SGSH Low signals on Freq. 658

[Jackaligga]

Channels on freq 658 are completely blank for me, but i can see the channel's info and those channel's signal is at 89%. Is this caused by the cable's weak freq or something else like keys or dreambox's hardware?

Thanks in advance

[TheCoder]

Is this caused by the cable's weak freq or something else like keys or dreambox's hardware?

There can be a whole load of causes but the most common are -

1/ Cable frequency characteristics are not linear for loss. Even though all the transponders should be set to the same output level the receivers will almost certainly see differences in power levels. The longer the cable run or the more splitters etc, the worse these differences get.

2/ The transducer output level falls for some reason. Only VM can fix this problem but mostly wont as their own boxes have far more sensitive tuners developed especially for the UK market (our 'average' signal levels are lower than european levels for where the dreambox was designed)

3/ The tuner has a 'sensitivity' gap. Most tuners exhibit non-linear sensitivities along their tuning range. This is usually not a problem as long as the incoming signal level is within range. Unfortunately, in the uk, low signal levels coupled with cable loss (frequency dependant) and this sensitivity gap may cause problems. Any one or any combination can cause an issue.

[TheCoder]

...I will get splitter range 2600mhz to see if it can boost the signals, presently i'm using a 3 way 2300 - 2400mhz

I doubt that will make a difference. The splitters your using are sat splitters (hence 2.3Ghz bandwidth) so should be more than adequate for the relatively low bandwidth requirements of cable (approx 900Mhz).

The thing you need to look at (and control) is the loss. Most splitters will have this printed somewhere but its typically 4dB for a 2-way splitter (ie, the signal level is halved to each tap). It doesn't take many splits to take the signal down below the noise threshold, especially if the incoming signal is already low.

You may have more luck with an amplifier but make sure you get one with a 'return path' or any modem you have upstream will not function (amps tend to be one way so signals cant get back onto the cable). Your luck with an amp will depend on the signal/noise ratio of the incoming signal. Too much noise and you'll swamp the signal, too little signal and there's not enough to amplify.

Conversely, a slightly different problem is your signal level being too high. This can happen when your attached to a tap in the VM cabinet that expects a longer cable run. In this case you may need an attenuator to reduce the level. In complex cases you may need to only attenuate part of the frequency range in which case you may need an equaliser or even a band-pass filter. Unfortunately, as far as a stb is concerned signal level too high and signal level too low can look pretty much identical !

[Jackaligga]

I changed my antenna cable from the lousy white moulded head cables to Belden RG6. The improvement I got was that I can watch those channels on freq 658 only sometimes, it's annoying.

Anyone who may have this similar problem and solved it?

P.S I live in SG.

[pekakbadak15]

I changed my antenna cable from the lousy white moulded head cables to Belden RG6. The improvement I got was that I can watch those channels on freq 658 only sometimes, it's annoying.

Anyone who may have this similar problem and solved it?

P.S I live in SG.

Try removing splitters if u using it and see any improvement or try a different cable point to confirm if it is a signal issue or tuner issue.

[Jackaligga]

Try removing splitters if u using it and see any improvement or try a different cable point to confirm if it is a signal issue or tuner issue.

I tried to remove the splitter but I can't connect the antenna cable to the other cable because they are both male end connectors. I live in a flat which the only way to connect is through the cablebox on the wall.

[uu161]

just need this extension connector.

[Jackaligga]

just need this extension connector.

I will try without the splitter when I get the extension. But in the meantime, freq 658 channels seem to be okay, it is very inconsistent. Some days it works, some days it doesn't.

Am I one of the few minorities that has this problem?

[uu161]

I will try without the splitter when I get the extension. But in the meantime, freq 658 channels seem to be okay, it is very inconsistent. Some days it works, some days it doesn't.

Am I one of the few minorities that has this problem?

there is no problem on my side in every channel so far

TheCoder have already told you whole load of causes.

it might take some time to troubleshooting. that the only way to help urself.we won't know which part when wrong on ur side.

[Jackaligga]

I think I might get a booster or a new splitter to see what helps, any recommendations on which booster or splitters I should get that is sold at SLS?

Will update if there is an improvement.

[TheCoder]

I will try without the splitter when I get the extension. But in the meantime, freq 658 channels seem to be okay, it is very inconsistent. Some days it works, some days it doesn't.

Am I one of the few minorities that has this problem?

No, its quite common due to one or a combination of the effects I mentioned above.

The fact that yours seems to work one day but not on others may imply moisture is getting into the cable run somewhere and causing the 'loss' to fluctuate. Keep an eye on the weather to see if there is any corellation with your problem.

There used to be a program around for dreambox to do basic spectrum analysis. This basically swept the tuner from lowest to highest frequencies whilst continuously measuring signal and noise levels. Something like that may be useful in showing you the characteristics of your line.

[Jackaligga]

No, its quite common due to one or a combination of the effects I mentioned above.

The fact that yours seems to work one day but not on others may imply moisture is getting into the cable run somewhere and causing the 'loss' to fluctuate. Keep an eye on the weather to see if there is any corellation with your problem.

There used to be a program around for dreambox to do basic spectrum analysis. This basically swept the tuner from lowest to highest frequencies whilst continuously measuring signal and noise levels. Something like that may be useful in showing you the characteristics of your line.

Those channels have been working fine for a week till this morning, when it was raining. It could be the weather but I need to check for more instances like today to confirm. But shouldn't everyone else in the building get this problem too since I live in the apartment.

[Jackaligga]

Haven't anybody who has this problem solved it yet? Nobody solved the freq 658 channels?