Advice needed for digital noobi

[Ext User(KBarwell)]

Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........

I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have a
hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve mostly
unwatchable pictures.

Over the last few months digital TV has been switched on in this area
(presumably from the same repeaters as analogue).

Before I go and buy a STB, I am wondering if given the existing poor
reception would I recieve digital any better? Do I need to change my
exisiting antenna &/or masthead amp? Is there an easy way to check? Are the
cheap $90 boxes from the supermakets ok?

TIA

David

[Ext User(Jack Purvis)]

From my own experience - I had appalling reception from ABC analog
(VHF low) because of constant powerline interference (the power
company admit it is a faulty transformer in the street but will not
replace it due to cost) and an STB cured this completely. So go
ahead. Buy from somewhere that will let you return it if it doesn't
cure your problem.
******************

On Sun, 18 Dec 2005 19:27:03 GMT, "KBarwell" <kbarwell@bigpond.net.au>
wrote:

>Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........
>
>I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have a
>hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve mostly
>unwatchable pictures.

[ausiebob]

OK, After the last five years of digital transmission, and installing numerous combinations of antenae, the following advice might help.
If you are going to go to the expense of going digital, then go the next step and treat yourself to a decent antenna system. Chances are that your antenna was "cut" for analogue reception (ie. VHF 0-10, UHF 28-69). Therefore digital channels MAY not be recieved at their fullest gain. As to which type of antenna, well how long is a piece of string! That is where your local installer has to be contacted. GENRALLY avoid (if you can afford it) combination antenna (VHF/UHF). Instead use separate antennae for both frequency bands. Naturally if in your suburb you only get one or the other then you won't normally get too many problems. Make sure you use Quad shielded cable and "F type" conectors.STB's are a constant problem, I think it comes down to "suck it and see" make sure that where ever you buy the product has a return policy. Get good (this dosen't mean you have to go out and spend sh*t loads on bull sh*t "monster type cables), cables. take your time on connecting your gear, (you'd be surprised at the amount of call outs I've had that was due to bad connections).
It is a fairly expensive commitment, but you have to ask yourself how long will you be enjoying this brilliant technology. Don't listen to the misery guts that try to tell you that digital is not worth it, ask anyone who has anything to do with this technology and they will all say that this is definetly the best thing since colour!

Cheers,

Aussie bob

[Ext User(Fred At Home)]

"KBarwell" <kbarwell@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:bKipf.36610$V7.3505@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........
>
> I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have a
> hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve mostly
> unwatchable pictures.
>
> Over the last few months digital TV has been switched on in this area
> (presumably from the same repeaters as analogue).
>
> Before I go and buy a STB, I am wondering if given the existing poor
> reception would I recieve digital any better? Do I need to change my
> exisiting antenna &/or masthead amp? Is there an easy way to check? Are
> the cheap $90 boxes from the supermakets ok?
>
> TIA
>
> David

Digital requires 6db less signal than analogue for optimum reception. Those
advocating a new antenna for a stronger signal are talking shit and should
be avoided. It is true that there are "digital antennas", but they are
"digital" because they don't receive channels 0-5 well. The idea behind this
is to reduce impulse noise on those channels and should mean less problems
with interference. Digital systems also hate amplifiers. If I was in your
position I would buy a cheap STB and try it with the existing antenna. You
can then ascertain if anything needs fixing. In my back room I have perfect
digital reception on rabbit ears that produced an unwatchable pic on
analogue.

[Ext User(Kevin Hendrikssen)]

"Fred At Home" <fredhome@fscans.cjb.net> wrote in message
news:43a7a117$0$17706$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
>
> "KBarwell" <kbarwell@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:bKipf.36610$V7.3505@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........
>>
>> I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have a
>> hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve mostly
>> unwatchable pictures.
>>
>> Over the last few months digital TV has been switched on in this area
>> (presumably from the same repeaters as analogue).
>>
>> Before I go and buy a STB, I am wondering if given the existing poor
>> reception would I recieve digital any better? Do I need to change my
>> exisiting antenna &/or masthead amp? Is there an easy way to check? Are
>> the cheap $90 boxes from the supermakets ok?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> David
>
> Digital requires 6db less signal than analogue for optimum reception.
> Those advocating a new antenna for a stronger signal are talking shit and
> should be avoided. It is true that there are "digital antennas", but they
> are "digital" because they don't receive channels 0-5 well. The idea
> behind this is to reduce impulse noise on those channels and should mean
> less problems with interference. Digital systems also hate amplifiers. If
> I was in your position I would buy a cheap STB and try it with the
> existing antenna. You can then ascertain if anything needs fixing. In my
> back room I have perfect digital reception on rabbit ears that produced an
> unwatchable pic on analogue.

I'm assuming that the OP has a UHF-only antenna, so won't have the impulse
noise issues VHF or combo antennas get. Whether the masthead amp is going to
be a problem, I guess there's only one way to find out.

[Ext User(Fred At Home)]

"Kevin Hendrikssen" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:43a7b3ba$0$14656$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> "Fred At Home" <fredhome@fscans.cjb.net> wrote in message
> news:43a7a117$0$17706$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
>>
>> "KBarwell" <kbarwell@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
>> news:bKipf.36610$V7.3505@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>> Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........
>>>
>>> I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have a
>>> hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve mostly
>>> unwatchable pictures.
>>>
>>> Over the last few months digital TV has been switched on in this area
>>> (presumably from the same repeaters as analogue).
>>>
>>> Before I go and buy a STB, I am wondering if given the existing poor
>>> reception would I recieve digital any better? Do I need to change my
>>> exisiting antenna &/or masthead amp? Is there an easy way to check? Are
>>> the cheap $90 boxes from the supermakets ok?
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>>> David
>>
>> Digital requires 6db less signal than analogue for optimum reception.
>> Those advocating a new antenna for a stronger signal are talking shit and
>> should be avoided. It is true that there are "digital antennas", but they
>> are "digital" because they don't receive channels 0-5 well. The idea
>> behind this is to reduce impulse noise on those channels and should mean
>> less problems with interference. Digital systems also hate amplifiers. If
>> I was in your position I would buy a cheap STB and try it with the
>> existing antenna. You can then ascertain if anything needs fixing. In my
>> back room I have perfect digital reception on rabbit ears that produced
>> an unwatchable pic on analogue.
>
> I'm assuming that the OP has a UHF-only antenna, so won't have the impulse
> noise issues VHF or combo antennas get. Whether the masthead amp is going
> to be a problem, I guess there's only one way to find out.
>

He may be able to receive a sufficent signal without the amp, but as you
say, there's only one way to find out.

[ausiebob]

Y'know I don't know why anyone would give any advice in these forums! Whenever someone tries to give FREE advice, some goose suggest's they're talking sh*t! Well thanks, He asked for advice and thats what I gave. That is, sport,advice gleened over 34 years of installing antenna systems! I said MIGHT help, and MAY help with gain. There are some places where you could get a signal off a piece of wet string, and other's will have to spend hundreds. So whatever advice I give is subject to advice given by their local installer. I can't see the state of his antenna, neither can you, so how can I OR you give any subjective comments?

AB






"KBarwell" <kbarwell@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:bKipf.36610$V7.3505@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........
>
> I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have a
> hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve mostly
> unwatchable pictures.
>
> Over the last few months digital TV has been switched on in this area
> (presumably from the same repeaters as analogue).
>
> Before I go and buy a STB, I am wondering if given the existing poor
> reception would I recieve digital any better? Do I need to change my
> exisiting antenna &/or masthead amp? Is there an easy way to check? Are
> the cheap $90 boxes from the supermakets ok?
>
> TIA
>
> David

Digital requires 6db less signal than analogue for optimum reception. Those
advocating a new antenna for a stronger signal are talking sh*t and should
be avoided. It is true that there are "digital antennas", but they are
"digital" because they don't receive channels 0-5 well. The idea behind this
is to reduce impulse noise on those channels and should mean less problems
with interference. Digital systems also hate amplifiers. If I was in your
position I would buy a cheap STB and try it with the existing antenna. You
can then ascertain if anything needs fixing. In my back room I have perfect
digital reception on rabbit ears that produced an unwatchable pic on
analogue.

[Ext User(Fred At Home)]

I actually said, "Those advocating a new antenna for a stronger signal are
talking shit and should be avoided." I stand by that comment. There are too
many installers around who don't understand the requirements for digital TV.
Some don't even use the right signal strength meter. Didn't mention anything
about you or your post. But if the shoe fits, then ..................

"ausiebob" <ausiebob.20ctml@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote in message
news:ausiebob.20ctml@no-mx.phorums.com.au...
>
> Y'know I don't know why anyone would give any advice in these forums!
> Whenever someone tries to give FREE advice, some goose suggest's
> they're talking sh*t! Well thanks, He asked for advice and thats what I
> gave. That is, sport,advice gleened over 34 years of installing antenna
> systems! I said MIGHT help, and MAY help with gain. There are some
> places where you could get a signal off a piece of wet string, and
> other's will have to spend hundreds. So whatever advice I give is
> subject to advice given by their local installer. I can't see the state
> of his antenna, neither can you, so how can I OR you give any subjective
> comments?
>
> AB
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Fred At Home Wrote:
>> "KBarwell" <kbarwell@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
>> news:bKipf.36610$V7.3505@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> > Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........
>> >
>> > I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have
>> a
>> > hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve
>> mostly
>> > unwatchable pictures.
>> >
>> > Over the last few months digital TV has been switched on in this
>> area
>> > (presumably from the same repeaters as analogue).
>> >
>> > Before I go and buy a STB, I am wondering if given the existing poor
>> > reception would I recieve digital any better? Do I need to change my
>> > exisiting antenna &/or masthead amp? Is there an easy way to check?
>> Are
>> > the cheap $90 boxes from the supermakets ok?
>> >
>> > TIA
>> >
>> > David
>>
>> Digital requires 6db less signal than analogue for optimum reception.
>> Those
>> advocating a new antenna for a stronger signal are talking sh*t and
>> should
>> be avoided. It is true that there are "digital antennas", but they are
>> "digital" because they don't receive channels 0-5 well. The idea behind
>> this
>> is to reduce impulse noise on those channels and should mean less
>> problems
>> with interference. Digital systems also hate amplifiers. If I was in
>> your
>> position I would buy a cheap STB and try it with the existing antenna.
>> You
>> can then ascertain if anything needs fixing. In my back room I have
>> perfect
>> digital reception on rabbit ears that produced an unwatchable pic on
>> analogue.
>
>
> --
> ausiebob

[Ext User(Netmask)]

If you are receiving marginal analog reception you MAY actually get a decent
digital signal - a friend who lives in the shadow of a very large building
has unwatchable analog reception but acceptable digital - very occasionally
some pixilation.

Comments about antennas are important - digital transmission do not use VHF
0 to 6 and an antenna that is capable of these channels will pick up impulse
noise and other crap. I live in a very strong signal area and I get 100%
signal on all channels except 7 which comes in around 65% with drop outs. If
I disconnect my external antenna and connect a Innovonics flat plastic
indoor antenna it comes up to 90% !!! but SBS falls off the deck..

The only way to find out is to try one AND try alternative antenna
solutions. Go to the http://www.dtvforum.info/ for good technical advise.
If you can borrow a passive high pass filter to knock out everything below
channel 7 this will tell you if your antenna is contributing noise on
digital.


"KBarwell" <kbarwell@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:bKipf.36610$V7.3505@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Apologies in advance if what I am asking appears basic........
>
> I live in an area which has poor analogue reception, I currently have a
> hi-gain (93 element) antennas and a masthead amplifier to recieve mostly
> unwatchable pictures.
>
> Over the last few months digital TV has been switched on in this area
> (presumably from the same repeaters as analogue).
>
> Before I go and buy a STB, I am wondering if given the existing poor
> reception would I recieve digital any better? Do I need to change my
> exisiting antenna &/or masthead amp? Is there an easy way to check? Are
> the cheap $90 boxes from the supermakets ok?
>
> TIA
>
> David
>