TV booster...

[sythai]

Morning all....

In process of installing 3 x TV points for customer....... took main ariel into 4 way booster then out to each new point.

Tried one of the points yesterday and no good, got about 26 freeview channels ! Then took out the booster and put on one of those 3 way triangle 'things' and got the full lot ?

And ideas why this would happen, would the booster need all 4 outputs to have a co-ax connected in before it will function correctly ?

Many Thanks,

Sy

 

[Sintra]

Don't know much about this subject but i think if you have too strong of a signal it has a negative effect.

 

[Tester Steve]

Sounds like your overloading the front end of the telly. These amplifiers almost always have too much gain, can you turn it down? If you can get everything without it, why not just a distribution system?

Steve.

 

[Spudnik]

Good point Steve, although you could get over it by fitting in-line attenuators.

 

[Tester Steve]

Good point Steve, although you could get over it by fitting in-line attenuators.

You could Jason, but that sort of defeats the point of an amplifier!!

Steve.

 

[topquark]

Depends how clean the initial signal is, bear in mind with an amplifier of that nature you're boosting everything including the noise. Get a terestrial signal tester and check out the signal on the aerial first. Then check again at the point where you are connecting to the booster and see how much the signal has degraded ... if it's significant then check out the cabling and ensure that the connectors are properly connected with no stray braid shorting out the main core. If it's clean (ie not much signal loss) there then fitting a mast head amplifier may be a better option.

 

[Spudnik]

You could Jason, but that sort of defeats the point of an amplifier!!

Steve.

Well, yes and no.

If you have a good signal to start, you are better off (i think) with a dedicated distribution system rather than a booster/amp, as this will theoretically over boost a perfect signal.

If the OP wanted to keep the existing set up then one option would be to install in-line attenuators.

So there...

 

[sythai]

Thanks chaps for your replies.... going back tomorrow so will see what I can do then.

I have got the gain turned right up, so could be a good chance this is the prob

If this doesnt work, then I've got myself a decent splitter with the screw in type co-ax connector plugs and we'll see if this works

Cheers Sy

Just wondering.... what is an 'in-line attenuator', thank u ???

 

[brandshatch]

You only need a booster/amplifier if the area that you are in has a weak signal, otherwise use a distribution unit.

Kev

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I fit distribution units from screwfix about £65 a pop. Use satellite rated coax to each point from dist unit. Take incomming aerial to telly as normal, take incomming satelite to sky box as normal but take outgoing sky cable from box to dist unit instead of into telly, this way the terrestrial signal piggybacks on the sky signal (which is far stronger). You then have terrestrial or sky available at all points. Not sure if this is how it should be done but it works perfect pictures all the time and even the magic eye set up work as well. For freeview substitute freeview for sky.

Cheers..........Howard

 

[Tester Steve]

so there... :d

:d:d:d

 

[SEC-Tom]

Hi.

Sky man said that he needed a clean earth to his connector unit, what size should this be.. 1.5mm?

 

[Aok1]

The earth recommended in our industry is a 4mm from the MET, if the signal is overloading the amplifier you can try attenuators. You can buy them in a variable version that you adjust with a small screwdriver.

If you can only get a fixed version try a 10dB one.

Also the amplifier will pick up everything so you could also be picking Tetra radio signal, this could only be confirmed by using a spectrum analyser, if this is the case then it can be removed by a simple filter in line with the aerial feed.

If the signal is excessive you may not need the amplfier so you could also try a F type splitter, these are available in many sizes. (2,3,4,6 and 8 way)


A distribution system is still a amplifier but with a lower gain figure. Also called loft boxes.

 

[Griz80]

The ideal signal strength for Digital terrestrial reception is between 45 and 65 db. As well as not having enough signal it is possible to have too much signal also which is what it sounds like when you are using an amp. Just use a 3 or 4 way f type splitter that normally have around 6 db attenuation and that should suffice

 

[sythai]

Splitter done the job in the end........... tried booster turned right down but no good..... thanks for all your advice chaps