[mythtvnz] DVB-T signal strength and CPU usage

[James Booth]

I had similar reception levels with my pre-existing UHF set-up. Had the 
professionals come around who ripped it all out and installed a new UHF 
antenna with a direct feed to my box. The improvement in signal strength and 
signal/noise was dramatic, and well worth the money. They found that the best 
signal was achieved by reorienting the antenna a good 10 degrees from where 
it was previously set, plus the old masthead amp was stuffed. I previously 
got good reception on UHF analogue channels like Prime, Maori TV, etc, but 
even so this turned out to not be good enough for Freeview. 

>Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:58:45 +1200
>From: Graeme Woollett <g.woollett at irl.cri.nz>
>Subject: [mythtvnz] DVB-T signal strength and CPU usage
>To: MythTV in NZ <mythtvnz at lists.linuxnut.co.nz>
>Message-ID: <48A8AD25.4040801 at irl.cri.nz>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format=flowed
>
>I got Freeview HD going on my myth box last night, it has an dual core 
>3600+ AMD processor.
>There are times where the video is shudder free and others where it 
>seems to struggle.  Most of the time the CPU is sitting at 103% usage.
>
>What is a acceptable signal strength?  I have 22% and 4 ish db which 
>seems very low.
>I have only had success watching the TVNZ multiplexes, no luck with TV3, 
>C4 etc.  They are detected but no lock.
>
>Also are there low cost NVidia based graphics cards that people know of 
>that have a SPDIF input for injection into the HDMI cable?
>I have a 8600GT card in another PC that has it, but I'm  hoping not to 
>spend  as much as that cost...
>
>Thank you Paul and others for the huge amount of work you have put in, 
>it's much appreciated! :-)