HDTV Signal Strength?

[chrisc16]

Is there a signal strength meter available anywhere in Sage? The original 4.0 release notes contained the following:

• New configuration wizard, enabling easier setup of all SageTV Media Center features ranging from music and photo locations to video playback checks and channel tuning including a HDTV signal strength indicator. Clear and simple wizard prompts allow users to choose setup options and media preferences in minutes.

But I can't find the signal strength indicator in the configuration wizard. Has anyone used this with their HD card? BTW I have an A180.

Thanks,
Chris

[lovingHDTV]

If you play a channel, then go to the configuration wizard for that tuner you will see the indicator. It only works when a channel is playing.

[Opus4]

The signal strength meter is on the Channel Setup screen; go to Setup -> Setup Video Sources -> select your digital source to go to Source Details -> Channel Setup. When you preview a channel on that screen, it shows the signal strength and updates it every 5 seconds.

- Andy

[lovingHDTV]

Yeah, what he said

[chrisc16]

Thanks guys. I did search the v4.0 manual and there was no mention of this signal strength meter, so I wondered if it had been dropped from Sage.

-Chris

[Opus4]

I think it is on p. 159.5 -- you have to peel the pages apart to see it.

Oh well, I suppose that means I should look into adding info about it...

- Andy

[chrisc16]

This is strange; when I go to the channel setup for my digital tuner, I can enable/disable the channels, or remap them (using the buttons), but the View button, which is how I believe you 'preview' the channel, isn't there!

-Chris

[lovingHDTV]

Originally Posted by chrisc16

This is strange; when I go to the channel setup for my digital tuner, I can enable/disable the channels, or remap them (using the buttons), but the View button, which is how I believe you 'preview' the channel, isn't there!

-Chris

Chris,
I think that only works the first time you setup the device. I know I saw it once upon a time.

However, this is why I have to go to the program info, start playing the channel I want to check, then go to setup channel page. Then you will see the signal strength indicator. This is the only way I have consistantly see it. If you ever find that preview thingy let me know

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by chrisc16

This is strange; when I go to the channel setup for my digital tuner, I can enable/disable the channels, or remap them (using the buttons), but the View button, which is how I believe you 'preview' the channel, isn't there!

This one is in the manual; p. 160, as part of the Channel Setup menu description. You have your Display Video on Menus option set to Never, so the View button isn't shown.

- Andy

[lovingHDTV]

OK that does work. So if I want to see my signal strength, I have to have Display Video on Menus turn on. Hmm, thats not good, I don't like Display Video on Menus, hence the reason I have it turned off.

[Opus4]

It is something that is easy to turn on via the Options command on the Channel Setup menu & then turn it back off when you are done. I'm guessing that going to Channel Setup to check the signal strength of multiple channels isn't something that has to be done very often.

- Andy

[chrisc16]

So I got the signal meter to show up, but it shows 100% on all my channels - even KCOP-DT whose signal is so low it doesn't even show a picture. I think maybe the meter doesn't work well with the A180 card. I remember the free WatchHDTV app from AVSForum had the same problem with the A180. Has anyone else had better luck?

-Chris

[Commodore 64]

I'm not sure if you are having issues or not with the A180, but here is an interesting post on the AVS forums:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=616551

I've pulled a lot of my hair out with the A180, so if you are having issues, mention them.

[wazkaren]

I'm using an A180 and it looks to me that it only shows signal strength in increments of 25%. The A180 was showing 100% signal strength but I was getting glitches while recording on some channels. I bought a Fusion5 and tried that on the same antenna. It shows increments of about 1% and I would see much lower signal strength that the 100% the A180 was reporting. It seems to me that the A180 just rounds the reading. So I raised my roof antenna about 4 feet. The Fusion now reports higher signal numbers (and the A180 still says 100%) and my recording glitches have gone away.

Greg