All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Rashid: Many thanks for your update on the situation and pleased to learn that you have now rectified the problem.
| link to this comment |
Keith: Thanks for your update and pleased to hear that the problem is finally solved, but though as far as the issue concerning the splitter / booster is concerned this "was" the device that had initially came under suspicion as being the reason for your problem, as in my original reply (@ 7.14pm / 29th) to your posting I had queried if this device had been checked out by the aerial installer, you having confirmed in your reply (@ 01.37pm / 30th) that it had been, and adding words to the effect that your own suspicions were also with this device and why you had purchased / then returned another booster which when installed as a replacement had not made any difference to the situation.
Although everything appears to be OK now and I suppose that's all that really matters, but from my point of view (as an engineer) there is still an iffy element about the exact reason for your problem, because "if" the original cable had been OK then the problem was being caused by the booster / splitter, but as the replacement booster / splitter referred to was found not to have made any difference to the situation then the reason for the problem automatically reverted to the cable being faulty, as I would find an aerials coax downlead, as well as the booster / splitter attached to the end of failing at the same time a little too coincidental to be factual, my suspicions being that the aerial installers words vs actual actions are not necessarily running in parallel lines and something had been overlooked that he cared not to mention.
| link to this comment |
jenni: Not really! as if any actions are deliberately taken by an engineer knowingly covering a period where adverts are broadcast this automatically triggers financial implications for the broadcasters whereas not to the same extent during a programme.
Of course there is also the element of coincidence involved!
By the way, engineering work is being carried out at the Sutton Coldfield transmitter all of this week and so interruptions to the service are liable to be experienced at random times.
| link to this comment |
Keith: The only type of aerial amplifier / booster than can be damaged by causing a short circuit across any of their sockets (whether input or output) are the types that provide power to a mast head amplifier, the 5 / 12 volts DC being on the aerial input socket, the power travelling "up" the downlead and into the mast head amplifier located on either the aerial itself, or alternatively a small box mounted on the mast pole.
My personal suspicion is that the problem was purely being caused by the old downlead cable, and if indeed the aerial installer had said what you have reported i.e: signal strength was weak but booster was doing its job, then this is an admission that the booster must have been working because if it wasnt the weak signal would have vanished as there is no in-between states, they either work or they dont!
If the aerial installer left the old booster / splitter with you maybe you could let me know the model number printed on its ID label, as this would enable me to establish whether or not your system uses a mast head amp.
| link to this comment |
Nobby: Rather than carrying out a rescan go into your boxes tuning menu / manual tune and enter Ch53 but do NOT press search or scan, because on most devices the signal strength that the channel is being received at will be indicated.
After having made a note of the indications seen carry out the same test again on Ch60, once again noting that indicated, finally change the channel entered into the box to Ch40 likewise noting the level for comparison purposes as I suspect that your aerial is the cause of your problem by being inefficient at the higher frequencies.
| link to this comment |
Nobby: Slight correction (typo error) scrub 40 as it should be Ch30 (ITV3 etc).
I had also meant to say that Belmonts channels are: 22 (BBC1) - 25 (ITV1) - 28(HD) - 30 (ITV3) - 53 (PICK TV etc) - 60 (Film 4 etc)
King Lynn : 40 (BBC) - 46 (ITV1) - 43 (HD).
| link to this comment |
Paul Stableford: Purely as an extreme long shot as I am not personally acquaint with this model, but in the settings menu under "aerial" does it give you a choice of either DVB-T or DVB-T2? because if it does select the latter then carry out a manual scan on Walthams Ch58.
| link to this comment |
Keith: With regards to the old amplifier / splitter, if the rear of its aerial input socket is coupled onto the PCB via a capacitor with no DC bypass circuit in place then this is a positive indication that your system is "not" fitted with a mast head amplifier powered via the splitters aerial input socket.
As far as the reason for the problem is concerned, I do have to admit that when I referred to you having purchased then returned another booster splitter I was not aware that you were referring to 3 years ago, me having assumed that this had been done prior to making your initial posting, but though if the aerial installer you called in "since" making your recent posting had given the OK to the booster then it had to be the cable / or connections at fault.
But though the fact still remains that if the aerial installer had followed standard fault finding procedures then the reason
for your problem should really have been diagnosed within the first 15 minutes of his arrival, that is "if" on arrival he was kitted out with a proper signal meter thus removing the element of guesswork from the equation.
By the way the only device I know listed as " SIG 4" is made by the company in the undermentioned link, this device having 16dB gain on each of its outputs.
PS: With regards to zero signal until the booster / splitter was changed, pity you ripped it apart because I would have liked you to have tested it out, as I still find it strange for it to be OK on the first visit then suddenly be defective on the next, although I would prefer to keep my ideas about that to myself.
http://www.apt-erlltd.co.….pdf
| link to this comment |
Neil: These are the links to the updated info showing the terrain between the three stations in question and your location when using the info you have now provided rather than an approximate test code.
Please note that the indications seen are purely with reference to the ground level and do not take into account trees or anything man made, these always making matters worse.
Hannington.
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
Crystal Palace.
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
Oxford.
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
| link to this comment |
Wednesday 3 July 2013 9:44PM
Rashid: Are you sure that when the workmen were erecting the scaffolding that they didnt accidentally knock against the side of the satellite dish and move it slightly out of alignment?
You should carry out a signal check using the following procedure:
Press "Services" on your Sky remote control and you will see the main menu with "Options" being highlighted.
2:- Select the "Settings" menu using the right arrow button and press select.
3:- Use the left / right arrows to scroll to "Signal" and press select, the grey bars displayed will show you the strength as well as the quality of the signal received which should be around 50% absolute minimum to produce a picture and with the quality never being lower than the strength, because if it is then the dish has been moved, albeit very slightly.
It would also be prudent to check that the scaffolding is not obstructing the signal reaching the dish, this meaning none of the metal poles passing over the front of the dish but at an angle of about 25 degrees upwards from it, as the signal does not reach the dish from the front but down onto it.