[Merged]Freeview aerial installation - Page 6

graham001 · 04-08-2007, 23:12

"On the Cheap"

I think that says it all!

superbiatch · 12-08-2007, 22:51

Been reading about problems with freeview and how usually any loss of picture (pixellation and freezing) is down to the aerial. I have a bit of a problem in that i live in an apartment block with approx half being lived in - 14 floors and 80 apartments. Its a new block with 'brand new' aerial on top (according to the management company!). I've mailed them asking, which is how i know.

When i complained they said they'd received no other complaints about freeview viewing, but it seems to be weather related. If the slightest bit of drizzle starts, i lose all channels except BBC and Sky 3

. The management company tell me the block is activated for Sky, so basically this is my alternative. Firstly, i don't watch enough TV and secondly i can't really afford Sky. Is there any tests i can run on my own freeview box to find out if it is functioning ok? (although its weird how i only have problems when its bad weather - which we've had a lot of recently).

Once i have my ammunition, i can start asking other owners if they have had problems and take it forward with the (tight!) management company to get it looked at.

Thanks for any help

altis · 13-08-2007, 09:13

It may well be a problem with water getting into the cable system between the aerial and your STB.

There'll be a page in the setup menu that displays the signal strength and signal 'quality' - usually with a bar graph display. I suggest you keep having a shufty at this and, on a bad day, take a photo (without flash). Let us know what the figures are and we might consider your possible actions.

superbiatch · 16-08-2007, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

It may well be a problem with water getting into the cable system between the aerial and your STB.

There'll be a page in the setup menu that displays the signal strength and signal 'quality' - usually with a bar graph display. I suggest you keep having a shufty at this and, on a bad day, take a photo (without flash). Let us know what the figures are and we might consider your possible actions.

OK, it a little drizzly outside at the moment and as usual i've lost all channels apart from BBC and Sky 3. Below is a pic i've taken as you suggested. I hope you can see it ok, but if not there is a tiny line of red on the bar graph way before the no. 1

If it is as you suggested, then the water has a very long way to go to my STB because i'm on the 3rd floor of 14.

altis · 16-08-2007, 21:29

Mmmm... not so much attenuated as completely disappeared!

Are you sure you're looking at the right channel. If you are, then grab another photo of when it's working properly. Then it's time to tackle your landlord again.

superbiatch · 16-08-2007, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

Mmmm... not so much attenuated as completely disappeared!

Are you sure you're looking at the right channel. If you are, then grab another photo of when it's working properly. Then it's time to tackle your landlord again.

Right, rain has stopped and no wind and below is a pic of my best channel BBC1 signal strength - is that poor signal strength? Could you confirm its more than likely the aerial thats at fault? TIA

altis · 16-08-2007, 22:49

I very much doubt that it's a faulty aerial. Does it move when it rains? I think not.

As I said before, it's most likely water getting into an amp somewhere. Whatever, it's not your problem. All you have to show is that the rain affects your signal and those two photos should do the trick.

superbiatch · 16-08-2007, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

I very much doubt that it's a faulty aerial. Does it move when it rains? I think not.

As I said before, it's most likely water getting into an amp somewhere. Whatever, it's not your problem. All you have to show is that the rain affects your signal and those two photos should do the trick.

I don't know if it moves, i'm not brave enough to go and look

But thanks for your advice, i'll get onto the management company

superbiatch · 20-08-2007, 19:49

I thought i'd better confess i think my freeview box may have been to blame for the poor signal, picture quality and lack of channels. A friend gave me a new freeview box today and i have loads more channels - including Setanta 1 which i thought was subscription only?? Because we have a shared aerial for the whole block of apartments, is it possible that one person has subscribed and we will all receive it via freeview?

altis · 20-08-2007, 20:16

No. The card in your friend's Freeview box is subscribed to the Setanta channel - or the box and card are clones of others that are.

graham001 · 20-08-2007, 21:38

or it was just a fluke and you just so happened to tune in while they were having a "free 5 minutes".

superbiatch · 20-08-2007, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by graham001

or it was just a fluke and you just so happened to tune in while they were having a "free 5 minutes".

Seems you could be right!

orangebear · 07-08-2008, 17:55

Has anyone had dealings with Action Aerials?? I have had nothing but trouble since they left. My wife in my absence signed the cheque for £220 for one aerial and booster, when they initally quoted £120!
The old equipment was left on my drive,along with cabling and the new one has started to fracture as it blows around like it's made of rubber.. As for their customer service, nothing but excuses and no return calls. Had to get the CAI involved. Or have I caught them on a bad day??

moaningmags · 07-08-2008, 19:49

You'll find them being discussed here.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/64...tallation.html

dragon · 14-08-2008, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

Been reading about problems with freeview and how usually any loss of picture (pixellation and freezing) is down to the aerial. I have a bit of a problem in that i live in an apartment block with approx half being lived in - 14 floors and 80 apartments. Its a new block with 'brand new' aerial on top (according to the management company!). I've mailed them asking, which is how i know.

When i complained they said they'd received no other complaints about freeview viewing, but it seems to be weather related. If the slightest bit of drizzle starts, i lose all channels except BBC and Sky 3

. The management company tell me the block is activated for Sky, so basically this is my alternative. Firstly, i don't watch enough TV and secondly i can't really afford Sky. Is there any tests i can run on my own freeview box to find out if it is functioning ok? (although its weird how i only have problems when its bad weather - which we've had a lot of recently).

Once i have my ammunition, i can start asking other owners if they have had problems and take it forward with the (tight!) management company to get it looked at.

Thanks for any help

I see from a later post you seem to have it sorted anyway but I thought i'd still mention this incase it helps in the future.

If the satellite dish is already there and working then in theory you could just either buy an Ex Sky box off ebay and use a FreeSatallite from sky card (Decrypts certian channels) or buy a freesat box and connect it to the satellite output.

I'm pretty sure the Freesat boxes pickup their signal from the same constellation as SKY and can be used with a dish originally installed for sky.