Intermittent satellite signal problem.

Woozyer

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My Satellite Setup
Living in flats with communal dish single dish pointing to Astra 2. Using inbuilt tv freeview satellite receiver
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North Surrey
Hello,

I have a very odd and frustrating problem. I live in a block of flats of around 12. All are served by a communal dish. But it only seems our flat that has the problem.

We'll get a strong signal for a few days. It then drops out for another few days and comes back again. I've tried different satellite receivers. Different cables but the same problem.

Now my brain may be playing tricks but I am sure that when our front door slams shut or the upstairs kids are really jumping about that it seems to effect the signal.

Any one got any ideas what may be wrong? Would be very grateful and thanks in advance.
 

Lazarus

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80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
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North York Moors
Sounds like a poor connection somewhere between the viewing position and the distribution equipment
 

jeallen01

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The "obvious answer" would be a loose connection somewhere in the cabling system between the main distribution amplifier and your flat - not sure where that might be, but my first thought might be to remove the wall plate(s) in your flat and check the connections from the cables in the wall(s).

PS - and welcome to the forum :D
 

Woozyer

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Living in flats with communal dish single dish pointing to Astra 2. Using inbuilt tv freeview satellite receiver
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North Surrey
Thanks everyone for the welcome. Well I checked the wallplate eveything seemed fine. Although I did read somewhere that the exposed copper wire on the cable should have a slight bend in the middle, to ensure that there is a connection.

Thats seems to have worked (I had no connection at the time) and channels that had a choppy picture connection all seem to be fine. I'll keep you updated how this goes
 

jeallen01

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Thanks everyone for the welcome. Well I checked the wallplate eveything seemed fine. Although I did read somewhere that the exposed copper wire on the cable should have a slight bend in the middle, to ensure that there is a connection.

Thats seems to have worked (I had no connection at the time) and channels that had a choppy picture connection all seem to be fine. I'll keep you updated how this goes
If there were screws for the connection of the central conductor and for the clamp over the braiding of the cable, did you tighten them up? If not, then I suggest you take another look and tighten those screws up to minimise the chance of the same issues arising again.

PS: I think that the main "benefit" of any small bend in the exposed conductor would be to help prevent that being disconnected from the terminal if the cable was ever pulled/stressed by "something"/"someone" at the "other end", as a "bend" would have no effect by itself (OTOH, it's "not a good idea" to bend any signal cable very sharply!).
 
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