How to boost TV signal

thegentleway

Hi,
I need to replace passive splitter with 6 way booster but there’s no power in the loft at the moment:

• Can you get self powered splitters? Labgear LDA2061L/S on Screwfix says it has a built in power supply?
• How important is it to use F connectors everywhere? The cable has been cut in a couple of places and just had the wires twisted together.

Thanks,

kev_min

The item you have linked to requires mains power in the loft,
If you dont have, or want to provide, mains up there then this or similar will do the job, the power supply sits behind your TV and feeds power up your cable to the amp in the loft.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-line-powered-digilink-amplifier-kit-2-inputs-6-outputs-with-psu/64973

as to your question about F connectors, they are about the easiest connector to fit and will provide a much more reliable connection that "twist & tape", to join use 2 F plugs and a joiner http://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-f-plug-to-f-plugs-pack-of-10/95730

Le_Kirk

Yes it has a built-in power supply: 220-240V / 50Hz at 3W so it still needs power. It just means that the built-in power supply provides the 12 volt line power. You would need power in your loft if that is where you intend to situate the unit.

thegentleway

kev_min wrote: »

The item you have linked to requires mains power in the loft,
If you dont have, or want to provide, mains up there then this or similar will do the job, the power supply sits behind your TV and feeds power up your cable to the amp in the loft.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-line-powered-digilink-amplifier-kit-2-inputs-6-outputs-with-psu/64973

as to your question about F connectors, they are about the easiest connector to fit and will provide a much more reliable connection that "twist & tape", to join use 2 F plugs and a joiner http://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-f-plug-to-f-plugs-pack-of-10/95730

Thanks a lot for your help.


I don’t have but I don’t mind providing power to loft if it is better solution. Just trying to save cost by doing it myself instead of paying sparky (property is rental and any mods to electrics is supposed to go on certificate).


That amplifier looks good; does that give as good signal as the one that is powered in loft?


Much more reliable sounds good, joiner seems a bit pricey but only need a couple so I'll go for that.

EDIT: didn't realise it you got 10; I thought £4.49 for each one lol!

thegentleway

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Yes it has a built-in power supply: 220-240V / 50Hz at 3W so it still needs power. It just means that the built-in power supply provides the 12 volt line power. You would need power in your loft if that is where you intend to situate the unit.

Thanks for explaining. To me that's just a transformer, not a power supply. Seems a bit misleading.

Le_Kirk

A power supply will contain a transformer to drop the mains voltage 240 V down to 12V or whatever voltage is required but then it will need to be converted from AC to DC via a rectifier and then there are possibly stabilising circuits etc.

thegentleway

I fitted the screwfix amplifier, PSU is powering amplifier (blue LED on both items), aerial cable is plugged into the UHF port, but TV still says low or no signal?!

Rubidium

thegentleway wrote: »

I fitted the screwfix amplifier, PSU is powering amplifier (blue LED on both items), aerial cable is plugged into the UHF port, but TV still says low or no signal?!

Your title says "How to boost TV signal" but you have bought a distribution amp.

You need a good solid signal from the aerial before you try to distibute it.

If you connect the aerial directly to the downlead without the PSU and distribution amp in circuit, what signal strength/quality is displayed on the TV?

Crap in, crap out!

kev_min

What was the tv doing with your old passive splitter, was it giving the same "low or no signal" message?

As cameltoe stated above, you need to have a signal to boost it, the distribution amp listed above will give gain (boost) on all outputs but if the aerial signal into it is poor/missing, all you will get out is boosted nothing....i.e nothing!

thegentleway

cameltoe wrote: »

Your title says "How to boost TV signal" but you have bought a distribution amp.

You need a good solid signal from the aerial before you try to distibute it.

If you connect the aerial directly to the downlead without the PSU and distribution amp in circuit, what signal strength/quality is displayed on the TV?

Crap in, crap out!

kev_min wrote: »

What was the tv doing with your old passive splitter, was it giving the same "low or no signal" message?

As cameltoe stated above, you need to have a signal to boost it, the distribution amp listed above will give gain (boost) on all outputs but if the aerial signal into it is poor/missing, all you will get out is boosted nothing....i.e nothing!

I had an aerial guy come round for a free quote. He measured the signal in the lounge, said there was nothing. He measured the signal coming into loft, said it was low but would be fine with booster. He wanted £130 + vat to fit booster so I fitted it myself. I'll get a signal tester from screwfix and measure the signal going into the amp.

kev_min

OK, so the aerial signal is at least present, but a bit on the low side..
As you replaced a passive splitter I assume there are other TV points in the house, If so are are they working?