TV Aerial - Suspect wiring?

Red_Cat

Hi, I live in a modernish house (about 12 years old). In my lounge are two TV aerial socket points at either end of the room. Unfortunately, the aerial point does not seem to work at the end I want to have my TV at, but does work at the other end. By work, I mean that my TV does not receive anything when connected at that aerial point. I have tried with two TV sets, so I am sure it is the point itself.

There is one aerial in the loft and the wiring to that appears good, with a good connection.

I have replaced the aerial socket at the "bad" point, with no improvement, so I am thinking it's either the wiring from the bad point to the aerial that is suspect. Without chasing out the walls, how do I check this?

I also read online about a connection box for wiring from different aerial socket points to go to, before this is connected to the aerial. I have not seen such a thing in my loft, should I expect to?

Any advice gratefully received with thanks.

G42

In your loft you should see 1 lead coming from the aerial going into a splitter/booster box then 2 leads coming from the splitter/booster box which should terminate at each of your TV points. The builder may have only connected one TV socket.

Inactive

You will need to track the cable from the TV Aerial to see where it goes, I suspect that it is only connected to the " good " aerial connector, you may need to change them, or fit a powered splitter and connect both to it.

Something like this would do the job.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5346147/c_1/1|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|14419512/c_2/3|cat_15701169|Television+aerials+and+boosters|14419536.htm

Red_Cat

Thanks for the advice guys.

When I put the Christmas decorations back in the loft (next week), I will take a look for the splitter/booster box.

Fingers crossed it's just a loose connection.

roswell

just some advice but if you want digital signal eg freeview you would be best off wireing direct to the aerial not splitting the signal.

ormus

depends where you live. im 8 miles from the winter hill transmitter and my computer freeview TV usb dongle works OK with a piece of wire about 4 inches long.

G42

roswell wrote: »

just some advice but if you want digital signal eg freeview you would be best off wireing direct to the aerial not splitting the signal.

Just to clarify. A simple mechanical splitter would degrade the signal but we have been talking about a mains powered booster/splitter which will do the job quite easily.

Red_Cat

Ok thanks all.

I will see if the connection is loose and if so fix that.
If reception is poor, then I will connect that aerial cable up to a new aerial altogether, avoiding the split.

baldelectrician

Your original (working) TV point may have 2 outlets for a reason- it may be a in and out- commonly used in places where satallite is fed from the first TV to the rest of the house

Plus the TV in to the second (non working) outlet and plug a lead (male to male) between both outlets on the first box

G42

baldelectrician wrote: »

Your original (working) TV point may have 2 outlets for a reason- it may be a in and out- commonly used in places where satallite is fed from the first TV to the rest of the house

Plus the TV in to the second (non working) outlet and plug a lead (male to male) between both outlets on the first box

Who mentioned the working socket having 2 outlets?

Red_Cat

To clarify, the working socket is a single outlet (as is the non working one).

I was up in the loft today and traced the co-axial from the aerial. Unfortunately, it lead to a hole in the plasterboard (under the loft insulation) abput 6 inches from the wall. I gently tugged the cable and there is about 6 inches of play, but no obvious evidence of connection to a splitter or any such device.

I then tried to see from the room below, if the cable came through the ceiling into the room, perhaps into a fitted cupoard, but alas it does not. I think that from the loft, the co-ax cable goes under the insulation, through the plaster board ceiling and then may be concealed by the coving from the room below the loft, before making it's way through the walls and to the sockets below.

I can try to cut round the cable in the plasterboard ceiling to see better, but before I do, any other suggestions?