Saorview signal problem.

GullibleOne

32 inch flat screen receiving saorview with amplified indoor ariel. No problem until today. When i press channel for rte the blue box appears at the end of the screen saying what is on.

But there is no pic sound. Sometimes the sound comes on for a second and there are coloured parts of the screen lke a mixed up frozen pixels or picture

I tried moving ariel and also changing HDMI in case. How could it have happened if the ariel wasn't moved. I can get partial epg and no teletext. Does the weather affect the signal?

snaps

GullibleOne wrote: »

32 inch flat screen receiving saorview with amplified indoor ariel. No problem until today. When i press channel for rte the blue box appears at the end of the screen saying what is on.

But there is no pic sound. Sometimes the sound comes on for a second and there are coloured parts of the screen lke a mixed up frozen pixels or picture

I tried moving ariel and also changing HDMI in case. How could it have happened if the ariel wasn't moved. I can get partial epg and no teletext. Does the weather affect the signal?

where are you, what transmitter you receiving from?

GullibleOne

snaps wrote: »

where are you, what transmitter you receiving from?

Is there some way i can find if there is a problem with the transmitter?

Signal level goes from 0 to 70 % and back immediately in flashes. Signal quality reads 0%.

What should signal L and Q be

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

Signal level goes from 0 to 70 % and back immediately in flashes. Signal quality reads 0%.

What should signal L and Q be

Signal strength is measured in dBuV and signal quality is measured in BER. We don't know what the percentage readings on the TV meter actually represent so it's not possible to say what they should be for your installation. A proper signal meter would be required.

The problem is most likely with the indoor aerial and you may require an outdoor or attic aerial. An indoor aerial is not generally recommended for Saorview reception except in strong signal areas and can be susceptible to local interference within and external to the house. Moving an indoor aerial a couple of inches can lose or restore the signal. The amplifier in the aerial won't be much good if there is little or a bad signal arriving at the aerial.

GullibleOne

today i do not even have saorview menu in the tv. You do not need a signal to have a menu to set channels do you? Is that not the box or tv?

my signal was always good up to last night

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

today i do not even have saorview menu in the tv. You do not need a signal to have a menu to set channels do you? Is that not the box or tv?

What do you mean by "Saorview menu"? Are you referring to the channels and the 7 day listings in the epg? If so, you require a signal for the guide to displays the channel listing data.

GullibleOne

The Cush wrote: »

What do you mean by "Saorview menu"? Are you referring to the channels and the 7 day listings in the epg? If so, you require a signal for the guide to displays the channel listing data.

no the part where you can install channels. the menu should show even if no signal. you could not install the channel s with no signal but should have menu to try. it would say no signal/no channles installed go to menu etc. not even that today thanks

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

no the part where you can install channels. the menu should show even if no signal. you could not install the channel s with no signal but should have menu to try. it would say no signal/no channles installed go to menu etc. not even that today thanks

In that case it could be a TV problem. Have you tried unplugging the TV from the wall socket for 30 sec/1 min and powering up again?

GullibleOne

The Cush wrote: »

In that case it could be a TV problem. Have you tried unplugging the TV from the wall socket for 30 sec/1 min and powering up again?

that worked thanks;) now I have a signal and pic but choppy

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

now I have a signal and pic but choppy

A proper external aerial should sort that.

GullibleOne

A proper external aerial should sort that.

the internal worked fine until last night

On the coverage map what does polarization mean?
Direction?
And down at the end xx feet yy meters?

watty

Rods -- is horizontal
Rods ¦ is vertical

GullibleOne

how do you tell if you are in a strong signal area?

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

how do you tell if you are in a strong signal area?

You'll get uninterrupted reception with an indoor aerial.

GullibleOne

The Cush wrote: »

You'll get uninterrupted reception with an indoor aerial.

I got that till last night and I have not moved. I was actually asking about some technical way to know. I am trying to figure if the ariel or Tv may be at fault so no need for smart remarks

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

I was actually asking about some technical way to know. I am trying to figure if the ariel or Tv may be at fault so no need for smart remarks

It's not a smart remark but the cheapest way to know if you're in a strong signal area.

Alternatively you could could purchase a digital terrestrial meter with BER signal quality readout.

GullibleOne

The Cush wrote: »

It's not a smart remark but the cheapest way to know if you're in a strong signal area.

ok fair enough;) but i thought you knew my problem. I had the indoor ariel since before the changeover and everything was fine. Now suddenly no signal/on /off signal. Maybe it is the ariel

Alternatively you could could purchase a digital terrestrial meter with BER signal quality readout.

thanks. i was hoping there might be some way i could do tonight without paying 300£:eek:

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

Maybe it is the ariel

Could be. Replacing the aerial might be the way to go.

Buy it at Argos and return it if it doesn't work.

GullibleOne

The Cush wrote: »

Could be. Replacing the aerial might be the way to go.

Buy it at Argos and return it if it doesn't work.

good idea

in case i need to go external I have one of these behind the TV. If an ariel is put on the roof how is it connected to this? Do they bring it down outside and drill through the wall? Or how it s done? Are there wires everywhere


The one I have is similar to this but I would prefer this [ as I do not like the ears. What do you think of the second one?

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

If an ariel is put on the roof how is it connected to this? Do they bring it down outside and drill through the wall? Or how it s done? Are there wires everywhere

An installer will probably run the co-ax cable from the aerial to the TV outside and drill through the wall, quick and easy, unless you tell them you want it run differently. Is there any existing internal cabling from the rooms back to a central location in the attic, hot press etc.?

GullibleOne

The Cush wrote: »

An installer will probably run the co-ax cable from the aerial to the TV outside and drill through the wall, quick and easy, unless you tell them you want it run differently. Is there any existing internal cabling from the rooms back to a central location in the attic, hot press etc.?

no
so it comes down the side of the house and drill through wall? and then plaster wall?

I think I was posting the argos links when you were posting , could you have a look at my second argos link please?

The Cush

GullibleOne wrote: »

I think I was posting the argos links when you were posting , could you have a look at my second argos link please?

I wouldn't be able to recommend a specific indoor aerial but have a look at watty's recommended indoor aerials here - http://www.techtir.ie/radio-tv/uhf-aerials

Also have a look at this Which magazine indoor aerials review - http://www.which.co.uk/technology/tv-and-dvd/reviews/indoor-aerials/

GullibleOne

I moved the TV upstairs and it works fine so they must have reduced the signal. If anyone can suggest an amplified ariel from the argos site I would appreciate. I would prefer something tidy like this

i prefer not to go for an external yet but would prefer to watch tv downstairs

TheChizler

You could try moving the indoor aerial to a higher position and connect to the tv via a coax extender, if there is a cabinet next to the tv or something.

GullibleOne

TheChizler wrote: »

You could try moving the indoor aerial to a higher position and connect to the tv via a coax extender, if there is a cabinet next to the tv or something.

Something to to consider thanks

I tried leaving it on the tv cabinet where I also had a signal up to yesterday* but it did not work. Completely dead downstairs now.

*It would freeze though and on the ground was best

STB

GullibleOne wrote: »

Something to to consider thanks

I tried leaving it on the tv cabinet where I also had a signal up to yesterday* but it did not work. Completely dead downstairs now.

*It would freeze though and on the ground was best

On the ground shouldn't be best! Most people think it will work on top of the TV or beside it. This is not the case.
Indoor aerials - positioning is everything.

Window cill. You may need to extend the aerial's fly lead to get it to the window. Just get a RF extension cable to do this (a few quid).

winston_1

GullibleOne wrote: »

If anyone can suggest an amplified ariel from the argos site I would appreciate.

Ariel is washing powder and won't work.

Amplified indoor aerials don't usually work either, you can't amplify what is not there.
The broadcasters don't normally reduce the signal. The amount of signal you are receiving is close to the digital cliff and it has now fallen over it. The only real answer is to put an aerial on the roof as the broadcasters intended.

thund3rbird_

GullibleOne wrote: »

in case i need to go external I have one of these behind the TV.

did you try opening the screws on the socket to see if there is a coaxial cable connected to it?
there probably is one going into the attic. you just need to connect an antenna in the attic to it, point it in the right direction with correct polarity & should be ok

also check on http://www.saorview.ie/make-the-switch/coverage-map/ "to find your optimal transmitter"

GullibleOne

winston_1 wrote: »

Ariel is washing powder and won't work.

Amplified indoor aerials don't usually work either, you can't amplify what is not there.
The broadcasters don't normally reduce the signal. The amount of signal you are receiving is close to the digital cliff and it has now fallen over it. The only real answer is to put an aerial on the roof as the broadcasters intended.

it was there till yesterday. i am not amused re washing powder, this is really annoying me and i am looking for serious responses. i am short on humour

GullibleOne

thund3rbird_ wrote: »

did you try opening the screws on the socket to see if there is a coaxial cable connected to it?
there probably is one going into the attic. you just need to connect an antenna in the attic to it, point it in the right direction with correct polarity & should be ok

If there was
I did not know about thanks thanks for telling me. I checked and there is a coaxial cable connected to the socket going to attic. Does that mean i could put another aerial in the attic to get the non saorview free to air channels as well? Would I use two aerials and a coaxial splitter?

thund3rbird_ wrote: »

also check on http://www.saorview.ie/make-the-switch/coverage-map/ "to find your optimal transmitter"

yes I did that

winston_1

GullibleOne wrote: »

it was there till yesterday. i am not amused re washing powder, this is really annoying me and i am looking for serious responses. i am short on humour

That is the nature of an indoor aerial close to the digital cliff. There are loads of posts on this and other forums with problems due to indoor aerials similar to yours. The answer as always is get a proper outdoor aerial. You even already have a socket and (probably) cable. That is a serious response.

There are also loads of posts re washing powder, antique motorbikes etc. Did you read them?

GullibleOne

winston_1 wrote: »

That is the nature of an indoor aerial close to the digital cliff. There are loads of posts on this and other forums with problems due to indoor aerials similar to yours. The answer as always is get a proper outdoor aerial. You even already have a socket and (probably) cable. That is a serious response.

There are also loads of posts re washing powder, antique motorbikes etc. Did you read them?

That is the nature of an indoor aerial close to the digital cliff. There are loads of posts on this and other forums with problems due to indoor aerials similar to yours

work perfectly then suddenly drop after five weeks?Why would it not go over cliff before? weather?

That is a serious response.

ok but i am not int in washing powder and did not read them.Not sure what you mean by antique motorbikes?

GullibleOne

STB wrote: »

On the ground shouldn't be best! Most people think it will work on top of the TV or beside it. This is not the case.
Indoor aerials - positioning is everything.

Window cill. You may need to extend the aerial's fly lead to get it to the window. Just get a RF extension cable to do this (a few quid).

I would have thought that too but that is where it worked

Thanks guys for the feedback nothwithstanding washing powder etc:D

GullibleOne

I bought a new indoor aerial and it works so there is obviously something wrong with the other one. Cliffs or not i knew it would not go from very good to absolute zero without some cause

thund3rbird_

GullibleOne wrote: »

If there was
I did not know about thanks thanks for telling me. I checked and there is a coaxial cable connected to the socket going to attic. Does that mean i could put another aerial in the attic to get the non saorview free to air channels as well? Would I use two aerials and a coaxial splitter?

firstly, only back in this thread today so sorry for late reply


not sure what you mean by "the non saorview free to air channel"?

are you by any chance in the northern part of the country and therefore referring to FreeView?
if so, you will possibly need 2 antenna, each pointing to the relevant transmitters.
not sure about joining with splitter - I'm in a saorview only (terrestrial) part of the country