Signal issue at certain time of evening (with signal booster installed)

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danepak

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#272615 5-Jul-2020 18:58

We had signal issues for some of our channels.
We then had an antenna guy turn up and he installed a booster.
He showed me that the signal was too weak, but after the booster as installed, it was more than adequate (I forgot the number that it had to be).

I do still have issues with the signal on some channels, but seems like it’s only around 6-7pm.
What can it be?
It comes and goes. Absolutely fine for a few mins, then a period of weak signal for 15-20 secs and then back to normal again for a few mins.

Video of the issue below:

https://youtu.be/PxUBiTjrbY4

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#2517668 5-Jul-2020 19:01

What sort of aerial do you have? Did he check the cables or any splitters to other rooms?

danepak

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#2517672 5-Jul-2020 19:07

sqishy:

What sort of aerial do you have? Did he check the cables or any splitters to other rooms?

Hmm, not sure.

It's a brand new house. He installed the signal booster in the other room.

snnet

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#2517674 5-Jul-2020 19:09

There is possibly an intermittent short at a connector of one of the TV cables - I see this regularly. If one strand of the outer sheath touches the inner core it produces this type of problem. The last one I was called out to said it only happened in the morning. This is assuming that the aerial/dish has been aligned correctly and is getting a strong signal on all frequencies.

danepak

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#2517686 5-Jul-2020 19:22

snnet:

There is possibly an intermittent short at a connector of one of the TV cables - I see this regularly. If one strand of the outer sheath touches the inner core it produces this type of problem. The last one I was called out to said it only happened in the morning. This is assuming that the aerial/dish has been aligned correctly and is getting a strong signal on all frequencies.

But the strange thing is that it's only at certain times of the day that this is happening.

And it's like a pattern, where it's unclear for 20 secs, then fine for a couple of mins, then back again.

snnet

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#2517688 5-Jul-2020 19:24

danepak:

snnet:

There is possibly an intermittent short at a connector of one of the TV cables - I see this regularly. If one strand of the outer sheath touches the inner core it produces this type of problem. The last one I was called out to said it only happened in the morning. This is assuming that the aerial/dish has been aligned correctly and is getting a strong signal on all frequencies.

But the strange thing is that it's only at certain times of the day that this is happening.

And it's like a pattern, where it's unclear for 20 secs, then fine for a couple of mins, then back again.

Yes just like every other case I've had

danepak

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#2517690 5-Jul-2020 19:26

OK, thanks.
So I basically should just try a different antenna cable?

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snnet

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#2517694 5-Jul-2020 19:32

Depending where there may be a fault, it could be the cable connecting to the antenna (either end), or that TV's cabling - are you able to find where the cables go and unscrew them from splitters (if any) and visually inspect them?

Another thing to consider, though this wouldn't necessarily be the same time every day, is that a lot of wind can cause disruptions as well..

Digital TV works a little different to analogue in that a booster will improve the power level but there are other factors at play - you used to get away with a lot more aerials being installed inside roofs with wooden/concrete tile rooftops whereas now you won't get away with that nearly as much.

Is the person who installed the aerial and terminated the ends experienced with doing it? I only ask to try and rule out that some frequencies may not be as strong as needed due to misalignment

danepak

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#2517697 5-Jul-2020 19:35

Good question.
I’ll see if I can get hold of the installer and get back.

sqishy

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#2517720 5-Jul-2020 20:01

Also that box under the TV are you doing RF IN and RF Out?

Does the issue occur in other rooms?

It could be local to that room wall connector, cable in wall to splitter or the cables from RF IN /OUT etc.

danepak

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#2517724 5-Jul-2020 20:18

sqishy:
Also that box under the TV are you doing RF IN and RF Out?

Does the issue occur in other rooms?

It could be local to that room wall connector, cable in wall to splitter or the cables from RF IN /OUT etc.

The VHS/DVD combo isn’t connected.
We’ve got a TV in another room. The problem is there too, but much much more infrequent and a lot milder.

sqishy

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#2517747 5-Jul-2020 22:16

You can get a better and longer aerial that gets more gain, may need to be mounted higher, depends what roof you have as well or it could just be the cable from the aerial to the main splitter box.

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danepak

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#2517750 5-Jul-2020 22:18

sqishy:
You can get a better and longer aerial that gets more gain, may need to be mounted higher, depends what roof you have as well or it could just be the cable from the aerial to the main splitter box.

The antenna is installed inside the roof, not on top of it.
I don’t think it’s easy to access it.

snnet

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#2517758 5-Jul-2020 22:41

danepak:
sqishy:

You can get a better and longer aerial that gets more gain, may need to be mounted higher, depends what roof you have as well or it could just be the cable from the aerial to the main splitter box.

The antenna is installed inside the roof, not on top of it.
I don’t think it’s easy to access it.

I can almost guarantee you that this will contribute to the problem, especially if it's confined in a small space and that's not even if the roof is metal. It will need to be installed outside of the roof.

danepak

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#2517759 5-Jul-2020 22:46

OK, I just don’t understand why the signal strength was even higher than the minimum level required, after he’d installed the booster.
I might see if I can get hold of one of those measurement tools

snnet

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#2517760 5-Jul-2020 22:50

It's more than just the power of the signal with DVB-T/2. Give the guys at Matchmaster a call and they will explain it all to you. I've had this one before as well, and it's worked in some very good signal areas in a huge roofspace with plywood roof and stapled material tiles, but I've tried in other roofs that have for instance concrete tiles (that would have worked with analogue tv fine) and it just doesn't cut it.

With a proper signal tester you'd see the signal flatten in blocks and show where the signal degrades.

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