Drifta "Weak Signal" Issue

M

MongooseMan

Expert Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Messages
1,352
Reaction score
62
Location
Cape Town
I keep getting the "Weak Signal" message on my iPhone when using the Drifta despite being in an area covered (comfortably) on the map and my phone showing 4 bars of signal.
This occurs pretty much once every 10 minutes and is very frustrating.

Is this normal or is something wrong with my Drifta?
 
The Drifta signal comes from Sentech Towers, not cellphone towers.
 
MongooseMan said:
OK, what implication does that have on my question?

Thanks
Click to expand...

This means the bars on your iphone does not indicate strength of signal per your post. I have solved signal problems by connecting an external antenna to my retractable antenna on the drifta. The external antenna pointing in the direction of a Sentech tower. Now I have 100% signal all the time while I had 0% previously.
 
madmax2010 said:
This means the bars on your iphone does not indicate strength of signal per your post. I have solved signal problems by connecting an external antenna to my retractable antenna on the drifta. The external antenna pointing in the direction of a Sentech tower. Now I have 100% signal all the time while I had 0% previously.
Click to expand...

how do you know the position of the tower ?
 
You move the external antenna until everything remains stable with clear picture.
 
madmax2010 said:
This means the bars on your iphone does not indicate strength of signal per your post. I have solved signal problems by connecting an external antenna to my retractable antenna on the drifta. The external antenna pointing in the direction of a Sentech tower. Now I have 100% signal all the time while I had 0% previously.
Click to expand...

I wasn't referring to the phone bars, I was referring to the bars at the bottom left of the drifta screen.
I have four of those, and then suddenly get the "weak signal" message.


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App
 
MongooseMan said:
I wasn't referring to the phone bars, I was referring to the bars at the bottom left of the drifta screen.
I have four of those, and then suddenly get the "weak signal" message.


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App
Click to expand...
Sorry, my mistake - It did not look that way to me - still an external antenna may do the trick - rotate the antenna until you see full signal - if you already see so many bars without an external antenna, you should get a really super signal even with bunny ears.
 
madmax2010 said:
Sorry, my mistake - It did not look that way to me - still an external antenna may do the trick - rotate the antenna until you see full signal - if you already see so many bars without an external antenna, you should get a really super signal even with bunny ears.
Click to expand...

Cool, no worries. There's another guy at work with a Drifta now, so I might ask him to "swap" tomorrow to try work out if the issue is the Drifta, the iPhone or the signal.
 
MongooseMan said:
I keep getting the "Weak Signal" message on my iPhone when using the Drifta despite being in an area covered (comfortably) on the map and my phone showing 4 bars of signal.
This occurs pretty much once every 10 minutes and is very frustrating.

Is this normal or is something wrong with my Drifta?
Click to expand...

I received the same error: "Weak signal" on my iPhone while watching TV with the Drifta. The only way to fix this is doing the following: You must reset the network settings. Go to settings, general, reset, reset network settings. The weak signal error message will dissapear. It is a hazel to every time reset, but at least the problem is fixed. I realy don't no what the problem could be. I changed my dstv drifta already 3 times, but same error. I think the problem could be with the iphone. I don't know if other iPhone users are experience the same problem.
 
hey guys ...does anyone know what i can use to extend the antenna ...maybe attach a piece of cable that will get me better signal

cause i do get full bars but sometimes it goes crazy so maybe if i can get the cable outside the window it will be better
 
hey guys ...does anyone know what i can use to extend the antenna ...maybe attach a piece of cable that will get me better signal

cause i do get full bars but sometimes it goes crazy so maybe if i can get the cable outside the window it will be better
 
samr1wp said:
hey guys ...does anyone know what i can use to extend the antenna ...maybe attach a piece of cable that will get me better signal

cause i do get full bars but sometimes it goes crazy so maybe if i can get the cable outside the window it will be better
Click to expand...

Buy one of these remote control TV antennas from a Chinese shop. Strip the "To TV" wire and connect either the outer or inner wire to your drifra antenna. Plug antenna power in, switch on and tune antenna with remote control until u get 100% signal - thats what I do and I live nearly 50km from the sentech transmission facility.

:D
 
pragmatic said:
Buy one of these remote control TV antennas from a Chinese shop. Strip the "To TV" wire and connect either the outer or inner wire to your drifra antenna. Plug antenna power in, switch on and tune antenna with remote control until u get 100% signal - thats what I do and I live nearly 50km from the sentech transmission facility.

:D
Click to expand...

something like this
ARN-103.JPG


thats a good idea so then the antenna is a booster basically ....
 
samr1wp said:
something like this
ARN-103.JPG


thats a good idea so then the antenna is a booster basically ....
Click to expand...

Nope - It looks like a full-blown outdoors antenna, not indoors. So you fit it on your roof on a broomstick or something similar. They cost from R99 to R150. The remote control actually make it turn direction. It does have a built-in booster.
 
pragmatic said:
Nope - It looks like a full-blown outdoors antenna, not indoors. So you fit it on your roof on a broomstick or something similar. They cost from R99 to R150. The remote control actually make it turn direction. It does have a built-in booster.
Click to expand...

oh damn haha ...i do get rececption 100% at most times but it does go off alot as well

if i use that antenna in the pic open it up and well connect the drifta to that maybe it will work
 
Hi

I have used a steel coat hanger to get a good signal.

Solder a piece of copper wire to the hanger and use a pincher of some sort to attach it to the Drifta antenna.
Tape the hanger to a broomstick and move it around till you get a good signal.


Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X