Changed aerial coax cable to RG6 and now no FreeviewHD

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mattstutter

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#33666 9-May-2009 09:33

Right,

This is a curly one... In the process of moving my tv stuff to the other end of the lounge I needed to extend cables from the aerial etc etc. I thought what better time to change that RG58/59 running from the aerial to RG6 and possibly get a little more signal level for FreeviewHD. However now that I've changed that cable I can't get the digital TV stuff anymore!

So the way the system is connected is as such : UHF and separate VHF aerial on roof to diplexer... new RG6 cable down to hall cupboard where I changed the 3 way splitter to a new (F connectors) 2 way splitter, as I only need one other feed to the bedroom... Then more R6 to the TV's new position. My freeviewHD setup consists of a MacMini using an Elgato Hybrid USB stick.

Once I'd worked out that digital TV wasn't happening anymore I tried down in the bedroom and same there. Analog TV is working fine. Plot thickens in that if I connect the MacMini directly to the aerial (in the hall cupboard! before the splitter) no problems at all.... At that point I suspected the new splitter, reverted back to the old splitter and still nothing.

The weird thing is that it's only the RG6 cable that's new now. Belden cable too... If anything it should be an improvement!! The original coax run was at least twice as long as it went down the roof, along the guttering, down, across then under the house etc etc... Where as now the new RG6 is 10m to the hall cupboard then 8m from the splitter to the TV position.

I'd just revert back to the old coax but uh, yeah - I've cut it and removed it.. sigh

So, what to the experts here suggest? I've noticed the connection at the UHF aerial is quite corroded looking, if this weather improves here in Wellington I'd get up and re-do that. But that same corroded connection was fine last week with a longer and inferior cable run...

cyril7

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#213610 9-May-2009 09:50

Hi, Does the diplexer on the roof contain an active amp, if it does have you ensured that the power still gets to it.

Other than that check your terminations, is there a bit of braid shorting one of the connections out, all the obvious, but you can be assured its not a result of changing to RG6, more likely an issue with workmanship (no reflection on you but so folk have no idea about termination cable).

Cheers
Cyril

mattstutter

49 posts

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#213651 9-May-2009 12:39

I don't think it contains an active amp - there never was a power source to it, all I did was replace the lead from the cupboard to the aerial. How would I tell if there was an active amp portion to it?

Nah, fair call on the workmanship call - that's probably all it is.... I'll check everything again, usually my cable work is fine - I've made more audio leads than I can remember!!

Brunzy

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#213695 9-May-2009 17:22

mattstutter: I don't think it contains an active amp - there never was a power source to it, all I did was replace the lead from the cupboard to the aerial. How would I tell if there was an active amp portion to it?
Check to see if your 'diplexer' is in fact a masthead amp.
It's possible it waas powered from your 3rd outlet that you disconnected.
If that was the case you should also have lost your UHF analogue.

If they are still there ,then as Cyril says ,check your terminations

Nah, fair call on the workmanship call - that's probably all it is.... I'll check everything again, usually my cable work is fine - I've made more audio leads than I can remember!!

mattstutter

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#213757 10-May-2009 00:32

Ah right, yeah never was anything on the 3rd outlet, it was there from when I thought about putting a socket downstairs. Never did, so went for a 2 way instead this time.

I tried re-doing the connection at the aerial end today in the fine weather and sadly I don't expect that the aerial liked being woken from it's corroded slumber.... Looks like a new UHF aerial has just been added to the list as most of the old one fell apart. I'll check my connections again then too.

mattstutter

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#213847 10-May-2009 13:20

Oh re: UHF analog, I don't think I am getting any of that (before I fudged the UHF aerial completely). Anyhow, I should stop talking before I keeping digging a bigger stupid hole!

richms

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#213942 10-May-2009 21:55

Could be that the old cable was your antenna if the actual antenna is dead.

Richard rich.ms

mattstutter

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#213997 11-May-2009 07:51

Could be.... I've only got a wee hill blocking direct sight to the transmitter here in newlands.

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Nety

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#214023 11-May-2009 09:50

If you can get rid of the VHF arial and diplexer all together. I just did that myself (and replaced the cable to RG6 and now get a much better signal.

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mattstutter

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#214061 11-May-2009 11:11

Yeah, that's something I'd love to do, one less bird holder on the roof!.... But the TV in the bedroom doesn't have a digital tuner, and don't watch it enough to warrant buying a freeviewHD box for there.

mattstutter

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#222590 8-Jun-2009 09:22

and the update for those who actually don't care (i imagine) - but just in case!

Bought a replacement aerial, finally got a nice day (define nice, it had to be 2 degrees on the roof when the wind wasn't blowing!) and after connecting that up I was getting picture nicely but it was all digital pixelated and green and nasty.... Turns out the award goes to Cyril and my splitter in the cupboard had the smallest piece of the silver/plastic shield touching the signal portion.... now that's fixed I'm on 100% signal quality and 56% strength. So I'm still holding on to the notion that the aerial was stuffed too - as I wasn't getting ANYTHING picture wise... My quality/strength ratio didn't change when I fixed the short, just that the picture came through.

Is there anything I can do to increase the strength? Or does that not really matter? I ask as it gets a bit windy at times and I'm thinking the bigger the numbers on a still day the better?

I've not replaced the splitter from the 3 way to the newer F type 2 way yet.... Would that help? I do only have 2 connections on the 3 way, but is the insertion loss regardless of how many connections you've made and just part of the circuit?

cyril7

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#222623 8-Jun-2009 11:33

Cool, glad you sorted, it.

Cheers
Cyril

Drewpy

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#222685 8-Jun-2009 14:14

I've got a similar problem.

I'm in Kelson. I've got a new UHF aerial (removed the diplexer out the equation and dropped the VHF aerial off the roof). It has the correct polarity, correct direction, brand new RG6 Coax, continuity from aerial to house.

If I go on the roof with my Pinnacle USB tuner and it's supplied mini aerial, I find about 5 channels with alright signal strength and low signal quality (random frames show up). Now with the new aerial, I get nothing!

Any ideas ?

Drewpy

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#222726 8-Jun-2009 16:03

Actually, I'll make a new thread instead of hi-jacking this one :)