Best Stb For Low Signal Areas

[Garincha]

Hi all,

I have heard that some stbs are better with low/poor signals than others and I was wondering what HD stb performs the best by this criteria. I currently have a el cheapo unimax SD stb but I live in a bit of black spot and 7,9 & 10 are patchy while sbs is non-existent.

Thanks

Note: I am also in the process of upgrading the antenna and all the cabling and I have a signal booster.

I want my sbs

[Struggo]

Hi all,

I have heard that some stbs are better with low/poor signals than others and I was wondering what HD stb performs the best by this criteria. I currently have a el cheapo unimax SD stb but I live in a bit of black spot and 7,9 & 10 are patchy while sbs is non-existent.

Thanks

Note: I am also in the process of upgrading the antenna and all the cabling and I have a signal booster.

I want my sbs

Topfield, Strong & Philips tuners have good feedback in weak areas.

[mtv]

Wise move... ensuring your recieved signals are as good as you can get them with the right antenna, in the right spot.

If the signals are poor, relying on the STB may not provide reliable reception.

I have tested Healing STB's to quite low signal levels and quality, with good results, but getting the best signals at the antenna is the key for success.

[pgdownload]

There's actually no reliable info on good and bad tuners. You can get two Toppy's (in a dodgy reception area) and plug each one in in turn and one will be fine and the other sufferers glitchy. Its generally better to get a reasonable unit rather than an elchepo but once you get to about $100 for a STB there's no likelihood it will have any better reception qualities just cause its more expensive (FWIW an elchepo can often outperform an expensive unit in reception stakes).

Best bet is just mention reception is an issue in your area and you want to try the box out for a few days in house (the only way to find out). Most stores are happy to do a full refund as long as you bring it back in the box.

Your SBS issue is probably because of the current antenna. Changing that and getting the cabling looked at should sort almost everything out so that the STB reception is no longer a factor.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Peter D]

Replace your antenna with one specifically designed for digital TV.

[Garincha]

Replace your antenna with one specifically designed for digital TV.

I have already replaced the antenna, but I wasn't very happy with the installer it only cost me about $150 so I think there should be better antennas I can try. The antenna is also only mounted 1.5 m up a 5 m mast so I may mounting it at the top.

How is the Olin stb that seems quite popular here at the moment?

[charlesc]

I have already replaced the antenna,.....so I think there should be better antennas I can try.

Can you perhaps describe what new work was done, what antenna was used? And where are you located? What TV channels do you receive (channel numbers, frequencies)?

[alanh]

Garincha,

The antenna you need depends on where you are.

Go to the Geographic Viewers’ Forum, which is near the bottom of the main forum’s home page. Select your region and read the pinned post “Get the Best Reception”. Please post any further correspondence in that strand for all in your region to see. I will see it anyway. You could also search your location in that strand for others in your area.

Do not post here.

AlanH

[pgdownload]

I have already replaced the antenna, but I wasn't very happy with the installer it only cost me about $150 so I think there should be better antennas I can try. The antenna is also only mounted 1.5 m up a 5 m mast so I may mounting it at the top.

Antennas are actually pretty cheap. $150 sounds like a good price for instalation. However they should have checked the signal strength of each channel at the antenna and then down at the TV plug. And ensured all was working at peak.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Garincha]

Garincha,

The antenna you need depends on where you are.

Go to the Geographic Viewers’ Forum, which is near the bottom of the main forum’s home page. Select your region and read the pinned post “Get the Best Reception”. Please post any further correspondence in that strand for all in your region to see. I will see it anyway. You could also search your location in that strand for others in your area.

Do not post here.

AlanH

Hi Alan, This thread was posted here as it regards stbs not antennas. I have read through the extensive and quite technical pages you refer to, but I believe this is an appropriate forum to discuss the characteristics of the various stbs. I will be sure to post my results & Qs in the Geographic Viewers Forum.

[fawlty99]

I have already replaced the antenna, but I wasn't very happy with the installer it only cost me about $150 so I think there should be better antennas I can try. The antenna is also only mounted 1.5 m up a 5 m mast so I may mounting it at the top.

How is the Olin stb that seems quite popular here at the moment?

I was with the installer when he put my antenna in. I live in a bad reception area as well & it was amazing the difference a few metres can make in getting reception. Maybe the 1.5m was the sweet spot? I know in my case the antenna is mounted quite low when initially me & the installer assumed that higher would be better. Using the test equipment showed that wasn't the case.

As for high sensitivity tuners - Nextwave have a good reputation (I've got 2) & I've heard that Healing are also good.

Edited June 5, 2008 by fawlty99

[mtv]

I know in my case the antenna is mounted quite low when initially me & the installer assumed that higher would be better. Using the test equipment showed that wasn't the case.

A perfect example of why (in most cases) the correct equipment in the right hands can make all the difference.