Tv signal problems

[awilsonlee]

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.

 

[Dwarf]

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.

 

[AngelProcesser]

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.

 

[awilsonlee]

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.

 

[Dwarf]

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.

 

[AngelProcesser]

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?

 

[awilsonlee]

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.

 

[AngelProcesser]

awilsonlee,

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

 

[awilsonlee]

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.

 

[jimbo45]

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

 

[Qdos]

You started out by looking up the details of your transmitter and fitting the correct type of aeriel I hope?!? I mention this because the wrong type of aeriel can easily induce faults like depixellation & other abhorrences, ghosting, bleed, etc.

For instance I'm on Huntshaw and the details I need to know are:-

Freeview on Huntshaw Cross TV transmitter | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV + switchover advice, since 2002

I needed a C/D type aerial following the digital switchover. You can look up your own masts details from this linked page easily enough.

In the UK since the digital switchover many transmitters have had their power level dramatically boosted, tending to cause signal issues to some customers with direct proximity and/or line of sight to the mast.

The correct type of masthead filter could eradicate this, providing it complies with the transmitter band specifications in your locale. It goes without saying you need a good quality of cable and that geographic factors like salt sea air can corrode antennae elements over a number of years (where I am this is an issue, I literally have to change my roof aeriel every decade due to the corrosive salt air!)

Get the signal capture optimised and brought in on a decent cable before looking for faults in any other regards, otherwise you'll be wasting your time.

 

[AngelProcesser]

Perhaps the wireless setup you have was not intended for distribution in countries where the main TV Source is DVB-T?

 

[awilsonlee]

Hi Jimbo.

I am using a quite decent although old Labgear distribution amp, so I don't think that's it, I have already tried every output, including the one that feeds the tv. there is only about 6m of decent low loss cable between the amp and the pc. I use a Netgear dg834n router, tried different channels, still the same.

I just tried turning off the wireless card and my router, no good either. There is always next doors BT Voyager that comes in at 100% signal strength, I suppose that might be it. If it is there isn't going to be much I can do about it.

Thanks for the advice.

Andy.

I was going to try the card in an old XP machine, but no pci express slot, so that's out.

I guess I could always revert to watching the TV!!

 

[awilsonlee]

Is there really no one out there who might know where my mystery WMC7 signal strength meter might have disappeared to? Microsoft say there is one, i've seen screenshots of it. I know they say it will only work with a digital card, but i've got one of those.

I am a bit upset that I haven't got one, I don't like being left out!!!

 

[Qdos]

There is always next doors BT Voyager that comes in at 100% signal strength, I suppose that might be it. If it is there isn't going to be much I can do about it.

Actually that's not true. There are strict rules about RF interference.

TV interference or reception problems | Ofcom

 

[awilsonlee]

Got to prove it though!

 

[Qdos]

Actually you don't. They do callouts.

 

[awilsonlee]

Oh yes, It's only the pc that's affected, tv is fine, loads of signal,no interference.

 

[awilsonlee]

Ooh do they? I might have to resort to that then. I suppose I should wait untill he turns his router off, see if that's what's causing it first.

 

[Qdos]

Any TV receiving equipment is covered, it doesn't matter if it's a set or a PC.

Trust me, I have had problems with a local Radio Ham who was punishing a sideband signal and even though he was a mile away, Ofcom tracked him down and sorted the problem.

Not that I would necessarily agree your problem is anything to do with RF interference.