[Merged]Freeview aerial installation - Page 4

altis · 21-06-2007, 17:44

If they're coming again then I wouldn't mess with it any more. Just write down all the issues that you have eg. wavy BBC2 analogue and all the lockups.

If they're screw in fittings then those'll be 'F'-types.

If you're known to be in a poor reception area (and I'm not suprised since you live on the borderline between two transmitters) then why on earth did they install in the loft in the first place? I hope you get better joy next time - you've certainly worked for it.

Hornet · 21-06-2007, 18:05

3rd time lucky Saturday?

So how often does picture freeze when watching freeview, I presume its not 100% perfect?

I'm beginning to think there maybe electrical interferance in my walls where cables are next to each other or is this not possible?

Freezing has decreased though but still 2 or 3 times an hour.

BBC2 analogue 100% fine since this am, no idea why as haven't retuned or touched anything...transmitter issue yesterday?

Is it very likely given 25DB amp and high gain aerial that I am too powerful?

One more thing I've rememberred is sometines on the analogue channels I'm getting white spark type flashes over the picture for a few minutes!

Cheers

carpy · 21-06-2007, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornet

3rd time lucky Saturday?

So how often does picture freeze when watching freeview, I presume its not 100% perfect?

I'm beginning to think there maybe electrical interferance in my walls where cables are next to each other or is this not possible?

Freezing has decreased though but still 2 or 3 times an hour.

BBC2 analogue 100% fine since this am, no idea why as haven't retuned or touched anything...transmitter issue yesterday?

Is it very likely given 25DB amp and high gain aerial that I am too powerful?

One more thing I've rememberred is sometines on the analogue channels I'm getting white spark type flashes over the picture for a few minutes!

Cheers

Done properly there shouldn't be any pixellation at all. It sounds to me like you've got a problem with electrical inteference possibly an earth loop problem. The white sparks on analogue is a dead giveaway.

If you can, turn off the central heating system for a few hours and the problem will probably disappear.

Presumably there is no power socket in your loft, hence the use of a 12v masthead.

You could try moving the PSU to another room, though you might need to swap a few cables on the amplfier if it only allows remote powering via one specific output.

What else is in your loft, nearish to the amplifier? Central heating / electrical stuff?

Now it could well be that this problem isn't with the aerial / amplifier and is down to the poorly screened cables in the walls picking up the inteference. If this is the case though they should say so and explain it properly.

The 25db masthead amplifier is a 2 stage amplifier and much more prone to picking up unwanted signals than a single stage although this isn't usually a problem.

Good luck on Saturday.

Hornet · 21-06-2007, 21:38

In the loft there is a cable to the light. Cable is near amp.

So is it not likely that the amp/aerial are too strong.

The white sparks on analogue are rare and usually on start up of any channel, seem to go after about 2 mins.

Tonight watched 2 hours of digibox TV and had two split second freezes it is definatley better now the aerial is on the roof.

I just want them to say why what is happening is happening. I presume if left it wont short/damage anything, because if it is my own electrical interferance that is OK compared to being ripped off, but how do you trust the people who put it in the loft!!!?

So you think aerial height going up 2 or 3 foot wouldn't help?

Additionally he did show me the digital read out in the loft, bedroom and lounge and the 4 signal lines he told me he uses to decide if digital signal OK were above the 50% line constantly, he could not explain freezes every 10 mins.

Now things have improved with outside aerial, what does that mean it could be as the amp hasn't moved, the aerial has. Less freezing, but still once or twice an hour whatever channel I'm on now, yet all digi signal stregnths are 100% they were 50-75 from loft.

I'm beginning to think I'll be stuck with this and hope it improves when digital switchover happens or will that not help my problems?

SO AM I LEFT WITH :-

Internal interferance

Poor cables installed by builder x two

Too strong signal due to amp -(what annuator should I try 6db, 3db?)

Aerial too low as it is at roof line, could go up 2 or 3 foot to be as high as others on estate

Is the above the only likely causes now?

THANKS FOR ALL ADVICE, I can't believe a week of aerial install has turned into such a hassle!!!

Hornet · 22-06-2007, 06:12

Just thought of one last thing the bent reflector was just straightened in front of me. I was told it will not make any differance to anything.

It looks very slightly bent on roof, but are they right that its just a reflector and no interferance will be caused?

Thanks

Hornet · 22-06-2007, 17:16

Any advice before tomorrow's third call....am I right with the options above of whats wrong possibly?

Cheers

altis · 22-06-2007, 17:20

Don't worry about what might be wrong. Just list all the things that you notice as a viewer.

Hornet · 22-06-2007, 18:35

It was only picture freezing every 30 mins or so. But tonight the upstairs digi picture now has white sparks on Cbeebies. None downstairs though.

Engineer coming at 8.30am

carpy · 22-06-2007, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornet

Internal interferance

Sounds like a possibility

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornet

Poor cables installed by builder x two

Almost certainly contributing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornet

Too strong signal due to amp -(what annuator should I try 6db, 3db?)

You shouldn't try anything let them measure first and see if required

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornet

Aerial too low as it is at roof line, could go up 2 or 3 foot to be as high as others on estate

Probably not a problem but good aerial placement is the key to a relable installation

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornet

Engineer coming at 8.30am

I doubt it! Let us know when he actually turns up......

Did you try turning off the central heating for a few hours to see if this cures the problem? Kill the whole thing at the power socket & then get watching some TV. It will probably work fine after you've turned the central heating off.

Hornet · 22-06-2007, 22:43

Just watched three hours of digibox TV CH4, ITV and ITV2 one 1 second loss of sound no picture problems at all

So could it just be atmospherics over last two days?

My boiler only comes on a couple of hours a day to heat water, or is it doing something even when inactive?

Thanks very much for advice.

carpy · 22-06-2007, 23:01

Turn the central heating off...........

Hornet · 23-06-2007, 06:34

This morning I am getting white sparks on digital TV upstairs (nearest amp). Seems to last 10 mins of switching on and then goes, all channels.

So I will be telling guy

Picture freezes for split second about once an hour (both TVs)

Upstairs Picture freezes completely sometimes and can be solved by turning to another digi channel and turning back. (box? or interferance)

White sparks on upstairs digi picture first 10 - 15 mins of switching on

So the outcome will be????

Cheers again

Hornet · 23-06-2007, 11:59

Arrived at 9am.

Has changed the following :-

Mast amplifier now outside at base of aerial (was on loft floor)

Has added a two way splitter to loft and screwed it to beam. The mast amp used to do this job also.

Has moved aerial back so it faces the way it used to in loft did this with analyser and said 45db is what he has to get and what he has got.

Changed my cabling from wall point the set top box as said it was rubbish.

Stayed 10 mins and watched TV no break up.

ONLY WORRY WAS BBC1 and BBC 2 signals strength on box back to 75% (were 50% in loft and 100% before he came) Quiried this he said not an issue as hos analyser says all fine. All other channels as before at 100% on my box.

He said still could get picture break up as I am exactly same distance from Oxford and Sandy Heath and they can't move my house!!!

So far watched about 20 mins and lost a millisecond of sound

Mast head amp still being powered from bedroom plug and TV point.

Hornet · 23-06-2007, 14:02

Just noticed the back element is bending down, its the main one on the box at the back.

Will this cause problems....surely I don't need them back a 4th time?

carpy · 23-06-2007, 17:27

It won't be helping that's for sure, but the main thing is whether the TV is working ok or not.

You can ignore the signal strength readings from the Freeview tuners as they aren't an accurate indication by any means.