Is it possible I'm in a no-go Saorview area?

Fionne

I've had Saorview set up quite a while now, must be nearly a year. When it works, it's great BUT the problem is that it's totally unreliable. I should say that I have my aerial pointed in the right direction, got the cable from aerial to tv replaced also.

It drove me mad for MONTHS and then from January till March this year, it was absolutely PERFECT! Not one instance of freezing for the entire time (and I watch or record a lot of tv so would have noticed).

But then it reverted to type, freezing, which is annoying when you're watching live but worse when I try to record onto the USB memory stick as it just stops the recording at the first freezing instance and won't go any further. It can be fine for hours, sometimes days and then go bonkers again so I can't see how it can be a problem with my aerial as surely if it was the problem would be constant.

I'm tuned to Channel 21, which is correct (I'm in North Co Cork) and Signal quality is 100, signal level 87. The signal quality fluctuates down to 25 when freezing or both go to zero.

I have emailed Saorview and they said it was interference from trees (really?), garda patrol cars (in a rural area so it's not that!) or wind turbines (none in my area).

As the 24th Oct approaches I'm really starting to think that I'll have to give up tv as I just can't cope with the frustration of the freezing & unreliability.

Should also say that EVERYONE I know who has Saorview is experiencing similar problems, from my own area to 10 miles away to Cork city. Should I hope that the signal will be strengthened when the full changeover is done or am I just deluded in thinking that?

Is the new combo Satellite dish/Saorview the way to go? Will that definitely be better? I refuse to pay for Sky or UPC when I'm quite happy with the Irish channels.

Anyone got any ideas?

donegal.

Have a look at this map http://www.saorview.ie/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

the combi box will use your arial and sat dish to get saorview and the U.K. freesat channels. It won't improve your situation with your saorview reception, unless the problem is with your present box.

another option is to use a sat dish to get saorview (saorsat) . You will only get RTE stations, not the other irish stations, tv3 etc.

Fionne

My aerial is turned towards Mullaghanish and tuned to 21 but I'm probably nearer t the Fermoy or Mitchelstown transmitters, though possibly mountainy area in the way, should I be tuned to them or am I ok to be tuned to as far away as Mullaghanish? I'm a few miles east of Buttevant.

Ronnie Raygun

Does the coverage checker recommend Mullaghanish? It's a very powerful transmitter, so I wouldn't worry about the distance.

Obstructions like wind turbines or trees only have to be in the signal path between you & the transmitter to cause problems, they don't have to be right next door.

You should also consider sources of electrical interference.

Antenna

What are your analogue TV3 and TG4 like?? the same aerial for Saorview receives those too from Mullaghanish.

Do those also fluctuate in quality?

If you are combining satellite and terrestrial aerial on the one cable, I would suggest not doing so and using separate cables instead.

FonE wrote: »

worse when I try to record onto the USB memory stick as it just stops the recording at the first freezing instance and won't go any further.

Use a VCR or a DVD recorder connected to a Saorview box:D
It will not stop recording if there is digital freezing/stuttering

watty

Signal quality is 100, signal level 87

Then it's local interference affecting you and others.

Are you using a mast amp? If so by-pass it.

Is it double screen coax (solid braid and foil)?

It could be Tetra, GSM or something else overloading mast preamps.

Antenna

FonE wrote: »

The signal quality fluctuates down to 25 when freezing or both go to zero.

faulty receiver, or intermittently bad connection somewhere aerial to receiver???

Extinction

East of Buttevant to Donneraile is a very strong signal area, you probably need an antenuator to reduce signal. I know the area well and the people you have mentioned that are having signal problems are having them because of the strength of the signal.

Sponge Bob

Could it be a wind farm ??

Fionne

Antenna wrote: »

What are your analogue TV3 and TG4 like?? the same aerial for Saorview receives those too from Mullaghanish.

Do those also fluctuate in quality?

They were fine, just slightly fuzzier than RTE, but 95% as good.

Antenna wrote: »

If you are combining satellite and terrestrial aerial on the one cable, I would suggest not doing so and using separate cables instead.

I only have a roof aerial, no satellite dish.

Antenna wrote: »

Use a VCR or a DVD recorder connected to a Saorview box:D
It will not stop recording if there is digital freezing/stuttering

I thought you can't hook up a VCR to Saorview? They did a Q&A on tv one day about it and that was one of the questions asked and the reply was that it wouldn't work.

Gerry Wicklow

FonE wrote: »

....
I thought you can't hook up a VCR to Saorview? They did a Q&A on tv one day about it and that was one of the questions asked and the reply was that it wouldn't work.

A VCR wont work directly with SaorView signals. However it is possible to connect a VCR to a SaorView box by SCART lead and record / playback that way.

STB

The comment by Antenna was tongue in cheek. What he was saying was that a VCR will just record the channel via scart even if that the recording is a blank screen or a stuttery picture.

That isnt going to solve your problem which is too much RF coming in. Extinction has given you the answer, your masthead amp needs to be turned down.

watty

Or ditched, or an attenuator in front of it.

Ronnie Raygun

Talk about jumping to conclusions, without knowing anything about the OP's setup, beyond the fact they have an aerial pointed at Mullaghanish (& a new cable).

We don't have any information regarding the terrain in the OP's immediate vicinity, apart from there being no wind turbines. There could be plenty of features that would at least attenuate a strong signal "naturally" to a usable level without suggesting the OP reduce it further (worth a try though, in the absense of measured levels).

Cesium Clock

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

Talk about jumping to conclusions, without knowing anything about the OP's setup, beyond the fact they have an aerial pointed at Mullaghanish (& a new cable).

We don't have any information regarding the terrain in the OP's immediate vicinity, apart from there being no wind turbines. There could be plenty of features that would at least attenuate a strong signal "naturally" to a usable level without suggesting the OP reduce it further (worth a try though, in the absense of measured levels).

In that case then the OP should have been advised to call in a professional In the first place

Ronnie Raygun

Indeed, I wonder did a pro replace the cable?

Extinction

I can be 99% confident that its a strong reception problem, today in Kilavullen which is the general area op says he is from I had a service call for signal and quality dropping out, picture freezing etc since march/april. Customer was installed by the kind of installer that I have been complaining about. The signal level on my meter read 89db at the back of the tv and quality and ber ratings were fluctuating. Removing the mast head amp only dropped the signal at the tv to 77db and I had to put on an antennuator to bring the signal back more and get a good ber and quality reading. I realy would be surprised if there is any other fault but I could be wrong.

Cesium Clock

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

Indeed, I wonder did a pro replace the cable?

Obviously not

Cesium Clock

Extinction wrote: »

I can be 99% confident that its a strong reception problem, today in Kilavullen which is the general area op says he is from I had a service call for signal and quality dropping out, picture freezing etc since march/april. Customer was installed by the kind of installer that I have been complaining about. The signal level on my meter read 89db at the back of the tv and quality and ber ratings were fluctuating. Removing the mast head amp only dropped the signal at the tv to 77db and I had to put on an antennuator to bring the signal back more and get a good ber and quality reading. I realy would be surprised if there is any other fault but I could be wrong.

If you work around the area and you know the signal levels, you would be correct and not jumping to conclusions such as wind farms, hills etc, which would be a constant, overloading on the other hand which is variable due to weather factors, and as described by the OP he was ok during the dry months earlier this year , then experiencing problems since the extreme wet and low pressure conditions of the last few months,

Ronnie Raygun

Extinction wrote: »

The signal level on my meter read 89db at the back of the tv and quality and ber ratings were fluctuating. Removing the mast head amp only dropped the signal at the tv to 77db and I had to put on an antennuator to bring the signal back more and get a good ber and quality reading.

That's the minimum you'd expect from any competent installer.

The above comment is not directed at yourself, I just wondered why your previous post got so much thanks ... my own posts here are mainly just to keep the discussion going.

Extinction

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

That's the minimum you'd expect from any competent installer.

The above comment is not directed at yourself, I just wondered why your previous post got so much thanks ... my own posts here are mainly just to keep the discussion going.

I hadn't noticed the thanks but I'd imagine it's because I've mentioned that I know the area well and the thanks probably just reflect that I'd have local knowledge that the op should be aware of? I live in the area that op mentioned and a few weeks ago I posted in the installers forum (embarassingly) that my own signal is too high and I've been too lazy to be bothered fixing it, I get intermittent drop out to zero quality.

Skull Murphy

The thanks were probably just for this bit:

Extinction wrote: »

Customer was installed by the kind of installer that I have been complaining about.

I hope it hasn't got to the point where knowing the max. & min. dBµV levels is worthy of praise.

watty

Digital is more susceptible to distortion or intermodulation. These are very likely with a mast amp. Having too much gain or a mast amp at all if the signal is good will generally cause loss/freezing of the Digital signal from intermittent signals, even outside the TV band.

It's going to be much worse from the Auction off of 800MHz to Mobile. The so called "Digital dividend" doesn't benefit the consumer as it will not be used for quality fixed Wireless but large mobile cells no better and sometimes worse than 3G.

Most mast amps have poor filtering, and have very poor ability to handle strong signals.

Fionne

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

Indeed, I wonder did a pro replace the cable?

Well I certainly thought it was a professional! He is an tv and aerial installer, has a company van, etc. I didn't just ask him to replace the cable, I called him out due to the freezing problems and he replaced the cable (which to be fair I reckon did need doing as it was in two parts with a connection taped together outside the window - this done by another local "professional" 6years ago).

He did little else apart from replace the cable though, as of course the tv was on its best behaviour while he was there!

How is it possible for someone like me with no technical knowledge to tell who is really capable of doing the job or who's just stuck some stickers on their van and called themselves a professional?

Extinction

Try these

http://www.isaa.tv/features.php?county=cork

http://nationalguild.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=139

http://cai.org.uk/component/content/article/474

watty

How is it possible for someone like me with no technical knowledge to tell who is really capable of doing the job or who's just stuck some stickers on their van and called themselves a professional?

Due to Government and RTE inaction over the last 60 years and lack of regulation today it's not possible. Saorview's "approval" of "bodies" was a last minute fudge. Before "Approval" one was really only in UK, one had nothing to do with TV at all and the other was totally embryonic.

But we have got the crooks and timewasters we voted for all these years. Do vote sensibly in the next Elections. Join a party and be an activist.