How to improve this aerial? Replace or move higher?

Bill wrote:
In message ,
writes

Just to report how I have (temporarily) fixed it....

I went up in the loft where there is a distribution amplifier and
checked all the connections (I wondered if the amplifier might have
lost power for example). All seemed perfectly OK but I pushed and
twiddled all the connectors just to make sure. That cured it.

I think this says that a general overhaul of all the connections,
downleads, etc. is in order.

Just a thought, if doing what you did "fixed" it, is the inner of the
coax soldered to the pin of the connectors? Assuming Belling Lee
connectors. A common cause of poor performance is corrosion between the
coax inner and the pin.

Item 7 on this page:-

http://www.blake-uk.com/downloads/ma...IEC_connector).
pdf


Interesting! I've never seen left-handed instructions for fitting
anything before - let alone an IEC connector!

Before anybody gets any wrong ideas, both my wife and daughter are
left-handed, which maybe why I spotted it.

I disagree with the method shown, however, as the loose braid will
almost certainly get caught up in the screw threads as the connector is
assembled, probably resulting in a loose assembly.

The best method is the one described by Belling - Lee many years ago
but, strangely, rarely seen.

The braid should be combed out into individual strands at right angles
to the cable. Push the centre pin assembly fully onto the cable and
solder. (With the traditional B-L polyethylene insulator, this enables a
heat shunt to be applied to the pin while the iron heats the pin.)

Slide the clamp up to the insulator, trapping the braid, and trim flush.
I used to use a pair of miniature, flush-cutting, pair of end cutters
(Lindstrom, IIRC) for this but, failing such a luxury, the clamp can
be pulled back slightly to compensate for the use of bevel-edged
cutters. (The important part of this, as with all cable prep in my
experience, is to use _sharp_ tools!)

When the plug is assembled, the braid is securely held between the
insulator and clamp, ensuring a true, coaxial connector.

There is one important caveat here - the clamp _must_ be of first class
quality! The B-L ones used to be a slight blackish-blue colour (possible
as a result of hardening?) and, if the connector was over-tightened
(particularly with the cheap, flimsy 'domestic' cable that used to
proliferate) could and did cut clean through the outer sheath!

The individual claws of the B-L clamp were curved in two planes and
really hard. Then RS bought out a copy with a clamp which was worse than
useless. The material was flimsy and soft and the individual arms were
virtually straight with the ends folded over to produce the 'claw'.

Unless the cable was big enough to completely fill the hole in the cover
(exceeding rare in those days!) the 'claws' would flatten out as the cap
was tightened and pass through the hole in the cap with the cable. As
they did so, the arms would bend back in the reverse direction, _away_
from the cable! Absolutely useless!

Terry

"Bill" wrote in message
news

Item 7 on this page:-

http://www.blake-uk.com/downloads/ma...IEC_connector).
pdf
I certainly wouldn't fit a Belling plug the way shown here. I would have
thought that the way shown would cause the braid to get caught in the
thread.

On
http://www.blake-uk.com/page/technic...ption_problems
they have simulated a screen showing analogue impulse interference by making
white marks on the picture. This is very unconvincing. It would be quite
easy, I would have thought, to photograph genuine impulse noise on the
screen. The same picture has also been used to illustrate 'a weak digital
signal'.

Work needed on your website, Mr Blake!

Bill

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
On 29 Jul,
wrote:

Oh, while I'm about it, any recommendations for a good distribution
amplifier, currently there's a cheap (?) Wickes branded one which
doesn't actually have enough channels. While I'm grovelling around
in
the loft I may was well replace it. I need an 8-way amplifier,
preferably with VHF (radio) capability as well as UHF TV.

One with F connectors would be my choice. No doubt Bill will be along
soon.

Yes, get one with f types. I use very few of these sort of amps, but
you can't go wrong with Proception for this sort of thing, I find.

I've always used Taylor ones but they have Bellings and you have to
buy ten to get a good price!

As a general point, I seem to changing makes of quite a few products
at the moment.

Bill



I know you don't like their aerials Bill, but I have a Televes multi-in
multi-out (loft) amp that I find very good. Any thoughts?


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

"Woody" wrote in message
...
I know you don't like their aerials Bill, but I have a Televes multi-in
multi-out (loft) amp that I find very good. Any thoughts?

It's only the big high gain ones that I don't like. I've used lots of other
Televes stuff with no problems. At one time their VSB modulators were the
market leader. Don't know the item to which you refer though.

Bill

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...

"Woody" wrote in message
...
I know you don't like their aerials Bill, but I have a Televes multi-in
multi-out (loft) amp that I find very good. Any thoughts?

It's only the big high gain ones that I don't like. I've used lots of
other Televes stuff with no problems. At one time their VSB modulators
were the market leader. Don't know the item to which you refer though.

Bill
Pardon my ignorance but I have never actually heard anyone say the word, but
how does one pronounce "Televes", please?
Is it "tele- ves" or "tea leaves" or what?

Kenneth

In message , Kenneth
writes

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
.. .

"Woody" wrote in message
...
I know you don't like their aerials Bill, but I have a Televes
multi-in multi-out (loft) amp that I find very good. Any thoughts?

It's only the big high gain ones that I don't like. I've used lots of
other Televes stuff with no problems. At one time their VSB modulators
were the market leader. Don't know the item to which you refer though.

Bill
Pardon my ignorance but I have never actually heard anyone say the
word, but how does one pronounce "Televes", please?
Is it "tele- ves" or "tea leaves" or what?

Kenneth

Tay-lay-vayce, with the stress on the 'vayce'.
--
Ian

Bill wrote:
In message ,
writes

Just to report how I have (temporarily) fixed it....

I went up in the loft where there is a distribution amplifier and
checked all the connections (I wondered if the amplifier might have
lost power for example). All seemed perfectly OK but I pushed and
twiddled all the connectors just to make sure. That cured it.

I think this says that a general overhaul of all the connections,
downleads, etc. is in order.

Just a thought, if doing what you did "fixed" it, is the inner of the
coax soldered to the pin of the connectors? Assuming Belling Lee
connectors. A common cause of poor performance is corrosion between the
coax inner and the pin.

That's very likely I should think. When I overhaul it I will change
to all F connectors.

Item 7 on this page:-

http://www.blake-uk.com/downloads/ma...IEC_connector).
pdf

--
Bill (another one.)

--
Chris Green

Pardon my ignorance but I have never actually heard anyone say the
word, but how does one pronounce "Televes", please?
Is it "tele- ves" or "tea leaves" or what?

Kenneth

Tay-lay-vayce, with the stress on the 'vayce'.
--
Ian

Many thanks

Kenneth

On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:25:05 +0100, "Kenneth"
wrote:


Pardon my ignorance but I have never actually heard anyone say the
word, but how does one pronounce "Televes", please?
Is it "tele- ves" or "tea leaves" or what?

Kenneth

Tay-lay-vayce, with the stress on the 'vayce'.
--
Ian

Many thanks

Kenneth

I used to pronounce it Tel Aviv. Now I know I'm wrong :-)

Marky P.

Bill Wright wrote:

http://www.blake-uk.com/page/technic...ption_problems
they have simulated a screen showing analogue impulse interference by making
white marks on the picture. This is very unconvincing. It would be quite
easy, I would have thought, to photograph genuine impulse noise on the
screen. The same picture has also been used to illustrate 'a weak digital
signal'.

Work needed on your website, Mr Blake!

Hmm, noted. The co-channel interference images are crap too, don't you
think?

I shall have words. . .

--
Andy