Freeview reception problem

Hi!

Need some advice from the experts, please!!

Location NE London, working from Crystal Palace. On a big hill, so clear
view
Aeriel Ancient UHF on the loft. 75 ohn downlead to single plug. I would
guess that this installation could be as old as UHF broadcasting!!
Equipment on the end. Daisy chain via Panasonic DVD/VCR, Topfield, to
Panasonic LCD Freeview TV.
Problem. When the snow started we lost some Freeview channels. When I
stopped panicking I worked out that they are all on Mux 2. Now have the
same problem, bit it gets worse as it goes via more machines.
Question. Is this more likely to be caused by a generally poor signal -
need to get aerial installer in, or could it be a fault on one of the
bits of kit, soaking up signal? Generally the VCR/DVD is off, the Toppy
on standby.

TIA

John

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
John Moppett wrote:

Hi!

Need some advice from the experts, please!!

Location NE London, working from Crystal Palace. On a big hill, so
clear view
Aeriel Ancient UHF on the loft. 75 ohn downlead to single plug. I
would guess that this installation could be as old as UHF
broadcasting!! Equipment on the end. Daisy chain via Panasonic
DVD/VCR, Topfield, to Panasonic LCD Freeview TV.
Problem. When the snow started we lost some Freeview channels. When I
stopped panicking I worked out that they are all on Mux 2. Now have
the same problem, bit it gets worse as it goes via more machines.
Question. Is this more likely to be caused by a generally poor signal
- need to get aerial installer in, or could it be a fault on one of
the bits of kit, soaking up signal? Generally the VCR/DVD is off, the
Toppy on standby.

TIA

John

Have you tried un-daisy-chaining so that the TV is connected directly to the
aerial? Is it any better? [I doubt whether it would be - it's probably just
the different sensitivities of the various devices.]

If it only happens in snow, I wouldn't worry too much - it doesn't snow
*that* much in the UK despite recent evidence! And I doubt whether your life
depends on being able to receive every last channel! Anyway, it should be ok
after DSO - even when it *does* snow.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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"John Moppett" wrote in message
...
Hi!

Need some advice from the experts, please!!

Location NE London, working from Crystal Palace. On a big hill, so clear
view
Aeriel Ancient UHF on the loft. 75 ohn downlead to single plug. I would
guess that this installation could be as old as UHF broadcasting!!
Equipment on the end. Daisy chain via Panasonic DVD/VCR, Topfield, to
Panasonic LCD Freeview TV.
Problem. When the snow started we lost some Freeview channels. When I
stopped panicking I worked out that they are all on Mux 2. Now have the
same problem, bit it gets worse as it goes via more machines.
Question. Is this more likely to be caused by a generally poor signal -
need to get aerial installer in, or could it be a fault on one of the bits
of kit, soaking up signal? Generally the VCR/DVD is off, the Toppy on
standby.

FYI, I'm in north London (Enfield) and all muxes have been fine during the
recent weather.

I have a quite recent 18 element Antiference aerial with CT100 cable
throughout. Make sure you get a group A and not a "digital" aka wideband
aerial if you do get things replaced.

The other thing to what out for is if you can see CP, you might end up with
TOO MUCH signal from an highish gain aerial (I'm peeking through a few
trees!) which would be as bad.

Finally, there are lots of threads about ropey old installs effectively
being "tuned" to certain areas of the spectrum so that rather than all the
muxes going bad, only specific ones fail initially. The "tuning" is to do
with where frayed cable is sitting, lengths of cable, phases of the moon
(joking on the last one) but apparently loosing just some signals is not
uncommon.

Paul DS.

Well, I'd go with a new aerial after all that time. You do not say what sort
of signal strength you get when its OK, or if there is an amp in the chain,
but I suspect this is not the case.

A local firm worth their salt and devoid of bull****ters could, I imagine
tell you what is possible, indeed neighbours probably can.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"John Moppett" wrote in message
...
Hi!

Need some advice from the experts, please!!

Location NE London, working from Crystal Palace. On a big hill, so clear
view
Aeriel Ancient UHF on the loft. 75 ohn downlead to single plug. I would
guess that this installation could be as old as UHF broadcasting!!
Equipment on the end. Daisy chain via Panasonic DVD/VCR, Topfield, to
Panasonic LCD Freeview TV.
Problem. When the snow started we lost some Freeview channels. When I
stopped panicking I worked out that they are all on Mux 2. Now have the
same problem, bit it gets worse as it goes via more machines.
Question. Is this more likely to be caused by a generally poor signal -
need to get aerial installer in, or could it be a fault on one of the bits
of kit, soaking up signal? Generally the VCR/DVD is off, the Toppy on
standby.

TIA

John

"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message
...
The other thing to what out for is if you can see CP, you might end up
with TOO MUCH signal from an highish gain aerial (I'm peeking through a
few trees!) which would be as bad.

At least that's dead simple to deal with compared with dealing with too
little signal.

--

Brian Gregory. (In the UK)

To email me remove the letter vee.

John Moppett wrote:
Hi!

Need some advice from the experts, please!!

Location NE London, working from Crystal Palace. On a big hill, so clear
view
Aeriel Ancient UHF on the loft. 75 ohn downlead to single plug. I would
guess that this installation could be as old as UHF broadcasting!!
Equipment on the end. Daisy chain via Panasonic DVD/VCR, Topfield, to
Panasonic LCD Freeview TV.
Problem. When the snow started we lost some Freeview channels. When I
stopped panicking I worked out that they are all on Mux 2. Now have the
same problem, bit it gets worse as it goes via more machines.
Question. Is this more likely to be caused by a generally poor signal -
need to get aerial installer in, or could it be a fault on one of the
bits of kit, soaking up signal? Generally the VCR/DVD is off, the Toppy
on standby.

TIA

John


Could be poor patch leads. Most patch leads are ok for analogue even if
they don't have much shielding where the cable connects to the plug.
For digital you really need a fully shielded plug which are rare unless
you make them yourself.

It easy to lose 30dB of sensitivity (not level as such) on a digital
receiver with these plugs if you have them near metal casing or
something. With no metal object to distort the signal the loss seems to
be 5-7dB.

A fully shielded plug lead will lose 1dB per lead. But to be honest it
won't explain the problems starting with the snow, but it can explain a
marginal signal getting worse with each equipment down the chain.

--
Tony