Problems with TV reception - ? Yorkshire ? Hardware

[The_Doc]

I use a Humax 9200T freeview box and have a standard size aeriel in my loft installed 10years ago (in Meanwood,Leeds)

My problem is very poor digital TV signal, on cetain channels only, through the freeview box. Weirdly it seems to be Five, Virgin1, TMF and 4music, and when these channels are crap the other channels are perfect.

The Humax box can display signal Strength and Quality on each channel and the strength varies across channels at about 50%, with 100-90% quality giving a great picture and unsurprisingly 40% quality giving a bad picture.

I bought a signal strength booster which has pushed the strength of all channels to about 65%, but the crap channels can still drop picture and block severely at times.

Very intermittant problem with sometimes all channels displaying a great picture (Strenth 100%, Qual 100%)

Can this really be a problem within the limits of my set-up? I change nothing and sometimes the problem cures itself.

Feels alot more like a broadcast problem.... Emley Moor Mast? Nothing on their website.. anyone else have problems with free view in North Leeds

Shall I cross post another forum?

[quattroTom]

Television in Yorkshire? Ee bah gum! Isn't the wireless more than good enough for you lad?

The_Doc said:

standard size aeriel in my loft 10 years ago

That will be part of your problem. Get a proper freeview aerial installed (£60 ish), outside preferably. Also, the signal booster you're using not only boosts the TV signal, but also boosts all the noise as well, so they're not a great solution.

Humidity seems to affect Freeview reception too, as well as pesky mopeds!

HTH

Cheers
Tom

[telecat]

9200's are pretty good at pulling in the signal so it's basically down to your Aerial. You can do one of two things. Wait until the switchover when the signal strength is bossted ten fold or get an external Digital aerial. I'm in Scholes and get 60% on my 9200T. I have no problems with any of the channels but it is possible to see Emley Moor from the outskirts of the village.

[burriana]

Yep, as above. I was told that you need a proper digi aerial to receive a digi signal. I'm surprised that you are getting 50% on a standard aerial.

Or just get SKY?

[BlueMR2]

We get ok signal on freeview from an internal ariel thats boosted.

However its quite position dependant and other electrical items can interfere, eg put on a games console in the next room and you wont get much out of it.

Do you have anything electrical (room lights in the roof perhaps?) that when turned on drop your signal down? also wind and rain can make a difference at times on the little ariel.

[skip_1]

Meanwood in particular has problems with Freeview signal, mine was ok down part of Meanwood Rd and terrible at another part due to line of sight and a hill behind flat.

[snotrag]

I'm close by (east leeds), same distance from Emley Moor, and also using a 9200 Humax.

As above - the problem is your aerial. get a local Aerial fitted out to fit a proper Digital spec aerial and good cabling - you should get a great signal.

[The_Doc]

wow.

cheers lads for the replies, didn't expect so much help.

In conclusion:
1)Sky: not going to pay £400/year for stuff I don't want to watch. Not a sport-phile
2)Can't wait until switch over as wife moans incessantly about not being able to watch CSI right now
3)my aeriel was fitted by Barratt Homes, so unlikely to be much cop
4)remove the signal booster then? It was £15.
5) Get an external Digital aeriel fitted by A Man. ?£60

will.

[Captain Beaky]

The_Doc said:

5) Get an external Digital aeriel fitted by A Man. ?£60

A good fitter will have a meter which will show signal strength so the direction can be optimised while he (or she) is up their ladder. Much easier than shouting "Is that better ?" about 100 times.

[The_Doc]

Great.

So can anyone recommend a decent aerial erector in Leeds?

Also, I now have three coaxial cables coming off the (crappy)loft aerial, to three wall sockets in the house. Is this going to be a problem? Or shall I just wait until the man comes and let him do his job

[netherfield]

0800 028 6223

Aerial service company did me a brilliant job on a freesat dish,based Huddersfield,Halifax and Bingley.

Did a sight visit and quoted a price,it turned out ot be a lot more complicated the he expected,but he still stuck to the quoted figure which was £20 less than 2 others.

[Captain Beaky]

YHM