Coaxial problems

BJC

So after spending far too long in the attic working on a good fibreglass rash I managed to split the coaxial cable and lead it down between a partition wall into a box and into my tv.

Unfortunately although I am picking up 13 channels, only one or two are at all clear. Surprisingly, the clear channels are ch4, E4 and setanta.

I was very careful when putting plugs on the wires and wiring the splitter box.
So can anyone tell me what the hell I'm doing wrong?

Trevor451

I think this would be better suited in the cable fourm
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?forumid=54

BJC

Yeah, you're right. Apologies for that, can mods move it please?

Micky Dolenz

Consider it done

Moved to Cable & Digital TV.

BJC

I'm getting very sick of setanta and E4 , any help anyone?
Am I missing a component or something?

coylemj

You don't give a lot of information about where the signal is coming from. I assume when you mention 13 channels that you're using the analog (VHF) signal from UPC/NTL.

On that basis I can advise you that the picture quality of this signal is going downhill very fast, they appear to be forcing people to go digital so if I was you I'd bit the bullet and get a digital box. I have a digital box downstairs and I use the analog signal in the bedroom, both TVs are top drawer models with multiple HDMI ports etc. but the analog picture quality in the bedroom is terrible so I have just signed up for a (non-recording) digital box for the bedroom which will cost me all of €5 p.m.

BJC

coylemj wrote: »

You don't give a lot of information about where the signal is coming from. I assume when you mention 13 channels that you're using the analog (VHF) signal from UPC/NTL.

On that basis I can advise you that the picture quality of this signal is going downhill very fast, they appear to be forcing people to go digital so if I was you I'd bit the bullet and get a digital box. I have a digital box downstairs and I use the analog signal in the bedroom, both TVs are top drawer models with multiple HDMI ports etc. but the analog picture quality in the bedroom is terrible so I have just signed up for a (non-recording) digital box for the bedroom which will cost me all of €5 p.m.

Yeah, it's analog. Apologies if I wasn't clear enough; I split the coax cable coming directly from the aerial on the roof. I used a 1 to 8 splitter box (all they had in Atlantic Homecare when I was there). This particular box has plug-in inputs (as opposed to the screw in ones which I've subsequently been told are better). So I have one cable going 'in' and three cable's coming 'out', these three are:

1. Going on to the rest of the house. (As the cable originally did before I split it)
2. Going to one bedroom in the house. (New)
3. Going to my bedroom in the house. (New)

The signal is fine for for the first two listed but for some reason it refuses to work in my bedroom bar Channel 4, E4 and Setanta Sports, although my T.V. (Samsung 32" LCD) does detect and technically pick up all 13 of the VHF channels, the previous three mentioned are the only ones clear enough to watch and reception on those three is surprisingly good.

I just can't for the life of me figure out why there are only three clear channels, especially since two of them are British channels!?

EDIT: And coylemj, can you fill me in on this €5 digi box?

coylemj

You'll someone better than me to advise on splitting the signal into multiple cables and what the pitfalls are. The additional box that I have ordered is a non-recording digital box which I intend to use in the bedroom because I find that the analog channels are progressively getting worse, some stations are ok but on a lot of them there is no facial texture when they do a closeup on someone.

The extra box is known as 'multiroom' by UPC, the details are here.....

http://www.upc.ie/television/mrv/

As you can see it costs €5 p.m. (per month), I'm expecting delivery on Friday. I believe I'll be able to receive the same set of channels as I get on the main box. However when I tried to order it online I couldn't get rid of the €50 connection fee for 'non standard installs', I said I'd install it myself and I have a brand new UPC wall box with co-ax cable ready. I got to what looked like the last screen and wasn't prepared to press the 'order' button because the €50 charge was still sitting there so I had to phone them and the call agents know nothing about the website but the guy who took the call ordered the box for me and said someone will call me tomorrow (Thu) to confirm that I'll be here to accept delivery.

BJC

coylemj wrote: »

You'll someone better than me to advise on splitting the signal into multiple cables and what the pitfalls are. The additional box that I have ordered is a non-recording digital box which I intend to use in the bedroom because I find that the analog channels are progressively getting worse, some stations are ok but on a lot of them there is no facial texture when they do a closeup on someone.

The extra box is known as 'multiroom' by UPC, the details are here.....

http://www.upc.ie/television/mrv/

As you can see it costs €5 p.m. (per month), I'm expecting delivery on Friday. I believe I'll be able to receive the same set of channels as I get on the main box. However when I tried to order it online I couldn't get rid of the €50 connection fee for 'non standard installs', I said I'd install it myself and I have a brand new UPC wall box with co-ax cable ready. I got to what looked like the last screen and wasn't prepared to press the 'order' button because the €50 charge was still sitting there so I had to phone them and the call agents know nothing about the website but the guy who took the call ordered the box for me and said someone will call me tomorrow (Thu) to confirm that I'll be here to accept delivery.

Sound, at €5 per month I'll definitely do likewise plus I can hook it up myself so I'll avoid the connection fee. Cheers for your help coylemj.

Theta

BJC wrote: »

Yeah, it's analog. Apologies if I wasn't clear enough; I split the coax cable coming directly from the aerial on the roof. I used a 1 to 8 splitter box (all they had in Atlantic Homecare when I was there). This particular box has plug-in inputs (as opposed to the screw in ones which I've subsequently been told are better). So I have one cable going 'in' and three cable's coming 'out', these three are:

1. Going on to the rest of the house. (As the cable originally did before I split it)
2. Going to one bedroom in the house. (New)
3. Going to my bedroom in the house. (New)

The signal is fine for for the first two listed but for some reason it refuses to work in my bedroom bar Channel 4, E4 and Setanta Sports, although my T.V. (Samsung 32" LCD) does detect and technically pick up all 13 of the VHF channels, the previous three mentioned are the only ones clear enough to watch and reception on those three is surprisingly good.

I just can't for the life of me figure out why there are only three clear channels, especially since two of them are British channels!?

EDIT: And coylemj, can you fill me in on this €5 digi box?

Swap the splitter out for a booster and you should be fine. A passive splitter which I assume you are using with introduce noise and decrease signal strength.

p15574

What if you swap output 3 with output 1? Just wondering in case the non-working output is some sort of 'screened' output or something. If not that, could you try the non-working tv in one of the other rooms, if it's not fixed to the wall?

Dardania

I think your 1 to 8 splitter from Atlantic might be playing a big part in why your signal is degraded so badly... I'd suggest getting the same type of splitter that UPC use - here's an online shop of UPC's manufacturer:

http://www.in-home-network.co.uk/splitters--isolators-16-c.asp

You shouldn't put a booster in, as they block the return path which means you wouldn;t be able to get broadband / phone in the future. With good connections, a quality passive splitter and decent cable you should have no problems with poor signal! Maybe get UPC to install the gear?

Theta

Dardania wrote: »

I think your 1 to 8 splitter from Atlantic might be playing a big part in why your signal is degraded so badly... I'd suggest getting the same type of splitter that UPC use - here's an online shop of UPC's manufacturer:

http://www.in-home-network.co.uk/splitters--isolators-16-c.asp

You shouldn't put a booster in, as they block the return path which means you wouldn;t be able to get broadband / phone in the future. With good connections, a quality passive splitter and decent cable you should have no problems with poor signal! Maybe get UPC to install the gear?

I only suggested a booster because it would seem he only has 13 channels which would be analog no?

Dardania

Theta wrote: »

I only suggested a booster because it would seem he only has 13 channels which would be analog no?

Oh yeah, you're correct alright but if he ever wanted to get broadband in future he'd have to replace the booster with a decent quailty split - and I reckon a decent quality split / good connections are all that are needed at the moment for analogue.