Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

Please forgive me for this. I did ask on the proper newsgroup but I made a
spelling error and some thought it was funny enough to comment on that
rather than offer help. I know people here are generally nicer.

I run my main TV from a digibox attached to an indoor aerial. I have always
supposed we have a pretty strong signal because we get all the digital
channels quite easily.

I bought a singing and dancing computer which is supposed to run digital and
analogue TV from an aerial socket. I have this in a different room . I am
not technical I dont know how it works. It came with a stick thing aerial. I
plugged it in and picked up 23 channels. Then suddenly they disappeared - or
rather they were all blank, happened over night.

Since then I have been trying all things to get the channels back ( swing
aerial etc) and have even put a larger indoor aerial on the computer to see
if that works. To date I have only managed to get a noisy analogue picture
with a UHF aerial on three channels and no joy at all on digital.

If I got a new aerial ( bigger one with a booster or whatever) might this
fix the problem or does this all singing monster have to be sent packing
back to its makers?

Any advice on this? Any experience of this?

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

"Someone" wrote in message
...
Please forgive me for this. I did ask on the proper newsgroup but I made a
spelling error and some thought it was funny enough to comment on that
rather than offer help. I know people here are generally nicer.

I run my main TV from a digibox attached to an indoor aerial. I have
always supposed we have a pretty strong signal because we get all the
digital channels quite easily.

I bought a singing and dancing computer which is supposed to run digital
and analogue TV from an aerial socket. I have this in a different room .
I am not technical I dont know how it works. It came with a stick thing
aerial. I plugged it in and picked up 23 channels. Then suddenly they
disappeared - or rather they were all blank, happened over night.

Since then I have been trying all things to get the channels back ( swing
aerial etc) and have even put a larger indoor aerial on the computer to
see if that works. To date I have only managed to get a noisy analogue
picture with a UHF aerial on three channels and no joy at all on digital.

If I got a new aerial ( bigger one with a booster or whatever) might this
fix the problem or does this all singing monster have to be sent packing
back to its makers?

Any advice on this? Any experience of this?

Just try uninstalling/reinstalling the drivers for the "stick thing"

Hope that helps,

John.

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

Someone wrote:
I run my main TV from a digibox attached to an indoor aerial. I have always
supposed we have a pretty strong signal because we get all the digital
channels quite easily.

I bought a singing and dancing computer which is supposed to run digital and
analogue TV from an aerial socket. I have this in a different room . I am
not technical I dont know how it works. It came with a stick thing aerial. I
plugged it in and picked up 23 channels. Then suddenly they disappeared - or
rather they were all blank, happened over night.


Something is obviously amiss if you are picking up only 23 channels.
That room is a bad location for your aerial, possible that the aerial in
the other room is better placed to get a decent signal.

Get a two output aerial amplifier like the link and some CT100
'satellite quality' cable, and aerial plugs.
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?SKU=AP01179

Screwfix probably are a good source as well (haven't checked!)

The purpose of this amplifier would be to boost whatever signal you
receive from your indoor antenna, and split it to supply your two
set-top boxes - also overcoming the noisey interference that PCs radiate
and whatever detrimental effect that the length of the cable may make
(though probably not much). Keep the aerial cable tied away from the two
cables leaving the amplifier.

A 'better' solution would be a distributed setup using a roof or loft
aerial, but more expensive - and come digital switchover (with increased
signal available) probabaly unnecessary in your already strong location
as you have described.

--
Adrian C

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

Adrian C wrote:
Someone wrote:
I run my main TV from a digibox attached to an indoor aerial. I have
always supposed we have a pretty strong signal because we get all the
digital channels quite easily.

I bought a singing and dancing computer which is supposed to run
digital and analogue TV from an aerial socket. I have this in a
different room . I am not technical I dont know how it works. It came
with a stick thing aerial. I plugged it in and picked up 23 channels.
Then suddenly they disappeared - or rather they were all blank,
happened over night.


Something is obviously amiss if you are picking up only 23 channels.
That room is a bad location for your aerial, possible that the aerial in
the other room is better placed to get a decent signal.

Get a two output aerial amplifier like the link and some CT100
'satellite quality' cable, and aerial plugs.
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?SKU=AP01179

A 'better' solution would be a distributed setup using a roof or loft
aerial, but more expensive - and come digital switchover (with increased
signal available) probabaly unnecessary in your already strong location
as you have described.

The most obvious thing to do is take the aerial from your main TV and
plug it into the computer. Basically, the signal strength depends on the
size/shape of aerial (all other things being equal) and the "stick"
aerials that come with PC tuners pick up less signal than a wet string.

If your aerial works on the PC, then just buy another one the same from
Argos and be happy. If your TV aerial doesn't work on the PC (after
you've tried moving it around, holding it high up, etc) there must be an
obstruction blocking the signal if the same aerial works elsewhere in
your home (or the tuner in your PC isn't very good). You'd then need to
look at running a cable to a remote aerial, or use a booster, or both.
The best place would be on the roof, of course, but you might as well
just run the cable to your main TV aerial and buy a distribution amp
from e.g. Argos for about £20:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/categoryId/49573/C$cip/49573/Trail/C%24cip%3D49573.htm

Antony

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Someone wrote:

A 'better' solution would be a distributed setup using a roof or loft
aerial, but more expensive - and come digital switchover (with increased
signal available) probabaly unnecessary in your already strong location as
you have described.

Daft question I suppose. Is it possible to use an outdoor aerial indoors?
Could I set it up in the sitting room for example instead of on the roof?
Since I live in a bungalow the roof isnt exactly sky high above me to get a
better signal is it?

--
Adrian C

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

"Someone" wrote in message

"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Someone wrote:

A 'better' solution would be a distributed setup using a roof or loft
aerial, but more expensive - and come digital switchover (with
increased signal available) probabaly unnecessary in your already
strong location as you have described.

Daft question I suppose. Is it possible to use an outdoor aerial
indoors? Could I set it up in the sitting room for example instead of
on the roof? Since I live in a bungalow the roof isnt exactly sky
high above me to get a better signal is it?

Yes and it doubles as a clothes airer.

--
Max Demian

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

Someone wrote:


Daft question I suppose. Is it possible to use an outdoor aerial indoors?
Could I set it up in the sitting room for example instead of on the roof?
Since I live in a bungalow the roof isnt exactly sky high above me to get a
better signal is it?


You can do. It will, if it is a half decent aerial, seem a lot larger
and much more cumbersome (and ugly) once indoors than it would on the
chimney or gable!

The aerial should really be mounted outside in the clear. All yagi type
aerials suffer from being mounted near to other conducting objects and
you moving around in the room.

Also at ground level there will be many reflected signals so lining the
aerial up accurately on the transmitter could end up as a game of
chasing your tail.

It might work but you would probably be best putting it outside.

Steve

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

Someone wrote:
Please forgive me for this. I did ask on the proper newsgroup but I made a
spelling error and some thought it was funny enough to comment on that
rather than offer help. I know people here are generally nicer.

I run my main TV from a digibox attached to an indoor aerial. I have always
supposed we have a pretty strong signal because we get all the digital
channels quite easily.

I bought a singing and dancing computer which is supposed to run digital and
analogue TV from an aerial socket. I have this in a different room . I am
not technical I dont know how it works. It came with a stick thing aerial. I
plugged it in and picked up 23 channels. Then suddenly they disappeared - or
rather they were all blank, happened over night.

Since then I have been trying all things to get the channels back ( swing
aerial etc) and have even put a larger indoor aerial on the computer to see
if that works. To date I have only managed to get a noisy analogue picture
with a UHF aerial on three channels and no joy at all on digital.

If I got a new aerial ( bigger one with a booster or whatever) might this
fix the problem or does this all singing monster have to be sent packing
back to its makers?

Any advice on this? Any experience of this?



I'm sorry you were put off when you posted in uk.tech.digital-tv. As
you must have discovered if you've been using the newsgroups for anytime
there are some people who think it funny to post idiot comments!

Best to just ignore them, they feed on replies to them.

I've read the thread and you've got more than enough information from
some well respected and knowledgeable people.

I know it's difficult to understand the information if you know nothing
at all about such matters. It's also difficult to find a way of giving
you what you want to know!

There was a suggestion to try the PC & PC card in the room with the
decent aerial. Have you tried that yet? This would show the
capabilities of the PC card!

You say you get noisy analogue pictures. This could well indicate that
there is not a high enough level signal available. All that any
amplifier will give you in this situation is a noisier picture. They
only amplify what's there. They cannot put back what's not there!

I read somewhere that the relevant government dept. is saying that
restriction on outdoor aerials will be outlawed, though I can't find
that reference.

This sounds like your only solution, unfortunately.

Sorry not to be of more help!

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

"Antony Jones" wrote in message
...
Adrian C wrote:
Someone wrote:
I run my main TV from a digibox attached to an indoor aerial. I have
always supposed we have a pretty strong signal because we get all the
digital channels quite easily.

I bought a singing and dancing computer which is supposed to run digital
and analogue TV from an aerial socket. I have this in a different room .
I am not technical I dont know how it works. It came with a stick thing
aerial. I plugged it in and picked up 23 channels. Then suddenly they
disappeared - or rather they were all blank, happened over night.


It would probably help if you found out where the signal is coming from so
you can determine whether it has an 'easy path' to the aerial. (ie through
window )
(look at nearby aerials)

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

"Turkey Cough" wrote in message
...

"Antony Jones" wrote in message
...
Adrian C wrote:
(look at nearby aerials)

There are no aerials . No one has a roof top aerial in the area, they are
not allowed. so it has to be pretty much guess work based on my own indoor
aerial in another room. It would be really good if I did have something to
line up with. What I do is point in roughly the direction I know the mast is
in. I can see Plymouth clearly from my house on the other side of the
valley and have to use that as a location finder for the mast.

Digital TV on a computer ( off topic I suppose)
 

"Someone" wrote in message
...

"Turkey Cough" wrote in message
...

"Antony Jones" wrote in message
...
Adrian C wrote:
(look at nearby aerials)

There are no aerials . No one has a roof top aerial in the area, they are
not allowed. so it has to be pretty much guess work based on my own indoor
aerial in another room. It would be really good if I did have something to
line up with. What I do is point in roughly the direction I know the mast
is in. I can see Plymouth clearly from my house on the other side of the
valley and have to use that as a location finder for the mast.


You will probaly find his site very useful

http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?

(main page)
http://www.wolfbane.com/


Then a map or compass to get the bearings.

Guessing it might be this one

http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd....&HT=10&OS=PL17