It's REALLY on the air?

[Digitalis]

I have been watching SBS digital from Mt Tamborine for the last six or so months, although I've not ever been able to receive anything from the ABC. I actually live on the top of Mt Tamborine, although not quite line-of-sight to the mast, but I do have excellent analogue signals from the transmitter site. The SBS signals on digital were of a manageable strength. Now they're completely gone at this location!!

The only digital TV signal I can see now is a single feed from Southern Cross. Nothing else!!

Could somebody please confirm for me that the digital signals ARE on the air? Clearly, if they are going to air, I need to do something about my antenna. I have a multi-element "fringe" UHF-only antenna with good quality 75-ohm cable pointed directly at the transmitter site with, believe it or not, a wide-range 20dB low-noise GaAs FET amplifier. (in other words, it's pretty hot and should work.)

My location is Eagle Heights, about 8km from the transmitter site, and given the strength of the 100kW analgue signals, I should be able to receive the 25kW digital signals reasonably well.

I'd appreciate some sort of response before I tear my hair out! I've been waiting for this to happen for months, and so far it's a little less than a good result!

Cheers, Chris

[chuppa]

I don't know that much about the reception side of things, but do know that amplifiers can stop your STB from locking onto a signal as it blows it out too far - have you tried taking it out and rescanning?

S

[Digitalis]

Yes, I've tried that. Took it right out of circuit, but the problem appears not to be too much signal, rather not enough. I'm off the side of the beam here, which explains the reason for the amp in the first place. Without it, the analgue signals are almost nonexistent, even this close to the tx site.

I guess by the tone of your reply that you are seeing something, so I need to investigate a different fix. That's very disappointing!

Thanks, Chris

[damntv]

Eagle Heights is on the north Side of tamborine I think and if it is as crazy as it sounds you actually should be trying to pick up the brisbane DTV service. Apparently people north of tamborine are not the people targeted by the transmitters from tamborine. :ph34r: