[linesmachine]

Hi,

My problem is simple but proving difficult to resolve with any satisfaction.

My rooftop aerial gets weak freeview reception but now I've added a booster into the loft there is enough of a signal popping out of the aerial socket in the living room to be satisfactory. The problem is I have to run a 15 meter coaxial cable from the aerial socket to the TV (it's an awkward house!). By the time the signal is plugged into my BTvision box (or any freeview box) it is so weak I lose some channels and others are patchy.

Now as I see it my options are outlined below, the problem is I don't want to spend money on something that may make no difference, so if anyone has experience of this could they please comment?

1) Buy an expensively insulated coaxial extension to try and stop the signal dissapating during the 15m run from the aerial to the TV.

2) Get someone to fit a new, modern rooftop aerial to see if that solves everything.

3) Somehow broadcast the signal from the aerial socket to the tv.

Any comments would be greatly recieved!

[Andyuk200523]

Option 2 would be your best bet, the main problem is down to your weak signal at the source (your aerial).

A 15 metre run of cable should not really affect the signal too much in all honesty, the issues with cable length are primarily down to many connections and joins in the cable, one long cable with no joins in it should be fine for signal, however with any length of cable there will always be some loss, I personally think your signal booster is only increasing the signal by a small amount, which is instantly being lost by the length of your cable, if you had a good strong signal from the aerial, then the run you have would not be an issue.

[Geofbob]

How do you know "there is enough of a signal popping out of the aerial socket in the living room to be satisfactory" if your TV is 15 metres away, & by the time it gets there it's weak? And why should it lose srength in that 15 metre run, if it hasn't lost strength in the run down from the loft?

But assuming you're correct, & the signal is reasonably strong at the socket - your option 3 is a no, no - any such device would be illegal. As for option 1, if you're using reasonable quality co-axial now, it's doubtful if spending more money on cable would resolve the problem. Another option would be to try another booster between the socket & the TV - if the signal out of the socket is, as you say, good quality, then a booster might prevent any further deterioration.

However, the best solution by far is your option 2 - a better aerial - or perhaps it just needs re-aligning.

All the above, however, is on the assumption that you are in a locality where the digital signal is of adequate strength & quality. If you aren't sure put your postcode in UK digital TV reception predictor

[linesmachine]

I know the signal at the aerial socket is ok because I picked up the TV and plonked it down next to it and ran a 1m cable into the free view box. It really does seem that the 15m cable is losing a lot of signal. Although maybe I have a dodgy plug on the cable.

Does anyone know roughly what it might cost to get someone to change my aerial?

edit: thx for the link to the signal site. Apparently I should have a hi-gain aerial. My aerial could be from the 1960s so maybe this woul be a good place to start.

[tuck1]

I did a multi-room installation recently & the living room tv wouldn't pick up 'ss news' for instance. Customer had a 5m length of the 'el cheapo' white coax with moulded plugs running from his socket to tv. It was losing 5db itself! I fitted a length of quality coax, problem solved.
Depends where youre living but a new aerial will cost £85-£130.

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by linesmachine

I know the signal at the aerial socket is ok because I picked up the TV and plonked it down next to it and ran a 1m cable into the free view box. It really does seem that the 15m cable is losing a lot of signal. Although maybe I have a dodgy plug on the cable.

Does anyone know roughly what it might cost to get someone to change my aerial?

edit: thx for the link to the signal site. Apparently I should have a hi-gain aerial. My aerial could be from the 1960s so maybe this woul be a good place to start.

To go from a usuable signal to a non usable signal over only 15M of coax there's something wrong with the coax or more likely the plugs. Make your own using quality coax (wf100 or pf100) is ideal. If you can lose the wallplate and join the cables using f connectors and a male to male f joiner.

How to fit F Connectors to coaxial cable

(You don't need the grease for internal joints)

If you need a new aerial if enter your post code here

http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?

Report the transmitter, field strength, aerial group and type for the best aerial for your location

You can also try a simple plug in booster to amplify the signal to the extention

[Boostrail]

The OP should be aware that his present aerial my be more than adequate post DSO when the power used to transmit Freeview will be increased considerably and in many areas the frequencies used for Freeview Mux's will move into the band currently used for analogue TV in that area. His current aerial will almost certainly be grouped for the current analogue signals.

Any new aerial targeted at current freeview frequencies (even wideband) may therefore not be the best choice after DSO . Also it may be overkill for the increased signal strength necessitating the fitting of an attenuator.

The OP does not say where he is but it may be that DSO in his area is very soon and it will be worth waiting and reassessing the situation post DSO.