Tv signal problems

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  1. Posts : 28
    7
       #1

    Tv signal problems


    Hi.

    I am having all sorts of grief trying to get my nice shiny new Media Center 7 to work properly.

    It's a signal thing I think, I am using a Kworld PE355-2t twin tuner digital pcie card. I can't seem to get a consistant amount of signal, the picture just keeps breaking up into pixels. I don't think there is anything wrong antennal wise because the tv in the same room shows nearly perfect signal strength. The pc card is fed from the same distribution amp so it should be the same.
    Strange thing, Media Center 7 is I believe meant to have a signal strength meter, well mine hasn't. Or if it has I can't find it!
    I have tried everything I can think of, including resetting Media centre completely and starting again. Installing the latest driver for the card, rescanning the channels. I am out of ideas.
    Anyone out there got any?
    thanks.

    Andy.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 9,582
    Windows 8.1 Pro RTM x64
       #2

    Hi Andy,

    A number of things you can try, if you haven't already.
    • How old is the aerial and what condition is it in?
    • Does your TV work when not using the amp, and when using the amp, does it get a good signal from all outputs?
    • For your PC, try as above.
    • Try re-routing the aerial cable between your PC and the amp so that it runs away from any mains wiring.
    • Is the aerial amp on the same power circuit as your PC?
    • Have you tried replacing the aerial cable? If not, and you decide to do so, make sure that you don't put any sharp bends into it which could affect its internal capacitance leading to signal degredation.
      My Computer

  3.    #3

    Did you install the ArcSoft software? If so, you likely do not need it...I would uninstall it, remove the current TV Tuner drivers, and allow Windows to install WMC drivers on reboot. If W7 decides to use the drivers already installed after reboot, check Windows Update for drivers. If even that does not help, your card is most likely not ready for W7 as far as MS is concerned so you will have to ask the manufacturer for W7 drivers...

    You can also check the W7 troubleshooter by typing trouble at the start menu.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 28
    7
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hi.
    I downloade the latest drivers from the Kworld website, dated Sept 2009, they say they are for 7. I tried Windows Update, it tells me the drivers are up to date. Only using WMC no ArcSoft.

    As for cabling I have tried everything including a direct feed from the antenna. The Distribution amp is just that, no real amplification, just enough to split the signal. I only live 15 miles from the transmitter. As I said reception on the tv is perfect.

    I had a thought this morning and reset WMC again and set it up with only 1 tuner in use in case the signal was being degraded by splitting between 2. Initially it worked ok, but I have just tried again and it's back to it's troublesome state.

    If only I could get the Signakl Strength Meter to work, or even find where it is, It might show me the way.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 9,582
    Windows 8.1 Pro RTM x64
       #5

    This might sound like a silly suggestion, but have you tried an attenuator? It could be that the signal strength is, in fact, too strong.
      My Computer

  6.    #6

    I would grab the PC, bring it over to my TV and use that connection to test if it's signal or not as it appears the signal is fine there. Can you double check that the tuner will work on a 64 bit system and also check if you difinitavely have downloaded the correct drivers and furthermore that after installing them they actually are installed?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 28
    7
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hi Dwarf.
    Hadn't thought of that, I guess it's a possibility, but doubtful, I am not that close. I will give it a go though.

    Andy.
      My Computer

  8.    #8

    awilsonlee,

    Could your wireless router/antenae issues be related? I had not reveiwed your other posts on having trouble with the wireless router also...
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 28
    7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Ah.

    Now I definitely didn't think of that. Surely the card would be shielded. Mine can't be the only pc with tv & wi fi?

    I might try and rip it out later on and put it in my old xp machine see what happens.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
       #10

    Hi --there
    Sometimes wireless routers cause problems - especially with modern cheap antenna cable -- you don't often see much of the nice old fashioned properly shielded coax stuff.

    Changing the channel on a wireless router can also work - some channels on a wireless router can cause interference - especially nasty cheap taiwanese one's - BT is a nasty culprit in the UK on these.

    Anybody using a microwave oven in the neighbourhood will cause interference.

    Finally are you using multiple computers in the same room such as a Laptop. Laptop screens sometimes cause inteference.

    With DVB-T (digital Terrestial TV) you won't get signal overload -- the actual DVB signal isn't like analog and you certainly won't need any attenuators.

    (And I'm an ex old Engineer so I've got a decent idea of how this stuff works).

    An often overlooked but trivial point is if you are using an "Aerial splitter" -- these can be horrible -- especially the "cheap white plastic triangular" shaped ones -- you would be surprised at how many times these cayse severe signal loss.

    (Multi-aerial feed from an external antenna / dish are fine -- I'm talking about those hideous little white plastic one's you see when people use splitters themselves from an antenna feed.)

    Try using the input DIRECT from the TV antenna (i.e unplug it from the TV) if you can.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


 
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