My freeview digi box has a crap signal; help!

[TonyHetherington]

Hi all

I got bought for Christmas a fairly cheap (but does the job, so no worrys there) Alba digital freeview box to use in my bedroom. When I plugged it in, it only picked up half the channels, and of those, half have got a horrible signal (nearly zero) so don't actually pick up any picture.

When I transfer down to the aerial lead in my lounge, I get all pictures perfectly (so the problem is obviously one of signal strength).

We have 3 aerials on our roof of which the big, lounge aerial goes directly to the loung TV down the outside wall - so no chance of routing it all the way to my bedroom. The aerial my bedroom feed comes from is just not as big and a fair bit older.

I've tried a very old amplifier but that doesn't seem to do anything. As there is at least a glimmer of signal, is there some sort of mega-strong-super-dooper-amp I can get?!

Thanks all for your thoughts!
Tony

[Darth Dave]

It really does need to be fed from a seriously chunky aerial if possible. It sounds like the weedy one that's feeding your room isn't up to it.

Any chance you could get a splitter and take it from the main aerial?

[marcp68]

I had the same issue and was told it was the quality of the box.

I was sceptical until I bought a new TV with built in Free View which I was told was a good free view reciever.

I was still sceptical until I started to use it and now I never lose the signal.

[TonyHetherington]

To do so would involve getting to an exceptionally unaccessible corner of the roof on my house (as the lead goes straight from the aerial itself to the lounge) which would need a proper aerial type bloke to do I would think (it's VERY high). If it was fed via the loft it would be no problems because I could just split the signal in there and run the cable through a hole in the ceiling (for exmaple).

Thanks again
T

[Kentish]

I suspect that there is either a break in the cable that spurs off to you bedroom or perhaps the centre core of the co-ax is perhaps touching the outer sheath on that spur to your bedroom.

If you have a multi meter, check the cable isn't shorted (btween centre core and sheath) by using the continuity function on the meter and placing a probe on the outside metal collar of the plug and the other probe on the inner core.
If you get a reading there's a short.

Next test for a break in the cable by shorting the outer collar and inner core together at one end then put the two probes on the other end, one on teh collar and one to the inner core, if you have no reading then it's open circuit and has a break in the cable somewhere. You will still get a picture with either siyuation but just very very poor.

[TonyHetherington]

marcp68 said:

I had the same issue and was told it was the quality of the box. I was sceptical until I bought a new TV with built in Free View which I was told was a good free view reciever. I was still sceptical until I started to use it and now I never lose the signal.

ah, i didn't realise that could actually be a factor?!?! I don't mind coughing up a bit more for a better box - the present idea was a good one in fact so I'd happily do so. How do I know which one's a good one, though? I mean I could buy another and it be just as bad.

[Kentish]

TonyHetherington said:

marcp68 said: I had the same issue and was told it was the quality of the box. I was sceptical until I bought a new TV with built in Free View which I was told was a good free view reciever. I was still sceptical until I started to use it and now I never lose the signal. ah, i didn't realise that could actually be a factor?!?! I don't mind coughing up a bit more for a better box - the present idea was a good one in fact so I'd happily do so. How do I know which one's a good one, though? I mean I could buy another and it be just as bad.

I'm certain boxes won't be that bad for signal requirements, it really does sound like you have a bad connection or a short in that aerial feed to your room.

[TonyHetherington]

Thanks KEntish; I'll print that off and try it tonight!

If either is the case, would it be prudent to replace the cables, then?

[Plotloss]

Category 1 aerial and mast head amp and a loftbox TV distribution system.

An afternoon to wire it and you'll not have to bother with it again, ever.

Put decent Coaxial in, like CT100, not 10p a metre shit stuff and you'll be amazed.

>> Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 19th January 14:09

[TonyHetherington]

Plotloss said:

Category 1 aerial and mast head amp

if what that means is "big arse aerial with red box on it" then we already have one of them, it's just (as I mentioned above) really difficult to get to.

I think it's looking like an afternoon up some ladders, then!!!

[Plotloss]

If the aerial up there is good enough then run all the feeds off that and drop the other aerials.

[Kentish]

TonyHetherington said:

Thanks KEntish; I'll print that off and try it tonight! If either is the case, would it be prudent to replace the cables, then?

May even be a short between inner and outer cable at the wall socket or even the lead to your TV.

Check out the easy stuff first before risking life or limb

I notice we don't live that far apart so if you get stuck I may be able to help out.

PS
Would you mind putting a tape measure across your Lotus rear lights for me and let me know the overall diameter?
I'd much appreciate that

[TonyHetherington]

Forgive my ignorance here; if an aerial's signal is 100%, and I split it between two feeds; does each feed then get 50% of the signal (or rather, is there some degradation?)!?

[pdV6]

The fact that it works ok on one aerial and not the other suggests that its the aerial and/or cabling that's the problem, not the 'box.

I also thought that older aerials were too short to receive quality signals in the range(s) used by digital terrestrial TV (and Ch5)?

[Kentish]

TonyHetherington said:

Forgive my ignorance here; if an aerial's signal is 100%, and I split it between two feeds; does each feed then get 50% of the signal (or rather, is there some degradation?)!?

The more TV's you have the worse it is but it does depend on teh aerial and teh co-ax cable quality.

A loft distribution amplifier is the best way to go.

We have one that will feed upto 8 sets and is currently feeding SKY, terrestrial and CCTV all around the house.

[Kentish]

You also need a compatible digital reception aerial.

But I think if you have a good image at one TV then your aerila is fine.

I'm certain it is the feed to that room or the lead from teh socket to teh TV.

[TonyHetherington]

ok cool thanks I'll have a good old hunt out this evening (read: getting cold in the loft!

(I'll go check my car for you now - it's in the car park!)

[Kentish]

TonyHetherington said:

ok cool thanks I'll have a good old hunt out this evening (read: getting cold in the loft! (I'll go check my car for you now - it's in the car park!)

Thanks Tony and if you do get to a point where you pull your hair out just give me a shout and I may be able to help.

[pdV6]

Kentish said:

You also need a compatible digital reception aerial. But I think if you have a good image at one TV then your aerila is fine. I'm certain it is the feed to that room or the lead from teh socket to teh TV.

Except that we're talking about 2 separate aerials!

[caduceus]

I have the same problem, so I stopped using it. Now I've got a decent TV, its time to get a decent ariel. As I share a loft mounted ariel with the person above me.

How much should I be looking to pay for a decent external ariel that will do my LCD justice?