RF Out signal from sky - Channel Interference

That looks like the new device will be taking over from the Y-combiner that you've been using.
Its intention is to give separate control of each receiver but I don't know if it will also improve the picture quality.
 
ok thanks guys. Seems such a simple thing to try and do (essentially 3 x RF-out feeds to go to multiple rf-outs) ... maybe I need to re-think the entire thing including the technology at play here.

Really appreciate the time you guys have taken to try and help me out - very much appreciated.
 
That's OK, and if you do think again about the whole thing include the possibility of videosenders.
 
Hi Guys

been reading the thread with interest. I bought the house next door some time ago and started running two sky boxes one for the main room and our bedroom (direct feed on RF66) which was fine and the other box for the family room run to the kids rooms on RF66). Both ran beautifully very simple system. We could change channels without running downstairs but it worked.

Then I decided to get a proper system including powered amplifiers, remote eyes, new cabling, new aerials including FM and DAB as I love listen to radio and upgraded aerial ready for freeview and the digital switchover which here is next August. I got in a local specialist who seemingly did a really good job for the lot and when he left everything was fine no interference same RF's on both boxes. He used good quality cable connectors etc and I had new aerial outlet boxes put in each room for TV and FM/DAB. Some months later we had some work done on the house and a re-organise of bedroms etc and I asked him back to re-jig where necessary. Again just the main sky to our bedroom and the conservatory and the second box signal to other rooms.

He ended up linking in another amplifier near the second sky box and relaying some cables. Afterwards the kids suddenly had access to my sky box (watch rather than control) and their own box (watch and control) but the picture from box two was awful. He had apparently changed the RF on box two to 60 but there was interference and whichever RF I tried the same problem (slight better or worse) the result was the same.

I got him on the phone and he then said the RF range was just to crowded and until the analogue switch off the problem would remain. I asked him why the kids now could see my box and he said he had had to re-route things and add another amplifier because I had added a feed into the conservatory and there was nothing he could do. He said he would not come back very disappointingly he had come highly recommended.

To cut a long story short he has rogered my system which was ok until he came back. I have tried to get him back again but to no avail just the same excuses. The questions bugging me are-

1) is he right when the anaolgue switch off comes will the interference go if i give box 2 a new RF out number or will the free view digital channels take up the RF's left vacant and we are back to square one?
2) Shall I just get in someone else to try and fathom what he did and undue the thing?
3) Or is there a simple answer and I am missing something really basic?

I am reasonably ok with things like this normally being an enthusiastic amatuer but I am finding this one hard to work out and almost resigned to getting in another bod unless he is right about the analogue switch off being my salvation.

The kids are driving crackers complaining about the picture quality in their rooms (so would i be incidentally if it was my picture. There freeview pictures are fine reallly good in fact just the sky on box 2. Oddly the picture from the main box on RF60 is fine but that just makes their frustration worse. Help would be really appreciated. :lease:
 
We need to know your postcode in order to see which terrestrial channels you are likely to receive. We also need to see your wiring diagram for the terrestrial and satellite TV system in order to spot obvious mistakes (see above).

The answer may be as simple as fitting a filter but I (at least) need that information.

upgraded aerial ready for freeview and the digital switchover which here is next August.
But you can already receive Freeview.

Is your aerial pointing at Sheffield local transmitter (elements will be vertical) or Emley Moor or Chesterfield?



.
 
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Have we been told what RF channel(s?) the two Sky boxes have been set to?
 
Postcode is S20 and the aerial would appear to be aimed at Emley Moor (it is horizontal and judging by the channel numbers BBC1 44 BBC2 51 ITV 47 and CH4 41.

I have done a pdf drawing of the set up as I understand it and have tried to trace as best I can this is attached. Also eachbi-directional powered amp has UHF and FM/DAB/VHF in and 4 outs all of which are being used. I have TV and DAB distribution plates in four bedrooms and the conservatory if this helps.

It looks like the second amp has input straight from the distribution plate for FM/dab and via the sky box for UHF

Also for the record the man sky box RF is set at 66 the second box at 60. The interference is on channel 60.

Thanks guys really appreciated
 

Attachments

  • wiring.pdf-1.htm.pdf
    22.3 KB · Views: 90
Could you use Sky 1's other RF out for a direct connection into amplifier 2?
 
The wiring looks plain wrong to me. The aerial MUSt be connected to the aerial input of the Sky Digibox in order to combine the signals. Your sketch lacks detail but it appears to show Skybox1 and aerial both being fed into amplifier 1 somehow. A better sketch with more detail would help. Label all inputs and outputs. State approx. cable lengths. Show any wall sockets/connectors.

Anyway, I think the layout, as it stands, can't work.
 
Agree with Martin. Dont know how you managed to connect aerial, RF feed and amp link to Amp1 as it only has 1 input! Similar with Amp 2. You have amp link in and RF from sky box 2 going in to it.
Suggest that aerial be fed into aerial in of either Skybox 1, or 2,whichever is nearer, the combined feed fed from rf2 to a combiner before connecting to amp1 along with RF2 from Skybox2, then input into UHF in on Amp1. Feed amp2 UHF in from one of the outputs on amp1 and connect your bedrooms to the outputs.
That way you have Dab/terr/skybox1 and Skybox2 being fed to all rooms.
 
I was assuming they're more than just amps, to be able to take more than one input.
 
Sorry chaps,

lets try again. I have tried to do a better diagram which is attached. It is the best I can do in terms of identifying inputs outputs etc from each sky box, aerial and the two amps. Each amp has DAB/FM in and UHF in and 4 outs.

Each room has a double distribution plate one for TV the other DAB/FM. Cable runs are long as it is two houses knocked into one so its a big property I suppose.

I hope this clarifies but if not let me know. I might just call it quits and get in another local professional.

Thanks for the interest sorry it took a while to reply this time.
 

Attachments

  • aerials amps etc.PDF.htm.pdf
    33.4 KB · Views: 97
OK, so, as I recall, the picture from Sky Digibox 2 is awful. Unfortunately, you've labelled both boxes "2".

If the real box "2" is the left-hand one, disconnect the aerial and confirm that the Sky picture is now OK.
 
OK so your UHF path is
TV Aerial -> SKYBOX1 -> AMP1 -> SKYBOX2 -> AMP2 -> TV

That doesn't look good but I can't make any calculation without knowing the -> cable lengths and type of cable and amplifier gains.
 
Agreed on that, but the previous diagram had a direct connection from amp 1 to amp 2 - has that gone?
 
Martin,

I just cannot estimate accurately the cable lengths but from amp one to amp two the run is at least 5 metres could be 7 or so and the runs to each room outlets from amp 2 will be similar. As for the amps they are labgear units and he has used good quality f conenctors and satellite quality cabling throughout? Hope that helps. Could I find any of the information you need on the amps?

If so let me know and I will have a look if you let me know what am I looking for? Cheers and thanks again
 
"AMP1 -> SKYBOX2" looks to me like a weak link. What happens if you disconnect it?
 
why not do this to tide the kids over Xmas.
Put Sky box 2 in kids bedroom. Connect direct to dish or to lead feeding kids room from dish. ( I see from diagram that you have dual feed to each box. Does that mean they are Sky+ boxes?)
You can then take rf2 feed on Ch66 as it is known to work) to 2nd amp and feed remaining rooms. I assume that there is no reason to have the amps linked, which is why they had access to your Skybox in the first place!
The two boxes feeding the amps on Ch66 makes no difference as the amps are no longer linked.

Alrnative would be to get a distribution amp with 8 outputs and leave the kids room as standalone.
 

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