Bloody cowboys !!
 

My parents are suffering impulse interference problems on DTT, after the
local cowboy "upgraded" their aerial. To summarise, he joined two runs of
coaxial cable together to form the downlead - this is on a geographically
low-placed bungalow that is 29 miles from the nearest TX (Sutton Coldfield)
and by a main road frequented by motorcycles.

Exactly how he's joined the cable together I can't see, as he's stuffed the
join up the shaky aerial pole. The aerial itself doesn't look that much
different from a £19.99 Labgear from Argos which has about 5/6 elements on
it. A lot of other houses in the area seem to have aerials with more
elements and/or weird-looking orange-coloured aerials that have a triangular
thing pointing out the front (what are they?).

Now I'm not one for climbing ladders and such so I've only been able to do
what I can on the ground - after doing some reading I've improved things by
having better RF cables round the back of the TV, and by fitting clip-on
ferrite rings on the cables. This has considerably improved the situation,
although the problem still remains, but being the perfectionist I am - I
want to see the problem eradicated.

So - here comes my questions then for you lovely people out there.

(a) Ideally ripping the whole thing down and starting again would be best,
but bearing in mind money constraints would a new unbroken downlead made of
CT100 or even CT125 make the most difference ?

(b) I have recently moved back in to my parents' house myself and I really,
really want another television point in my room. My room is on the same
side of the house as the lounge where the aerial and cable is at the moment.
What would be the best way of installing the additional TV point ?

Many thanks for any assistance - I will soon be calling the professionals,
being pre-prepared with any sensible replies I get from here ....

(a) Ideally ripping the whole thing down and starting again would be best,
but bearing in mind money constraints would a new unbroken downlead made of
CT100 or even CT125 make the most difference ?

Yes it would make a difference as would making decent connections at either
end.

What would be the best way of installing the additional TV point ?

Use a good quality inductive splitter

I have recently moved back in to my parents' house myself

MUMMYS BOY!


------------------------------------------
The Bristol, UK branch of the Renaldo & The Loaf fan club

http://english.aljazeera.net

" Polly Prissypants" wrote


MUMMYS BOY!

PRAT who knows nothing about peoples circumstances.

"British Shorthair" wrote


A lot of other houses in the area seem to have aerials with more
elements and/or weird-looking orange-coloured aerials that have a
triangular
thing pointing out the front (what are they?).

That aerial is a DAT 45 which means that good signals are a problem in that
location.

MUMMYS BOY!

PRAT who knows nothing about peoples circumstances.


So you are Jewish?


------------------------------------------
The Bristol, UK branch of the Renaldo & The Loaf fan club

http://english.aljazeera.net

That aerial is a DAT 45 which means that good signals are a problem in that
location.


Or the local rigger is a good salesman.

Bill







Ahhh . . .

My parents are suffering impulse interference problems on DTT, after the
local cowboy "upgraded" their aerial. To summarise, he joined two runs of
coaxial cable together to form the downlead

Depends on how he jointed it, and why.

The aerial itself doesn't look that much
different from a £19.99 Labgear from Argos which has about 5/6 elements on
it.

He won't have paid more than about £8 for it.

A lot of other houses in the area seem to have aerials with more
elements and/or weird-looking orange-coloured aerials that have a triangular
thing pointing out the front (what are they?).
A sales enhancing device.


(a) Ideally ripping the whole thing down and starting again would be best,
but bearing in mind money constraints would a new unbroken downlead made of
CT100 or even CT125 make the most difference ?
If you're saying that he's re-used the old cable, yes.

My room is on the same
side of the house as the lounge where the aerial and cable is at the moment.
What would be the best way of installing the additional TV point ?
If the aerial hasn't got an amplifier at the masthead use a little set-back
amplifier with two or more outputs. Put it behind the living room TV set.


Bill







Ahhh . . .

"Bill" wrote
My parents are suffering impulse interference problems on DTT, after the
local cowboy "upgraded" their aerial. To summarise, he joined two runs
of
coaxial cable together to form the downlead

Depends on how he jointed it, and why.

Hi Bill, thanks for your reply. Here are some pictures for yours and
everyone's amusement. Comments are very much invited.

http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/bri...r/aerials.html