Irritating issue with splitters...

[Singlespeed]

Hello again chaps
Can you believe trhis is the same as I was talking about in December? Grrr..

I have a cable running inside a wall that needs to take a satellite and terrestrial digital signal. I have a sat/tv splitter top and bottom from very helpful people in Wilts, and am using off the shelf cables everwhere I can. The ones I have made up, I have made at least twice.

The Satellite signal is faultless. However, trying to get a terrestrial signal is proving a nightmare. I have (on the setup screen of the decoder) 50% signal intensity, green coloured to show it is strong enough. The Signal quality however jumps about from 0% (most of the time) to 90%+, down to 30% and 0% again, inconsistently. Having changed the cabling over (and tried the wall embedded cable on it's own) so many times, I'm getting a bit bemused by it all.

One odd thing is that there is a slight current leak on the ariel bracket. Can't feel it on a hand, but a forearm or cheek, there's a definate tingle from somewhere. Would this make a difference?

Still smiling 4 months later... just!!

Miles

 

[PaulR]

The tingle could come from any of the devices that are connected (TV, satellite receiver, Freeview receiver) that are double insulated and have no separate earth. This is something I have long thought to be bordering on the dangerous but the devices meet European regulations so, hey, they must be OK!

I know it's a silly question but if you connect the TV aerial fee directly to the decoder (somehow!) does this give a good signal? I wonder whether the aerial is faulty or even pointing slightly off direction?

 

[Singlespeed]

Well... As I was writing the original post, I thought I could try isolating the ariel from the earth, so 10 mins and some clingfilm later, there is no longer a buzz.

I tried a different ariel too, albeit a cheap one and it made no difference. As it's such a sunny day, I think I'll sit on the roof and try the direct feed again. It's nicely in the 20s and I think my pale english body would enjoy a bit of sun

Nothing so far has made much of a difference. I've asked neighbours how their reception is and they all say fine. Theres a handy tree about half a mile away that everone is pointed to give or take a degree or 2, so the alignment should be fine....

 

[Singlespeed]

Unbelievable.... Looks like not 1 but 2 splitters behaving badly! Lucky Melksham sent me 4!
Panic over all sorted. Thanks for being a sounding board! Sometimes it's easier to see something explaining it to others even if there's no reply, which in this case there was anyway!!