
Have a look around a few other threads and you will find all the information there.
The advice you have been given here is all good.
Rick.

I would agree.

I have installed MTV MSTB767's, they cope with channel offsets ok.

I've had the Audiosonic (Kmart) 0767 version as a van spare for a couple of years and it's still going fine.

In case it helps, this is what I have listed for Adelaide.

These are the channels from the main transmitters at Summit Road, Crafers (Mount Lofty).
SAS VHF 6 Hor 177.5 MHz Channel 7/10 Site 115 Summit Road CRAFERS
NWS VHF 8 Hor 191.625 MHz NWS 9 site 109 Summit Road CRAFERS
ADS VHF 11 Hor 219.5 MHz Channel 7/10 Site 115 Summit Road CRAFERS
ABS VHF 12 Hor 226.5 MHz NTL Tower Summit Road CRAFERS
SBS UHF 33 Hor 564.5 MHz NTL Tower Summit Road CRAFERS

These are the channels from the transmitters at Adelaide Foothills (King William St, Adelaide).
(Directional towards the foothills)
ABS UHF 64 Hor 781.625 MHz 25 Grenfell Street ADELAIDE
SAS UHF 57 Hor 732.5 MHz 25 Grenfell Street ADELAIDE
NWS UHF 66 Hor 795.5 MHz 25 Grenfell Street ADELAIDE
ADS UHF 54 Hor 711.5 MHz 25 Grenfell Street ADELAIDE
SBS UHF 61 Hor 760.5 MHz 25 Grenfell Street ADELAIDE[/i]

When manually searching on the MTV STB this is channel 12



Ditto, this is channel 13.

If you are any more confused, pm me and I'll see if I can help.

Thanks. Yeah prior to the STB most of the channels were of **** quality. I'm indefinitely house sitting here so never even watch the spare TV (I have Foxtel on my main TV). Thank you for the Channel 9 'code', how exactly would I be able to punch that number in and are 7,9 & SBS all MHz frequencies?

Oh I just got this STB so I can watch the IPL & NBA on One. I have Foxtel and One is not starting on there until July 1st when both the cricket and basketball will be finished. So I thought if I could find a cheap STB (done) I'll be able to watch that stuff now on the spare telly and then once they're finished I'll just give it to my mother. She's had the fear of God put in her about the analogue switch-off (not until 2013 I think) and can't afford an HD TV.

I'm not really concerned about 9 & SBS 'missing' and 7 not showing a signal for me but would just like to know how to try and get them on there for her when I have to set it all up over at her place. She struggles to operate a $50 DVD player so she'll have no hope of figuring it out herself.

Thanks mate. Would those codes for the Adelaide foothills be applicable to me, I'm in the western suburbs of Adelaide?





Thanks everyone for your info too, really appreciate all the help.

Adam,

In the western suburbs, use the information for Mt Lofty.

Marc.