Saorview not working for me on more than one TV

Brian2011

Hello,

I have a new LG digital saorview tv in main living room which works fine and receives saorview tv, but I have a 2nd newly bought small Toshiba saorview tv in the bedroom that only works when the main television in living room is turned off / on standby.

Now the aerial that is on the chimney is there with a good 7 or 8 years and is probably an older type UHF aerial but it still allows the main tv to receive saorview perfectly but not any spare tvs in bedrooms etc (unless the main tv is on standby). Before the switch to digital tv, it was able to power/work all tvs in the house but not now since digital switch.

I must also add that there is an old booster connected to main tv that has been there as long as the aerial on chimney has been there.

So can someone tell me what do I need? Do I need to purchase a new aerial and place on chimney or do I need a new booster or both? Thanks in advance

sesswhat

Your aerial is probably fine, but the booster may be part of the problem. Does the power supply to the booster get switched on/off with the main TV?

Skull Murphy

Brian2011 wrote: »

I have a new LG digital saorview tv in main living room which works fine and receives saorview tv, but I have a 2nd newly bought small Toshiba saorview tv in the bedroom that only works when the main television in living room is turned off / on standby ....

I must also add that there is an old booster connected to main tv that has been there as long as the aerial on chimney has been there.

Does the "booster" share an electrical socket with the tv? Could you try it on a different socket or circuit?

Brian2011

Skull Murphy wrote: »

Does the "booster" share an electrical socket with the tv? Could you try it on a different socket or circuit?

Yes, I only have one electrical socket in the wall where the main tv is and plugged into that is an extension lead and everything (tv, dvd player, booser) is plugged into the extension lead, but could you tell me how does that make a difference? Thanks for reply.

Brian2011

sesswhat wrote: »

Your aerial is probably fine, but the booster may be part of the problem. Does the power supply to the booster get switched on/off with the main TV?

It gets switched off with the main tv I think as I only have one electrical socket in the wall where the main tv is and an extension lead is plugged into
that, and then everything is plugged into extension lead including booster. There is two black tv cable leading out from the booster, I presume one is for main tv and the other is feeding the other rooms, I think.

Skull Murphy

If there are only 2 cables, the "booster" will be a power supply & the actual amplifier will be elsewhere, probably beside the aerial, with a splitter in the attic.

Since turning the main tv off restores the signal to others, I'd be inclined to wonder if it's some kind of electrical fault, maybe even just the extension lead.

Brian2011

The tv in the spare room only works if I put the main tv on standby. If I then switch back on the main tv, the tv in spare room either displays "No Signal" or a just a frozen tv screen, but usually "No Signal"

Brian2011

Skull Murphy wrote: »

If there are only 2 cables, the "booster" will be a power supply & the actual amplifier will be elsewhere, probably beside the aerial, with a splitter in the attic.

Since turning the main tv off restores the signal to others, I'd be inclined to wonder if it's some kind of electrical fault, maybe even just the extension lead.

Hi I just tried what you said to do there now, I plugged the booster cable into a different extension lead and plugged it into a different wall socket on different side of room but still no difference.

tmull

Is the splitter in the attic one of the old type ones? If so it cannot split the digital signal. Try a digital splitter and you may be able to do without the amp. TMULL

Brian2011

tmull wrote: »

Is the splitter in the attic one of the old type ones? If so it cannot split the digital signal. Try a digital splitter and you may be able to do without the amp. TMULL

I guess that's another problem, I don't know even where the splitter is, I thought the booster split the signal to the other tv's in the house??

Picture of the booster is attached, its a "labgear" one.

Skull Murphy

tmull wrote: »

Is the splitter in the attic one of the old type ones? If so it cannot split the digital signal. Try a digital splitter and you may be able to do without the amp. TMULL

Complete & utter rubbish. There is no such thing as a "digital" splitter (or aerial, or amplifier). Saorview is just a UHF radio signal, same as analogue was.

Brian2011 wrote: »

I guess that's another problem, I don't know even where the splitter is, I thought the booster split the signal to the other tv's in the house??

Your "booster" would seem to be a power supply for a "masthead" type amplifier ( DC power sent up the aerial cable). The amplifier could be a multi output version or a single output feeding a passive splitter.

Brian2011

Skull Murphy wrote: »

Complete & utter rubbish. There is no such thing as a "digital" splitter (or aerial, or amplifier). Saorview is just a UHF radio signal, same as analogue was.



Your "booster" would seem to be a power supply for a "masthead" type amplifier ( DC power sent up the aerial cable). The amplifier could be a multi output version or a single output feeding a passive splitter.

OK so any ideas on how to sort out this problem? or should I just call a tv installation man, pay him and be done with it, although I would prefer to do it myself with the help of people on here if possible, Thanks

I don't think there is any masthead amplifier mounted on chimney or elsewhere, just a standard aeriel.

Skull Murphy

I suppose you could try physically separating the tv & labgear unit as much as possible, in case the tv is radiating interference that is finding its way to the amplifier.

Knasher

What happens if you remove the booster all together?

What I'm guessing is happening is that you actually have a pretty strong signal, and it is overwhelming your other tvs when the booster is powered, but the longer single run to the main tv plus the attenuation caused by having the powersupply on the line is enough to not effect the main tv. But if you are getting a signal on the other tvs then that would suggest that the booster may be unnecessary for any of your tvs and all it is doing is wasting electricity and maybe overwhelming your tv. That or it is just introducing noise onto your wire. Either way if you are getting a good signal on your second tv when the booster isn't powered, that would really indicate you don't need a booster.

tmull

It is Skull Murphys statement that is rubbish.Check tvtrade.ie for a range of digital splitters.They are dirt cheap.An old analogue splitter will not do for a digital signal.There is loads of help here.Where in the country are you? TMULL

MarkK

tmull wrote: »

Check tvtrade.ie for a range of digital splitters.They are dirt cheap.An old analogue splitter will not do for a digital signal.

You will need a UHF splitter for Saorview. UHF splitters are analogue.

Peter Rhea

Knasher wrote: »

What happens if you remove the booster all together?

It looks very like a power supply for a masthead amplifier. If it's removed, there will be no signal.

Either way if you are getting a good signal on your second tv when the booster isn't powered, that would really indicate you don't need a booster.

There's no mention here of the 'booster' being powered off at any point: only of the main tv being put into standby or powered off. The new tv would seem to have something to do with the problem, from the info. we've been given.

tmull wrote: »

It is Skull Murphys statement that is rubbish . . . An old analogue splitter will not do for a digital signal.

I'll back Skull Murphy, or anyone else on this. Your preceding statement & the one quoted above are nonsense. Maybe you can explain to us the difference between a digital & analogue splitter?

Brian2011

Peter Rhea wrote: »

It looks very like a power supply for a masthead amplifier. If it's removed, there will be no signal.



There's no mention here of the 'booster' being powered off at any point: only of the main tv being put into standby or powered off. The new tv would seem to have something to do with the problem, from the info. we've been given.



I'll back Skull Murphy, or anyone else on this. Your preceding statement & the one quoted above are nonsense. Maybe you can explain to us the difference between a digital & analogue splitter?

Hi yes you are correct, if I was to plug out the booser, there would be no signal to both the main tv and any other tv's aswell.

The new tv is brand new 22" Toshiba saorview tv bought only yesterday, I don't think there is anything wrong with tv as like I mentioned in previous post, the saorview will work perfectly on this tv but only when the main tv is put on standby. If the main tv is turned back on, the toshiba tv will display "no signal".

If the main tv is turned off at the power socket, the toshiba tv will also display "no signal"

Brian2011

tmull wrote: »

It is Skull Murphys statement that is rubbish.Check tvtrade.ie for a range of digital splitters.They are dirt cheap.An old analogue splitter will not do for a digital signal.There is loads of help here.Where in the country are you? TMULL

Kerry

Peter Rhea

Brian2011 wrote: »

The new tv is brand new 22" Toshiba saorview tv bought only yesterday, I don't think there is anything wrong with tv as like I mentioned in previous post, the saorview will work perfectly on this tv but only when the main tv is put on standby. If the main tv is turned back on, the toshiba tv will display "no signal".

When I mentioned 'new tv', I was referring to the LG ('new LG digital Saorview tv' in your OP). I should have used 'new main tv', to be clearer.

If you leave the LG switched on & unplug the aerial cable from the back, does it have any effect at the Toshiba?

I would think the most sensible thing to try as a solution, would be replacement of the PSU. Even if it isn't faulty, the newer models should be better screened against interference.

Brian2011

Peter Rhea wrote: »

When I mentioned 'new tv', I was referring to the LG ('new LG digital Saorview tv' in your OP). I should have used 'new main tv', to be clearer.

If you leave the LG switched on & unplug the aerial cable from the back, does it have any effect at the Toshiba?

Well I can't leave the LG TV switched on as there would be no signal on the Toshiba TV if I did that, same thing if I unplugged cable. I can only put the LG on standby, then the Toshiba works fine

Brian2011

Peter Rhea wrote: »

When I mentioned 'new tv', I was referring to the LG ('new LG digital Saorview tv' in your OP). I should have used 'new main tv', to be clearer.

If you leave the LG switched on & unplug the aerial cable from the back, does it have any effect at the Toshiba?

Sorry posted same post twice by accident

Peter Rhea

I edited my post above with a suggestion (replacing the PSU), just as you were posting your reply. Maybe someone else will come up with some other idea.

Either that, or get someone knowledgeable to have a look.

Ronnie Raygun

Skull Murphy wrote: »

Saorview is just a UHF radio signal, same as analogue was.

Saorview is an analogue signal, i.e. a continuously varying voltage (or electromagnetic field, while it's "on the air"). The digital bitstream can only be recovered when the signal is demodulated in the receiver.

winston_1

tmull wrote: »

Check tvtrade.ie for a range of digital splitters.They are dirt cheap.An old analogue splitter will not do for a digital signal.

That site does not refer to their splitters as "digital splitters". As has been stated there is no such thing.

http://www.tvtrade.ie/tv-distribution/tv-splitters.html