HDTV talk - antenna and reception issues [consolidated]

[ktnpl2005]

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.)

I do not have the Draco STB. The Draco antenna and magnetic antenna were free gifts that came with a Sony PC purchased in 2008.

My objective is to let everyone know that it is not necessary to buy an expensive antenna to receive digital broadcast.

Placement also does not matter. We now have the freedom to watch digital TV anywhere.

 

[Henry Ng]

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.

May be your location is good so the signal is strong and you are staying at high storey.

 

[ktnpl2005]

May be your location is good so the signal is strong and you are staying at high storey.

14th storey at Bishan East unobstructed view

 

[chengsun]

Thanks all for the inputs and guidance.

I bought one antenna with 6m cable (the $10 one came with 1m cable) from fairprice xtra nex this afternoon. Tried it, if I put it outside of windows, I can receive 14 channels in total, including those 700+ and 800+ channels with excellent quality. But still not the case indoor. Now I stick it to the wall just beside the windows (damaged the wall paint while trying to run the cable nicely, sibeh pekcek), can receive 11 channels now.

Just realize that digital is actually lagging behind analogue bu 1 to 2 seconds, haha.

I think I will feedback to Mediacorp regarding the indoor reception issue in my house. Not sure if anything can be done but just try.

 

[chengsun]

Mine is 7th floor along St 22.

14th storey at Bishan East unobstructed view

 

[Henry Ng]

Mine is 7th floor along St 22.

Your house may be blocked or the location is not so ideal. In the olden day my family used to have a 18" black and white tv with a built-In antenna. A bit like in the olden day.

 

[ktnpl2005]

Mine is 7th floor along St 22.

You may want to feedback to MediaCorp that the coverage is weaker at Bishan North compared to Bishan East so that they can consider to boost the signal at your area.

 

[Henry Ng]

You may want to feedback to MediaCorp that the coverage is weaker at Bishan North compared to Bishan East so that they can consider to boost the signal at your area.

Heard that many places that are blocked and lower storey will have such issue. At least the issue is resolved.

 

[mrsun18]

Thanks all for the inputs and guidance.

I bought one antenna with 6m cable (the $10 one came with 1m cable) from fairprice xtra nex this afternoon. Tried it, if I put it outside of windows, I can receive 14 channels in total, including those 700+ and 800+ channels with excellent quality. But still not the case indoor. Now I stick it to the wall just beside the windows (damaged the wall paint while trying to run the cable nicely, sibeh pekcek), can receive 11 channels now.

Just realize that digital is actually lagging behind analogue bu 1 to 2 seconds, haha.

I think I will feedback to Mediacorp regarding the indoor reception issue in my house. Not sure if anything can be done but just try.

Thanks for the update. Just curious how do you tell that the digital signal is lagging behind analogue (direct from air or from starhub point?).

It's good to give feedback so that MediaCorp has a better sense of what's happening on the ground.

 

[chengsun]

Thanks for the update. Just curious how do you tell that the digital signal is lagging behind analogue (direct from air or from starhub point?).

It's good to give feedback so that MediaCorp has a better sense of what's happening on the ground.

I have another TV in masterbed room, connecting to SH point on wall. last night I happened to on both, and can see and hear that the one via analogue is "faster" by 1 or 2 seconds. if u have the chance u can do the test and let me know, if this is a problem unique to me only...

 

[chengsun]

You may want to feedback to MediaCorp that the coverage is weaker at Bishan North compared to Bishan East so that they can consider to boost the signal at your area.

I have already feedback to Mediacorp last night, via their website, and saw the super duper old stock picture used on their "Fully Digital" site...meh...

 

[Kiwi8]

Thanks for the update. Just curious how do you tell that the digital signal is lagging behind analogue (direct from air or from starhub point?).

It's good to give feedback so that MediaCorp has a better sense of what's happening on the ground.

I thought it is very obvious that the analog signal is faster? Digital signals need to go through more processing mah.

 

[Henry Ng]

I have another TV in masterbed room, connecting to SH point on wall. last night I happened to on both, and can see and hear that the one via analogue is "faster" by 1 or 2 seconds. if u have the chance u can do the test and let me know, if this is a problem unique to me only...

Analog is faster as it is wired connection so nothing wrong. Good that u can watch HD now.

 

[mrsun18]

I thought it is very obvious that the analog signal is faster? Digital signals need to go through more processing mah.

Analog is faster as it is wired connection so nothing wrong. Good that u can watch HD now.

It is not obvious, that's why I asked.

MediaCorp signal goes to the tv set essentially in 4 way:

• receive off air directly from antenna - fastest compared to the rest
• receive signal from matv, the matv system will impose a time lag
• receive signal using indoor signal from repeaters - time lag
• receive signal from starhub point - time lag from starhub network processing.

chengsun's way of comparison is not clear, so the answer to my question is not clear cut.

 

[mrsun18]

I have another TV in masterbed room, connecting to SH point on wall. last night I happened to on both, and can see and hear that the one via analogue is "faster" by 1 or 2 seconds. if u have the chance u can do the test and let me know, if this is a problem unique to me only...

It's good that now there is a common basis of comparison. Since you are now using the starhub point for both analogue and digital, it can be concluded that the dvb-c signal processing is the cause of the time lag observed by you.

 

[Kiwi8]

Analog is faster as it is wired connection so nothing wrong. Good that u can watch HD now.

It is not that. U must compare signals by changing only one variable.

For example, u have to compare the MediaCorp DVB-T2 signal to its corresponding analog terrestrial signal (ie provided by either MATV antenna or other antennas) and not the signals from the StarHub point.

 

[Kiwi8]

I have another TV in masterbed room, connecting to SH point on wall. last night I happened to on both, and can see and hear that the one via analogue is "faster" by 1 or 2 seconds. if u have the chance u can do the test and let me know, if this is a problem unique to me only...

No this is not a unique issue. It is normal. More processing is needed for the digital signal than the analog signal.

 

[Kiwi8]

It's good that now there is a common basis of comparison. Since you are now using the starhub point for both analogue and digital, it can be concluded that the dvb-c signal processing is the cause of the time lag observed by you.

Edit: still, there is a nagging question, how can your tv respond so fast when you switch between analogue and digital channels, to enable you to detect the time lag of 1 to 2 sec?

Which part of "have another TV" do u not get it? Why does he need to switch channels when he is using 2 TVs to do his observation?

 

[mrsun18]

Which part of "have another TV" do u not get it? Why does he need to switch channels when he is using 2 TVs to do his observation?

Yup, missed it...

His latest update crossed with my post.

 

[chengsun]

It's good that now there is a common basis of comparison. Since you are now using the starhub point for both analogue and digital, it can be concluded that the dvb-c signal processing is the cause of the time lag observed by you.

starhub point for analogue, while indoor antenna for digital. we were watching channel u.