TV aerial alignment (4 Viewers)

[groovybaby]

Some of my Freeview channels are getting increased dropout or are non existent.
So is there a way (using MP) to check the TV signal strength on each channel while adjusting the aerials alignment,

 

[CyberSimian]

is there a way (using MP) to check the TV signal strength on each channel while adjusting the aerials alignment,

MP1 has a "Tuning Details" panel, that shows the signal strength and signal quality in real time (i.e. they are continuously updated). But we are in the MP2 section of the web site, and I don't know whether MP2 has a similar tuning-details panel.

Instead of using MP1/MP2, you could use "TV Server Config", which is substantially the same for both MP1 and MP2. Go to the "Manual Control" section, select a channel to tune, and start timeshifting. Two horizontal bars appear displaying the signal strength and signal quality, and these are updated in real time.

Another possibility would be to use a separate tool called ScanChannelsBDA. There is a repository for it on GitHub, but I have just downloaded the zip and it does not contain an exe for ScanChannelsBDA. There have also been various updates to it that have not been included on GitHub. I have four different versions of the exe, but it is not clear which has more function, as changes were made by different people without any coordination of version numbers.

On balance I think that "TV Server Config" is the tool to use, although I will post the ScanChannelBDA exe if anyone wants it and cannot find it on the internet (the licence is GNU Version 2).

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[groovybaby]

MP1 has a "Tuning Details" panel, that shows the signal strength and signal quality in real time (i.e. they are continuously updated). But we are in the MP2 section of the web site, and I don't know whether MP2 has a similar tuning-details panel.

Instead of using MP1/MP2, you could use "TV Server Config", which is substantially the same for both MP1 and MP2. Go to the "Manual Control" section, select a channel to tune, and start timeshifting. Two horizontal bars appear displaying the signal strength and signal quality, and these are updated in real time.

Another possibility would be to use a separate tool called ScanChannelsBDA. There is a repository for it on GitHub, but I have just downloaded the zip and it does not contain an exe for ScanChannelsBDA. There have also been various updates to it that have not been included on GitHub. I have four different versions of the exe, but it is not clear which has more function, as changes were made by different people without any coordination of version numbers.

On balance I think that "TV Server Config" is the tool to use, although I will post the ScanChannelBDA exe if anyone wants it and cannot find it on the internet (the licence is GNU Version 2).

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

Many thanks for the reply.
So I tried "TV Server Config" which shows that the 'signal quality' is poor on many channels.

So I connected the TV aerial cable direct to the TV, and all the channels seem OK.

Which suggests that the problem is with the HTPC.
Which uses these 2 x 4 channel cards:
TBS 6205 QUAD FREEVIEW DVB-T2_T_C Terrestrial _ Cable Quad TV Tuner PCIe Card
So has anyone had similar problems with these cards?

Or could it be the MP2 software, as no one appears to be doing any updates for it now?

Many thanks.

 

[CyberSimian]

I connected the TV aerial cable direct to the TV, and all the channels seem OK.

The accepted view is that TVs have tuners that are more sensitive than the tuners used by HTPCs. So your signal level may be marginal for the TBS tuners in your HTPC, but significantly above marginal for the tuner in the TV (so that it does not show any visible defects).

TV reception is also affected by atmospheric conditions, which can allow signals from distant transmitters (not the one you usually receive from) to arrive at your aerial with a level sufficient to cause interference with your wanted signal, causing momentary pixelation or audible squawks. This summer has been exceptionally hot for extended periods, which I think caused problems with TV reception, as I also encountered pixelation on channels that normally have no problems (I have a TBS 6284 card).

One point: the signal-strength and signal-quality levels displayed by different devices are not comparable. For example, my Sony TV's meters show 100% quality and 99% strength for the DVB-T2 (high-def) MUX, but TV Server shows 68% quality and 54% strength for the same MUX (and usually I don't have any pixelation when viewing channels in that MUX).

Some releases of MP2 were shipped with two or three different TV Servers: TVE3, TVE3.5, and TvMosaic. Only TVE3 works correctly (the others work partially). If you selected TVE3.5 or TvMosaic when you installed MP2, you should run the installer again and this time select TVE3. MP1 uses TVE3.

So, some actions to consider:

• Review the transmitters that serve your area, and make sure that you are using the one that gives the strongest signals. View this page, enter your postcode, click "Check", then click "Detailed transmitter view".
• Ensure that the aerial is correctly aligned for the transmitter that you have chosen (if more than one).
• Fit a bigger aerial (one with more elements). This will capture more signal while at the same time being more directional (so better able to reject signals from other directions).
• Fit an aerial amplifier. This should be as near the aerial as possible. This is easy to do if you are using a loft aerial, difficult if you are using a roof-top aerial.
• Fit higher quality aerial cable (to reduce reduction in signal strength caused by the cable). Satellite-grade aerial cable is recommended.
• Unplug and replug all of the aerial cables that feed your HPTC. This should remove any oxidation on the connectors that might be reducing the signal level, and also verifies that all of the plugs are fully inserted, and not in the process of falling out of the socket.
• Use high-quality aerial cables to connect your HTPC to the aerial socket in the room where the HTPC is located. If you made these cables yourself, check that the plugs are securely connected to the cable.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[groovybaby]

...The accepted view is that TVs have tuners that are more sensitive than the tuners used by HTPCs. So your signal level may be marginal for the TBS tuners in your HTPC, but significantly above marginal for the tuner in the TV (so that it does not show any visible defects)....

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

cybersimian: Many thanks for the info.

I cant get to my outside aerial at the moment, to improve it.
So have you (or anyone else) had any experience/success boosting the signal with an amplifier at the input to the HTPC ?

 

[2BitSculptor]

I just assumed I'd need an amplifier for my rooftop aerial (broadcasters are 45-60 miles away, both east and west) and have never checked strength or quality without one. I've never had any issues with dropped signal or interference, unless storms or significant wind are in the area.

 

[CyberSimian]

So have you (or anyone else) had any experience/success boosting the signal with an amplifier at the input to the HTPC ?

An aerial amplifier can boost only the signal that it receives as input. If the signal already has drop-outs caused by atmospheric conditions corrupting the signal, the aerial amplifier cannot correct those drop-outs. If the extent of the drop-outs exceeds the error-correction capability of the tuner decoder, the drop-outs will be audible and/or visible on screen.

I do use a one input/four output aerial amplifier adjacent to my HTPC, but that is so that I can feed the two inputs on my TBS 6284 card, the one input on my Pinnacle 2000i card, and the input on the TV, with signals at the same signal level. But I don't think that it reduces pixelation or audible chirps.

I should add that I too have experienced more-frequent pixelation and chirping over the summer (Rowridge transmitter). I think that this may be due to the exceptional weather that we have had this year. Possibly reception will return to "normal" as winter approaches.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK