[Morat]

Hello all,
I've just bought a Humax 9300T. I'm connecting to a "budget" LCD via HDMI. The LCD TV has Freeview as well but can't record. The TV and Antenna were working OK together with occasional glitching.

Since we live in a very low signal area. I installed an amplified antenna One for All SV9350 which seems to have a problem. The Antenna uses an F-type (or similar) connector at it's end of the cable.

After extensive prodding, rerouting of cables, standing in different parts of the room etc etc I found that if I hold the metal part of the f-type connector I get a perfect signal. If I don't, the signal drops away to nothing. This is the same whether using the freeview on the TV or the Humax Freeview box.

What does this mean? Can the problem be fixed with a new antenna or cable or is there something more fundamentally wrong?

Thanks for helping a newbie...
Miles

[Chris Muriel]

Check the continuity of the shield or screen, particularly at all connectors in the chain.

[Geofbob]

An F-type connector is the type of connector normally used for satellite - it has a screw thread on it, & doesn't just push onto the other socket as with normal aerial connection. It would be very unusual for F-type to be used on an indoor aerial; & neither of the reviews on the link you provided mention this feature. Are you quite sure you are connecting the aerial to the TV in the manner intended?

[Morat]

The antenna is really for outdoor use (and it came with pole mounts) but I used the wallmount to rig it up in an upstairs window that happened to be facing the right direction. The connectors (at the antenna end) look like F-type to me although I haven't seen that many close up since I only make my own cables up for wifi (N-type, revSMA and that sort of thing).

Having looked at the pathetic power and channel choice that my only transmitter (Bilsdale) is putting out I may have to borrow some ladders and start clambering round my chimney stack.

In the meantime I've ordered a new cable... my multimeter skills are limited to say the least!

Thanks for the replies!

[Geofbob]

I didn't look at the link carefully enough, & assumed this was a regular indoor aerial, & that the connector was at TV end, rather than at the aerial end. In fact, the description in the link is rather ambiguous, as it says "Outdoor" in the heading; but later "suits in any household interior". As you've concluded, it seems that you do need an outdoor aerial, but are you sure this one will do the job?

[Morat]

Well, I guess it's hard to say in advance whether this antenna will do the job. I'll try a new cable first seeing as there seems to be something going on with the current one and it is the cheapest first option. After that, relocation will probably be the next step.

I'm pretty certain that the signal is marginal but not that far away from workable. When I was installing the new freeview box it was daylight and torrential rain. Judging by the recording I made of the Grand Prix, the signal cleaned up considerably during the afternoon as the rain diminished and during the night I had perfect reception on some (low bandwidth) channels.

MUX2 is proving to be a problem still, I'll see what progress I can make.

[0thDoctor]

Ah, Mux 2, signal degradation and F plug threaded connectors. They are called ‘F-connectors’ because of the foul language they provoke.

It can be difficult to fit F-connectors (F plugs/threaded connectors) properly. I suffered all the agonies of the damned with the power supply unit for a masthead amplifier, and even a ‘professional’ TV repair man soiled the mattress when he had a go.

I moved into a new place and found an old power supply unit there. The thing looked as if it had been built in the Seventies: the brown coaxial lead from the external aerial (through the wall) was connected to the unit via the bit of exposed copper wire at the end, which was screwed into a connection inside the unit. Think of the little screws and terminals inside a standard electrical plug: that sort of arrangement. A second lead (again screwed in) went to the Freeview box.

I kept getting channel degradation, particularly on Mux 2 channels, and if you moved the unit more than slightly you could lose the signal completely.

The unit finally expired, and I bought the modern upgrade, which had two ‘female’ thread connectors. You would think that this would be a five minute lock-and-load job, but no. I’ll spare you the full horror story, but there are a few points to bear in mind.

If you are stripping the end of a coaxial cable to insert into a thread connector, it’s best to use a very sharp cutter to cut the end (the bit which goes in) at a 45-degree angle, so that it is more of a point. This gives a better fit. Trust me: it was obvious. However, be careful with this: it’s very sharp, and you can easily scratch yourself or get a tiny shard/splinter of copper in your skin.

Secondly, some people cut off the thin copper wires known as the ‘braid’, on the outside of the coaxial cable, underneath the insulation cover, when they expose the end of the copper wire/thread at the centre. Do not do this: it’s there for a reason and essential to conducting the signal. Bend it back along the cable, spread it as evenly as possible, push the cylindrical metal connecter ‘sleeve’/fitting over it and, only then, trim away any loose bits which are still protruding from the bottom of the metal sleeve.

Other than that, ensure that the sleeve is fitted tightly onto the cable, so that the cable does not fall out, leave about 2mm-3mm of the sharp copper wire (the pin) protruding beyond the end of the metal grip which you will screw onto the outside of the female thread connector (think of a large needle sticking out of the business end of a sink plunger – or dalek sucker – and going into a lemonade bottle: that’s how the setup looks). Then screw the cable onto the connecter.

Use a Mux 2 channel to test the signal, as these are the first to degrade and the last to give a ‘100% quality’ reading. At least the wretched vulnerability of Mux 2 acts as an early warning that trouble is brewing for all of the channels.

The cat observed the proceedings with great interest, occasionally slapping a paw to her forehead in despair at the incompetence on display.

Two good links with photographs:

Satcure satellite dish LNBs digital TV aerial information

Guide: How to fit an "F" connector