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

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

"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%

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

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

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.

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

"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%

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.

"JP" wrote in message
news
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.