[TelstraClear] Connecting a Second TV

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JonC

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#13587 18-May-2007 20:55

I've got a TCL digital STB and want to tune in a second TV. I've connected the STB to the second TV via a length of coax from the STB's RF out. When I tested using a short stretch of cable (1m) it's fine, but the second TV is probably 7-8 metres away and when I connect it up with a longer bit of coax, the signal dies and I can't receive anything.

What chance do I have of getting this working? Will special cable help? Is there a practical way to boost the signal? Will splitting the cable before it hits the STB help?

For added difficulty, the second TV is old and only has RF in.

Thanks

rscole86

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#71203 18-May-2007 20:57

Sounds like your cable has a break in it

JonC

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#71205 18-May-2007 20:59

Well the cable does go under the house and I haven't physically checked it, but I have connected up the cable from the TV aerial via the same bit of cable and got a signal through.

kevthesparky

79 posts

Master Geek

#72282 26-May-2007 11:10

I suggest that you check all the connections of the Coax lead, you are not talking about a great distance and that should be fine. What type of connectors are you using??

JonC

425 posts

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#72404 27-May-2007 17:18

Thanks for that. I'm just using standard 75 Ohm coax cable with Belling-Lee connectors. If the distance is not a problem, the cable under the house must be faulty. I'll check that out and see what it looks like. Oh joy.

kevthesparky

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#72406 27-May-2007 17:54

If the cable is buggered replace it with a minium of tri shielded cable this cable is a step up from the double shielded cable (sky cable) and will give you better reception. and dont use a staple gun to attach cable to underside of house use proper clips all to many times have I crawled under a house to find DIYers staple through the coax. The staple pinches through the cable and hits the centre conductor and acts as an aerial and all the outside frequencies ingress into the cable to disrupt you picture.

JonC

425 posts

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#72497 28-May-2007 11:37

I found a loose connection under there and reconnecting that seems to have fixed the problem. Picture is not fantastic, but a lot better than relying on our antenna.

Thanks.

gehenna

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#72661 29-May-2007 12:07

JonC: I found a loose connection under there and reconnecting that seems to have fixed the problem. Picture is not fantastic, but a lot better than relying on our antenna.

Thanks.

what type of f connector did you use?

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JonC

425 posts

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#72669 29-May-2007 13:40

gehenna:

what type of f connector did you use?

I didn't know there was more than one type. I'm using something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F_connector

But that gets converted to a Belling-Lee connector before going under the house and to my other TV where it goes straight into the PAL RF socket.

gehenna

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#72672 29-May-2007 13:56

so, could i use a coaxial cable with an f connector at one end, and a standard rf connector at the other, without any splits/converters inbetween?

JonC

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#72674 29-May-2007 13:59

I haven't tried that myself, but I can't see any reason why not. You'd have to wire it yourself, of course.

gehenna

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#72675 29-May-2007 14:00

actually i see whats happening, you go from the fconnector that goes into the back of the telstra box, to a belling-lee at the other end right? and then you use a standard aerial rf cable to connect from the belling lee to the back of the tv?

JonC

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#72676 29-May-2007 14:12

The full story is that when we had TCL installed first, we didn't have a TV with RCA inputs, only an RF input. So the TCL installer guy made up a bit of coax that connects the RF out on the back of the STB. This had F connectors on both ends. But he then gave me a F-connector to Belling-Lee converter which then plugged into the back of the old TV.

Now I've got a new TV and the old TV has been demoted to the bedroom. There was an existing bit of coax going from our lounge to the bedroom, so I made use of that by connecting the coax from the STB up to that with Belling-Lee connectors.

Far too many connectors, which is probably part of the reason why I'm getting not so good reception in the bedroom...

gehenna

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#72678 29-May-2007 14:16

gotcha

JonC

425 posts

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#72691 29-May-2007 14:47

JonC: I haven't tried that myself, but I can't see any reason why not. You'd have to wire it yourself, of course.

I take that back - you can buy F-Connector to Belling-Lee leads already made up from Dick Smiths.