Reception troubles in Canberra

[cactoid]

Hi all,

I held off posting this because I was using a borrowed AVerMedia AVerTV DVB-T (USB 2.0) tuner, but my problems persist with my own Terratec Cinergy 2400iDT card.

I get the following (16) services:

ABC TV Canberra
SBS DIGITAL 1
SC10 Canberra
WIN TV Canberra
ABC HDTV
ABC2
ABC TV
SBS HD
SBS EPG
SBS DIGITAL 2
SC10 HD
WIN TV HD
SBS RADIO 1
SBS RADIO 2
ABC DiG Radio
ABC DiG Jazz

I'm not sure what I *should* see in this list, but I'm guessing I should see at least one PRIME channel. I have read that PRIME HDTV only broadcasts when there's something showing, but am I wrong in saying that good old fashioned PRIME should be there?

Also, I have great difficult (read: it hardly ever works) watching WIN TV Canberra/WIN TV HD.

Now, I'm in O'Connor with great visibility of Telstra Tower, but I'm in an apartment and god only knows how many times the signal is being split. I originally gave up on FTA analogue because it was so bad and got TransACT when I first moved in here a few years ago. Since then, allegedly, the building antenna has been fixed, but I have my doubts.

What are my options? I've read about people having success with powered antennas. Why is it only WIN and PRIME that give me grief? The other channels seem quite reliable - sometimes there are a few hiccups when I first switch to a new channel but it seems to come good after that.

cheers!

[renura]

Yes, you should see the full Prime multiplex of channels:

PRIME Canberra
PRIME HD
PRIME View 1
PRIME View 2
PRIME View 2

Allthough they are basically all the same If you are unable to tune them and are having issues with Win, it s most likely your antenna, you may need to fix that.

[Eaglehawk]

He's not going crazy, he's got the same problem as the rest of us:

New (currently freezing) member from Canberra

I'm not sure what to do to fix it...renura?

[renura]

He's not going crazy, he's got the same problem as the rest of us:

New (currently freezing) member from Canberra

I'm not sure what to do to fix it...renura?

Hmm, no idea never had an issue with Prime, with any application including Media Center. Have you checked what sort of signal strenght/quality you get for Prime? Is it better/worse than the other channels? Do you have any devices (wireless?) that might interfere at that particular frequency (226500)?

[Eaglehawk]

The FusionHDTV app works fine. Signal strength is excellent.

Which transmission tower do you use renura?

[renura]

The FusionHDTV app works fine. Signal strength is excellent.

Which transmission tower do you use renura?

Black Mountain

[Eaglehawk]

(From previous thread)

These are the stations I pick up:

MCE2005 (Total 18):
ABC TV Canberra
SBS DIGITAL 1
SC10 Canberra
PRIME Canberra
WIN TV Canberra
ABC HDTV
ABC2
ABC TV
SBS HD
SBS EPG
SBS DIGITAL 2
SC10 HD
PRIME HD
WIN TV HD
SBS RADIO 1
SBS RADIO 2
ABC DiG Radio
ABC DiG Jazz

FusionHDTV (Total 21):
SC10 Canberra
SC10 HD
ABC TV
ABC TV Canberra
ABC2
ABC HDTV
ABC DiG Jazz
ABC DiG Radio
WIN TV Canberra
WIN TV HD
PRIME Canberra
PRIME HD
PRIME View 1
PRIME View 2
PRIME View 3
SBS HD
SBS DIGITAL 1
SBS DIGITAL 2
SBS EPG
SBS RADIO 1
SBS RADIO 2

As you can see, the PRIME channels are missing, and on top of that, PRIME HD drops out most of the time. (I'd say it's never there except when I get lucky)

I haven't bothered trying a booster yet, maybe it's TOO strong a signal for us in Turner?!

[renura]

Do you actually have line of sight to the tower, or are shadowed by the mountain? It is easy to see if the signal is too strong, unplug the aerial and use your finger as an antenna

[Eaglehawk]

Line of sight to tower.

I live on the corner of Northbourne Avenue and Barry drive, so not at the foot of the tower.

I did try using a human antennae thing, not much help. Rabbit ears?

[renura]

Sure you can try rabbit ears, you can also try it in different locations around your PC, its amazing how even small changes can make a difference with Digital TV reception