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You have never said when you are located and what transmitter you use.
The
first part of your postcode 'ie S30 3' and the transmitter you are getting
the signals from would be most helpful.
Hills between you are the transmitter can seriously affect the signal to
you, so that is another thing to think about.

Hope that helps.


This is a very good point.
If the OP lives in an area where all channels are in group A then his Maplin
Gold-o-vision special will be better replaced with a good quality group A
aerial. Even in areas requiring a wideband aerial there are far better
aerials than these.

Is the masthead amplifier a fully screened, low noise version? If not it may
be adding to the problem.

In any case getting the aerial outside will help enormously. Even moving a
neighbours aerial onto lowest corner of the eaves from the loft enabled a
22db masthead amplifier to be removed and the stuttering and crackling
disappeared with it. In his case the aerial had to be moved for a loft
conversion to take place. The improved TV reception was a bonus.

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OK folks here goes..

The aerial was a top of the range High Gain something or other with a CAI
test certificate, can't remember what make just now, but it was the best one
they had and it said suitable for loft installation. Wideband as I recall.

The fact that it was gold colored/plated with something was really
irrelevant, I just wanted the best I could get as putting it outside was
going to be very tricky.

It has to point just shy of the gable end so it looks through the roof tiles
at an acute angle. I could maybe move it but it worked fine when I
originally sited it, worked very well indeed, no problems whatsoever, it
has gotten gradually worse

....or the transmissions have gotten weaker/worse/more troublesome ..which Is
was I am suspicious about.

My down lead is air spaced solid copper foil shielded, I had a drum left
over from when I played around with satellite some years back, it's high
quality.

As it is in the roof I bought a new 25db gain amp from a local installer
that I know, I've been using amps on loft based aerials for years with
terrestrial signals without any problems whatsoever.

I usually go for high gain as I'm quite a way from the only transmitter that
I've got a clear run at.

The local one is behind a hill and some distance away and I don't get a good
signal from that, everyone in this locale points their aerials the same as
me.

I get perfect terrestrial reception and yes we have *not* gone DSO yet.

Digital Freeview used to be very good when I first installed it all a few
years back but of late it has got very poor, generally each time they have
done an update.

Are the signals as strong now as they were a few years back ?

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In article ,
says...

OK folks here goes..

The aerial was a top of the range High Gain something or other with a CAI
test certificate, can't remember what make just now, but it was the best one
they had and it said suitable for loft installation. Wideband as I recall.

The fact that it was gold colored/plated with something was really
irrelevant, I just wanted the best I could get as putting it outside was
going to be very tricky.

It has to point just shy of the gable end so it looks through the roof tiles
at an acute angle. I could maybe move it but it worked fine when I
originally sited it, worked very well indeed, no problems whatsoever, it
has gotten gradually worse


If it originally worked well, it's the reason for the deterioration you
need to be looking for

...or the transmissions have gotten weaker/worse/more troublesome ..which Is
was I am suspicious about.

Extremely unlikely although, if you name the transmitter concerned, I'm
sure someone on here will be able to confirm that for you, either way.


My down lead is air spaced solid copper foil shielded, I had a drum left
over from when I played around with satellite some years back, it's high
quality.

But is it still high quality? Have you inspected the cable run for
subsequent damage, kinks, etc? It is very easy to turn a length of high
quality cable into low quality!

Your original post made quite a thing about (local) interference
problems. A high quality cable run should keep it out ...

(And check all connectors while you're at it.)


As it is in the roof I bought a new 25db gain amp from a local installer
that I know, I've been using amps on loft based aerials for years with
terrestrial signals without any problems whatsoever.

I was about to query the need for the amp before you posted this - now
there is no need, as you previously stated that you don't need one (or
else it couldn't have worked in the first place).

I usually go for high gain as I'm quite a way from the only transmitter that
I've got a clear run at.

You should only ever use a high gain amp if you NEED a high gain amp -
you obviously do not!


The local one is behind a hill and some distance away and I don't get a good
signal from that, everyone in this locale points their aerials the same as
me.

The UK is filled with transmitters, hills and houses - particularly the
latter. I don't think anyone here is sufficiently telepathic to work out
exactly which house, hill and transmitters you are talking about.

You've previously been asked to pin down your location by providing part
of your postcode - just omitting the last letter will give a reasonably
accurate location without anybody being able to identify you - but you
have failed to do so.

If there are any particular factors affecting your area, someone may
know what they are but, if you insist on playing the 'somewhere in
England' card, you might as well talk to the wall - at least it knows
your location!


I get perfect terrestrial reception and yes we have *not* gone DSO yet.

Pardon? I thought the whole point of your post was that you were having
problems with Digital TERRESTRIAL Television reception!

Digital Freeview used to be very good when I first installed it all a few
years back but of late it has got very poor, generally each time they have
done an update.

This implies that the deterioration is progressive - have you checked
for other progressive changes - such as trees in your line of sight, for
example?

Are the signals as strong now as they were a few years back ?


They are in MY house - with my 40 year old loft aerial (but NOT the
original cable).

Wouldn't have a clue about YOUR house!
--

Terry

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Jim wrote:


OK folks here goes..

The aerial was a top of the range High Gain something or other with a
CAI test certificate, can't remember what make just now, but it was the
best one they had and it said suitable for loft installation. Wideband
as I recall.

The fact that it was gold colored/plated with something was really
irrelevant, I just wanted the best I could get as putting it outside was
going to be very tricky.

It has to point just shy of the gable end so it looks through the roof
tiles at an acute angle. I could maybe move it but it worked fine when I
originally sited it, worked very well indeed, no problems whatsoever,
it has gotten gradually worse

...or the transmissions have gotten weaker/worse/more troublesome
..which Is was I am suspicious about.

My down lead is air spaced solid copper foil shielded, I had a drum left
over from when I played around with satellite some years back, it's high
quality.

As it is in the roof I bought a new 25db gain amp from a local installer
that I know, I've been using amps on loft based aerials for years with
terrestrial signals without any problems whatsoever.

I usually go for high gain as I'm quite a way from the only transmitter
that I've got a clear run at.

The local one is behind a hill and some distance away and I don't get a
good signal from that, everyone in this locale points their aerials the
same as me.

I get perfect terrestrial reception and yes we have *not* gone DSO yet.

Digital Freeview used to be very good when I first installed it all a
few years back but of late it has got very poor, generally each time
they have done an update.

Are the signals as strong now as they were a few years back ?




Maybe your amplifier is malfunctioning. It could have been cooked over a
period of time in your roof space. I know that mine can be like a sauna
during the summer. Open it up and see if there are any electrolytic
capacitors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolytic_capacitors

on the PCB and check if they have popped their tops and/or started
leaking. There were a load of dodgy elec caps that went on the market
maybe about 7 years ago that found their way onto lots of motherboards.
They failed early causing all sorts of problems. These dodgy caps may
have found their way into other products.

Snap Crackle and Pop
 

....snip...

Maybe your amplifier is malfunctioning. It could have been cooked over a
period of time in your roof space. I know that mine can be like a sauna
during the summer. Open it up and see if there are any electrolytic
capacitors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolytic_capacitors

on the PCB and check if they have popped their tops and/or started
leaking. There were a load of dodgy elec caps that went on the market
maybe about 7 years ago that found their way onto lots of motherboards.
They failed early causing all sorts of problems. These dodgy caps may have
found their way into other products.

They found there way into some Netgear routers so I imagine they are
widespread.

Paul DS

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I get a crap analogue signal if I remove the amp, I think I'm on Ridge
Hill, I'm just south of Gloucester.

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SO630333

Seems that they are doing work anyway.

I was about to query the need for the amp before you posted this - now
there is no need, as you previously stated that you don't need one (or
else it couldn't have worked in the first place).

Lost me on that one Terry..?

As for DSO I guess I don't really know what I'm on about...I though that I
read somewhere that when they switch the analogue off then the Digital
signal would get better, I guess that DSO doesn't refer to switching the
analogue off does it..

Snap Crackle and Pop
 

"Jim" wrote in message
...
I get a crap analogue signal if I remove the amp, I think I'm on Ridge
Hill, I'm just south of Gloucester.

Does the aerial point NW to Ridge Hill or SW to Mendip? Do you get Midlands
region or West region programmes?
For Ridge Hill wideband is essential until DSO when group A will be a better
choice again.



http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SO630333

Seems that they are doing work anyway.

It appears so. I think you're pushing it with a loft aerial down there
though.


I was about to query the need for the amp before you posted this - now
there is no need, as you previously stated that you don't need one (or
else it couldn't have worked in the first place).

Lost me on that one Terry..?

As for DSO I guess I don't really know what I'm on about...I though that I
read somewhere that when they switch the analogue off then the Digital
signal would get better, I guess that DSO doesn't refer to switching the
analogue off does it..

DSO is switching off the analogue, and digital transmission power will be
ramped up when this happens - late 2011 I think.

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On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:10:10 -0000, Jim wrote:

As it is in the roof I bought a new 25db gain amp from a local installer
that I know, I've been using amps on loft based aerials for years with
terrestrial signals without any problems whatsoever.

I usually go for high gain as I'm quite a way from the only transmitter that
I've got a clear run at.

You are essentially clueless. Your solutions have only worked by luck
before. You cannot make up for lack of signal out of the air by putting
a ****in' great amplifier in.

Are the signals as strong now as they were a few years back ?

They're stronger than they were a few years back.

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In article ,
Bill wrote:

I can't see why a masthead amp would have electrolytics on board.

i'd expect one - to act as a 'reservoir' for the power.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11

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At 07:52:40 Wed, 18 Nov 2009, charles wrote in article 50bc06f479charl
:
In article ,
Bill wrote:

I can't see why a masthead amp would have electrolytics on board.

i'd expect one - to act as a 'reservoir' for the power.

The dc "reservoir" will be in the PSU...