Aerial question (I think)

[PositronicRay]

Octogenarian MIL has recently started having a problem with poor reception on ITV & 5

Not too bad in the afternoons but very poor in the evenings when watching her soaps.
She lives in a block of flats sharing an aerial with booster, it's divided into 3 blocks of 6.

She's had a word with a couple of other residents, some are also having problems and some are ok.

I went round and retuned her TV no real change, I noticed when I was tuning it signal strength was @ 10, but this was during the afternoon, not many people at home.

Could this be an aerial/booster problem? She's not keen on calling the managing agents unless she's confident it's their problem.

[PositronicRay]

Thanks, I'll try that. Why would it happen all of a sudden? and only in the evenings.

[PositronicRay]

outnumbered said:

Could be GSM interference ?

https://at800.tv/

Wouldn't this affect all the flats?

[PositronicRay]

Okay thanks, I've just been round to have another look.

Most channels signal strength good
Some channels signal quality poor (these are the ones that break up and pixelate)
Some channels signal strength and quality poor.

Panasonic TV and a Panasonic DVR/DVD box both the same.

Is it worth trying an attenuator?

I can get to a Maplins I see they do 6db, 12db or variable, which one?

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 6th October 15:32

[PositronicRay]

BBC's ok and and the signal strength is 10.

I've purchased one of these signal attenuator jobbies. Seems much better, TV's okay, although DVR sometimes breaks up, the DVR is quite old and picture quality not brilliant anyway.

I purchased a variable attenuator and set the signal strength to around 9.

Thanks for your help chaps.

[PositronicRay]

outnumbered said:

Could be GSM interference ?

https://at800.tv/

Still getting interference, and it seems she did get a card (about the same time as the problem started) but chucked it.

I'll give them a call in the morning.

[PositronicRay]

I've just spoken to at800, they're sending out a filter. If that doesn't work her property managers will have to contact them for a filter to be fitted on the aerial booster.

Thanks chaps.

[PositronicRay]

I spoke to them this morning apparently it's a postcode affected by a new 4G mast. We're on Sutton Coldfield.

[PositronicRay]

OldGermanHeaps said:

4g masts nearby can overdrive the distribution amp causing a poorer signal to noise ratio across the whole range, it needs filtered before the preamp or ideally a 21-60 aerial fitted instead of a 21-69

Thanks, they sent out a filter to plug into the TV, it's improved things a little. I'll call them in morning and arrange an for engineer to come out.

[PositronicRay]

We'll find out soon enough, filter and engineer on the way.

Odd how only 2 flats out of 18 seem to have noticed though. When I look at the signal strength it's a good solid 10 (I've wound it back to 9 using the attenuator) But quality is up and down like wes draws.

[PositronicRay]

outnumbered said:

Could be GSM interference ?

https://at800.tv/

Thank you Out, engineer out yesterday, filter fitted to the aerial amp. MIL happy, soaps watched without interruption.