HDR-fox-T2 poor signal strength

[MikeSh]

For an aerial set horizontal a vertical pole through it probably won't have a lot of effect. And as it's an old installation that clearly isn't the cause of recent issues. Different game for vertical as I discovered last year.

Interesting about the 4G possibility. I kinda thought that was all done and dusted. 5G masts will be popping up but are they on frequencies that could affect TV?

 

[Rodders53]

Interesting about the 4G possibility. I kinda thought that was all done and dusted. 5G masts will be popping up but are they on frequencies that could affect TV?

It is not 4G interference in all likelihood (though such signal can swamp amplifiers affecting more than one mux frequency typically). 4G was ch 61+ clearance aka 800 MHz and what AT800 as Restore TV was formerly known as, was set up for.

5G uses ch49-60 aka 700 MHz clearance of UHF TV band (as well as other frquencies).

It might be 5G in this area to East of Dundee... or not. The filter in front of the amplifier will soon prove it one way of the other.

The pole will not make an enormous difference but it's wrong and is so simple to get right in the first place!
I'd agree the camera angle may make it look a bit worse than it is in reality.

 

[mumble_myopia]

Hi Folks
Can I ask advice on my recent problem of poor signal strength, usually 65-70% and causes pixilation.

The antenna is a solid installation using T & K brackets externally mounted. The coax is terminated into an internal amplifier for distribution to the other sets in the house.

There are 2 HDR's in the property and both have poor signal strength, tried a manual retune without success. What equipment is used to check for signal strength from the transmitter?

Is this a job for an aerial man to check with his equipment?

Any advice would be appreciated

sorry only just seen this - I had very similar behaviour recently and I'm embarressed to say it was down to aged co-ax to the mast. I could and should have spotted the problem and solved it myself but assumed that wasn't the problem :-(

 

[MikeSh]

4G was ch 61+ clearance aka 800 MHz and what AT800 as Restore TV was formerly known as, was set up for.

5G uses ch49-60 aka 700 MHz clearance of UHF TV band (as well as other frquencies).

So it looks like 700 5G is more likely to be a problem than the original batch.

 

[MikeSh]

down to aged co-ax to the mast

Hence pay off my questioning of the OP in post #2.

 

[Tommy]

The eagle has landed

 

[Tommy]

Awaiting f-type straight through

 

[Tommy]

Awaiting 75ohm termination

 

[Tommy]

And fix the brakes on the Discovery

 

[MikeSh]

Awaiting 75ohm termination

Pourquoi?

 

[Tommy]

Plug the empty port on the Antiference amp

 

[Tommy]

Hi Folks Sorry for the delay in fault finding. The brakes on the Discovery are still ongoing.

Dear daughter's graduation has taken priority. It had to be the biggest, grandest and most expensive of all !!!! (ring any bells?

 

[Tommy]

Prior to testing attenuator's were fitted to all unused ports. Testing was carried out without the 5G blocking filter being fitted.

 

[prpr]

Before and after what?
Post-Viterbi figures of anything other than 0 are not good, and will result in visible artefacts.
Signal strength figures are largely meaningless after the amplifier. You need to bypass it temporarily at least and take some readings.
Does it say how much gain it has on a label on it?
The problem could be the aerial, the cable from aerial to amp, the amp, the cables from amp to end devices, or even the end devices themselves.
You could at least put the 5G filter in circuit and repeat the tests under the same conditions to compare.

 

[Tommy]

Sorry perhaps I was not concise enough with my post. The before is the signal going through the amplifier, the after if when the amplifier has been by-passed.

The Sony receives free view signal, HDR signal is through the Humax. Does this make sense?

 

[Rodders53]

OK that proves for that single frequency the aerial alone is insufficient and is giving troubled reception for the Sony as well as the Humax. It also suggests that overload is unlikely.

What about all the other frequencies from Angus, though? Those are equally as important to know to aid proper diagnosis.

Have you got that terminator on the FULL output yet? Are those measurements with or without that 75 ohms in place?
As noted by ATV's Justin the amplifiers will produces very odd output levels if it is missing!

Is the Sony on a separate cable from loft to that used for the Humax? or are they one and the same and if so is the Sony fed via the loop through signal path during those measurements? I can't remember...

@prpr +17dB gain on FULL and +10dB gain on the other 8 --- see post #25 on page 2
I agree that next would be to fit the 5G filter and repeat with amp bypassed and with amp in circuit.

 

[prpr]

OK that proves for that single frequency the aerial alone is insufficient

38% on the Humax should work OK. I've had mine down to 30 or less before getting problems.... but not on Channel 48. That one gives me the most problems as well, for reasons I am unable to measure.

@prpr +17dB gain on FULL and +10dB gain on the other 8 --- see post #25 on page 2

I know, but I wanted to know how you knew that, or get it from the OP, as I couldn't see anything to identify the model. Unless you are an expert on them and can do it by sight alone...

 

[Tommy]

Hi Rod Thanks for your reply. This the the worst frequency but will take images of the rest of the muxes and post?

As stated all of the vacant ports have been plugged using 75ohm terminators I ordered 5

All co-ax outlets are supplied using one cable there is no doubling up (4)

I can fit the filter but fault finding is always taken one step at a time and one can always return to a known datum?

 

[Rodders53]

Unless you are an expert on them and can do it by sight alone...

Yes I can, sometimes.
I was a paid Reception Advice Expert (actual job title) for a time, last Century.

Google Image search also finds it and I did cross-reference the picture cf the Antference website https://antiference.co.uk/product/pro-series-amplifiers/ to be sure. There's no other product that looks the same with Antiference stamped on it's case.
NB the innards may have changed subtly over the years (or not). That Antiference case design has been around for a very long time.

 

[Tommy]

Hi Folks All reading as requested.
Ch 39 S72%, Q100%
Ch 42 S60%, Q100%
Ch 45 S51%, Q 100%
Ch 33 S73%, Q 100%
Ch 36 S75%, Q100%
Ch 48 S44%, Q100%
Ch 34 S55%, Q100%