Having experienced some issues with RF signal degradation in the 530 MHz CH (68) range of channels using a passive splitter e.g. maximum signal quality being 10 with no signal being 0 through my Panasonic TV, I decided to do some further investigation. The TV was only showing around 2 on that particular frequency with regular pixelation and freezing, especially on the 'Yesterday' channel.
I have acquired numerous RF leads over the years when buying different products so I started trying different ones. I did in fact try eight different leads, all with the same disappointing results. I then remembered I had some of the old type 'brown' aerial cable that installers used to use from the aerial to inside a property. As I also had some connectors it didn't take me long to make up a RF fly lead using the brown cable.
The results were immediate and dramatic - signal strength and quality are now maximum 10s across all muxes. It really does demonstrate how having properly shielded quality cables can make a real difference to TV reception. As for all the spare RF leads I have, I think I will take those to the recycling centre on my next visit.
It does make you wonder how often when people complain of viewing issues the problem could be more about the quality of 'leads' rather than problems with hardware.
), the foil being much cheaper than a full copper braid. There must be thousands of people who have thrown away perfectly good aerial cable (as you have noted Faust) on the advice of well meaning forum members when their real problem was more like a badly fitted connector. And I can't understand (Graham) why you think it's better to fit two connectors at the end of a cable rather than fitting the standard co-ax plug properly.
