DTT reception issues I think?

[DeTector]

Good afternoon members,

I am struggling with a issue I have only basic knowledge of and was hoping someone can advise me on a possible solution with knowledge of tv reception issues.

I bought a 4K Smart TV with built in digital tv receiver (Samsung) a while back. I mostly use it to stream Netflix etc.

I am living in a appartment building in Gordon's Bay, Western Cape which uses a communal dish/aerial setup with the connections at my wall plug.

I occasionaly want to watch SABC and Etv channels on the new dtt transmission and went out to buy the correct cable to my TV aerial input. Did a scan and it picked up 46 digital channels. The Etv pack of channels is working perfectly and I even get Etv in crystal clear HD. The SABC channels however is causing me problems. I can sometimes watch SABC Sport in HD for example for a couple of minutes without any issues but mostly it says no signal or the image is broken. This is the case with all SABC related channels. Radio channels included.

Does anyone have an opinion on how to fix this issue? Do I buy a signal booster? Is it maybe still in testing phase and the fault lies with the SABC transmitter? I believe the aerial is fine as Etv channels never have a problem.

Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chris54]

I have a DTT decoder box that I'm watching the world cup soccer on in HD on SABC1. Fantastic picture. I presume your decoder will have a signal strength indicator of some sort. The RF levels from etv and SABC should be about the same.

 

[DeTector]

[MENTION=8858]infoseeker[/MENTION] what area are you in? I don't have a decoder as the digital tuner is built into the TV. I can hower access signal quality and signal strength indicators which shows the quality at around 25% and the signal strength at 98% on both SABC and Etv channels. The SABC ones though both go to 0% when the signal dissapears

 

[DeTector]

Checking it now though Etv channels also giving issues. Signal strength stays constant at 98% but the quality indicator is very erratic jumping the whole time anything from 15% to 70%

 

[chris54]

I'm in Durban. Only issue I have is in summer with the lightning storms. My signal strength is consistently at 97% and quality at 100%. Maybe I'm just lucky?

 

[DeTector]

This is a diffucult problem to sort out by myself especially if I have no knowledge in this field. All I can think of is maybe SABC not transmitting at full power yet from the transmitter which a signal booster should fix. But its a gamble. R1000.00 for a booster or call out fee for someone to come have a look see and then telling me I need a booster

 

[Gordon_R]

Thread necro, with DTT becoming imminent:
Did you get any further with this quest, or did it turn out to be a dead-end?

I am living in a complex, and was wondering if there are any strategies in place for communal DTT. Most of the literature refers to individual households.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Geoff.D]

An interesting question. But, I would think that current analog communal antenna systems in good condition should have no issues. The band limits are still the same. However, any distribution amps might need to be checked for compatibility and performance. Would suggest you get hold of Space TV in CT, or whomever maintains the existing system for you. Just look for the $ dollar signs in their eyes before accepting everything they say or claim.

 

[Gordon_R]

An interesting question. But, I would think that current analog communal antenna systems in good condition should have no issues. The band limits are still the same. However, any distribution amps might need to be checked for compatibility and performance. Would suggest you get hold of Space TV in CT, or whomever maintains the existing system for you. Just look for the $ dollar signs in their eyes before accepting everything they say or claim.

Thanks for the response. My question is more general:
Does every household require a set-top box, or can this be done on a communal basis? Or am I flogging a dead horse...

 

[Geoff.D]

That should be possible as it is a receive only setup. The issue is do you need a STB at all? And that depends on how many in the complex have TVs with DVB-T2 tuners built-in.
A STB is only required when existing TVs don't have the right tuners.

 

[Geoff.D]

It would seem that depending on how old the existing system is, the distribution amps would have to be replaced to cope with DTT reception.
A common STB installed might be a way around this issue, but the tennant's will then not benefit much from technology improvements over the years. It would seem in the UK at least, DTT, triggered a process where communal antenna systems were all upgraded to full IRS distribution setups able to distribute signals from terrestrial and satellite systems.
My advice would be to get some advice from a company like SpaceTV or similar.
Most of the modern distribution systems are now optic fibre based systems which brings huge advantages with it from a performance point of view.
Have no idea of what this would cost though.

 

[Gordon_R]

That should be possible as it is a receive only setup. The issue is do you need a STB at all? And that depends on how many in the complex have TVs with DVB-T2 tuners built-in.
A STB is only required when existing TVs don't have the right tuners.

Probably only still a few of us, and mostly with rather old TVs. Mine is HD ready CRT (720i), but definitely not digital. Trying to do on minimal budget, since I hardly watch. Perhaps worth looking at OpenView for each flat. Otherwise SmartTV via ADSL.

 

[Geoff.D]

Probably only still a few of us, and mostly with rather old TVs. Mine is HD ready CRT (720i), but definitely not digital. Trying to do on minimal budget, since I hardly watch. Perhaps worth looking at OpenView for each flat. Otherwise SmartTV via ADSL.

My HD Ready Sinotech has a universal multi standard digital tuner in it. So worth checking yours.