Signal strength and how to improve it - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

Mic260 · 08-01-12, 04:49 PM

If signal strength varies from 88 (eg ITV1) to 56 (eg Sky 1) and I am not using splitters, is that definitely a problem that means I should ask the VM engineer to improve the signal? And if so, what reason can I give?

Is there a way of knowing your signal strength on a conventional Samsung VM box and thus being able to explain to them why you think it is too low?

ABA · 08-01-12, 08:10 PM

you can all ways just tell them the picture keeps going blocky and breaking up
have you checked there are no power reducer in the main box or any were in line

there are signal booster you can get for vm but dont use the ones you use for aerial signal they are completely different

Mic260 · 08-01-12, 08:49 PM

But the "problem" with that is that I never have any problems with my conventional Samsung box

And I didn't notice any signal problems when I used to have a Starview. It's that certain people seem to think that 56 is much too low

TheCoder · 08-01-12, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mic260

It's that certain people seem to think that 56 is much too low

Forget what other people say, is it causing you a problem ?

If it isn't then ignore it.

If it is then there's really not much more you can do. The fact of the matter is that the tuners on all 3rd party boxes (KV/SV/Dream) are meant for European continental use where the signal levels tend to be stronger. In the UK certain areas, mostly ex TW, tend to have lower than normal signal levels with relatively high noise levels. There's also often quite a significant level falloff around certain frequencies.

You could try an amplifier but often these make things worse as they also amplify the noise. If the noise level is high to start with then the result just ends up swamping the tuner with noise. Any amplifier would need to be located at the cable ingress point and would need to have power/low-freq passthrough to allow any return signals (from modems and your subbed box).

Mic260 · 08-01-12, 09:49 PM

To TheCoder: As usual you are the voice of reason

No-It hasn't caused any problems at all-The only missing channels are those such as FX and ITV + 1 which noone else seems to have

I've noticed that all channels are either 56 or 88. Nothing in between

And Q is always either 43 or 65

jimbo · 08-01-12, 10:15 PM

ggonna worry urself into an early grave mic lol

Mic260 · 08-01-12, 10:30 PM

To jimbo- I'm a born pessimist and as you can see from my posting history, I was a skeptic until recently

This site has been excellent therapy for me and I now see the brighter side to all things digital

Thanks

kenny s · 09-01-12, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo

ggonna worry urself into an early grave mic lol

my motto if its not broke dont fix it

jimbo · 09-01-12, 04:15 PM

yeah thats a good one how many times ive lifted the bonnet and started tinkering and broke something lol

08-01-12, 04:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mic260 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Signal strength and how to improve it If signal strength varies from 88 (eg ITV1) to 56 (eg Sky 1) and I am not using splitters, is that definitely a problem that means I should ask the VM engineer to improve the signal? And if so, what reason can I give? Is there a way of knowing your signal strength on a conventional Samsung VM box and thus being able to explain to them why you think it is too low?

08-01-12, 08:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
ABA Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: nottingham Posts: 255 Thanks: 0 Thanked 28 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Signal strength and how to improve it you can all ways just tell them the picture keeps going blocky and breaking up have you checked there are no power reducer in the main box or any were in line there are signal booster you can get for vm but dont use the ones you use for aerial signal they are completely different Last edited by ABA; 08-01-12 at 08:13 PM.

08-01-12, 08:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mic260 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Signal strength and how to improve it But the "problem" with that is that I never have any problems with my conventional Samsung box And I didn't notice any signal problems when I used to have a Starview. It's that certain people seem to think that 56 is much too low

08-01-12, 09:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mic260 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Signal strength and how to improve it To TheCoder: As usual you are the voice of reason No-It hasn't caused any problems at all-The only missing channels are those such as FX and ITV + 1 which noone else seems to have I've noticed that all channels are either 56 or 88. Nothing in between And Q is always either 43 or 65

08-01-12, 10:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
jimbo Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,006 Thanks: 254 Thanked 891 Times in 554 Posts	Re: Signal strength and how to improve it ggonna worry urself into an early grave mic lol __________________ i now keep copies of some posts before they are deleted, this is a private matter.

08-01-12, 10:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mic260 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Signal strength and how to improve it To jimbo- I'm a born pessimist and as you can see from my posting history, I was a skeptic until recently This site has been excellent therapy for me and I now see the brighter side to all things digital Thanks

09-01-12, 04:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
jimbo Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,006 Thanks: 254 Thanked 891 Times in 554 Posts	Re: Signal strength and how to improve it yeah thats a good one how many times ive lifted the bonnet and started tinkering and broke something lol __________________ i now keep copies of some posts before they are deleted, this is a private matter.