Freeview issues

swedex

I'm not having much luck with DTT, I've tried reading up on the issue but there's so much info here I'm hoping somebody can help.

I can't get saorview but freeview from Wales is usually perfect, I rarely watch freeview as we have sky but it seems fine when I do. Recently I noticed it quite pixelated, I just thought it was the high pressure but channels are now disappearing. This morning when I checked there was no channels, now most are perfect although I noticed some are still missing like CH4 but CH4+1 works.

The 'genius' who installed my aerial has the variable masthead amp turned up to the last, if I turn it down would it help? I doubt the aerial is properly aligned either as he just pointed it in the general direction without using his meter. I know all this as I had to carry his stuff up onto the roof and hold crap for him while there.

I'm unlikely to get anybody out to fix it, I'm hoping it's an easy fix, if not I'll just leave it as it is.

STB

swedex wrote: »

I'm not having much luck with DTT, I've tried reading up on the issue but there's so much info here I'm hoping somebody can help.

I can't get saorview but freeview from Wales is usually perfect, I rarely watch freeview as we have sky but it seems fine when I do. Recently I noticed it quite pixelated, I just thought it was the high pressure but channels are now disappearing. This morning when I checked there was no channels, now most are perfect although I noticed some are still missing like CH4 but CH4+1 works.

The 'genius' who installed my aerial has the variable masthead amp turned up to the last, if I turn it down would it help? I doubt the aerial is properly aligned either as he just pointed it in the general direction without using his meter. I know all this as I had to carry his stuff up onto the roof and hold crap for him while there.

I'm unlikely to get anybody out to fix it, I'm hoping it's an easy fix, if not I'll just leave it as it is.

Wexford ?

Its likely that the aerial is not aligned properly especially if the masthead amp if up full whack. Getting Freeview from Wales is not stable anyhow.

Saorview will be moving frequency onto Ch 23 (from 45) in October and you may be able to receive it despite your aerial pointing at Wales and away from Mt Leinster depending on what aerial you have.

swedex

I'm in Brittas Bay, Arklow is just a bit too far away, Mount Leinster may as well be Mexico, Kippure is where my aerial should be pointing but there are too many hills and trees in the way, apparently. So no Saorview for me it seems. I think RTE have confirmed Brittas Bay as a bit of a black spot.

This I'm nearly certain is the aerial: http://www.aceonline.co.uk/indext.asp?cg=3&InBox=Aerial%20-%20Wolsey&cct=&prodref=QR12WF

All the channels are gone again, I noticed now the masthead amp psu has no light working on it, would it be gone? I think this is the psu: http://www.aerialshack.com/triax-masthead-amplifier-power-supply-unit-p-305.html

aerial man

swedex wrote: »

All the channels are gone again, I noticed now the masthead amp psu has no light working on it, would it be gone?

It sounds like the masthead amp could possibly be faulty. If you disconnect the aerial side, on the power supply the light should come back on, if it does then either there is a short somewhere along the cable or else the masthead itself is shorting the PS.

Is the aerial vertically (like this http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4477821508_877d8d57d0_o.gif) or horizontally?

Btw, that aerial might be a tad bit too small to receive freeview consistently,a larger, channelised aerial is more effective than a large amplifier, hope it helps!

Mr.Biscuits

swedex wrote: »

I think RTE have confirmed Brittas Bay as a bit of a black spot.

Have mates there and yes, sure seems it can be a black spot as during poor weather, they have no reception and even when they do, it's breaking up constantly.

They watch the Saorview online as a back-up but obviously that's not really a great solution as recording is not really an option then.

swedex

It sounds like the masthead amp could possibly be faulty. If you disconnect the aerial side, on the power supply the light should come back on, if it does then either there is a short somewhere along the cable or else the masthead itself is shorting the PS.

Light came back on just as I disconnected the aerial side. Is there an easy fix for this?

it's probably arfon you are using for wales up in brittas bay

The installer did mention preselli when putting it up, but he just pointed it in the same direction as the sky dish was pointing, so I have no idea which it's receiving.

I probably will get somebody out eventually to fix it, but if the aerial is too small and something else may need to be replaced, I'm half tempted to just take the aerial down myself. Sadly I didn't cheap out and get some random chancer originally. I got a local who apparently has been doing installs for over 20 years, but it seems hasn't learned much in that time.

Peter Rhea

You could check the cable between the PSU & amplifier for shorts, look for contact between the inner conductor & outer braid at the connectors, damage to the cable or water ingress.

I would think an aerial pointing the same direction as the Sky dish would be more towards Preseli.

bk

Lads, can we cut out the arguments.

I know blackius isn't looking for business and is just giving an honest recommendation. I also know Extinction is doing likewise.

So you now have both given your recommendation, so no more arguing. It is up to the op who s/he wants to go with, so back on topic.

aerial man

swedex wrote: »

Light came back on just as I disconnected the aerial side. Is there an easy fix for this?

If you disconnected the amp at the mast, (making sure there is no connection between the braid and the core) , go down and see did the light come back on, if it did then the amp is faulty, the installer should come back and replace it if its within one years warranty. however if the LED is still off, then the cable is obviously faulty.

swedex

aerial man wrote: »

If you disconnected the amp at the mast, (making sure there is no connection between the braid and the core) , go down and see did the light come back on, if it did then the amp is faulty, the installer should come back and replace it if its within one years warranty. however if the LED is still off, then the cable is obviously faulty.

I just disconnected it at the psu, if it stops raining tomorrow I'll head up to the roof.

It's less than a year all right, everything from the distribution amp to aerial is all the installers work. Should he be replacing the cable if it's at fault or is that outside the scope of a warrant?

BTW, thanks for everybodys help, if I can't get it working I'll know who to call.

bk

Deleted off topic posts, thanks.