New saorview aerial, some channels not great

dnme

Just moved into a house and got a new Saorview aerial installed last weekend. I am running it into the back of a VU+Duo2 combo box. I notice that RTE1 seems fine, good stable picture all the time. However, with the other saorview channels there is some picture breakup as in block artifacts maybe a couple of times every minute. Enough to annoy for sure.

The man who installed the aerial is a decent fella and I'm sure he will look after me but I'm wondering why one channel is ok but the others are not? Is there anything I can do myself to improve things? The installation is on the outskirts of Gort town, Co. Galway so we are in the saorview footprint from Maghera.

Many thanks for any advice.

The Cush

dnme wrote: »

Just moved into a house and got a new Saorview aerial installed last weekend. I am running it into the back of a VU+Duo2 combo box. I notice that RTE1 seems fine, good stable picture all the time. However, with the other saorview channels there is some picture breakup as in block artifacts maybe a couple of times every minute. Enough to annoy for sure.

RTÉ 1 HD/RTÉ JR/RTÉ1+1 are all on the same frequency and the others on a different frequency.

With a properly installed aerial there should be no breakup, I think you'll have to get the installer back.

Where was the aerial installed and did he use a proper professional meter to setup the aerial?

Current Saorview multiplex line-up
Multiplex 1

LCN

|

Channel

||
249*|SSU|data channel||
11|no channel name (RTÉ 1 simulcast)|SD|temporary, going at the end of April
02|RTÉ Two|HD|
03|TV3|SD|
04|TG4|SD|
05|3e|SD|
06|RTÉ News Now|SD|
17|no channel name (RTÉ Junior simulcast**)|SD|temporary, going at the end of April
18|no channel name (RTÉ1 +1 simulcast**)|SD|temporary, going at the end of April
200|RTÉ Radio 1|Radio|
201|RTÉ Radio 1 Extra|Radio|
202|RTÉ 2FM|Radio|
203|RTÉ Lyric FM|Radio|
204|RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta|Radio|
205|RTÉ Pulse|Radio|
206|RTÉ 2XM|Radio
207*|(not used)||previously RTÉ Choice
208|RTÉ Gold|Radio|
209|RTÉ Junior/RTÉ Chill|Radio

Multiplex 2

LCN

|

Channel

||
250*|SSU|data channel|
01|RTÉ One|HD|
12*|(no channel name/testcard)|HD|
13*|(no channel name/testcard)|SD|RTÉ Lyric FM audio
14*|(no channel name/testcard)|HD|TG4 subtitles and teletext previously
15*|(no channel name/testcard)|SD|RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta audio
16|(not used)||
07|RTÉ Junior**|SD|
08|RTÉ One +1**|SD|
211-212*|(no radio channel names)|Radio|no audio
213*|(no radio channel name)|Radio|RTÉ Lyric FM audio
214*|(no radio channel name)|Radio|RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta audio
215-217*|(no radio channel names)|Radio|no audio
218-219*|(no radio channel name)|Radio|RTÉ Gold audio
220*|(no radio channel name)|Radio|no audio

* Hidden on Saorview receivers but can be selected by entering the channel no. via the remote control
** RTÉ Junior 0700-1845 approx / RTÉ One +1 1900-0100/0200 approx. Timesharing

dnme

Aerial was installed in the attic. I'll get him back so. Thanks for the reply.

greenore

i would check signal levels with another saorview box or tv, as some tuners can be weaker than others and i have seen this with the vu tuners

Just a thought!!

Peter Rhea

Shouldn't be weak signal problems from a powerful (160 kW) main transmitter, on a 1300 ft. mountain 8 miles away across fairly flat terrain, unless the installer has really gone out of his way to mess things up.

exaisle

At that distance with such a powerful transmitter you should be able to get a decent signal with a set-top antenna....(or a piece of wet string)

I'd try having a look with a small indoor antenna. If that pulls in decent signal then you're probably looking at a cabling problem or an incorrectly made joint...

dnme

Remember folks RTE1 is fine, and the others that are not great.

Peter Rhea

Too much signal could be the problem, as much as anything. Is the aerial just feeding a single TV point? No splitters?

dnme

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Too much signal could be the problem, as much as anything. Is the aerial just feeding a single TV point? No splitters?

Yes it is.

My Vu+Duo2 reports signal as follows
RTE1
SNR 87%
AGC averaging 40%

other Saorview Channels
SNR 79%
AGC averaging 80%

dnme

OK, I'm posting this with my tail well and truly between my legs and promising you that I've learned my lesson.

I've just been up to the attic to see if I could move the aerial and fix this problem. What I saw shocked me. The installer who was here last weekend, actually got a pair of rabbits ears, cut the connector off, joined them to the existing coax cable with a bit of tape and taped the ears to the rafters. He also moved the rabbits ears in behind the chimney block so that you wouldn't see them. The salt in the wound is that they were actually my rabbits ears

I've just sent him a fairly lengthy text bollocking him out of it. I won't be using him again. He came recommended from a colleague in work so what was I to do ?

The good news is that I moved the rabbits ears and am now getting a clean signal on all saorview channels. However I realise that this may be temporary so I will get a proper installer in to connect a proper aerial.

The Cush

dnme wrote: »

I've just sent him a fairly lengthy text bollocking him out of it. I won't be using him again. He came recommended from a colleague in work so what was I to do ?

The good news is that I moved the rabbits ears and am now getting a clean signal on all saorview channels. However I realise that this may be temporary so I will get a proper installer in to connect a proper aerial.

Was he even a proper installer?

Rabbit ears aerial are for VHF band reception but with you that close to the transmitter any decent aerial should receive a decent signal.

This indoor type is for the UHF (Saorview) band - http://cpc.farnell.com/mercury/sto2/set-top-aerial-olympik-2/dp/AP00025

Once upon a time in Dublin I installed an indoor aerial like that one in the attic. Screwed the aerial stand to the ridge board and hung the aerial from that, aligned the aerial to the transmitter and tighteded the screw to lock it in place. No problems, might be worth trying before getting another installer in.

dnme

Might do that, or might just leave it if the picture remains stable which it is right now

Peter Rhea

If I was going to DIY it, I'd get one of the better 'contract' type outdoor aerials, something like this from the same site or, this one.

They're the new wideband or 'group T', would be fine for Maghera at your location.

Ronnie Raygun

dnme wrote: »

The installer who was here last weekend, actually got a pair of rabbits ears, cut the connector off, joined them to the existing coax cable with a bit of tape ...

Even saved himself the cost of another plug & a coupler, to go along with the saving he'd already made by not actually supplying an aerial.

He was "clever" enough to realise he's operating in a strong signal area but looks like he pushed his luck a bit this time. I wonder how many other customers he's had?

winston_1

Peter Rhea wrote: »

If I was going to DIY it, I'd get one of the better 'contract' type outdoor aerials, something like this from the same site or, this one.

They're the new wideband or 'group T', would be fine for Maghera at your location.

Get the first one, Antiference (which is not a contract aerial). The second one is a contract built down to a price. The reflector is too small as is often the case.

Peter Rhea

winston_1 wrote: »

The reflector is too small as is often the case.

How is it too small? Too short?

And the RX is 'built down to a price' or, why pay extra for the TCX?

winston_1

Peter Rhea wrote: »

How is it too small? Too short?

And the RX is 'built down to a price' or, why pay extra for the TCX?

The reflector is too narrow (and probably not tall enough) to operate properly at the lower frequencies of the UHF band. Don't understand what you mean by too short, its length is only the thickness of the metal.

All this is well known by reputable aerial installers.

Anyway the Antiference is actually cheaper than the contract type which is the one built down to a price.

Peter Rhea

winston_1 wrote: »

The reflector is too narrow (and probably not tall enough) to operate properly at the lower frequencies of the UHF band. Don't understand what you mean by too short, its length is only the thickness of the metal.

All this is well known by reputable aerial installers.

Anyway the Antiference is actually cheaper than the contract type which is the one built down to a price.

Too narrow? So you want to consider the element lengths in the planes of the dimensions of the whole aerial? Or what?

I presume you have one of those Blake aerials sitting in front of you, so you can measure the element lengths, not try to judge from an oblique view in a photo?

And an aerial manufacturer's 'economy' range can't be referred to as a 'contract' aerial, unless it has a pressed sheet reflector?

winston_1

Peter Rhea wrote: »

And an aerial manufacturer's 'economy' range can't be referred to as a 'contract' aerial, unless it has a pressed sheet reflector?

Which that one has.

Read this:

http://www.aerialsandtv.com/aerials.html#ContractAerialsPicture

Peter Rhea

Ah, right, so that site is the arbiter of all things aerial.

I still want to know how the dimensions of a piece of metal are swapped around when it takes its place in the aerial array, so that 'length' refers to the thickness of the metal & 'width' is now what 'length' was previously.

Until then, I'll assume you are baselessly attacking my credibility.

hju6

dnme wrote: »

OK, I'm posting this with my tail well and truly between my legs and promising you that I've learned my lesson.

I've just been up to the attic to see if I could move the aerial and fix this problem. What I saw shocked me. The installer who was here last weekend, actually got a pair of rabbits ears, cut the connector off, joined them to the existing coax cable with a bit of tape and taped the ears to the rafters. He also moved the rabbits ears in behind the chimney block so that you wouldn't see them. The salt in the wound is that they were actually my rabbits ears

I've just sent him a fairly lengthy text bollocking him out of it. I won't be using him again. He came recommended from a colleague in work so what was I to do ?

The good news is that I moved the rabbits ears and am now getting a clean signal on all saorview channels. However I realise that this may be temporary so I will get a proper installer in to connect a proper aerial.

Astounding
A trade price contract aerial is sub €5

You should name the shyster so no one else gets shafted by this monkey

St Senan

dnme wrote: »

Just moved into a house and got a new Saorview aerial installed last weekend. I am running it into the back of a VU+Duo2 combo box. I notice that RTE1 seems fine, good stable picture all the time. However, with the other saorview channels there is some picture breakup as in block artifacts maybe a couple of times every minute. Enough to annoy for sure.

The man who installed the aerial is a decent fella and I'm sure he will look after me but I'm wondering why one channel is ok but the others are not? Is there anything I can do myself to improve things? The installation is on the outskirts of Gort town, Co. Galway so we are in the saorview footprint from Maghera.

Many thanks for any advice.

OP After reading your comments all i can say is that the man who ripped you off should not be called an Installer as he took money off you after he butchered your own existing aerial instead of him supplying and using a decent Aerial installed on a loft mount or loft spike. Its straightforward to see that he tried to deceive you. Demand your money back as this chancer/cowboy should not be let get away with doing this. Its guys like him that have destroyed the business for the decent day to day tax paying installer.

Oscarziggy

dnme.
May I ask how much you're "installer" charged you for the job?
I recently did a favour for a friend of mine re securing an aerial as his installer wasn't answering the phone or returning messages.
The chimney bracket was loose letting the aerial tilt sideways and forwards.
He had put a joint in the cable near the chimney using "f" plugs and an adaptor but hadn't tightened them up --- I ran a new cable from aerial to TV and he hasn't had a problem since.
Why he didn't replace the complete cable I will never know, for the sake of 3 meters, instead of a stupid joint.
Regards

dnme

The one thing I will say is that he was very cheap. Actually he was too cheap; In fact I offered him more money than he asked for. As I say, he came recommended from a girl in work so I assumed all would be fine. Anyway problem solved.

Oscarziggy

dnme.
Glad the problem is solved....
Regards

St Senan

dnme wrote: »

The one thing I will say is that he was very cheap. Actually he was too cheap; In fact I offered him more money than he asked for. As I say, he came recommended from a girl in work so I assumed all would be fine. Anyway problem solved.

dnme

A very good friend of mine always said that Cheap is not always cheerful.

He had his Aerial Installation business ruined when a Sky digital door to door sales man living in the same area was allowed to get away selling cheap crap and flogging it as saorview to the unsuspecting public. The proper prices were published on the saorview website for everyone to see. But guys saw a killing was to be made and under cut tax paying legit installers by anything up to €100 just to get the job. My good friend couldn't match the prices that these guys were charging and pay his expenses out of the job so he had to pack in the business after 15 years. And unfortunately in this country he is not entitled to 1 cent in social welfare as he was self employed. So what i am saying is that if the guy who done this to you is allowed to get away with it then it wont be long before a another decent installer maybe this time in Galway will find that he has to close his business because he cant match the Cheap prices been charged.