Digital artifacting on RTE and BBC

mr_angry

Hey guys,

I have a Sky digital package in Dundalk, and I'm suffering terrible problems with digital artifacting on certain channels - particularly RTE and BBC. All of the official Sky channels are grand, with the exception of when it rains - then they suffer a bit themselves. BBC is intermittently bad, but its usually just enough to make the program unwatchable. RTE is virtually non-functional.

The satellite dish is located on the roof of a 2-storey semi, and the signal comes into the house next to the front window. Firstly, does anyone have any suggestions about why the signal degrades when it is raining outside? Secondly, can anyone explain to me why RTE and BBC are so bad compared to the other channels? I suspect they're on a different satellite, although I don't know if this is the case. Would re-aligning the dish make any difference?

Supercell

If you loose signal when it rains the simple answer to your question is poor alignment or obstructed line of sight.

The BBC channels on average have the highest bitrate when I monitor it on my Dreambox and the highest resolutions so should more often than not have a better picture than any other channel on 28.2°E

The fact that you are loosing signal in rain indicates that more than likely the root cause of the issue is alignment or line of sight problems.

Mossy Monk

Longfield wrote:

The BBC channels on average have the highest bitrate when I monitor it on my Dreambox and the highest resolutions so should more often than not have a better picture than any other channel on 28.2°E

and arent RTÉ on a higher bit rate?

Supercell

Mossy Monk wrote:

and arent RTÉ on a higher bit rate?

Not that I've noticed.

That said RTE bitrate would be higher than for example Sky 1, Living or the other US based channels.

For live events, like the 6 nations the BBC show the matches in 720 x 576 whereas RTE broadcast in 528 x 576 , which seems to me that BBC is sending out a better picture, at least on my 32 inch crt tv it looks that way also close up.

I might be misunderstanding this and am open to correction, always thought of BBC broadcasts as being the bellwether of good quality on 28.2.

Kensington

AFAIK, RTE does broadcast 720x576, and with bitrates that can often peak 8Mbps. Although there does seem to be a slight drop in quality on RTE lately, to me they're still equal, if not better, compared to BBC.

As for the OP, if you've an alignment problem, which would seem the case, then the BBC and RTE channels would probably be the first to show up problems, as they are both carried on Astra 2D which has a tighter footprint beam so a poor alignment may reduce the signal being picked up by your dish. What are the signal readings showing up on your box?

mr_angry

Ok, first, the details for the box itself:
Manufacturer: Pace.
Model number: 1.2.37
Version number: 9F0503
OS version: 1.2S4FH
EPG software version: 3.5.3

Performing a signal test...
(Approximate values)
Signal strength: 50%
Signal quality: 30%
Lock indicator: Ok.
Network ID: 0002.
Transport stream: 07d4.

If the dish needs re-alignment, what's the best procedure. Can it be performed by amateurs, or is it best to call out an engineer? What's (roughly) the call-out charge for doing so?

Thanks for the advice so far. I have a dBox in Dublin myself, so I can vouch for the fact that RTE are pumping out a higher resolution. I'm on cable up there though, compared with satellite at my parents' house in Dundalk.

John mac

yup you need the dish tweaked a small bit.
30% isn't v good thats why picture is breaking up in rain.
Quality is more important than signal strength.
i don't know how much it would cost (sorry)
you can do it yourself a bit of hit and miss.I have done it in the past.

notahappycamper

mr_angry wrote:

Ok, first, the details for the box itself:
Manufacturer: Pace.
Model number: 1.2.37
Version number: 9F0503
OS version: 1.2S4FH
EPG software version: 3.5.3

Performing a signal test...
(Approximate values)
Signal strength: 50%
Signal quality: 30%
Lock indicator: Ok.
Network ID: 0002.
Transport stream: 07d4.

If the dish needs re-alignment, what's the best procedure. Can it be performed by amateurs, or is it best to call out an engineer? What's (roughly) the call-out charge for doing so?

Thanks for the advice so far. I have a dBox in Dublin myself, so I can vouch for the fact that RTE are pumping out a higher resolution. I'm on cable up there though, compared with satellite at my parents' house in Dundalk.

I got my dish re-aligned there recently and it was free because I upgraded to HD last November (It was free 'cause I had the installer out a few motnhs after the upgrade). Otherwise Sky charge a call out fee of €108 I think. Independent installers might be cheaper.

stanley1

The lnb might just need a tweek