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Need help - no signal from TV antenna in the attic

Y

[email protected]

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input – absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack – absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.
 
B

Bryce

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input ? absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter?s outputs (which go to TVs) ? exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack ? absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Have you looked behind the wall plates downstairs? Perhap a band-reject
filter? Are you certain the cables from the attic don't go somewhere
else before going to the downstairs TVs?

To check continuity: first use an ohmmeter to verify that the cable reads
open-circuit at DC in the attic. Then connect a 1.5v battery across the
disconnected cable in the attic and check for 1.5v downstairs.

If all else fails, move the TVs up to the attic.
 
M

Mikepier

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input – absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack – absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.
Click to expand...

You did not mention, is this for HDTV? If the cable is old like RG58
or 59, it might not be able to handle the UHF bandwidth of HD
channels. If the 100ft cable you tested was RG6, and it worked, that
would make sense. But as the other poster said, try testing the cable
and see if there is continuity.
 
U

UCLAN

GMAN said:
Try a female/female rf connector from radio shack. Bypassing the splitter
to see if it sends signal to each tv's
Click to expand...

Sounds like he already did:

"However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect."

*If* we take what he wrote above verbatim, I would suspect the cable from
the antenna to the splitter. I would try his 100' bypass cable again, but
this time include the antenna feed cable in the path. If it doesn't work,
it's that lead cable.
 
S

[email protected]

You did not mention, is this for HDTV?  If the cable is old like RG58
or 59, it might not be able to handle the UHF bandwidth of HD
channels. If the 100ft cable you tested was RG6, and it worked, that
would make sense. But as the other poster said, try testing the cable
and see if there is continuity.
Click to expand...

What??? RG-58 is 50 ohm IIRC and while RG-59 isn't the best coax, it
will pass HDTV RF properly. The best of the RG-59 is Belden 1505 and
is nearly as good as RG-6. I would look for corroded connections at
every junction point and replace when found. Any rodents chomping
through the cables?

G²
 
R

Ron

Sounds like he already did:

"However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect."

*If* we take what he wrote above verbatim, I would suspect the cable from
the antenna to the splitter. I would try his 100' bypass cable again, but
this time include the antenna feed cable in the path. If it doesn't work,
it's that lead cable.
Click to expand...

Or, just use screw the bypass directly into the splitter.
 
F

Franc Zabkar

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input – absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack – absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Click to expand...

IIUC, the inline amp comes with a separate DC or AC power injector.
With this injector plugged in, test for 9VDC or 9VAC or whatever at
each of your RF sockets.
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.
Click to expand...

- Franc Zabkar
 
R

RickMerrill

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
Click to expand...

Every 4-way I have seen has actually been an amplifier - look at it
from all sides and see if there is a power connection: it would probably
be DC power from a 'wall-wart' located elsewhere.
 
L

lurch

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input – absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack – absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.


You have shown the antenna and downstairs TV are good. Something you
bypassed with the 100' cable is bad. Add parts of the bad system, one at a
time, into the good system. Suspect ALL connectors and extension cables
until they work with the good system. The splitter is the main suspect as
all four down cables shouldn't fail at the same time. The inline amp may be
needed to overcome the loss of a 4-way splitter but you should see something
without it.

I hope the house wiring is RF and not fiber-optic!
 
F

Franc Zabkar

Every 4-way I have seen has actually been an amplifier - look at it
from all sides and see if there is a power connection: it would probably
be DC power from a 'wall-wart' located elsewhere.
Click to expand...

This one is passive:
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/product/L4664

AIUI, a 4-way splitter will have at least 6dB insertion loss, so this
may account for the difference between a borderline good signal and a
non-existent one.

- Franc Zabkar
 
R

Ron

Ok. But you have to admit that putting that on an antenna signal will
send the db down the tubes.
Click to expand...

No doubt. Won't work with cable either, at least not with my cable.
The former owner of my home was using that POS in the attic to split
the signal, and the picture on each TV was horrible. The cable company
installed a 6 way splitter/amp and that resolved the problem.
 
T

TKM

lurch said:
Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input  absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitters outputs (which go to TVs)  exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack  absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.


You have shown the antenna and downstairs TV are good. Something you
bypassed with the 100' cable is bad. Add parts of the bad system, one at
a time, into the good system. Suspect ALL connectors and extension cables
until they work with the good system. The splitter is the main suspect as
all four down cables shouldn't fail at the same time. The inline amp may
be needed to overcome the loss of a 4-way splitter but you should see
something without it.

I hope the house wiring is RF and not fiber-optic!
Click to expand...

A similar problem in my home installation recently was traced to a broken
center pin in an RG-6 connector. When I stripped the cable to install the
connector, I nicked the copper center wire. When it was pushed into the
splitter, the pin broke and continuity was lost.

A continuity check is a good idea.

TKM
 
U

UCLAN

RickMerrill said:
Every 4-way I have seen has actually been an amplifier - look at it
from all sides and see if there is a power connection: it would probably
be DC power from a 'wall-wart' located elsewhere.
Click to expand...

http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=200-204
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=200-214
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=200-224
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-284
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-104
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-204
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-224
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-264
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-274
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-234
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=201-244

All above are *unamplified* 4-way splitters.

http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=200-700

A 4-output 3dB amplifier.

Even if his splitter is good, this amplifier may serve as a good substitute.
 
U

UCLAN

Ron said:
Or, just use screw the bypass directly into the splitter.
Click to expand...

Sure, but since he already knows his 100' bypass from the antenna to the
TV works, adding just the lead from the antenna to the splitter would
quickly identify the culprit.
 
B

buffalobill

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input – absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack – absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.
Click to expand...

multimeter ohmmeter, small pocket or portable tv with rf to coax
adapters, some barrel connectors, some spare splitters. there's no way
to say where the open circuit or short might be without disconnecting
the branches of the octopus and one bad cable end or a terminating
screw-on resistor cap. if this is cable company wiring it may actually
belong to them. if the cable service is terminated, maybe it is cut at
the outside service box with a device, a ground, or a separation.
these may be on the wiring where you haven't looked yet.
 
K

Kenneth J. Harris

Since the antenna is working (when bypassing the splitter), there are a
couple of things to look at. One possibility is that the splitter is
defective. Another is that the cable(or the connectors on the ends) from
the antenna to the splitter is defective. Try connecting the antenna to the
splitter with a different piece of cable, or with the 100 foot cable that
you know is good. If this gets the signal to your sets, then the cable was
the problem. If it still doesn't work, then I would say that the splitter
needs to be replaced.
Ken
Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input – absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack – absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.
 
T

TKM

Hi,
I just moved in to the new house. There is a 4-way coax splitter in
the attic, which has one input and four outputs (to different rooms).
I know that previous owners had a cable (from the cable company). It
looks like the cable was going into the same splitter in the attic,
and then routed to rooms downstairs.
I want to use the TV antenna in the attic.
I tried connecting the TV antenna to splitter's input  absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitters outputs (which go to TVs)  exactly the same
outcome - not even a change in a static when I plug in the antenna.
I bought a TV signal inline amplifier from RadioShack  absolutely no
difference.
However, if I drop a 100' coax cable directly from the antenna in the
attic to the TV downstairs (bypassing the splitter and all of the home
cable wiring), the picture is crisp and perfect.
Can I run some tests to ensure cable continuation (from the attic to
rooms downstairs).
Does anybody know how I can get the signal from the antenna in the
attic to TVs downstairs?
Thank you.
Click to expand...

multimeter ohmmeter, small pocket or portable tv with rf to coax
adapters, some barrel connectors, some spare splitters. there's no way
to say where the open circuit or short might be without disconnecting
the branches of the octopus and one bad cable end or a terminating
screw-on resistor cap. if this is cable company wiring it may actually
belong to them. if the cable service is terminated, maybe it is cut at
the outside service box with a device, a ground, or a separation.
these may be on the wiring where you haven't looked yet.

Who knows if it's OK to measure the resistance (using a standard multimeter)
of a coax line connected to an amplified antenna after disconnecting the
amplifier power supply, but not the antenna. I'm concerned about damaging
the amplifier inside the antenna, but suspect an open line going from the
lightning arrestor up the roof to the antenna.

TKM
 
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