Issues with terrestrial channels!!

ElecKtrA

Hey guys,

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on the problem i am currently having with my tv!

I have a FTA satellite system - through which i receive all the FTA channels.

My Irish channels are received through Saorview (as my TV is MPEG 4 enabled) and are not picked up with the FTA box, so come directly through aerial to TV.

Since last week my Irish channels have become scrambled!! The FTA channels are perfect (as expected as they are picked up through satellite). I know we had alot of rain here in Cork last week, but surely this wouldn't have an effect on the transmission?

I have tried to remedy the problem myself by automatically tuning the tv to pick up the Irish channels, but to no avail Still scrambled! It has been a week now and i really want to get it resolved!

I don't believe it's the TV as it's only about 3 years old and never had an issue with it, also the fact that i can receive my FTA channels perfectly would rule out the TV, right?

I would really appreciate some advice on this..i don't know who to contact! Maybe they will unscramble themselves eventually but if i could do something about it then i would be happy to know what that may be!


Thanks in advance for any replies on this matter

Peter Rhea

So by 'scrambled' you mean 'no signal', right? You're not mistakenly trying to view the Irish channels via the satellite receiver, in which case a 'scrambled' message probably would appear on screen.

A problem with terrestrial reception will more than likely be down to your own aerial system. (The aerial itself, cables, connections, splitters etc.)

ElecKtrA

Peter Rhea wrote: »

So by 'scrambled' you mean 'no signal', right? You're not mistakenly trying to view the Irish channels via the satellite receiver, in which case a 'scrambled' message probably would appear on screen.

A problem with terrestrial reception will more than likely be down to your own aerial system. (The aerial itself, cables, connections, splitters etc.)

Thanks Peter Rhea for your reply.

By 'scrambled' i mean...a broken picture...fuzzy perhaps is another word...i have a signal...there is sound aswell but it's just all abit distorted!

My aerial has always been good (with perfect picture)...so i don't know why this would have anything to do with it.....honestly i was putting this down to poor transmission signal.............but then again i'm in a very high area and never had any issues with this previously

The Cush

ElecKtrA wrote: »

By 'scrambled' i mean...a broken picture...fuzzy perhaps is another word...i have a signal...there is sound aswell but it's just all abit distorted!

My aerial has always been good (with perfect picture)...so i don't know why this would have anything to do with it.....honestly i was putting this down to poor transmission signal.............but then again i'm in a very high area and never had any issues with this previously

Does the picture-breakup look like the pictures here - http://www.radioandtvhelp.co.uk/interference/rtis_tv

What TV are you using?
Where is your aerial located, internal or roof?
Is there any amps in the installation?

The TV probably has a signal strength and/or signal quality meter, what are they reading?

Even though your aerial installation has been working fine over the last 3 years cabling and connections can deteriorate over time (water ingress, corrosion etc.), is it possible to check the connections and cabling from the aerial to the TV?

Your local transmitter could be on reduced power for maintenance which can cause similar problems if your reception was borderline in the first place.

What is your nearest Saorview transmitter?

desbrook

Basic stuff but ask a near neighbour is their Saorview ok - if it is you know your set up is the problem.

ElecKtrA

The Cush wrote: »

Does the picture-breakup look like the pictures here - http://www.radioandtvhelp.co.uk/interference/rtis_tv

What TV are you using?
Where is your aerial located, internal or roof?
Is there any amps in the installation?

The TV probably has a signal strength and/or signal quality meter, what are they reading?

Even though your aerial installation has been working fine over the last 3 years cabling and connections can deteriorate over time (water ingress, corrosion etc.), is it possible to check the connections and cabling from the aerial to the TV?

Your local transmitter could be on reduced power for maintenance which can cause similar problems if your reception was borderline in the first place.

What is your nearest Saorview transmitter?

Hey,

Cheers for your reply. With regards the link you sent me, i would have to say it's the weather related interference that i'm experiencing.

My TV is a Philips. My aerial is in the attic...but i've a classic ''rabbits ears'' attached to the back of the tv, which i've tried adjusting but to no avail! I'm not entirely sure how to check the signal strength but i will play around with the TV settings later to suss it out.

I'm only 2km away from my nearest transmitter! I've never had interference like this before! and i do reckon it has something to do with weather and water!!! So perhaps...maybe something has been left exposed to the weather conditions.....

ElecKtrA

desbrook wrote: »

Basic stuff but ask a near neighbour is their Saorview ok - if it is you know your set up is the problem.

I'm only new in the estate so i don't know anyone that well yet, but my next door neighbours (who do not have a FTA or any other satellite system) i think were watching their tv perfectly last night.....as i could here it :P

Peter Rhea

ElecKtrA wrote: »

i would have to say it's the weather related interference that i'm experiencing.

My TV is a Philips. My aerial is in the attic...but i've a classic ''rabbits ears'' attached to the back of the tv, which i've tried adjusting but to no avail . . .

The 'interference' will appear the same, no matter what is causing it.

What aerial do you currently have plugged into the tv? Were you using the attic aerial when the interference started?

Which transmitter are you 2 km from? (We'll know if it's one of the high power ones.)

desbrook

Peter Rhea wrote: »

The 'interference' will appear the same, no matter what is causing it.

What aerial do you currently have plugged into the tv? Were you using the attic aerial when the interference started?

Which transmitter are you 2 km from? (We'll know if it's one of the high power ones.)

Yea - a downside of digital is all interference "looks " the same. However atmospheric interference comes and goes and is worst at night lads?

desbrook

ElecKtrA wrote: »

I'm only new in the estate so i don't know anyone that well yet, but my next door neighbours (who do not have a FTA or any other satellite system) i think were watching their tv perfectly last night.....as i could here it :P

Completely different topic but surely a great "ice breaker " ?

Peter Rhea

Interference related to high pressure conditions i.e. enhanced propagation of signals from distant transmitters using the same channel, should only be a problem for a very small percentage of time & some people might never be affected.

Ronnie Raygun

desbrook wrote: »

... atmospheric interference comes and goes and is worst at night lads?

Not to any significant extent for UHF. Not like mediumwave radio.

ElecKtrA

Peter Rhea wrote: »

The 'interference' will appear the same, no matter what is causing it.

What aerial do you currently have plugged into the tv? Were you using the attic aerial when the interference started?

Which transmitter are you 2 km from? (We'll know if it's one of the high power ones.)

Oh okay, didn't realise all interference appears the same!

I'm using just a relatively basic enough aerial..i don't know the model or any finer details like that ...but it's just a stand alone rabbits ears...with a tuning knob!

I'm about 2km from Spur Hill transmitter. I'm beginning to put the interference down to high pressure at this stage!

Peter Rhea

It isn't high pressure.

Why aren't you using the aerial 'in the attic' you referred to in post #5?

(BTW, your 'tuning knob' will be a gain control for an amplifier.)

You're pretty close to a high powered transmitter & you say you're on high ground, so too much signal could be your problem. However, the vagaries associated with indoor aerials (e.g. exterior clutter, signal penetration through building materials) make it hard to say for sure, in the absence of any absolute measurement of signal level.

Make sure your 'tuning knob' is turned down to minimum, for a start.

ElecKtrA

Peter Rhea wrote: »

It isn't high pressure.

Why aren't you using the aerial 'in the attic' you referred to in post #5?

(BTW, your 'tuning knob' will be a gain control for an amplifier.)

You're pretty close to a high powered transmitter & you say you're on high ground, so too much signal could be your problem. However, the vagaries associated with indoor aerials (e.g. exterior clutter, signal penetration through building materials) make it hard to say for sure, in the absence of any absolute measurement of signal level.

Make sure your 'tuning knob' is turned down to minimum, for a start.

I'm not using the aerial in the attic because it was never connected up (it is just sitting obsolete) and the fact that the rabbits ears was working perfectly fine for me up until now. Do you reckon i should connect up the attic aerial?

Yes, perhaps too much signal is the issue!? signal-overload!!! :eek:

I will ensure that the tuning knob is down to the minimum, thanks