Signal Strength Meter

[dogloop]

This is from Microsoft's web site.(see below) I do not have the option "Digital TV antenna signal strength. I really need to check my signal strength. Anybody else have this problem?
I have 2 Hauppage 950Q tuners that I receive clear QAM through the cable company on.

• On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks, click Settings, click TV, click TV Signal, and then do one of the following:
  
  • Click Scan for More Channels, and then follow the instructions. Media Center will look for additional channels that might be available for your TV tuner.
  • Click Digital TV Antenna Signal Strength, and then follow the instructions. Media Center will scan each channel individually and display its signal strength. On the Adjust Digital TV Antenna and Choose Channels screen, you can clear the check box next to channels with little or no signal so they won't show up in the Guide.

 

[Darryl Licht]

So you dont see this option? TV Signal...

 

[dogloop]

Actually, underneath TV Signal I have 2 options:
"Scan for more channels"
"Set up TV Signal"

I think I may hav figured out why.
I hooked up an old Pinnacle 800 to my laptop which has an OTA antenna.
And went through the setup process and using the pinnacle tuner and OTA antenna I see the 3rd option "Digital TV Signal Antenna Strength"
I think this option must only be for OTA antennas and not for cable connected tuners.
Can anyone verify this?

 

[Darryl Licht]

Yep... I dont have an over the air, but that option is in my WMC setup also.

 

[dogloop]

Really? Okay, then it must be how Windows is seeing my 950Q tuners.
Maybe I will try to reset them up and see if I get it.

Thanks!

 

[Darryl Licht]

Any success?

 

[dogloop]

No success. Redid my tv tuner setup. Still don't have the option.
I think it must be how media center see's the tuners.
My 950Q tuners are dual tuners, both digital and analog.
That might make a difference, not really sure.
Guess I will just check my signal using my TV's feature instead of through media center.

 

[Little Darwin]

I don't understand your issue.

If you are getting good enough signals for your TV and your tuner, then why do you need to know the signal strength/quality?

Or is there a symptom you are trying to address?

 

[dogloop]

I never said I was getting a good signal. I want to put a booster on my cable line and would like the signal strength meter to judge a before/after reading.
My signal is okay (not great), but it's clear qam and I have fluxuations which kills my recordings at times.
I think a signal booster would help. Am probably going to order the motorola bda100 and see if it helps.

 

[Darryl Licht]

I never said I was getting a good signal. I want to put a booster on my cable line and would like the signal strength meter to judge a before/after reading.
My signal is okay (not great), but it's clear qam and I have fluxuations which kills my recordings at times.
I think a signal booster would help. Am probably going to order the motorola bda100 and see if it helps.

Please report back with your results... and I think that signal strength meter is only for over the air... not cable!

 

[dogloop]

I thought that as well but in your earlier post you said you didn't have an ota antenna but you still had that option.
Was that not correct?

 

[Darryl Licht]

Yes I have cable... no over the air. But I did see the signal strength area in WMC and no it didnt show any strength meter or gauge. I was just saying that I know it's there I've seen it. Sorry for the confusion!

 

[dogloop]

I see, I have cable as well but don't even have that option.
Very confusing.

 

[Darryl Licht]

I see, I have cable as well but don't even have that option.
Very confusing.

Only before you configure a tuner I believe.

 

[Kjeldsen]

Old post I know, but I have the same problem. I have two digital tuners. I have a Avermedia 800 (quite old) with really good signal and a Picostick with less good signal, and sometimes no signal. I do not have the signal strength option on my windows 7 home premium 32bit (Asus Eeebox 1501). I have followed the steps in microsofts homepage, but it's simply not there.

 

[dogloop]

Digital TV Signal Strength Option Missing

This article gives a half a$$ explanation of why.
It has to do with the type of tuner you have.

 

[Kjeldsen]

It's DVB-T, but some users with DVB-T have no problem. I have two tuners and their respective software have signal strength and/or quality that's working. Why can't microsoft come up with a soultion? One should think they had the engineering skills to do such a simple task.

 

[Sardonicus]

Actually, underneath TV Signal I have 2 options:
"Scan for more channels"
"Set up TV Signal"

I think I may hav figured out why.
I hooked up an old Pinnacle 800 to my laptop which has an OTA antenna.
And went through the setup process and using the pinnacle tuner and OTA antenna I see the 3rd option "Digital TV Signal Antenna Strength"
I think this option must only be for OTA antennas and not for cable connected tuners.
Can anyone verify this?

You'll only see the signal strength meter for OTA signals.
You won't see it if you're scanning for cable.

 

[Kjeldsen]

I don't have the option and only use OTA antennas. I have tried two different tuners (Aver Media and PicoStick).

 

[Sardonicus]

I don't have the option and only use OTA antennas. I have tried two different tuners (Aver Media and PicoStick).

In the article, Microsoft said for ATSC, yes, DVB-T, no.
That article came out in 2006. My quess is that it's still an issue.
Maybe they'll have it fixed in Windows 8, who knows.