Explora vs hd pvr 2p picture quality on RF

[Mobus]

I recently installed an explora for my dad in an extraview setup. He also has a hd pvr 2p.

The hdmi video quality seems slightly better on the newer explora but for some reason the explora's rf out/analog picture quality is much much worse on the TV upstairs. The cricket score text is almost blurry / out of focus / with ghost image.

It could be an rf reflection but doesn't change or improve on a different uhf channel. Also the hdpvr has its rf out connected to the explora rf in, so both decoders show up on the tv upstairs on the same coax cable. Hdpvr on 22. Tried explora on ~63, 65, 27, 28, 32, 33. No change. Hdpvr picture quality wins hands down in a live comparison.

Any ideas? Anyone else notices a similar issue?

 

[Geoff.D]

Make sure the decoders are set to PAL I as well as the TVs involved. use the lowest possible channel numbers rather than the decoder defaults which are 61/63. Separate the UHF channels by at least one - as an example 21 23.
Check the cable connections, all of them.
Rather combine the RF OUT signals of the two decoders through a 2 x 4 active SLX splitter which will then amplify the RF signal a bit as well as amplify the remote control return signals back to the decoders.

Having said all that, the LAST MC decoder that had a really quality RF remodulator was the SD PVR. The HD PVR 2P and the 4-tuners were worse and the Exploras are absolutely terrible, The feedthrough performance of all the Exploras with RF remodulators are terrible, hence why it is better to combine the RF OUT signals.

The Explora 3A and the HD decoders, 5 and 6 series have no RF remodulators in them anymore.

 

[Mobus]

Thanks for the quick response Geoff. Your insights have been very valuable.

Encoding std:
The hdpvr was on pal I. The explora seems to be on pal bg. The TV auto detects both correctly. Forcing the TV to pal I obviously doesnt work. Cant seem to change bg to i anywhere on the explora?

Cabling:
The hdpvr was on the exact same cable before without issues.
Unfortunately I dont have a 2x4 active splitter to test. I do have a 2x1 passive splitter. Could I use that in reverse?
I also have a simple f-type t-piece and I have seen people use that as a combiner but electrically that has never made much sense to me.

Modulator:
I have tested the rf transmission of the explora on its own ("rf in" disconnected). No change - so the feedthrough has no effect.
Maybe I could run the explora as feedthrough on the hdpvr and let it "buffer" the explora signal so to speak.
I guess I should also test the explora rf out with a short cable straight to the nearby HD TV. Atleast that could eliminate signal degradation or cabling issues and point the finger to a particularly terrible explora modulator.

RF frequency:
I could try an even lower frequency below #22 but as I said the previous changes didnt lead to any improvement.
The lengthy in-wall cable up to the second floor acts as a terrestrial antenna for the TV upstairs. Normal ATV channels is super snowy (and I carefully select the decoder channel as to not clash with terrestrial channels) but the DTV channels pick up perfectly. Now heres the strange bit: when I set the explora uhf channel to anything in the ~22 to 32 range, the DTV channels would break up and get all choppy. I'll see if channel 4/5/6 could work. Equally strange the hdpvr on 22 has no effect on the "parasitic" DTV signal quality.

 

[Geoff.D]

If the cable run is relatively short a t piece might work OK. A passive splitter is better except that it might adversely affect remote control of the decoders from upstairs. Try it and see.
The Sox splitter comes into its own because it is designed to power tvLINKS at the remote TVs .

Yes the channel selection will be affected by any other signals that find their way into cabling so, that has to be taken into account.
It would probably be better to use the 2P as the feed through rather than the Explora.
T piece is the simplest and many find it works despite the theory saying it is not preferable.

 

[Geoff.D]

I don't have an Explora myself working as I still use the 4 tuner decoders.
There is a setup screen somewhere where you can set the system I just can't point you to where except it is somewhere in the setup menu.

 

[Geoff.D]

I recently had to change one of my RF channels when a new DTT gap filler came on line which messed quite badly with CH 23.
What might help is if you can I'd what analogue chs are in use in your area.
The 2P has reasonable discrimination and filtering which means that it does cause less interference than the Explora.
The 4 tuners are not bad in that regard either.
How is the HB between the decoders being handled?

 

[Mobus]

Hi Geoff

I found the pal I / BG setting under the audio and video user preferences of the explora (i just assumed it would be under the uhf menu ).

My dad changed the setting on his side and claims some improvement in video quality though I havent had the chance to look at it myself. I must also still try some of the other tips (probably only in march). I'll give feedback when we do.

Ps. HB is from hdpvr rf out to explora rf in.
A f-type t-piece on this cable feeds tv 1.
Explora rf out goes straight to tv 2.
Its a deliberate choice to have only hdpvr on tv1 but both decoders on tv2.

 

[Geoff.D]

MCs decoder software is so bad hence why I say it is better to set for PAL I, assuming they have ensured the decoder will work the best using that standard. On my Hi sense and Sinotech Tvs, the decoders definitely perform worse when set tp PAL BG.
Are the decoders all in the same room?
If you are only going to try again in March, take along a 2 x 4 Triad SLX splitter available from MC, Space TV and Ellies. Especially if there are tvLINKS involved at the remote TVs.