HD Signal Strength and Quality Issue

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@glenhill68 wrote:
Thanks. Are you fairly confident the attenuator will do the trick and reduce my signal strength from 100%?

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I would be very surprised if it did not, as 6dB is normally enough to bring the input signal within acceptable range.

I cannot think of an occasion where 12dB has been needed. I used to use a selection of attenuators on the old analogue TV system, to help with aerial alignment. It not really possible on digital, as the signal does not degrade, it just stops

Aerial installers use signal strength meters.

[glenhill68]

Thanks for all your help.

It should be delivered Friday or Saturday so will update you then.

[glenhill68]

Hi Keith,

I got the attenuator today and fitted it to the youview box. I returned the channels and the signal strength ranges between 95-97. It does still drop to zero and picture breaks up but not so often

I had two regions to choose from after returning.

Any ideas please?

[Keith_Beddoe]

Its possible you need additional attenuation, as you must have a very strong signal coming down your aerial. You could either add an additional 6dB attenuator, or fit a 12dB attenuator instead (neater).

95-97% is still too strong.

If you have a local Maplin Electronics store, you can normally pick one up there. They also do a variable aerial attenuator for £4.99, which may be a better option, as you can fine tune the signal level until the optimum level is found.

The fact you can now see two regions, shows that the overloading has reduced.

[glenhill68]

I have just ordered a 12db from ebay as cheaper than Maplin.

It is still as bad as before.

[glenhill68]

If I get time tomorrow I will try Maplin

[Keith_Beddoe]

Do you know how far away you are from the transmitter?

[glenhill68]

I don;t know which transmitter the aerial points to. I would guess probably elmley moor in Huddersfield which by road is 53 miles

[glenhill68]

It is as bad as before with the pic breaking up every few seconds, unwatchable on HD channels again.

[Keith_Beddoe]

If the quality is still showing 100%, then its got to be too much signal. I am surprised that you do not get issues on any of the other TVs connected to the amplifier.

Really bad aerial alignment could cause issues, but the signal quality would be low.

I cannot suggest anything else apart from trying a variable attenuator to get the signal level down to about 70%.

Elmley Moor is going to be much closer line-of-sight, and if they have recently increased the transmitter power level, then that would explain why the problem has just started.

Its a pity the amplifier has not got a variable gain control on it.