Mux1 vs Mux2 transmit power

L1011

I'm receiving Kippure here and can get Mux1 with an aerial even pointing 40 degrees off-target but need much more precise targetting for Mux2. The loss going through a multiswitch (16 output sat+terrestrial, generic German brand) is sufficient that Mux2 drops off under any circumstances

There's only 32MHz between the two muxes and the switch covers the full band so it shouldn't be it dropping it (but could be)

Is there a significant difference in transmit power between the two muxes?

coylemj

What kind of aerial are you using? Kippure mux1 is on ch. 54 while mux2 is on ch. 58, it's possible that your aerial is a group B which is designed to receive channels 35-53 so you're just about getting mux1 (ch.54) but mux2 (ch.58) is too far out of the range. I don't believe there is a difference in transmission power between the two muxs.

I have a similar problem with Three Rock and an indoor aerial, I can one mux all of the time but the other one comes and goes.

L1011

Group C/D.

Thurston?

What's the quoted loss figure for terrestrial frequencies in the multiswitch?

L1011

The switch has virtually no documentation and what there is is in German.

Its the same physical chassis as a Smart unit, but orange plastic instead of blue; their website claims 5-8dB which is fairly significant.

I have a masthead amp, it is passing the frequency properly as if I bypass the switch I get Mux2 stable. The entire setup - aerial and amp - was moved from another house a few hundred metres away so it has been (and is) fine for a single TV.

Considering getting a better aerial as it is a dirt cheap contract job.

coylemj

L1011 wrote: »

Considering getting a better aerial as it is a dirt cheap contract job.

You said it was a Group C/D - I though all cheap contract aerials were wideband?

Anyway, you need to be aware that a C/D won't cut it when they shift Kippure to channels 34 & 35 as part of the 700 Mhz clearance and you'll need a group A or K aerial. Thread here.....

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057816687

L1011

Cheap contract aerials of all bands exist. Probably cost less than 15 quid not including the wall mount.

I'd have to actually measure the directors to make sure it is a C/D but I'm trusting the cap colour and also what I bought it as (I installed it on the former house)

New wideband it is, then!

coylemj

L1011 wrote: »

New wideband it is, then!

A group K might be a better idea. If you buy an old stock wideband, you may start picking up 700+ Mhz 5G signals when that spectrum is sold off to the network operators.

Post the 700 MHz clearance, group K will be the 'new' wideband for UHF TV.

The Cush

I'm wondering if Mux2 is being affected by a nearby mobile base station in the 800MHz band using that Group C/D?

For now the current wideband Group T white tip aerial would be recommended for Kippure until clearance.

A Group K would be more out of range than even a Group B aerial. In the UK where the interim muxes 7/8 will remain on Chs 55/56 for now, both Ofcom/DigitalUK recommend the Group T aerial for reception of these muxes until they are switched off and a Group K afterwards.

L1011

Group K definitely wouldn't be optimal; Group T could be more awkward to find than ye-olde wideband. Will take a look at what's available.

The Cush

L1011 wrote: »

Group T could be more awkward to find than ye-olde wideband. Will take a look at what's available.

TvTrade has stocked the Blake contract Group T aerials for a number of years now, first one listed here - http://www.freetv.ie/saorview/tv-aerials/uhf/

Thurston?

L1011 wrote: »

... their website claims 5-8dB which is fairly significant.

I have a masthead amp, it is passing the frequency properly as if I bypass the switch I get Mux2 stable. The entire setup - aerial and amp - was moved from another house a few hundred metres away so it has been (and is) fine for a single TV.

I've seen some makers' figures quoting loss as a minus, so assume it's actually a gain in that case.

Have to ask the silly question: the masthead PSU is upstream of the multiswitch?

L1011

Its definitely a loss figure, actually stated as such and I found it in the spec by searching for loss. This is assuming that Smart and whatever brand this is are the same gear with different colour plastic but they probably are.

PSU is upstream, output from the PSU is what is going in to the switch input. Everything works fine if I plug the output from the PSU to a TV directly; no TV in the house has a "signal meter" that means anything - most have either 0% or 100% and nothing ever registers between so I can't really check if there is a difference there.

L1011

Replaced the aerial a 'new' wideband. Still no Kippure Mux2

However, as its wideband I can now get both muxes on Three Rock fine by turning the aerial a bit. Suspect the multiswitch is eating Channel 58!

pegasuspub

hi if you disconnect the lnb cables into the multiswitch does the mux on channel 58 improve ?