Blockiness on digital TV

[Pixel Warrior]

Hi group

Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but more
evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also some sound
dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second, and
sometimes takes half of the picture with it.

I am in Hobart. The set top box is a NextWave Plus TDR-3100. Reception is
usually in the high 80's to early 90 percent. You would think that this
would be enough!!!!

Strangely, analogue reception of the signal is just fine on ABC. Much better
than the other channels. But for digital it's by far the worst.

Could the STB be faulty? Or is there some other possible explanation?

Pixel Warrior

[flyinyereye]

"Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:KmDvc.3825$rz4.947@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

> Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but more
> evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also some
sound
> dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second, and
> sometimes takes half of the picture with it.
>
> I am in Hobart.

Just wondering if ABC is on VHF channel 12 there, as it is in the other
capitals. You may need a new antenna actually designed to pick up channels
11 (Ten) and 12 (ABC). Prior to digital, VHF and combo aerials were only
designed for channels 0-10 on the VHF band. If that's the case then getting
good ABC analogue has no bearing on your ability to pick up ABC digital.

I've cross-posted to aus.tv.digital in case anyone there can help

[Pixel Warrior]

Thanks -
ABC in Hobart is on Channel 8, 191.5 MHz. Analogue is on 2, 64.161875 MHz.
So I guess the antenna should be OK - as I said, the reception quality is
reported by my STB to be around 90 per cent.



"flyinyereye" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:40bf0726$0$8108$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:KmDvc.3825$rz4.947@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> > Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but
more
> > evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also some
> sound
> > dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second, and
> > sometimes takes half of the picture with it.
> >
> > I am in Hobart.
>
> Just wondering if ABC is on VHF channel 12 there, as it is in the other
> capitals. You may need a new antenna actually designed to pick up channels
> 11 (Ten) and 12 (ABC). Prior to digital, VHF and combo aerials were only
> designed for channels 0-10 on the VHF band. If that's the case then
getting
> good ABC analogue has no bearing on your ability to pick up ABC digital.
>
> I've cross-posted to aus.tv.digital in case anyone there can help
>
>

[Allan]

"Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:6zTvc.5029$rz4.170@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Thanks -
> ABC in Hobart is on Channel 8, 191.5 MHz. Analogue is on 2, 64.161875 MHz.
> So I guess the antenna should be OK - as I said, the reception quality is
> reported by my STB to be around 90 per cent.
>
>
>
> "flyinyereye" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:40bf0726$0$8108$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> > "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> > news:KmDvc.3825$rz4.947@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> >
> > > Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but
> more
> > > evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also some
> > sound
> > > dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second, and
> > > sometimes takes half of the picture with it.
> > >
> > > I am in Hobart.
> >
> > I've cross-posted to aus.tv.digital in case anyone there can help

I would say if you have 90% signal and still getting dropouts, you have some
form of Electrical interference, eg Electric Motor,
Noisy car ignition, noise RF units, Noisy Electrical insulators on the Power
poles out the front of your House.
You will be able to see it on the Analogue Signal, it will be white dots
across the picture. If that is there, its time to Move..

Allan

[Pixel Warrior]

"Allan" <allanaws@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:40c03366$0$8118$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:6zTvc.5029$rz4.170@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> > Thanks -
> > ABC in Hobart is on Channel 8, 191.5 MHz. Analogue is on 2, 64.161875
MHz.
> > So I guess the antenna should be OK - as I said, the reception quality
is
> > reported by my STB to be around 90 per cent.
> >
> >
> >
> > "flyinyereye" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
> > news:40bf0726$0$8108$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> > > "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> > > news:KmDvc.3825$rz4.947@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> > >
> > > > Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but
> > more
> > > > evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also
some
> > > sound
> > > > dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second,
and
> > > > sometimes takes half of the picture with it.
> > > >
> > > > I am in Hobart.
> > >
> > > I've cross-posted to aus.tv.digital in case anyone there can help
>
> I would say if you have 90% signal and still getting dropouts, you have
some
> form of Electrical interference, eg Electric Motor,
> Noisy car ignition, noise RF units, Noisy Electrical insulators on the
Power
> poles out the front of your House.
> You will be able to see it on the Analogue Signal, it will be white dots
> across the picture. If that is there, its time to Move..
>
> Allan
>
>
thanks Allan,
no, there's no white dots on Analogue

[flyinyereye]

"Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:bJiwc.7021$rz4.6344@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> thanks Allan,
> no, there's no white dots on Analogue

OK, I know you said you get 90% signal, but there's signal strength and
there's signal quality.

Further to Allan's suggestion, does turning off your fridge/freezer make any
difference? If it does then maybe you could look into replacing your coax
with quad shield, and installing it away from other electrical wiring in the
house.

Have you tried another box? Maybe your one has a dodgy tuner?

[WDino]

Can be a number of reasons. Most depend on the quality of your STB.
My early model DGtec HD unit has just about all of the problems.
For example,it is extremely sensitive to noise from the mains, so it has
to be used with a good mains power filter between it and the power point.
The cabling that you use between the STB and the antenna can also affect
your STB. We have an 11Kv line outside which sends out noise impulses
every 50Hz cycle. So we used double shielded antenna line AND oriented
the antenna so that we got lowest noise from that source. Note that this
was done before digital TV as it caused too much interference on our
analogue set. Don't actually know whether it would have affected the
digital STB because it was not worth moving it just to test that out.

There can be noise loops depending on how your cabling is connected.
Ideally there should be only one ground connection between the TV and
STB cabling and the mains earth. Unfortunately most people have very
little control over this as it is done inside your TV and/or STB and/or
VCR etc.

Your antenna can also be a problem, depending on how old it is
(corossion and type of elements in it). Whether it is pointed in the
right direction needs to be checked. The antenna connections to the
cable also tend to degrade with time and lose signal as they age.

Overall It sounds like it would be best if you installed a new antenna
with higher gain as well as a new antenna cable.

Allan wrote:
> "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:6zTvc.5029$rz4.170@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
>>Thanks -
>>ABC in Hobart is on Channel 8, 191.5 MHz. Analogue is on 2, 64.161875 MHz.
>>So I guess the antenna should be OK - as I said, the reception quality is
>>reported by my STB to be around 90 per cent.
>>
>>
>>
>>"flyinyereye" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
>>news:40bf0726$0$8108$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
>>
>>>"Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
>>>news:KmDvc.3825$rz4.947@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but
>>
>>more
>>
>>>>evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also some
>>>
>>>sound
>>>
>>>>dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second, and
>>>>sometimes takes half of the picture with it.
>>>>
>>>>I am in Hobart.
>>>
>>>I've cross-posted to aus.tv.digital in case anyone there can help
>
>
> I would say if you have 90% signal and still getting dropouts, you have some
> form of Electrical interference, eg Electric Motor,
> Noisy car ignition, noise RF units, Noisy Electrical insulators on the Power
> poles out the front of your House.
> You will be able to see it on the Analogue Signal, it will be white dots
> across the picture. If that is there, its time to Move..
>
> Allan
>
>

[Pixel Warrior]

thanks
I don't think the STB is a problem - I saw it in action in the shop a few
blocks down from my place, and it works there just fine. Also I don't think
it is faulty because then I expect the blockiness would occur on all
channels, not just on the ABC.
I think I will check out your suggestion of looking at cabling and antenna.
It's a recent antenna but was installed before I got the STB.

Not being very tech-headed, I might need to get in an antenna guy - anyone
know of a good one in Hobart?
thx
pixelwarrior


"WDino" <nogood@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:7ORwc.9863$rz4.3057@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Can be a number of reasons. Most depend on the quality of your STB.
> My early model DGtec HD unit has just about all of the problems.
> For example,it is extremely sensitive to noise from the mains, so it has
> to be used with a good mains power filter between it and the power point.
> The cabling that you use between the STB and the antenna can also affect
> your STB. We have an 11Kv line outside which sends out noise impulses
> every 50Hz cycle. So we used double shielded antenna line AND oriented
> the antenna so that we got lowest noise from that source. Note that this
> was done before digital TV as it caused too much interference on our
> analogue set. Don't actually know whether it would have affected the
> digital STB because it was not worth moving it just to test that out.
>
> There can be noise loops depending on how your cabling is connected.
> Ideally there should be only one ground connection between the TV and
> STB cabling and the mains earth. Unfortunately most people have very
> little control over this as it is done inside your TV and/or STB and/or
> VCR etc.
>
> Your antenna can also be a problem, depending on how old it is
> (corossion and type of elements in it). Whether it is pointed in the
> right direction needs to be checked. The antenna connections to the
> cable also tend to degrade with time and lose signal as they age.
>
> Overall It sounds like it would be best if you installed a new antenna
> with higher gain as well as a new antenna cable.
>
> Allan wrote:
> > "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> > news:6zTvc.5029$rz4.170@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> >
> >>Thanks -
> >>ABC in Hobart is on Channel 8, 191.5 MHz. Analogue is on 2, 64.161875
MHz.
> >>So I guess the antenna should be OK - as I said, the reception quality
is
> >>reported by my STB to be around 90 per cent.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>"flyinyereye" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
> >>news:40bf0726$0$8108$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> >>
> >>>"Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> >>>news:KmDvc.3825$rz4.947@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but
> >>
> >>more
> >>
> >>>>evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also some
> >>>
> >>>sound
> >>>
> >>>>dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second, and
> >>>>sometimes takes half of the picture with it.
> >>>>
> >>>>I am in Hobart.
> >>>
> >>>I've cross-posted to aus.tv.digital in case anyone there can help
> >
> >
> > I would say if you have 90% signal and still getting dropouts, you have
some
> > form of Electrical interference, eg Electric Motor,
> > Noisy car ignition, noise RF units, Noisy Electrical insulators on the
Power
> > poles out the front of your House.
> > You will be able to see it on the Analogue Signal, it will be white dots
> > across the picture. If that is there, its time to Move..
> >
> > Allan
> >
> >

[Pixel Warrior]

fridge/freezer, no difference - also tried computer (close by), and heat
pump - both no go. As in other post, I might try looking at cable/antenna
don't think STB itself is the problem, look at my other post
thx

"flyinyereye" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:40c28f32$0$11506$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net. au...
> "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:bJiwc.7021$rz4.6344@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> >
> > thanks Allan,
> > no, there's no white dots on Analogue
>
> OK, I know you said you get 90% signal, but there's signal strength and
> there's signal quality.
>
> Further to Allan's suggestion, does turning off your fridge/freezer make
any
> difference? If it does then maybe you could look into replacing your coax
> with quad shield, and installing it away from other electrical wiring in
the
> house.
>
> Have you tried another box? Maybe your one has a dodgy tuner?
>
>

[flyinyereye]

"Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:nYZwc.16367$rz4.3460@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> fridge/freezer, no difference - also tried computer (close by), and heat
> pump - both no go. As in other post, I might try looking at cable/antenna
> don't think STB itself is the problem, look at my other post
> thx

Cool, I always try and rule out the non-expense related possibilities first
;-) If you call in someone, make sure they have digital TV expertise.

Good luck.

[Rod Speed]

Pixel Warrior <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:KVZwc.16358$rz4.12014@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

> I don't think the STB is a problem - I saw it in action in the shop a few
> blocks down from my place, and it works there just fine. Also I don't think
> it is faulty because then I expect the blockiness would occur on all
> channels, not just on the ABC.

> I think I will check out your suggestion of looking at cabling and antenna.
> It's a recent antenna but was installed before I got the STB.

It may well have a problem just with the ABC frequency.

> Not being very tech-headed, I might need to get in an
> antenna guy - anyone know of a good one in Hobart?


> "WDino" <nogood@bigpond.com> wrote in message
> news:7ORwc.9863$rz4.3057@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> > Can be a number of reasons. Most depend on the quality of your STB.
> > My early model DGtec HD unit has just about all of the problems.
> > For example,it is extremely sensitive to noise from the mains, so it has
> > to be used with a good mains power filter between it and the power point.
> > The cabling that you use between the STB and the antenna can also affect
> > your STB. We have an 11Kv line outside which sends out noise impulses
> > every 50Hz cycle. So we used double shielded antenna line AND oriented
> > the antenna so that we got lowest noise from that source. Note that this
> > was done before digital TV as it caused too much interference on our
> > analogue set. Don't actually know whether it would have affected the
> > digital STB because it was not worth moving it just to test that out.
> >
> > There can be noise loops depending on how your cabling is connected.
> > Ideally there should be only one ground connection between the TV and
> > STB cabling and the mains earth. Unfortunately most people have very
> > little control over this as it is done inside your TV and/or STB and/or
> > VCR etc.
> >
> > Your antenna can also be a problem, depending on how old it is
> > (corossion and type of elements in it). Whether it is pointed in the
> > right direction needs to be checked. The antenna connections to the
> > cable also tend to degrade with time and lose signal as they age.
> >
> > Overall It sounds like it would be best if you installed a new antenna
> > with higher gain as well as a new antenna cable.
> >
> > Allan wrote:
> > > "Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> > > news:6zTvc.5029$rz4.170@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> > >
> > >>Thanks -
> > >>ABC in Hobart is on Channel 8, 191.5 MHz. Analogue is on 2, 64.161875
> MHz.
> > >>So I guess the antenna should be OK - as I said, the reception quality
> is
> > >>reported by my STB to be around 90 per cent.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>"flyinyereye" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
> > >>news:40bf0726$0$8108$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> > >>
> > >>>"Pixel Warrior" <j_mgrist@zzbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> > >>>news:KmDvc.3825$rz4.947@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>Hope someone can help, I bought a set top box several months ago but
> > >>
> > >>more
> > >>
> > >>>>evenings than not ABC TV is unwatchable due to blockiness - also some
> > >>>
> > >>>sound
> > >>>
> > >>>>dropouts etc. Blockiness at its worst occurs around once a second, and
> > >>>>sometimes takes half of the picture with it.
> > >>>>
> > >>>>I am in Hobart.
> > >>>
> > >>>I've cross-posted to aus.tv.digital in case anyone there can help
> > >
> > >
> > > I would say if you have 90% signal and still getting dropouts, you have
> some
> > > form of Electrical interference, eg Electric Motor,
> > > Noisy car ignition, noise RF units, Noisy Electrical insulators on the
> Power
> > > poles out the front of your House.
> > > You will be able to see it on the Analogue Signal, it will be white dots
> > > across the picture. If that is there, its time to Move..
> > >
> > > Allan
> > >
> > >
>
>