HDTV talk - antenna and reception issues [consolidated]

[Henry Ng]

I have a Sony W800C in one of the bedrooms. I can receive 9 digital channels using an antenna from an old radio. The picture quality is similar to another TV connected to Starhub box.

Your Tv is wall mounted so you take down the Tv to DIY?

 

[ktnpl2005]

Your Tv is wall mounted so you take down the Tv to DIY?

My TV is on a TV console but I think it is not necessary to take down the TV even if it is wall mounted as you just need to plug in the antenna into the cable/antenna/RF port.

 

[ktnpl2005]

You can use any of those in the photo below as antenna to receive digital channels on a digital ready TV once your area has digital TV coverage.

If you use the TV coaxial cable, just leave the other end with F pin unconnected for tuning to digital TV. Do not connect to the wall TV point unless you want to tune to analogue TV.

 

[chengsun]

Managed to get 8 channesl last night after watching football, including ChnU, Okto and CNA. I play ard with the positioning of the antenna. But this morning when I tried again, a few becomes unwatchable, showing no signal though I still have what I want.

Will having a "better" or "more expensive" antenna solve my problem?

Edited:
Signal is quite bad even though I managed to get those channels, the screen blur or freeze every few seconds

 

[ktnpl2005]

Managed to get 8 channesl last night after watching football, including ChnU, Okto and CNA. I play ard with the positioning of the antenna. But this morning when I tried again, a few becomes unwatchable, showing no signal though I still have what I want.

Will having a "better" or "more expensive" antenna solve my problem?

Edited:
Signal is quite bad even though I managed to get those channels, the screen blur or freeze every few seconds

I have experimented with simple antenna (basically spare parts taken from old equipment), Draco antenna and connection to SCV box. There is no visible difference in quality. The quality is tip top even with the most basic antenna. I stay in Bishan too.

 

[Henry Ng]

Managed to get 8 channesl last night after watching football, including ChnU, Okto and CNA. I play ard with the positioning of the antenna. But this morning when I tried again, a few becomes unwatchable, showing no signal though I still have what I want.

Will having a "better" or "more expensive" antenna solve my problem?

Edited:
Signal is quite bad even though I managed to get those channels, the screen blur or freeze every few seconds

You can get the proper antenna to try it out. Ang Mo Kio Fairprice do have the antenna and can return back within 7 days.

 

[ktnpl2005]

In Bishan area, you can receive the following with excellent picture quality using a basic antenna connected to a digital ready TV:

Channel 5 (HD)
Channel 8 (HD)
Suria (HD)
Vasantham (HD)
Channel NewsAsia (HD)
Channel U
Test Channel (HD)
okto (HD)

 

[mrsun18]

Residents in Bishan who have difficulties with digital tv reception can feedback to MediaCorp either by phone or email.

Actually there are only 8 MediaCorp Channels in DVB-T2, as listed by ktnpl2005. Another 4 are transmitted in DVB-T. Those in DVB-T are more difficult to receive as higher signal is required. But if you can't receive these 4 channels, you are not missing any of the MediaCorp channels as they are duplicated in DVB-T2.

 

[mrsun18]

You can get the proper antenna to try it out. Ang Mo Kio Fairprice do have the antenna and can return back within 7 days.

Exchange for another item of same value or higher within 15 days is their policy.

 

[Henry Ng]

Exchange for another item of same value or higher within 15 days is their policy.

Good la, it was 7 days only. I even bought a food item from them but the food turned bad and can not be eaten. They even offer me a refund.

 

[mrsun18]

Good la, it was 7 days only. I even bought a food item from them but the food turned bad and can not be eaten. They even offer me a refund.

Actually, the policy is not static. They used to print it on the receipt but no more. Got to check instore poster for the latest.

 

[chengsun]

Residents in Bishan who have difficulties with digital tv reception can feedback to MediaCorp either by phone or email.

Actually there are only 8 MediaCorp Channels in DVB-T2, as listed by ktnpl2005. Another 4 are transmitted in DVB-T. Those in DVB-T are more difficult to receive as higher signal is required. But if you can't receive these 4 channels, you are not missing any of the MediaCorp channels as they are duplicated in DVB-T2.

adjusted the position, right on top of my TV now (which is about 2, 3m away from windows), reception is alright, but it will freeze a while like every 20 or 30 minutes. does a "better" antenna help? mine is like this:
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/DIGITAL-ANTENNA-FOR-DVB-T2-HD-TV/428970605

thinking to buy this:
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/WAVECOM-ANT-T19-DIGITAL-DVB-T2/420111048

 

[Henry Ng]

adjusted the position, right on top of my TV now (which is about 2, 3m away from windows), reception is alright, but it will freeze a while like every 20 or 30 minutes. does a "better" antenna help? mine is like this:
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/DIGITAL-ANTENNA-FOR-DVB-T2-HD-TV/428970605

thinking to buy this:
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/WAVECOM-ANT-T19-DIGITAL-DVB-T2/420111048

Earlier u did not mention that u are 2-3m away from your window. You are too far away from your window so causing such problem. For such antenna you must put it on the window or a bit outside the window to receive clearly.

 

[mrsun18]

adjusted the position, right on top of my TV now (which is about 2, 3m away from windows), reception is alright, but it will freeze a while like every 20 or 30 minutes. does a "better" antenna help? mine is like this:
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/DIGITAL-ANTENNA-FOR-DVB-T2-HD-TV/428970605

thinking to buy this:
http://list.qoo10.sg/item/WAVECOM-ANT-T19-DIGITAL-DVB-T2/420111048

I can understand every one wants certainty. Unfortunately, as far as reception is concerned, every case is unique. What works for me may not work for you. ktnpl2005 quoted examples that work for him. And I have one simple DIY (http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/85246624-post1901.html) that works (I am also in Bishan area).

So either you feedback to MediaCorp and wait for their response or take the plunge to buy one. To minimise the risk, buy from a seller with refund or exchange policy, as suggested by Henry Ng. Alternatively you can try extending the coaxial cable so that the antenna is nearer to the window.

 

[Henry Ng]

I can understand every one wants certainty. Unfortunately, as far as reception is concerned, every case is unique. What works for me may not work for you. ktnpl2005 quoted examples that work for him. And I have one simple DIY (http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/85246624-post1901.html) that works (I am also in Bishan area).

So either you feedback to MediaCorp and wait for their response or take the plunge to buy one. To minimise the risk, buy from a seller with refund or exchange policy, as suggested by Henry Ng. Alternatively you can try extending the coaxial cable so that the antenna is nearer to the window.

Putting the antenna at the window may resolve the issue.

 

[mrsun18]

Putting the antenna at the window may resolve the issue.

"Try" and "may resolve" mean the same thing.

 

[ktnpl2005]

I experimented today with the magnetic antenna and placed it away from the window. It does not affect the video quality as can be seen from the photo below.

 

[ktnpl2005]

I also tried connecting the Draco digital antenna. There is no difference in the video quality compared to the basic antennas.

 

[mrsun18]

I also tried connecting the Draco digital antenna. There is no difference in the video quality compared to the basic antennas.

Thanks for the pics. Yes, no change so long as the signal strength is better than the sensitivity of the tuner. As long as the signal stays above, the picture is perfect. That is the beauty of digital tv.

You can check the signal strength received by Draco STB (if you are using one) by going into manual tuning and tune one by one from Ch 27 to Ch 33 (odd nos.) But this is only a visual aid. The 50% or 100% has no reference point so you don't really what they mean.

 

[ktnpl2005]

I am surprised that I managed to find 5 different types of antennas in my home. No expenses was made with the experiments