[mythtvnz] Reception problems with HVR2200

[Tony Sauri]

On 10/10/12 00:38, Curtis Walker wrote:
> On 9 October 2012 22:02, John McKnight <mcknight at paradise.net.nz> wrote:
>> I am running Mythbuntu 12.04, combined frontend-backend, and I can't get
>> reliable reception with an HVR2200. The symptoms are random pixelation in
>> recordings, and when things are really bad, distorted sound.
>> I have a single UHF antenna - line of site to Kaukau from Maungaraki in
>> Lower Hutt. I use an internal splitter to feed the TV and HVR2200.
>> This seems to be a classic case of poor signal at the HVR2200, as bad
>> weather seems to make things worse. However, the TV never - and I mean never
>> ever - has any reception issues whatsoever.
>>
>> I have tried a Kingray internal amplifier replacing the passive splitter -
>> The TV was happy, but Mythtv could not get a lock at all.
>> I have tried swapping flyleads, and replacing the passive splitter - no
>> improvements.
>> I have tried removing the passive splitter and going direct to the HVR2200 -
>> no improvement.
>>
>> I am reluctant to splash out on a new antenna, as I am not certain that
>> there is anything wrong with the existing one, and looking at the archives
>> it seems that other people have had reception issues with HVR2200s in the
>> past. So I am leaning towards trying a different tuner card.
>>
>> Can anyone suggest a tuner card that is not quite as deaf as the HVR2200?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> John.
>>
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>
> I've got a HVR-2210, which is pretty similar (although slightly less
> mature driver support in linux). I'm having what I 8think* are
> reception problems, in the middle of Hamilton - in sight of the
> Hamilton infill tower, with a clean, well secured 91 element aerial
> pointed right at it. As with you, my TV reports great signal - 10/10
> strength and quality on all muxes (after some fiddling).
>
> Myth scans all channels properly, picture is generally good save for
> otherwise unexplained pixellation and drop outs every 20-30 minutes,
> similar to what you're describing. It seems to be occurring a little
> less frequently after some checking and redoing of connections, which
> suggests a signal problem to the card/PC (which is not shared by the
> TV).
>
> Trouble is - I'm not aware of any other readily available alternative
> cards in NZ which have dual terrestrial tuners. And even then, they
> could suffer similar problems or it isn't the card's fault, but
> elsewhere in the chain!
>
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>
>
There seem to be a few people with "reception" issues at the moment. 
Just chipping in here to remind people that too much signal can overload 
a tuner causing reception issues.  In particular a 91 element aerial 
pointed at a "local" transmitter sounds like it could be overkill?

Me ... I am driving a HVR-1300 in my test system with a folded dipole 
made from 300 ohm TV ribbon cable pinned to an indoor wall in a 
downstairs room.  I am about 15km from kaukau and have line of sight.

Tony