Problems splitting DVB-T signal

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MikeAqua

7785 posts

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#115776 6-Apr-2013 13:10

I have had terrestrial on one TV for about a year working fine.

Today I split the signal between tow TVs and all of sudden I can get the TV3 channels but not the prime or TVNZ channels.

I'm using RG-6 quad shielded cable, reasonably short runs crimped F terminals and the splitter was previously in use as a DVB-S splitter without any robs. I am confident in my crimps (I have done quite a few of them now without any problems). The aerial is pointing directly at the transmitter.

It is a 6 way splitter (no mast head amplifier), but I am only using two outlets - am I splitting the signal too much? Also I don't have plastic caps for all the unused outlets - could I be leaking signal from the uncovered outlets?

Mike

nickb800

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#794294 6-Apr-2013 13:58

Ideally the unused outlets should have terminators on them like this (plastic caps do nothing but keep out dust/moisture) but I wouldn't have thought that not having them terminated would give you that much grief. Cheapest solution might be to swap it out with a 2-outlet splitter

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#794324 6-Apr-2013 15:09

nickb800: Ideally the unused outlets should have terminators on them like this (plastic caps do nothing but keep out dust/moisture) but I wouldn't have thought that not having them terminated would give you that much grief. Cheapest solution might be to swap it out with a 2-outlet splitter

+1
Get a quality 2 way splitter.

SATTV

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#794329 6-Apr-2013 15:14

Change the splitter to a two way one designed for VHF - UHF, some of the satellite ones only do 900 MHz to 2500MHz so will kill your DVB-T signal. ( some will do both )
A 6 way spliiter may also drop your signal too much, you cant really prove that without a decent field strenght meter, one of the cheap ones from Jaycar will not be good enough.

Also make sure that one of shield wires is not touching the centre conductor.

You might like to get an F barrel and try each TV connected directly to the aerial to prove everything works. I however would start with the splitter.

Cheers
John

I know enough to be dangerous

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#794336 6-Apr-2013 15:33

As pointed out the first thing you need to do is check the spec of the splitter. Most modern splitters do 5MHz - 2400MHz so cover both terrestrial and satellite but some are only up to 900MHz for terrestrial and some only above this for satellite.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

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#794520 7-Apr-2013 10:23

Thanks for the replies. Since posting this I have discovered two things contributing to the problems I am having. Firstly the new TV was set to Australia. Second the wall pate for the existing TV was faulty.

Things are much improved everything worked really well yesterday but today I'm having problems with some channels. I'll check the splitter as advised.

Strangely the channels I am struggling with are changing. Yesterday TVNZ and Prime were the problem but TV3 was absolutely fine. Today its 1,2 3, 4 are fine but TV1+1, TV3+1 and Prime aren't working.

Mike

Goosey

2831 posts

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#794530 7-Apr-2013 11:31

What are the specs of your aerial... age and shape/type.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

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#794652 7-Apr-2013 16:32

75 ohm, 470 - 864 mhz

http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/product/L4735/dick-smith-hd-uhf-outdoor-antenna-pack

I'm pretty sure the aerial is fine. The x/y orientation is correct, I have a clear line of sight to the transmitter on Mt Campbell and I used a spotting scope to point the aerial right at it.

I couldn't find a new splitter today so I haven't changed anything since my last post. However I now have all channels again on the TV that was playing up (the older of the two). The new TV has had all the channels since I discovered the country setting was wrong .

Freeview terrestrial is a bit variable in Nelson so it's possible that the some of the problems I have ahd this weekend are transmitter related. If I lose channels again, I'm going to swap the TVs around and see what happens

Mike