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All posts by Bob Abbot

Below are all of Bob Abbot's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.

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Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Wednesday 14 March 2012 7:15PM

I recently bought a new aerial to receive Freeview channels and use a Vision masthead amplifier with PSU. The amplifier was originally taped onto the aerial mast by the 'professionals', within inches of some of the elements, and the reception was okay. I have read that an amplifier should be at least 1 metre from the aerial and I moved it away by approx. 750mm. Since then I occasionally get a slight distorsion on my TVs. I have also added a signal booster in the TV cable from the PSU but with no improvement. Can you please advise. Should I move the amp. back to the mast?

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Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Friday 16 March 2012 12:56AM

Bob Abbot: jb38-thanks for your comments. Apologies for omitting my location-EH45 8EF and yes, my amp. is the gold type in grey plastic housing. This area got 'switched' on about 2 1/2 years ago and my aerial points to Peebles(?) transmitter, same as others. There are houses around me but not directly in front of my aerial. Should I reposition my amp. onto the mast/pole and remove the booster?

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Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Sunday 18 March 2012 8:09PM

Thanks for your helpful comments. First off I should add that the booster was my addition, after the aerial installation. Please advise how to test for signal strength and equipment required. Should it be done near/at the aerial or near a TV? I have Philex DVB-T signal meter with antenna and receiver conns. and 50 to 80dB leds. If it is acceptable, should it be connected in series in the coax?
My aerial, Philex 27887D, and amp. are mounted onto roof fascia board 800mm apart. Would you recommend leaving amp. as is, mounted on aerial pole or in loft?
Finally, effectively my aerial coax has 2- way split in loft then each split, splits again i.e. to 4 TVs. Is this acceptable - all TV reception is basically okay but with occasional tear on screen.

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Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Tuesday 20 March 2012 5:51PM

Bob Abbot:Apologies for confusion re-signal test, I was unaware of this info' directly from TV.
From one TV, BBC1:signal level 89-93% fluctuating, signal quality 75-78 fluc.
ITV1:signal level 88-91% fluctuating, signal quality 71%, occasionally 75%.
On another TV, BBC1:signal level 97-98% fluc.
ITV1:signal level 97-98% fluc. Signal quality not shown, only Bit error level-0%.

My two splitters are non-powered type.

Hope this helps.

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Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Thursday 22 March 2012 12:45PM

Many thanks for your very thorough comments. I will certainly try repositioning my aerial in small increments, each way. At the same time, would you recommend mounting the Vision amp. onto the aerial pole? Finally, you mentioned previously about aerial leads being close to mains cable. In my loft they are and close to a neon strip light, which is only powered briefly. Should the aerial coax be re-routed?

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Do I need to buy a booster? | Installing
Wednesday 28 March 2012 11:43AM

After raising my aerial about 18 inches, attaching the amp. to the pole/mast and still using a booster, I still see fairly frequent distortion on my main TV, especially in the evening. So I've decided to get the aerial rigger back again to hopefully sort things out.
Thanks for all your help and advice.

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Briantist: I live in Peebles and also lost signal at 8:50 PM, same as James Murdoch, so must be transmitter or.....?

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I have several TV sets and, of course, they all show the No Signal message. On one set, a message gives a helpline no. 0800 952 0101 which turns out to be Asda's no.!!!

However, my iPhone also has a No Signal status, is this normal given the Peebles transmitter situation?

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