Loss of channels on TV furthest from Aerial

martinb29

Can anyone advise me please. Live in a bungalow with a wideband outside aerial pointing at Sandy Heath. I have 4 TV's running off this, about 3m from the aerial have a 4 way amplifier. 3 of the TV's most of the time have no problems but the 4th on about 28m of cable is giving problems. Have been running a second amp on it at about 18m from the aerial but recently had no signal of channel 21 & 12, by passed the second amp and had a signal (100%). Yesterday I could only get channels 1 to 3, 33,231 & 232 with no reception on any others, all other TV's working and showing good signal strength. Beside erecting a second aerial on the back of the bungalow that would have to point to Sutton Coalfield (due to obstructions) is there anything I can do about this. It seems that as soon as we have TV interference due to weather this TV gives up, I assume due to cable length and as it's in the lounge family not happy.

debitcardmayhem

Try switching the output on the amp, then try another fly lead, and try bypassing the wall plate, jsut suggestions

[Deleted User]

martinb29 wrote: »

Can anyone advise me please. Live in a bungalow with a wideband outside aerial pointing at Sandy Heath. I have 4 TV's running off this, about 3m from the aerial have a 4 way amplifier. 3 of the TV's most of the time have no problems but the 4th on about 28m of cable is giving problems. Have been running a second amp on it at about 18m from the aerial but recently had no signal of channel 21 & 12, by passed the second amp and had a signal (100%). Yesterday I could only get channels 1 to 3, 33,231 & 232 with no reception on any others, all other TV's working and showing good signal strength. Beside erecting a second aerial on the back of the bungalow that would have to point to Sutton Coalfield (due to obstructions) is there anything I can do about this. It seems that as soon as we have TV interference due to weather this TV gives up, I assume due to cable length and as it's in the lounge family not happy.

3 of the TV's most of the time have no problems but the 4th on about 28m of cable is giving problems.

There's your problem, you've barely got enough signal to feed 3 TV's let alone a 4th. Can't you put up a 2nd aerial on the same side as the existing one?

Chino

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

There's your problem, you've barely got enough signal to feed 3 TV's let alone a 4th.

You obviously didn't read this bit from the OP:

martinb29 wrote: »

have a 4 way amplifier.

[Deleted User]

Chino wrote: »

You obviously didn't read this bit from the OP:

I did read it but you've obviously not understood it or my post.

that

the signal is week, and may need to be amplified multiple times. The best amp in a poor signal area is a mast head amp.

there is a difference between an amplifier and a splitter, but some splitters do amplify. often splitters are not great at amplification

an antenna array could be the way forward for really weak signal areas, but on a large building block will still probably need other amplifiers down the chain . It needs skills and calculation that I think many antenna installers wont have to wire a block of flats.

larger buildings with a good signal, split and amplify, then split an amplify again etc. split too much or amplify too much and the signal becomes corrupt, but there is a window in which where you can split, and where you should amplify. if your signal is too bad or low, all to will amplify is noise.

fairly sure that week output needs to be amplified as soon as it leave that splitter and then sent down the coax line, providing the coax is ok?

coffeehound

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

try bypassing the wall plate

That worked at my parents’ place when they had one TV on a dist system that didn’t show all the channels. I took the socket circuit board off and drilled the face plate to take a white cable gland instead.

elle_may

Just a thought but have you retuned the lost channels as as of 12 sept we have needed to do this, it was information on our tv.

Owain_Moneysaver

what sort, and how old, is the cable?

Aerial cable does deteriorate and a lot of so-called 'low loss' TV co-ax is very badly screened and very vulnerable to interference. The ready-made extension leads sold in shops and supermarkets are often the worst.

Rewiring with proper satellite co-ax may greatly ameliorate the situation.

martinb29

Thank you everyone for your replies.
debitcardm, will try your suggestions, my fly leads are home made and soldered so they are OK.


Colin_Maybe, we are right on the edge of the Anglia transmission area (and Sutton Coalfields) so signal strength is an issue. Not thought of putting up a second aerial on the same pole.


that, understand what you are saying thinking about it maybe elle may has the answer as I by passed the second amp and retuned. Will try putting the second amp back into the cable and see otherwise a masthead amp is not difficult to fit. I have no "splitters" just the one 4 way booster plus a single booster on the long cable that has given problems since by passing the it.


Owain Mon, the cable is standard co axial and getting on a bit so if nothing else fixes it replacement screened co axial it will have to be. I never use ready made stuff the quality is awful.

prosaver

Ive lost a few channel on freeview due to the new 5g thing says i have to buya new ariel... grr