Saorview freezing

skinny90

Has anyone experienced this?it freezes and then gets pixelated and skips to real time,it's as if its watching it online no?

Peter Rhea

That would mean your signal is poor, or suffering strong interference. You most likely need a better aerial.

Saorview is a terrestrial service btw, not satellite.

NIMAN

It happens me, but only the very odd time, so I'm not putting it down to any issue with my aerial. Just the odd random glitch hopefully.

If I was getting it often then I'd worry and look at getting the aerial checked out.

It could be a problem with your local transmitter maybe? And nothing at all to do with your equipment, maybe ask a neighbour if they are getting same problems.

skinny90

Has there been any known issues with tuners in TVs or is it defo the signal,it was working perfect for a week and then yesterday it started freezing during the game yesterday

Peter Rhea

Almost certainly signal problems. What kind of aerial are you using & where are you located?

Ger Roe

Also check your coax cable type.

'Legacy' coax, as used for previous analogue services may not have the additional screening required for interference free digital reception.

I have experienced freezing and pixelation from domestic equipment electrical 'sparks' such as generated by light switches, toasters,electric shower switches and even battery powered gas lighters - when viewing TV's connected with earlier spec coax.

Spark plugs from passing motorbikes, cars or lawnmowers can also cause freezing if the signal supply cable is not screened sufficiently.

If your signal level and quality are consistently good and the breakup is only occasional, then it might be due to one of the above examples.

From my experience anyway - symptoms were proven to be repeatable at will, coax was replaced = problem solved.

Tony Soprano.

I'm having the same issues. Irish channels are unwatchable now. Picture keeps freezing, sound stops etc.

It's a combo box, and satellite channels are working fine. I have another combo box in another room, and turned this off, as I thought the signal isn't strong enough for two boxes. It made no difference.

I only got this setup installed a few days ago, with a new RTE aerial (nice and high). This is my first night with problems - has been flawless up until now.

It is fairly windy outside now, would this be the reason?

The Cush

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

It is fairly windy outside now, would this be the reason?

Shouldn't be a problem unless you have a loose connection some where. Is there any thing else in the system such as a amp that might be causing a problem?

Who installed the aerial?

Tony Soprano.

The Cush wrote: »

Shouldn't be a problem unless you have a loose connection some where. Is there any thing else in the system such as a amp that might be causing a problem?

Who installed the aerial?

I have an amp in one room and no amp in the other room. The problem is the same in both rooms.

The aerial was installed professionally. It's a fairly high outdoor. It worked fine until tonight.

iverjohnston

If you live surrounded by trees, will disrupt the signal, I think. On the plus side, a few nights frost will dump all the leaves for you! Iver in Cavan ( with lots of leaves)

Tony Soprano.

iverjohnston wrote: »

If you live surrounded by trees, will disrupt the signal, I think. On the plus side, a few nights frost will dump all the leaves for you! Iver in Cavan ( with lots of leaves)

But it's strange it worked perfect until now. There are some trees, but the installer went high.

yop

Same as u, been fine for the guts of a year I would say, not for the last week its lost signal, unwatchable at times.
New aerial, cable is about 5 years old so no issue there.

The Cush

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

I have an amp in one room and no amp in the other room. The problem is the same in both rooms.

The aeriahl was installed professionally. It's a fairly high outdoor. It worked fine until tonight.

maybe the wind has shifted the aerial or loose connection would be my guess, with a properly installed aerial the wind should have no effect.

If it doesn't improve you may have to get the installer back.

Tony Soprano.

yop wrote: »

Same as u, been fine for the guts of a year I would say, not for the last week its lost signal, unwatchable at times.
New aerial, cable is about 5 years old so no issue there.

Maybe it's an RTE transmitter problem? Might be on their side and nothing to do with our setups.

The Cush wrote: »

maybe the wind has shifted the aerial or loose connection would be my guess, with a properly installed aerial the wind should have no effect.

If it doesn't improve you may have to get the installer back.

I'll give it a few days, and get him back if no improvement. Thanks

The Cush

iverjohnston wrote: »

If you live surrounded by trees, will disrupt the signal, I think.

I have high trees close to the house with the aerial lower and receiving the signal thru the trees without problem. The only weather conditions that have an effect on reception would be high pressure atmospheric conditions.

Tony Soprano.

Does turning off one of the boxes disable the aerial splitter, or do I have to remove the splitter altogether?

I'm running out of ideas here, and totally disappointed with this new saorview thing (couldn't watch Irish TV tonight). It's not like I'm living in the back of the beyonds.

markest

Also had a couple of occasions when the picture froze during the match in 2nd half, however I was watching RTE2 through a UPC digital box so I guess the problem was with the broadcast rather than reception issues.

The Cush

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

Does turning off one of the boxes disable the aerial splitter, or do I have to remove the splitter altogether?

No, turning off one of the boxes won't disable a splitter. As you say the problem is affecting both TVs so the problem is somewhere from the aerial to where the signal is split - weak signal, loose connection etc etc.

What splitter are you using and where? You say there is a amp feeding one Tv where is this located in relation to the Tvs?

Generally an amp would be located close to the aerial e.g. in the attic and would generally split the feeds to the TVs.

How many aerials are on the roof and what type (and group if known)?
Did/do you receive analogue TV3 with that aerial?
Why is the amp only feeding one TV and not the two TVs?
What was analogue reception like?

Tony Soprano.

The Cush wrote: »

No, turning off one of the boxes won't disable a splitter.

What splitter are you using and where? You say there is a amp feeding one Tv where is this located in relation to the Tvs?

Generally an amp would be located close to the aerial e.g. in the attic and would generally split the feeds to the TVs.

How many aerials are on the roof and what type (and group if known)?
Did/do you receive analogue TV3 with that aerial?
Why is the amp only feeding one TV and not the two TVs?
What was analogue reception like?

Sorry but I meant a stereo amp for better sound in one room. The splitter is not an amp type.

There's one aerial on the roof, got it installed on Saturday. My next door neighbour's aerial is lower than mine, smaller and they receive perfect saorview. My aerial looks far superior.

I will bring my neighbour's saorview TV into my house and see what the reception is like. That way I can rule in or out my combo box.

Analogue TV was never great here. I think TV3 was very bad, but had Sky for a long time now. It's strange Saorview was working perfect until yesterday.

The Cush

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

Analogue TV was never great here. I think TV3 was very bad, but had Sky for a long time now. It's strange Saorview was working perfect until yesterday.

And the problem now affects both TVs which would point to the aerial and how the aerial feed is split. Maybe the signal from the aerial is weak and requires a distribution amp to feed the 2 TVs.

Tony Soprano.

The Cush wrote: »

And the problem now affects both TVs which would point to the aerial and how the aerial feed is split. Maybe the signal from the aerial is weak and requires a distribution amp to feed the 2 TVs.

Is there a way I can remove the splitter temporarily to see if it fixes the problem ? I had a look at it, but if I remove it (to try one feed) then I would have to join up the cable again. Looks messy.

Do you think this would be worth trying?

PogMoThoin

Maybe you should hire a professional to come with a signal meter. I don't see the point in bringing in your neighbours TV to diagnose what's definitely signal problem

The Cush

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

Is there a way I can remove the splitter temporarily to see if it fixes the problem ? I had a look at it, but if I remove it (to try one feed) then I would have to join up the cable again. Looks messy.

Yes that would be a good test, remove the splitter and test it on one TV.

What type of splitter do you use, is it one of those plastic Y splitters with push in co-ax plugs. If so get one of the co-ax joiners.

A range of distribution amps here or you will able to pick one up in any local hardware or electrial shop.

The Cush

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Maybe you should hire a professional to come with a signal meter. I don't see the point in bringing in your neighbours TV to diagnose what's definitely signal problem

Maybe the professional who installed the aerial some days before should come come back and finish the job he started.

Tony Soprano.

The Cush wrote: »

Yes that would be a good test, remove the splitter and test it on one TV.

What type of splitter do you use, is it one of those plastic Y splitters with push in co-ax plugs. If so get one of the co-ax joiners.

A range of distribution amps here or you should able to pick one up in any local hardware or electrial shop.

It's actually a metal type with F connectors. Is there a joiner for this type?

Thanks for the amplifier/booster link too.

The Cush

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

It's actually a metal type with F connectors. Is there a joiner for this type?

http://www.tvtrade.ie/f-joiners-1s.html

Tony Soprano.

The Cush wrote: »

Maybe the professional who installed the aerial some days before should come come back and finish the job he started.

I agree. Probably better to get him back.

Tony Soprano.

Just rang the installer. He said he wouldn't be able to come back until next Tuesday at the earliest. Sounded very unhelpful. He's only living 5 miles away. Charged €160 for 1 and a half hours work on Saturday.

I told him I couldn't be without a TV for that long, but he was having none of it. Very ignorant man.

The Cush

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

Just rang the installer. He said he wouldn't be able to come back until next Tuesday at the earliest. Sounded very unhelpful.

Very professional.

In the mean time you migh be able to pick up one of those F-connector joiners locally.

Tony Soprano.

The Cush wrote: »

Very professional.

In the mean time you migh be able to pick up one of those F-connector joiners locally.

Will try a few places today, thanks.

MBSnr

Just as an aside regarding picture issues - My parents in law had major issues with picture breakup on one tv but it worked fine for analogue and on the other tv. Turns out it was the aerial socket on the wall. Over years of use the outer round ground had 'ovalised' to be larger than the coaxial tv connector leading to a slight loose fit. A simple bend of the outer ground with a screwdriver in the socket to grip the coaxial tv connector cured the problem!

Tony Soprano.

Couldn't find a place selling F connectors.

I found one of these and connected it up to one of the TVs. It made no difference.

Does that mean the distribution amps The Cush recommended wouldn't work either? Apologies for going on about this, but just trying to get a picture, as the installer isn't in any rush to come back.

Tony Soprano.

Got a F Joiner, but made no difference. Problem is obviously the aerial now.

Tony Soprano.

Just out of interest - the saorview map is telling me that my Transmitter should be Spur Hill (Cork City) - channel number 45. I'm 20 miles from the city.

But the only channel the transmitter finds on scan is number 21, Mullaghanish (Ballyvourney, County Cork). About 50 miles away.

Maybe the installer pointed the aerial towards channel 21, but it should be pointed to towards 45?

Why would the Saorview map be wrong?

Peter Rhea

The coverage map isn't infallible. The installer would/should look for the best signal available at your location, no matter what the map says.

Are both transmission sites in the same direction from your location? Can you try a manual scan on ch. 45?

Tony Soprano.

Peter Rhea wrote: »

The coverage map isn't infallible. The installer would/should look for the best signal available at your location, no matter what the map says.

Are both transmission sites in the same direction from your location? Can you try a manual scan on ch. 45?

They would be roughly the same direction to the east.

I did a manual scan on channel 45, but nothing found.

Peter Rhea

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

They would be roughly the same direction to the east.

Presume you mean to the west? There's probably equally good reception from either transmitter in areas to the east of Cork city. Mullaghanish is a very high site, with a large power output.

Tony Soprano.

The wind is after dying down now, and service is back to normal with perfect picture. The problems definitely began at high winds, so I've no doubt this is the problem. It's hardly a major coincidence that once winds ease, then I have perfect reception.

So is it a poor quality aerial with poor fixings? It did move around a bit in the high winds.

Again, sorry for going on about it, but maybe it will help someone else in the future when they google the problem.

STB

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

So is it a poor quality aerial with poor fixings? It did move around a bit in the high winds.

Yes.

Aerials are not meant to move around in high winds. How high is it. Sounds like a right idiot installed your aerial.

Tony Soprano.

STB wrote: »

Yes.

Aerials are not meant to move around in high winds. How high is it. Sounds like a right idiot installed your aerial.

I wouldn't say it's very high, as I remember having an old Chorus aerial (old Cork satellite) that was noticeable high. This is fairly normal to look at, but a nice height too. But I looked at it in the wind and it was moving around a bit - not a lot, but was moving.

It has been 100% perfect since the winds eased. Very heavy winds for the last 24hrs or so and that's when the problems were occurring. I feel a bit relived now as I know what is causing the problem.

STB

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

I feel a bit relived now as I know what is causing the problem.

An unsecured aerial. The higher the pole the more wind it may catch, especially if its light. Higher = stay wires. Why is it so high if your neighbours isnt ? You would think that local installers would know....

You need to get him back. Tell him its unsecure and you are worried that it will damage your property and dont want to be sending him bills!

The issue isnt going to go away due to our climate after all!

Tony Soprano.

STB wrote: »

Sounds like a right idiot installed your aerial.

Indeed. He charged €160 cash for 1 hour, 15 mins work (as most cables were in place).

He didn't want to know today when I phoned back. It will be a different story tomorrow!

Tony Soprano.

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Presume you mean to the west? There's probably equally good reception from either transmitter in areas to the east of Cork city. Mullaghanish is a very high site, with a large power output.

Cheers Peter, missed your post.

It was the West I meant.

Tony Soprano.

STB wrote: »

An unsecured aerial. The higher the pole the more wind it may catch, especially if its light. Higher = stay wires. Why is it so high if your neighbours isnt ? You would think that local installers would know....

You need to get him back. Tell him its unsecure and you are worried that it will damage your property and dont want to be sending him bills!

The issue isnt going to go away due to our climate after all!

Thanks STB.

I think it is a light and poor quality aerial. My neighbour's aerial looks inferior compared to mine but they receive perfect saorview no matter what the weather.

I will be ringing him again in the morning to get his ass back.

Peter Rhea

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

I feel a bit relived now as I know what is causing the problem.

I've never seen signal problems due to a UHF aerial moving in wind, unless it was ready to fall down. Not to say it doesn't happen though.

If you can get a decent pic. of the installation, we could take a look.

Peter Rhea

Yeah, I know all about the nuisance trees can be at my own location. The neighbour aerial is on Mullaghanish, although it would have been erected in analogue-only days (band III aerial at the top) & the digital signal from Spur Hill is considerably stronger than analogue.

goat2

i am experiencing very little freezing, but i am lucky that the existing ariel in attic works fine with stb, the little box is nice and neat thank god, it also lets us know what is coming up next, also i can see the pole where the signal is coming from above me on a hill a few miles away,
i get,
rte 1
rte 2
tv 3
tg 4
e 5,
can i get any more, is this it.

Tony Soprano.

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Yeah, I know all about the nuisance trees can be at my own location. The neighbour aerial is on Mullaghanish, although it would have been erected in analogue-only days (band III aerial at the top) & the digital signal from Spur Hill is considerably stronger than analogue.

I might have to get a chainsaw. lol

Mullaghanish is all I can pick up. The signal strength is very good too, but that will not matter with trees/wind.

At first he tried to blame my ferguson combo and called them "bad boxes", but I told him the Triax boxes he sells in his shop are the biggest piles of shíte ever made. He then said I might need an amp - told him I tried one feed with an F-connector and it made no difference. He then went tuning and I asked him was he trying to find the Spur Hill transmitter.. He was a little surprised that I knew something about how it works, and was more eager to fix the problem. These forums are very handy for info. Like the way some mechanics rip off women. It's good when you don't come across a totally clueless.