Signal Issues. Multiroom.

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Signal Issues. Multiroom.

littleboy

13 posts

Geek

#72596 29-Nov-2010 23:08

Hi there.

The sky dish on the roof links down to an upstairs television, running standard SkyTV. This is split through to downstairs, where it goes through a connector (used to be a splitter, no longer needed, so its just an adaptor so the two cables fit each other) and then into a room. In this room there is a long (like.. I don't know.. 5-10 metres?) extension cable (because the MySky HDI box is far away from the tv signal port on the wall).

Apparently also, the electrician for our house used some cheap cable rather than what is recommended by sky (ie. ours is too thin or bad quality metal or something)

Sometimes (on certain channels), getting a TXT or a phone call will cause a "rain fade" effect on the tv picture. And certain channels such as TV 3, C4, etc can not be viewed. (Used to be able to view every channel on MySky, but now can not view C4)

Any recommendations for improving the strength? IE.. Signal amplifier, etc.
Would prefer something that can be done INDOORS.. Installing extra stuff on roof etc sounds too much hassel.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#410970 30-Nov-2010 05:54

Replace the extension. The shield is probably not sufficient to block unwanted interference. Sounds like he used low frequency TV aerial cable instead of high frequency satellite dish cable.

You can never have enough Volvos!

littleboy

13 posts

Geek

#411040 30-Nov-2010 10:03

What do you mean "Replace the extension" ??

If you mean the extension cable from the wall to the MySky.. We purchased that, it's a VERY WELL shielded, very thick cable, with gold plating on the connectors and all that. . .

JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#411106 30-Nov-2010 11:53

you can try one of these and see if it helps.
http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4cf42e30021a7b3c2741c0a87f3b068d/Product/View/L4699

Those signal levels look low compared to mine, but the quality looks OK.

I have a 20db in line amp like this one (my signal levels are in 68-70 db bracket)

Don't know if it will help if it's due to interference, as this will amplify that noise too - but they do have a good return policy!

littleboy

13 posts

Geek

#411109 30-Nov-2010 12:00

Thanks! How does it work? I'm guessing it requires an external power source?

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#411248 30-Nov-2010 15:43

littleboy: What do you mean "Replace the extension" ??

I thought you meant the electrician added an extension using a cheap cable.

Gold plating is useless if fitted to a tin plated connector. Contacting different metals results in inter metallic corrosion. Good for a (short) while, but then you are worse off especially in humid NZ. It is usually also gold flash a few microns thick, scrapes off quickly.

Any amplification you do should be closer to the dish to maintain a good signal to noise ratio. Amplifying at the STB end will have very limited success as it also amplifies the noise.

Amplifying the signal means it will be somewhat stronger relative to the interference so less likely to be noticed, but not correct thing to do and not guaranteed. The correct action to take is replace the cheap cable. Sky should do this for you. There is also a chance your dish it out of alignment, they can move (or your house can move).

You can never have enough Volvos!

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#411251 30-Nov-2010 15:49

littleboy: Apparently also, the electrician for our house used some cheap cable rather than what is recommended by sky

Sounds like you already know what the problem is so surely that's a good place to start?

If you get interference then using an amplifier will make your distorted signal louder.
Sort the problem instead of looking for a band aid.

JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#411529 1-Dec-2010 10:34

Thanks! How does it work? I'm guessing it requires an external power source?

I don't know, I don't have one like that (mine is not variable) but I assume it used the 12V which comes out of the tuner.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#411664 1-Dec-2010 16:47

I had a look at the DSE product only now and discovered JonnyCam is recommending an attenuator! This is not an amplifier, it is a signal reducer.

Get Sky to fix your setup.

You can never have enough Volvos!

JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#412049 2-Dec-2010 12:42

This is not an amplifier, it is a signal reducer.

Oh, so it is - must have been half asleep. and it looks like DSE don't sell their inline amp anymore.