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Old 09-11-2008, 10:12
madasaflake
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I have just bought a 25m Philex TV extension kit from Currys as I want to run an extension from the main TV aerial to the portable in the kitchen area which is some distance away.
Looking at the diagram with the kit it seems to imply that the distance of cable between the coax plug going into the aerial socket and the single surface outlet at the other end should be 10 metres. I need it about 20 which is why I bought a 25 metre kit!
Does it matter how far it goes? Why would they put 25 metres of cable in the box if you are only meant to use 10 metres of it?
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Old 09-11-2008, 11:20
bobcar
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It should be fine providing your signal is strong enough. The thing to do is try it, you won't break anything.
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Old 09-11-2008, 11:25
madasaflake
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It should be fine providing your signal is strong enough. The thing to do is try it, you won't break anything.
Thanks bobcar.
I actually thought I was buying a straight extension lead but I don't have a problem with putting this one together myself!
Just one further question if you are able to help - on the diagram it shows the cable going into the single surface outlet and then a further aerial cable going from the TV into the outlet. That is fine but I don't have to fix that outlet to a wall or anything do I? I would rather leave it free if I can.
Many thanks
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Old 09-11-2008, 11:28
niall campbell
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just straight to back of telly
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Old 09-11-2008, 11:37
madasaflake
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just straight to back of telly
That's great - thanks!
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Old 13-11-2008, 10:31
madasaflake
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I am bumping this up as I could do with a little more assistance.
I ditched the useless plastic things in the kit and bought two metal ones instead which were a lot easier to wire in. However - having plugged one end into the splitter where the main TV is plugged in and the other end into the portable tv some distance away I am getting a snowy picture on analogue and nothing on the digital channels. Before I strip them off and start again am I missing something obvious?
To recap - I put a splitter in the socket where the main TV is plugged in to the wall and put one end there. I do have a multi surge protector for all the equipment in there so all connections are routed through there first. The length of cable is at present 25 metres though the actual distance around the room etc is probable going to be about 15 - 20 metres. The other end I just plugged straight into the portable TV in the other room.
Have I the right sort of extension is one question I guess I should ask - the digital signal is fairly good here with just the occasional breakup.
If that all seems OK then maybe I have the wiring not quite right and will try again, though as I said there is some sort of picture on analogue.
Hope that is enough info from a novice to enable some sort of response!
Thanks in advance.
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Old 13-11-2008, 10:38
Cthulhu
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Do you have a digibox supplying the portable?, you wont get a digital signal without.
Or have I not understood?
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Old 13-11-2008, 10:47
madasaflake
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Do you have a digibox supplying the portable?, you wont get a digital signal without.
Or have I not understood?
The portable is a digital TV - it works fine when plugged into another aerial socket around the house but not on the lead - that's why I was checking to see if I had overlooked something glaringly obvious before I start ripping the lead to pieces and start again!
I am assuming that the lead I have would normally be adequate for picking up a digital signal.
I hope I'm explaining things properly as I am a complete beginner at all this but am trying to learn!
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Old 13-11-2008, 11:44
Cthulhu
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You could try the portable with a short lead into the splitter, to see if that works OK.
If so you may need a booster.
A 25 meter cable is quite long.
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Old 13-11-2008, 11:53
madasaflake
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You could try the portable with a short lead into the splitter, to see if that works OK.
If so you may need a booster.
A 25 meter cable is quite long.
Thanks - I will try that.
And yes, I did think maybe the cable is a bit long. Would there be a maximum length it should be to give it a fighting chance?
I didn't want to cut too much off in case I wanted to relocate the portable to another part of the room it is in.
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Old 13-11-2008, 16:36
niall campbell
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what cable did you get ??

did you use full metal connections

is the middle wire free from the outer wispy wires

and is the wispy wires touching the metal connections?

use some satellite cable

also the spliiter is a Y piece? is it wired up correctly??

if you turn it so its like a body with a head UP and 2 legs DOWN.. the signal goes into the head and out the legs
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Old 13-11-2008, 17:48
madasaflake
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what cable did you get ??

did you use full metal connections

is the middle wire free from the outer wispy wires

and is the wispy wires touching the metal connections?

use some satellite cable

also the spliiter is a Y piece? is it wired up correctly??

if you turn it so its like a body with a head UP and 2 legs DOWN.. the signal goes into the head and out the legs
I got a kit from Currys so I don't know specifically what it is.
I replaced the plastic connectors with two metal ones from maplins.
As far as I know I have connected it fine without the copper wires touching anything they shouldn't.
The splitter came with the kit - it seems impossible to have it the way you suggest as one part goes into the wall socket so that the other aerial can share it and then that plug and the one from the extension go into that.
I tried an experiment earlier and unravelled the whole 25 metre cable and ;plugged it in. I got terrestrial channels but not very well and no signal on digital. I have a 5 metre readymade lead and tried that in the splitter and then to the TV and that worked fine, so I am coming to the conclusion that I maybe have made an error in making up the extension.
One further question then - when the internal conductor goes into the coax plug it doesn't seem to go in very far - the coax plugs I have are both male as that is what I need. Any comments on that would be welcome!
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Old 14-11-2008, 16:58
niall campbell
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http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/fconn.htm

leave plenty inner wire hanging out
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:15
r_mitchell85
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Id suggest ditching the 2 way "Y" splitter. in my experience they are absolutely useless.

Instead, you would be be better with a 2 way booster, such asthis one

(If I was you Id get one with more outputs (they aren't much dearer) incase you ever want to add futher extensions to other rooms in the future)
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:30
madasaflake
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Thank you for the link.
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:30
madasaflake
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Id suggest ditching the 2 way "Y" splitter. in my experience they are absolutely useless.

Instead, you would be be better with a 2 way booster, such asthis one

(If I was you Id get one with more outputs (they aren't much dearer) incase you ever want to add futher extensions to other rooms in the future)
Thank you for the info - will certainly look into it.
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:33
niall campbell
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http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...C=SO&U=Strat15

is this the kit?
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:38
madasaflake
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I got mine from Currys but it looks exactly the same, except the one I bought had plastic type plugs and I bought metal ones from Maplin to replace them.
Reason for asking??
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:39
niall campbell
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just to see if its a Y splitter

one is signal IN and TWO OUT

any splitter reduces signal by 40 % down each cable
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:40
r_mitchell85
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actually..... ive read your post again and you said that if you used your 5m into the Y splitter, you get a perfect signal.....

....so that makes it sound like it is the cable you've made is the problem.please check your connections.

First of all I would try plugging the 25m lead DIRECTLY into the aerial satellite lead, and the back of the TV - do you get a good signal? or is it snowy/etc.

If its still bad, check the connections on the lead you've made. make sure the inner conductor is long enough.... (its doesnt hurt to have it very slightly poking out the end of the coax plug) or if its a sort that had a screw to grip the inner conductor - make sure it is doing so.

Also, make sure none of the copper strands around the outside are touching the centre wire - this can cause problems.
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:43
niall campbell
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and the outer wires in the cable MUST touch the metal connection

I would buy some satellite cable

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=278
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:48
madasaflake
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actually..... ive read your post again and you said that if you used your 5m into the Y splitter, you get a perfect signal.....

....so that makes it sound like it is the cable you've made is the problem.please check your connections.

First of all I would try plugging the 25m lead DIRECTLY into the aerial satellite lead, and the back of the TV - do you get a good signal? or is it snowy/etc.

If its still bad, check the connections on the lead you've made. make sure the inner conductor is long enough.... (its doesnt hurt to have it very slightly poking out the end of the coax plug) or if its a sort that had a screw to grip the inner conductor - make sure it is doing so.

Also, make sure none of the copper strands around the outside are touching the centre wire - this can cause problems.
Am I being thick? How can the inner conductor poke out of the end of the coax plug if it has a male connection?
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:51
niall campbell
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Am I being thick? How can the inner conductor poke out of the end of the coax plug if it has a male connection?
because some of the connectors allow the inner wire to poke out the front or allow soldering



http://www.screwfix.com/prods/11650/...20Y%20Splitter

this Y splitter has the IN end top right and OUT parts at the other end
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Old 14-11-2008, 17:57
niall campbell
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http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/tvplug.htm
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