Conventional TV reception and NTL

TomC · 17-09-2006, 14:53

I have recently moved to a rented house in central Cambridge. We do not have any NTL services at the moment, though there is evidence that previous occupants used to. We are finding that the reception on conventional (analogue terrestrial) television is very poor, and until last night we had assumed we are just in a poor reception area or perhaps the roof aerial is damaged. However, last night we could very clearly see that on channel 4, a large black and white "shadow" of an NTL logo moving across the screen in amongst the interference. (The interference is often in the form of block shapes of discolouration moving across the screen as well as just general fuzziness.)

Can anyone explain why this might have happened? Common sense would suggest not, but is there anything NTL could be doing, or have done, that would affect a conventional TV signal? I was wondering if maybe a neighbour has a faulty cable box that is broadcasting a signal or something daft like that.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Paul K · 17-09-2006, 15:15

Have you tracked the cables back to where they come form? Seems like signal bleed but that would be difficult unless someone has been messing with the cabling somewhere. Also have you checked that the aerial is setup correctly?

AntiSilence · 17-09-2006, 15:18

It's a poltergeist! Don't stare at the TV!!!

TomC · 17-09-2006, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Have you tracked the cables back to where they come form? Seems like signal bleed but that would be difficult unless someone has been messing with the cabling somewhere. Also have you checked that the aerial is setup correctly?

We were using a set top aerial at the time so I doubt it. We actually get a better reception with that than the roof aerial, which leads us to the conclusion it's broken. I can see where the cable comes down the outside of the house into the cupboard under the stairs, then there are a number of cables going off into different rooms, which I tracked using the RF test mode of a VCR, so I think the wiring is all sensibly set up.

Paul K · 17-09-2006, 16:03

Well you see that is the strange thing, NTL does not transmit via aerials, it's segnal is carried via the cables so in theory the signal from NTL should never be able to interfere with a standard terrestrial aerials' reception. You say the cable is split in a cupboard? Is that the aerial cable? If it is then the junctions may well be the cause of your signal loss, how are they split?