High quality aerial cables
 

Could anyone help with a question about the quality of aerial cables?


I'm in Doncaster using the Emley Moor transmitter and some of the
Freeview channels are only showing a signal strength of about 60% on
my Topfield Freeview box, and frequently suffer picture breakups.

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

Will it be less lossy than a standard cable?


Thanks,

JP

High quality aerial cables
 

In message , JP
writes
Could anyone help with a question about the quality of aerial cables?


I'm in Doncaster using the Emley Moor transmitter and some of the
Freeview channels are only showing a signal strength of about 60% on
my Topfield Freeview box, and frequently suffer picture breakups.

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

Will it be less lossy than a standard cable?


Thanks,

JP


Plonk (er) Powell again.
--
Ian

High quality aerial cables
 

"Ian" wrote in message ...
In message , JP writes
Could anyone help with a question about the quality of aerial cables?


I'm in Doncaster using the Emley Moor transmitter and some of the
Freeview channels are only showing a signal strength of about 60% on
my Topfield Freeview box, and frequently suffer picture breakups.

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

Will it be less lossy than a standard cable?


Thanks,

JP


Plonk (er) Powell again.
--
Ian

I don't think it's Jamie, but if he tries to sit next to me I'm going to stand in the buffet car.

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

High quality aerial cables
 

In message , JP
wrote
Could anyone help with a question about the quality of aerial cables?

http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/article...-quality.shtml


I'm in Doncaster using the Emley Moor transmitter and some of the
Freeview channels are only showing a signal strength of about 60% on
my Topfield Freeview box, and frequently suffer picture breakups.

A signal strength of 60% should be more than OK - it's the quality
figure that matters on a Topfield

Install the signal Monitor TAP on your Topfield and you will get a lot
of information about your signals.
http://www.tapworld.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=318
See also
http://forum.toppy.org.uk/forum/index.php

--
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

High quality aerial cables
 

In message , Ian
wrote

Plonk (er) Powell again.

If it is then recommend the V20 coax cable from Russ Andrews at only £13
metre.

--
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

High quality aerial cables
 

In article ,
JP wrote:
I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

That would be what percentage, length wise, of the feeder from aerial to
set?

--
*Many hamsters only blink one eye at a time *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

High quality aerial cables
 

In message , Brian Gaff
wrote
Are you winding us up? Audio cables, oxygen free or whatever black magic
they claim, is a load of claptrap most of the time. Its the good
connections either end that matter and not having coiled up leads. With RF
on the other hand, there will always be losses, since you do not actually
say what is fitted now, it would be hard to judge if the cable is the
problem.


From memory Topfield supply a 3 inch connecting lead to join tuner 1 to
tuner 2. While not the best quality in the world it is far from the
worst. It is 100% screened, with a silver metallic foil.

With a Topfield 5800 or 5810 there are various third party software
applications (TAPs) that can be loaded on to the box to help diagnose
the problem. For instance there is a TAP that will display the signal
strength and quality with the minimum, typical and maximum values for a
configurable sample period being reported for all MUXs and both tuners
on a single screen.

Not ruling out a poor aerial installation and cable not able to cope
with local electrical interference, a common cause of poor reception on
the Toppy is to do with duplicate channels from multiple transmitters
and the user deleting the wrong one. Again, there are TAPs that can be
installed to only scan from one selected transmitter or to delete only
the weakest of the duplicates.

Depending on when the box was purchased and/or if the user has updated
the firmware from a UK source there may also be problems with the "Split
NIT" http://www.toppy.org.uk/static/channelNumbers.shtml. Updating
from the Korean site is not recommended as those firmware versions do
not include some vital bug fixes that the UK distributor has included in
the boxes they have shipped in the last year or so. The
http://www.toppy.org.uk/ site has firmware versions with many more bug
fixes. All the bug fixes, those used on the Toppy.org site and those
used by the UK distributor, have all been written and tested by
customers.

--
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

High quality aerial cables
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message ...
In article ,
JP wrote:
I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

That would be what percentage, length wise, of the feeder from aerial to
set?

--
*Many hamsters only blink one eye at a time *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I don't think I have ever seen an aerial patch-cable supplied with an STB (using the term
loosely to include VCRs and DVDRs here).
Often there will be a male-female "RF cable" intended to couple the RF modulator and/or loopthrough signals to a downstream tuner.



--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

High quality aerial cables
 

In article ,
Graham. wrote:

I don't think I have ever seen an aerial patch-cable supplied with an
STB (using the term loosely to include VCRs and DVDRs here). Often there
will be a male-female "RF cable" intended to couple the RF modulator
and/or loopthrough signals to a downstream tuner.

Aerial wall outlets are often male these days, so you can use that
supplied lead. Have a look in a DIY store if you doubt me. Wickes sell
them.

--
*OK, who stopped payment on my reality check?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

High quality aerial cables
 

"JP" wrote in message
...
Could anyone help with a question about the quality of aerial cables?


I'm in Doncaster using the Emley Moor transmitter and some of the
Freeview channels are only showing a signal strength of about 60% on
my Topfield Freeview box, and frequently suffer picture breakups.

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

Will it be less lossy than a standard cable?


Thanks,

JP



OFC - all bunkum.

Two main factors may be affecting your aerial run: -

1. Loss, especially if the run is long.

2. Noise.

Use satellite TV cable (e.g. CT100) to cure the latter, this has braid and
foil that keeps out interference. It also has a better frequency response.

If the run is long then upgrade to [thicker] CT125 or even CT167.

Gold connectors is only relevant for professional use where the connections
are constantly made and broken - e.g. like on my £££ Sony microphone.

High quality aerial cables
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message ...
In article ,
Graham. wrote:

I don't think I have ever seen an aerial patch-cable supplied with an
STB (using the term loosely to include VCRs and DVDRs here). Often there
will be a male-female "RF cable" intended to couple the RF modulator
and/or loopthrough signals to a downstream tuner.

Aerial wall outlets are often male these days, so you can use that
supplied lead. Have a look in a DIY store if you doubt me. Wickes sell
them.

Yes, I have seen them, but I think the ones I saw were for VHF/FM on a di or triplexed
plate.
Just a thought, perhaps that's why the OPs TV reception is crap?

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

High quality aerial cables
 

In article ,
Graham. wrote:
Aerial wall outlets are often male these days, so you can use that
supplied lead. Have a look in a DIY store if you doubt me. Wickes sell
them.

Yes, I have seen them, but I think the ones I saw were for VHF/FM on a
di or triplexed plate. Just a thought, perhaps that's why the OPs TV
reception is crap?

I've seen 'straight through' ones.

--
*There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count & those who can't.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

High quality aerial cables
 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Graham. wrote:

I don't think I have ever seen an aerial patch-cable supplied with an
STB (using the term loosely to include VCRs and DVDRs here). Often there
will be a male-female "RF cable" intended to couple the RF modulator
and/or loopthrough signals to a downstream tuner.

Aerial wall outlets are often male these days,

In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

so you can use that
supplied lead.
You might have to carve away the plastic surround so the lead with fit
in the plug 'ole.

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF. For
a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did it
cause confusion and call backs.


Seem to be doing the opposite here now. I came across this at a friends
rented place the other week: http://www.tradeworks.tv/acatalog/Triax_.html

Paul

High quality aerial cables
 

In article ,
Bill Wright wrote:
Aerial wall outlets are often male these days,

In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

I can see that. However, Wicks sell single outlet straight through one
gang flush size MK plates with a male. And a matching female one. Or did
on Easter Monday. Because I bought one.

--
*You can't have everything, where would you put it?*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

High quality aerial cables
 

Bill Wright wrote...

In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

Those are the type we have here... http://unsteadyken.posterous.com/
with the female radio outlet labelled FM+DAB.

My two FM tuners have male aerial inlets and as far as I can remember
all the previous ones were the same so it makes some sort of sense in
that, if they were connected up with the usual male/female patch leads
then it should not be possible to get it wrong, ie, plug telly into
radio outlet.

--
Ken O'Meara
http://www.btinternet.com/~unsteadyken/

High quality aerial cables
 

Am 02.05.2011 02:48, schrieb Bill Wright:


In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

to be pedantic:

Here in Germany wallplates require(d) female fly-lead connector for Band
I/III/IV/V (in other words TV) and male for Band II (radio) - the
reverse of course at the equipment end. Prevented plugging the telly
into the Band II outlet.

High quality aerial cables
 

Paulg0 wrote:
"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy
did it cause confusion and call backs.


Seem to be doing the opposite here now. I came across this at a friends
rented place the other week: http://www.tradeworks.tv/acatalog/Triax_.html

Paul


The picture shows female for VHF and male for UHF.

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Bill Wright wrote:
Aerial wall outlets are often male these days,

In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

I can see that. However, Wicks sell single outlet straight through one
gang flush size MK plates with a male. And a matching female one. Or did
on Easter Monday. Because I bought one.

Few years ago the electricians unknowingly fitted single male plates in
120 rooms in a new extension. The place already had 700 female plates in
existing rooms. Ever since there's been a problem with flyleads.

Taylors used to do TV/SAT diplexed outlets with two belling females.
This was in the very early days of sat IF distribution. We used these
plates on several jobs and ever since have had to go back every verse
end to connect people's satellite up for them. Bit of a disaster really.

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

Eddie King wrote:
Am 02.05.2011 02:48, schrieb Bill Wright:


In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

to be pedantic:

Here in Germany wallplates require(d) female fly-lead connector for Band
I/III/IV/V (in other words TV) and male for Band II (radio) - the
reverse of course at the equipment end. Prevented plugging the telly
into the Band II outlet.


Thanks for that clarification. What about DAB?

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

In message on Mon, 02 May 2011 19:35:03 +0100
Bill Wright wrote:

Paulg0 wrote:
"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy
did it cause confusion and call backs.


Seem to be doing the opposite here now. I came across this at a friends
rented place the other week: http://www.tradeworks.tv/acatalog/Triax_.html

Paul


The picture shows female for VHF and male for UHF.

Bill

Perhaps he needs a sex education refresher course ...?

Like a chap in his 80s in our local a while back. When he found two bright
young things wearing topless, bottomless outfits heading towards him, he swept
of his hat with a flourish and said "I know I'm supposed to be excited but I
can't remember why ...!"

--

Terry

High quality aerial cables
 

In message on Mon, 2 May 2011
11:26:02 +0100
UnsteadyKen wrote:

Bill Wright wrote...

In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

Those are the type we have here... http://unsteadyken.posterous.com/
with the female radio outlet labelled FM+DAB.

My two FM tuners have male aerial inlets and as far as I can remember
all the previous ones were the same so it makes some sort of sense in
that, if they were connected up with the usual male/female patch leads
then it should not be possible to get it wrong, ie, plug telly into
radio outlet.

That is precisely the reasoning behind it - and you don't need two different
cables, both TV & FM patch cables are identical.

--

Terry

High quality aerial cables
 

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
Paulg0 wrote:
"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.


Seem to be doing the opposite here now. I came across this at a friends
rented place the other week:
http://www.tradeworks.tv/acatalog/Triax_.html

Paul


The picture shows female for VHF and male for UHF.

Bill

Sorry i misread the original post. I thought you were talking about the
equipment end.

Paul

High quality aerial cables
 

"Bill Wright" wrote in message ...
Eddie King wrote:
Am 02.05.2011 02:48, schrieb Bill Wright:


In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

to be pedantic:

Here in Germany wallplates require(d) female fly-lead connector for Band I/III/IV/V (in other words TV) and male for Band II
(radio) - the reverse of course at the equipment end. Prevented plugging the telly into the Band II outlet.


Thanks for that clarification. What about DAB?

Bill

Looks like the Germans have moved on Bill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_in_Germany

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

High quality aerial cables
 

Terry Casey wrote:

Perhaps he needs a sex education refresher course ...?

It could be that he's been making a terrible mistake all his life.

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

On Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 23:15:00h +0100, Graham. explained:

Looks like the Germans have moved on Bill.

DAB+ broadcasts are launched on August 1st, 2011.

High quality aerial cables
 

JP wrote:

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

If you buy some make sure you get the directional arrows the right way
round, you don't want to have to rip it all down and clip it back again,
also you may wish to get an aerial made from nitrogen free aluminium ...

High quality aerial cables
 

In message , Graham. writes

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
Eddie King wrote:
Am 02.05.2011 02:48, schrieb Bill Wright:


In Germany and other places they use female for VHF and male for UHF.
For a brief period the UK industry was fitting such plates, and boy did
it cause confusion and call backs.

to be pedantic:

Here in Germany wallplates require(d) female fly-lead connector for
Band I/III/IV/V (in other words TV) and male for Band II
(radio) - the reverse of course at the equipment end. Prevented
plugging the telly into the Band II outlet.


Thanks for that clarification. What about DAB?

Bill

Looks like the Germans have moved on Bill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_in_Germany

Would they be the same Germans who moved on Poland, in 1939?
[It took me some time to mentally insert the missing comma.]
--
Ian

High quality aerial cables
 

In message , Andy
Burns wrote
JP wrote:

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

If you buy some make sure you get the directional arrows the right way
round, you don't want to have to rip it all down and clip it back again,
also you may wish to get an aerial made from nitrogen free aluminium ...


And if you get some company to "burn it in" for you don't forget to
leave it unplugged for at least a week before use to let the burn in
electrons discharge into the air.
http://www.russandrews.com/popindex.asp?article_id=info_Burn_In

Summary: If you have spent £100s, or maybe £1000s, on connection cables
don't expect to hear any improvement in sound/vision until they have
burnt in for 500 hours, or longer.
--
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

High quality aerial cables
 

Andy Burns wrote:
JP wrote:

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

If you buy some make sure you get the directional arrows the right way
round, you don't want to have to rip it all down and clip it back again,
also you may wish to get an aerial made from nitrogen free aluminium ...

The industry is very excited by the new directional cables.
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ymbj/di...-coaxial.shtml

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

Ian Jackson wrote:

Looks like the Germans have moved on Bill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_in_Germany

Let's hope Marlene Dietrich is in the lead.

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

Alan wrote:
In message , Andy
Burns wrote
JP wrote:

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

If you buy some make sure you get the directional arrows the right way
round, you don't want to have to rip it all down and clip it back again,
also you may wish to get an aerial made from nitrogen free aluminium ...


And if you get some company to "burn it in" for you don't forget to
leave it unplugged for at least a week before use to let the burn in
electrons discharge into the air.
http://www.russandrews.com/popindex.asp?article_id=info_Burn_In

Summary: If you have spent £100s, or maybe £1000s, on connection cables
don't expect to hear any improvement in sound/vision until they have
burnt in for 500 hours, or longer.
It would be a bit of a bugger if the dog chewed your Russ Andrews cables
wouldn't it?

Bill

High quality aerial cables
 

Bill Wright wrote:

It would be a bit of a bugger if the dog chewed your Russ Andrews cables
wouldn't it?

They probably sell the offcuts as up-market dentastix ...

Super-crunchy copper centre, premium chewy XLPE bedding encased in
anti-bacterial silver nano-braid floss with the PVC outer heavily loaded
with carbon black means more "blaming it on the dog" either ...

High quality aerial cables
 

On Tue, 03 May 2011 12:59:32 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:
JP wrote:

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

If you buy some make sure you get the directional arrows the right way
round, you don't want to have to rip it all down and clip it back again,
also you may wish to get an aerial made from nitrogen free aluminium ...

The industry is very excited by the new directional cables.
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ymbj/di...-coaxial.shtml

Cunning.

Because the cable is unidirectional and AC (bidirectional) signals need
to be carried two parallel cables will be need - one for electrons
flowing in one direction and the other for electrons flowing in the
opposite direction.

Obviously these cables will need to be carefully matched pairs. Just
taking a length of cable, cutting it into two equal lengths and putting
them side by side will not result in an adequate match.

--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)

High quality aerial cables
 

On Tue, 03 May 2011 14:05:00 +0100, Peter Duncanson
wrote:

On Tue, 03 May 2011 12:59:32 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:
JP wrote:

I can understand that oxygen free copper audio cables make a
difference to the quality of an audio interconnect cable, but is there
any need to buy an OFC aerial cable with gold connectors instead of
the standard cable supplied with a Freeview box?

If you buy some make sure you get the directional arrows the right way
round, you don't want to have to rip it all down and clip it back again,
also you may wish to get an aerial made from nitrogen free aluminium ...

The industry is very excited by the new directional cables.
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ymbj/di...-coaxial.shtml

Cunning.

Because the cable is unidirectional and AC (bidirectional) signals need
to be carried two parallel cables will be need - one for electrons
flowing in one direction and the other for electrons flowing in the
opposite direction.

Obviously these cables will need to be carefully matched pairs. Just
taking a length of cable, cutting it into two equal lengths and putting
them side by side will not result in an adequate match.

That's where the dual 'shotgun' cables come in. Providng you cut them
across with a square end they will be precisely the same length.

I have found a problem with these cables though. Because of the
requirement for near-vertical operation it's not possible to tape them
to the boom of the yagi, and they tend to stretch a bit when you have
more than about 10m hanging directly from the balun.

High quality aerial cables
 

In article ,
Peter Duncanson wrote:

Because the cable is unidirectional and AC (bidirectional) signals need
to be carried two parallel cables will be need - one for electrons
flowing in one direction and the other for electrons flowing in the
opposite direction.

I recommend this even with ordinary cable, using diodes to ensure the
current goes the right way. This allows electrons to migrate steadily
through the wires. If you pass AC through a single cable, the
electrons oscillate back and forth, never moving more than a few
micrometres from their starting position, and gradually become stuck
resulting in a "muddy" sound.

-- Richard

High quality aerial cables
 

On Tue, 03 May 2011 13:06:30 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

It would be a bit of a bugger if the dog chewed your Russ Andrews cables
wouldn't it?

Perhaps Russ Andrews could be persuaded to sell a line of
technology-friendly pets.

--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)

High quality aerial cables
 

Richard Tobin wrote:
In article ,
Peter Duncanson wrote:

Because the cable is unidirectional and AC (bidirectional) signals need
to be carried two parallel cables will be need - one for electrons
flowing in one direction and the other for electrons flowing in the
opposite direction.

I recommend this even with ordinary cable, using diodes to ensure the
current goes the right way. This allows electrons to migrate steadily
through the wires. If you pass AC through a single cable, the
electrons oscillate back and forth, never moving more than a few
micrometres from their starting position, and gradually become stuck
resulting in a "muddy" sound.

I heartily agree. Electrons get bored going backwards and forwards all
the time and never really getting anywhere. Give them a break, by making
sure they can flow in one direction only, then they'll think they're
making progress and will reward you with a sparkling performance...

High quality aerial cables
 

On 03/05/2011 15:12, Peter Duncanson wrote:
On Tue, 03 May 2011 13:06:30 +0100, Bill
wrote:

It would be a bit of a bugger if the dog chewed your Russ Andrews cables
wouldn't it?

Perhaps Russ Andrews could be persuaded to sell a line of
technology-friendly pets.

Perhaps Russ Andrews could be persuaded to stop selling snake oil too.


Clem

High quality aerial cables
 

On Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 08:07:16h +0100, Ian Jackson asked:

Would they be the same Germans who moved on Poland, in 1939?

I think most of them are dead by now.