Signal strength - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ShawnB · 2012-05-23, 03:43 AM

what signal strength should i be getting on my tv? If i go into the settings for my gateway it has an option to show the signal strength for every tuner and all show a negitive, because of this i have sound drop outs daily and picture stuttering.

Now before you blame everything else, i have swapped out the coaxial cables, had high end shielding ones but a tech tried to say that was the problem so have swapped that out a few times since, new gateway and portal so can't be that as it happens on all.

So what signal strength should i expect and if i'm not getting enough signal how do i get shaw to improve it as so far they havn't done anything in 5 years now since i started complaining.

I watch most of my tv from my pvr so i don't always see allot of these problems but now other family members are telling me they have these problems to so enough is enough. Figured i post here before i throw a tantrum so any help you can give me would be great

Jason4653 · 2012-05-23, 08:48 AM

Do you have a meter to check signal? How do you know there wasn't a problem with the cable? Have you thought it could be a area issue with the audio drop outs?

ShawnB · 2012-05-23, 10:07 AM

How do i know there wasn't a problem with the cable? by using a new cable and still having the same problems.

I check the signal by going into the dignostic settings on my gateway and looking at the signal strength going to each tuner and all are negitive

Yes i've thought of it being an area issue, was suggested by one tech that it was the area's old equipment that could be the cause. But if this is the case then what does it take to get them to upgrade the equipment for the area, this has been a problem for years and contacting shaw doesn't get it fixed so what does it take?

Roweig · 2012-05-23, 12:21 PM

Beleive it or not contacting the CRTC about this issue may speed things along. I live in an apartment and some years ago the new manager found a letter stating that the wiring in our building had become sub par and needed upgrading (the old manager had done nothing about it at the time). The new manager asked Shaw to install the upgrade the cable as they had advised in the letter. Shaw refused saying they did not have the time right now. So after some dickering the manager of the building sent a letter to the CRTC stating what had transpired between Shaw and her. The CRTC forced Shaw to install the new cabling. So Shaw had to get a contracter to install the new cable in a timely manner. Your case is a little different but similar. The only difference is that the manager had physical proof and you have somebody at Shaw telling you what the problem may be. Good luck, I hope this helps you somewhat.

ShawnB · 2012-05-28, 08:29 AM

Anywhere from -10 to -3 is my usual signal strength but to shaw that is good enough, even though it causes the sound to drop out or the picture to stutter shaw considereds it good enough. I'm expected to accept the sound drop outs and lousy picture because it doesn't always drop out.

I wonder what telus can offer me......

ShawnB · 2012-06-05, 07:28 AM

Why isn't there somewhere we can see or check to know what signal strength is good enough for quality service?

I'd like to see the min and max signal levels my gateway will accept to work and the silence from shaw on this issue is really sad to see.

Why is it i can never get a straight answer from shaw what the signal level should be, i'm just told that it's good enough when i complain yet it doesn't stay at the same level so how can it be good enough?

So anyone have any info they can help out with or should i just do what shaw does and blame everything else besides them and just accept that i get bad service?

over 100 sound drop outs in a week is a bit much don't you think

Nixxo · 2012-06-05, 12:58 PM

Hey ShawnB,

The gateway connects to a docsis network. The signal levels that are acceptable range from 40dB to 55dB downstream and -10dB to 10dB upstream. Anything outside of that range would be unacceptable. The best signal generally would be low 40's on the downstream and around 0 on the upstream.

I hope that helps. Also be aware that there is a gateway update this week that may help with the sound drop outs.

downbeat · 2012-06-07, 03:14 AM

I should point out there is an existing thread to discuss sound dropouts generally:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=73915

There is also a subforum for Gateway questions and issues specifically:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=224

There may be messages there you might find of interest.

Cheers,
downbeat

2012-05-23, 03:43 AM	#1
ShawnB Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 131	Signal strength what signal strength should i be getting on my tv? If i go into the settings for my gateway it has an option to show the signal strength for every tuner and all show a negitive, because of this i have sound drop outs daily and picture stuttering. Now before you blame everything else, i have swapped out the coaxial cables, had high end shielding ones but a tech tried to say that was the problem so have swapped that out a few times since, new gateway and portal so can't be that as it happens on all. So what signal strength should i expect and if i'm not getting enough signal how do i get shaw to improve it as so far they havn't done anything in 5 years now since i started complaining. I watch most of my tv from my pvr so i don't always see allot of these problems but now other family members are telling me they have these problems to so enough is enough. Figured i post here before i throw a tantrum so any help you can give me would be great

2012-06-05, 12:58 PM	#7
Nixxo Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Nanaimo Posts: 71	Signal levels Hey ShawnB, The gateway connects to a docsis network. The signal levels that are acceptable range from 40dB to 55dB downstream and -10dB to 10dB upstream. Anything outside of that range would be unacceptable. The best signal generally would be low 40's on the downstream and around 0 on the upstream. I hope that helps. Also be aware that there is a gateway update this week that may help with the sound drop outs.

2012-06-07, 03:14 AM	#8
downbeat Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 3,565	Existing threads ... I should point out there is an existing thread to discuss sound dropouts generally: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=73915 There is also a subforum for Gateway questions and issues specifically: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=224 There may be messages there you might find of interest. Cheers, downbeat

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2012-05-23, 08:48 AM	#2
Jason4653 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 139	Do you have a meter to check signal? How do you know there wasn't a problem with the cable? Have you thought it could be a area issue with the audio drop outs?

2012-05-23, 10:07 AM	#3
ShawnB Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 131	How do i know there wasn't a problem with the cable? by using a new cable and still having the same problems. I check the signal by going into the dignostic settings on my gateway and looking at the signal strength going to each tuner and all are negitive Yes i've thought of it being an area issue, was suggested by one tech that it was the area's old equipment that could be the cause. But if this is the case then what does it take to get them to upgrade the equipment for the area, this has been a problem for years and contacting shaw doesn't get it fixed so what does it take?

2012-05-23, 12:21 PM	#4
Roweig Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Coquitlam, B.C., ARRIS Gateway, Panny TC-P65VT50, Panny Blu-ray BDT320PC, Denon AVR-1913 Posts: 126	Beleive it or not contacting the CRTC about this issue may speed things along. I live in an apartment and some years ago the new manager found a letter stating that the wiring in our building had become sub par and needed upgrading (the old manager had done nothing about it at the time). The new manager asked Shaw to install the upgrade the cable as they had advised in the letter. Shaw refused saying they did not have the time right now. So after some dickering the manager of the building sent a letter to the CRTC stating what had transpired between Shaw and her. The CRTC forced Shaw to install the new cabling. So Shaw had to get a contracter to install the new cable in a timely manner. Your case is a little different but similar. The only difference is that the manager had physical proof and you have somebody at Shaw telling you what the problem may be. Good luck, I hope this helps you somewhat.

2012-05-28, 08:29 AM	#5
ShawnB Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 131	Anywhere from -10 to -3 is my usual signal strength but to shaw that is good enough, even though it causes the sound to drop out or the picture to stutter shaw considereds it good enough. I'm expected to accept the sound drop outs and lousy picture because it doesn't always drop out. I wonder what telus can offer me......

2012-06-05, 07:28 AM	#6
ShawnB Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 131	Why isn't there somewhere we can see or check to know what signal strength is good enough for quality service? I'd like to see the min and max signal levels my gateway will accept to work and the silence from shaw on this issue is really sad to see. Why is it i can never get a straight answer from shaw what the signal level should be, i'm just told that it's good enough when i complain yet it doesn't stay at the same level so how can it be good enough? So anyone have any info they can help out with or should i just do what shaw does and blame everything else besides them and just accept that i get bad service? over 100 sound drop outs in a week is a bit much don't you think