TV connector cables

[Adsibob]

Do these come in different qualities, like speaker cables? We’ve not watched any live tv since moving in 6 months ago, but watching the World Cup now, I’m noticing that once every so often, maybe two or three times a game, the picture cuts out for a second or two. The quality of the signal is otherwise excellent, getting clear crisp HD picture. Signal comes from an aerial on the roof, some 10m up from ground level. It travels down to a box that amplifies the signal as well as splitting it into three. This amplifier/splitter was recommended by my electrician and has really good reviews online, so I doubt that Is the problem. Then the cable goes from that, through the wall to a aerial outlet/socket in the wall. From there I have a 80cm cable connecting the socket to the TV. That cable is a couple of years old, but I got it from Richer Sounds (I think it is this one: https://www.richersounds.com/cambridge-vid100-1m-rf-coax-coax.html)

 

the connection between the heads of the cable and the wall and tv are very tight. I thought this was a good thing, but I’m just wondering if maybe that is a fault in the cable and it shouldn’t be that tight?

 

 Is just odd that the picture is perfect, but gets interrupted every so often.

 

 Any ideas?

[ProDave]

Find the appropriate menu on your tv to show signal strength and quality.  It is is marginal, then it only takes a small dip in signal or a bit of electrical interference to break up the signal.  It is all or nothing,  there is no such thing like in the old days of the picture gradually getting worse as the signal drops.

[Kelvin]

Arguably there’s not much difference between speaker cables 🥫🪱🪱

 

Digital TV is prone to signal drop outs. In the old days of analogue the picture might degrade a little due to a fluctuating signal strength but with digital it’ll break up. There are loads of reasons for interference. This is a good round up. 
 

https://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewhelp/interference.html

[saveasteading]

It's amazing how the picture signal gets from the aerial (where the prongs don't connect with the cable. Sockets don't seem to lose much signal.

I once had a problem and found that it was the cable from wall  just like the one in your link.  I made up my own and it worked fine. 

On inpection the supplied cable , from TS, was very skinny, so I returned it.

Another vulnerable point is the cable to aerial, when you think of the weather up there. It can corrode or water can get into the cable.

[Adsibob]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

Find the appropriate menu on your tv to show signal strength and quality. 

 

the signal quality actually fluctuates between 90 and 100, though mostly stays at 97 or 98. The signal strength stays at 70, no fluctuation. That is on ITV. On bbc it’s pretty much the same.

 

The picture issue I’m having is on both channels.

 

Any point in retuning my TV?

 

 

[Kelvin]

It’s very unlikely to be the TV. Is this the only TV you have? Do you have other TV sockets in the house? If so gave you tried those? 

 

 

[saveasteading]

17 hours ago, saveasteading said:

made up my own and it worked fine. 

I do recommend this first.ie connector from wall to tv.

[ProDave]

Your signal is pretty weak. Can you do anything to improve it, bigger aerial, higher aerial, re align the aerial etc, or even try a different location for the aerial.

 

What does the signal checker database say here? https://www.freeview.co.uk/corporate/detailed-transmitter-information

[Adsibob]

15 hours ago, ProDave said:

What does the signal checker database say here? https://www.freeview.co.uk/corporate/detailed-transmitter-information

What exactly am I looking for on this database? When I put my postcode in (which is a part of London) it tells me that I can get lots of channels and the name of my closest transmitter.

[ProDave]

After you enter your postcode, scroll down to this bit

 

 

 

Main thing is do you get green for good reception?

[Adsibob]

ah, I missed the bit that said best viewed in landscape mode on my phone.  Hmm, not seeing all green:

 

 

Really surprising as I thought London would have good coverage.

[dpmiller]

so are you Crystal Palace then?

[Adsibob]

2 minutes ago, dpmiller said:

so are you Crystal Palace then?

According to the freeview site, my most likely transmitter is Hanwell, with Crystal Palace and “Crystal Palace (Mux)”, whatever that means, as two “good” alternatives.

[dpmiller]

yep, but which use channel 30...

[ProDave]

So which direction is your current aerial pointing?  (approximate compass bearing)

[Temp]

You mentioned you have an amplifier. That can make the signal strength reading on the TV misleading. The signal from the aerial could be a lot weaker but it's being boosted by the amplifier. Unfortunately amplifiers boost noise as well as the signal.

 

It would be worth trying a temporary direct connection to the aerial with no branches off to other outlets just to see what the baseline signal is like. Maximise reception like that first.

 

If the signal from the aerial is good then use a distribution amplifier with low/modest modest gain to provide the other outputs.

 

High gain amplifier shouldn't really ever be needed. It's better to fit a bigger aerial or if it's already massive fit a mast head amplifier.

 

Unfortunately there are loads of possible reasons for reception problems but always best to start with the best aerial set up you can't get.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SteamyTea]

On 01/12/2022 at 22:05, Kelvin said:

Arguably there’s not much difference between speaker cables

Are you suggesting that gold plating and liquid nitrogen dipped leads are no better than copper.

 

[ProDave]

27 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Are you suggesting that gold plating and liquid nitrogen dipped leads are no better than copper.

 

Oxygen free copper is the best.

[SteamyTea]

2 minutes ago, ProDave said:

Oxygen free copper is the best.

The world would be better without oxygen.

No planning restraints on the moon.