Digital Television

[Iain]

As we have excellent line of site to our local transmitter we don't need an aerial for any channel.

And pray tell how does one get signal from outside to the tuner, a properly tuned antenna is an absolute must regardless of where you are, it is an elementary formula to calculate the length of elements to match the frequency transmitted, a length of wire, whilst it may work to a degree, can only serve to pick up unwanted signal from other sources.
Number of elements=directors, individually tuned for your range in your area, spacing is critical as is length as this dictates gain.
Reflectors eliminate some extranious unwanted signal from the rear and sides, a yagi is extremely directional and will help eliminate most problems with reflected signal but no antenna?????
Do you just point the coax socket at the transmitter and wait for the signal to fall in the little hole?
The other point with HDTV, why didn't your dealer supply you with a HDSTB 12 months ago when you bought the TV?
Loewe have been running 100Hz for some time now and it would have been advantageous to get the best from the TV, after all HDSTB's will receive SD but SDSTB's won't accept HD.

[Iain]

To take that one step further, after having a conversation with our illustrious moderator, I was talking about those crappy caravan antenna, the little plastic tube with a bit of wire inside.
I thought I might make a few but mine would be an improved model.
As most of us techs know RF is affected by UV radiation, hence, better radio reception at night, now, what I plan on doing is building the same antenna but housing it in a BLACK tube as being kept in the dark it has to improve reception.
I may just patent that idea.
If Groggy or Cliff Rogers steal this idea I will sue

[Termite]

Iain, I didn't know you were a dark sider. :eek:

[Gingermick]

Just SD. It picks up HD but tells me that it is a high definition signal and I am not allowed to view it.
The advice of the eletronics store (not DS) was to employ joe and his magical signal strength meter as I may only require to move the antenna.
Thanks everyone

[Iain]

I use a spectrum analyser as not only does it show the signal strength, it also shows what else is out there with it, true digital reading and reflections too.
A signal strength meter cannot show that.
You can pick up HD just that your box won't decode it.
It won't hurt your TV, it will just drive you mad

[Gingermick]

I thought it was because I didn't have a HDTV

[Termite]

Ok, I'm convinced.......any reccomendations on a SD set top box, there's all sorts of brands out there.

[Iain]

You trying to open a can of worms???
Depends upon where you are, or more to the point how far away your transmitters are and what the signal strength is like.
I have an Emtec box which works well in low signal areas, we have reasonable reception but I wanted a good unit, Thomson are also a good unit but some of the cheapies will fail to work on low signal.
I set mine up at Lakes Entrance and picked up Mt Tassie near Traralgon, it worked well but A TEAC announced there was no signal along with a few other cheapies.
Humax are OK.
Some of the names you see might not be familiar but Emtec and Humax are big in satellite TV and digital incorporates the same technology except it is terrestial.
The $75.00 units from the supermarkets may well work but, as I pointed out, it depends upon your proximity to the transmitter.
I shall leave that ball in your court, have a look at your local retailers with some on display and ask your local TV repair person who can possibly offer more assistance.

[Shedhand]

And pray tell how does one get signal from outside to the tuner, a properly tuned antenna is an absolute must regardless of where you are, it is an elementary formula to calculate the length of elements to match the frequency transmitted, a length of wire, whilst it may work to a degree, can only serve to pick up unwanted signal from other sources.

Beats me mate. I'm not a techie on things as arcane as tv electronics but I can guarantee I do not have an aerial, indoor or out door. I have a Strong SRT 5200 SDTV STB (it was a package deal at the time) and as no-one was broadcasting HDTV then, the guys at the retailer told me it would be cheaper to wait til HDTV was mainstream and to then upgrade to HDTV STB. Maybe i'm not getting the best out of my Loewe though the picture quality is about 1000% better than the old Sony I had.:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:
Cheers

[Trav]

Hi all

I just moved house and becuase of my crap reception in the new place (only 200m from the old place) I went digital. Actually, my dad went digital, then got foxtel and stopped watching FTA, so I stole his set top box.

Using the existing antenna, but replacing the coax cable with RG6 quadshield (thanks for the help everyone esp Iain - your coax stripper will be on its way back very soon I promise!), I now get a brilliant picture.

I've got a dgtec stb - not supposed to be brilliant, but seems to work fine for me. I found this forum (http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?). Not as nice as youse all, but good source of info. In particular, you might like to check out this link (http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showforum=34) which has info on digital transmissions in regional QLD (ie everything but Brisvegas, the goldcoast and the sunshine coast).

As for set top boxes, I think topfield are the best (or so I hvae been told) but they have a price to match. The first link above has a whole section dedicated to SD STBs. I wouldn't bother with HD STBs unless you have a funky plasma tv.

Trav

[Ashore]

Ok, I'm convinced.......any reccomendations on a SD set top box, there's all sorts of brands out there.

Mate I went with LG because I have an LG LCD and the Top box controler works the TV one less controller to worry about

The other great thing about digital is ABC2 That has a show called late night ledgends at about 10.30 pm and this shows the abc coverage of cricket ,rugby and league tests from the 50's 60's 70's 80's etc between Australia and England N.Z. South Africa, West Indies, India etc
Great Viewing



Rgds


Ashore

[Groggy]

I wouldn't bother with HD STBs unless you have a funky plasma tv.

Trav

Why not Trav? I have a HD STB running an old 91cm Sony trinitron tv and the HD picture is brilliant.

[Cliff Rogers]

...NB. Groggy and I went to the same school, as did Cliff Rogers and a few others here, albeit a few years apart.

Almost 29 years ago to do the Electronics & RF stuff & then again just over 26 years ago to do the computer stuff & I've stuck with the computer stuff since.

...out those crappy caravan antenna, the little plastic tube with a bit of wire inside....I might make a few but mine would be an improved model....but housing it in a BLACK tube as being kept in the dark it has to improve reception.
I may just patent that idea.
If Groggy or Cliff Rogers steal this idea I will sue

Nah, it'll never work, black absorbs more heat so you'll have problems with the tuning drifting & 'shot' noise from expansion & contraction.

Seriously... if you are in a marginal area &/or don't know your aerial from your antenna ( ) ask an expert, call in a bloke that specialises in TV aerials & antennas.

If you absolutely have to 'do it yourself' go here & work out the right one for your area....
http://www.matchmaster.com.au/

Now here's another trick that works too...
Find out from Matchmaster who their local distributor is in your area & then ring them & ask them what the most popular model is that they sell & then buy one.

[Gingermick]

Cept they dont cover NQ. Even the lowerr realms of NQ or CQ.

[Iain]

Cliff, this is where I think a LP345 would do a wonderful job, I personally hate combo's as they don't seem to perform thatwell, a dedicated UHF and VHF with diplexer (a two way splitter works well too, but don't tell the experts, because the wholesalers just relable them and make heaps more mark uip).
As I pointed out earlier, the LP is 75 ohm and no balun is needed, one less link to break down, I have also found that they are a very clean antenna.
Mackay starts on ch 6 (as does an LP345) and will cover whats needed there.