Digital TV - Aerial cabling upgrade query.

CVID

I've been told that not only DO I require a new roof antenna to receive freeview etc in my area but also that I MAY need to replace the actual aerial cable too.

Is there any way of doing this without ugly trunking or destroying the plaster in my newly recorated living room?

espresso

It is advisable to use satellite type cable which is double screened and attenuates the signal less. The cable can be run externally.

Loobysaver

Do you know this for sure?

When I get a freeview box, I just bought a £20 digital aerial in Argos and swopped it with my existing loft aerial. I used the existing cabling. It works fine.

espresso

Freeview signal strength levels tend to be lower than analogue and the double screened cable prevents break-though from impulsive noise i.e. vehicle ignitions systems, hair dryers etc. which can cause breakup to both sound and vision. Anyone installing a new aerial should also have new CT100 type co-ax.

superscaper

But don't fork out if you don't have to, I've got a signal split from downstairs up to my bedroom with ordinary coax (which I shoddily soldered plugs myself) and it works fine with no noticable interference from anything.

Mercenary

As written before by many people on these forums, and from personal experience, you can buy very reasonably priced Satellite-Grade cable and the fixings from https://www.!!!!!!.uk.
They are very helpful if you email them with any queries before purchasing.

If you have a weak and interference-prone signal, using the double copper-shielded cable does make a heck of a lot of difference!

irnbru_2

CVID wrote:

Is there any way of doing this without ugly trunking or destroying the plaster in my newly recorated living room?

Are you sure your existing cable is not in conduit?

CVID

irnbru wrote:

Are you sure your existing cable is not in conduit?

All I know is that I have a standard co-axial tv aerial socket, low down on my living room wall!

albertross_2

If it is a newish house, it probably goes into the loft, and out through the wall upstairs, so if the cabling is damaged outside, then just the outside bit will need it. Double screened is better than normal coax, but most people in the country have normal cable, without any problems.

have a look where the cable goes outside..

Moneymaker

As mentioned above, the Satcure site is a good source of information.
http://www.!!!!!!.uk/tech/cable.htm