Wrenched out aerial lead now no signal from tv/sat socket

[JamesA]

I installed an unscreened tv/sat socket in the living room:
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13740.../Sockets/Unscreened-Flush-TV-Satellite-Socket

Previously the satellite cable just came through the wall and dangled on the floor, and so I sent it up behind the plasterboard to the socket.

Yesterday the wife decided to wrench the tv cable out because of the storm (even though I told her this is an urban myth and our aerial is in the loft ).
Now there's virtually no signal, so I think she's dislodged it or things are now touching inside.

I should point out that before, if you powered on the satellite decoder the tv freeview signal would go off completely. (We only keep the satellite as a backup)

Therefore there seems to be interference between the cables and possibly electrical cables?
The cables are probably old and of poor quality, but replacing them is a longer term solution.

Would this be solved with a screened socket?
Can I get one that takes 2 cables? Most from shops seems to expect the signal to be on a single cable.

Available sockets:
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.j...refview=search&ts=1249633487116&isSearch=true

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/31450.../Screened-Diplexed-Satellite-TV-FM-DAB-Outlet

http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/TV-and-Audio-Accessories/MP-Nexus-Tv-Coaxial+Satellite-Outlet/invt/219069

 

[Diyisfun]

Is your freeview aerial connectd directly to the tv via the tv antenna input?

Is the Sky connected to the TV via Scart?

 

[JamesA]

Is your freeview aerial connectd directly to the tv via the tv antenna input?

Yes, straight into TV. We're using the freeview tuner built into the TV.

Is the Sky connected to the TV via Scart?

Sky is left unconnected. It's only connected up if freeview reception dies or there is something we want to watch on a free sky-only channel (which is never)

In theory we'd been hoping to watch sky while recording freeview and vice versa.
In this setup Sky would be connected to the TV via Scart, plus a VCR.
This is until reasonable HD Freeview PVRs appear in a years time or whenever...

 

[ericmark]

I don't know what frequencies are used where you live but it seems Sky use channel 68 and their installers do not change this even when it conflicts with local transmitter.

If you go to services and select system set up it gives 8 options there is however a 9th hidden option [GALLERY=media, 13527][/GALLERY] enter 01 then select give you a further 8 options [GALLERY=media, 13525][/GALLERY] selecting 4 RF outputs gives you [GALLERY=media, 13526][/GALLERY] a box where you can enter 21 to 68 as channel number selecting a channel not used by your local transmitter may help you in my area I used 24 as can be seen.

If you go to here and enter post code it will tell you which frequencies are used by your local transmitter which of course you need to avoid. In my area UHF 68 is used by Multipex A so unless I change Sky setting I lose channel 5 etc.

Also be aware some wall plates have a small de-coupling capacitor this will stop DC supply to LNB which will stop sky working. Others have splitting network designed to work with a combiner in loft and I am uncertain what will happen if you use only one of the pair.

 

[mattylad]

Did she perchance grap the coax and pull it rather than the plug itself, thereby causing a short inside the plug as the cable got pulled back?

 

[JamesA]

Did she perchance grap the coax and pull it rather than the plug itself

Probably. That's what I thought it would be, but doesn't work with another new lead either.

Taking it apart it seems the soldering was cracked at the TV terminal as a bit came away.
It looks like it was a dodgy socket and I'll need to find a better one.

 

[JamesA]

I don't know what frequencies are used where you live but it seems Sky use channel 68 and their installers do not change this even when it conflicts with local transmitter.

That's interesting. I thought it took out the whole signal when I turned it on last, but maybe it was taking out the main mux and I didn't realise it.

I take it it's the UHF numbers in the table that site returns I need to avoid.
For PE4:
Waltham 49 23 26 33 45 42
Sandy Heath 42 45 43 67 40 46

36 Seems a good candidate channel that's not used for anything at the moment.
http://www.ukfree.tv/mapsofsignal.php?c=36

You now only seem to be able to get double F plugs screened with 2 inputs so I'm looking at the following with an F plug to coax adaptor:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33088&C=Froogle&U=33088&T=Module

Looking back, I should have left well alone or maybe fitted a surface mounted f plug socket for the satellite...

 

[JamesA]

The nice people at Toolstation rang me up to tell me they had it in.
What's confusing me is the 2 earth connections at the top.
I wouldn't have thought you'd want it earthed.
[GALLERY=media, 13656][/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 13657][/GALLERY]

I've not seen a metal "cage" like that before either and am not sure whether the folded/twisted back mesh is supposed to contact it.

 

[JamesA]

It was the dodgy socket.
New socket and sky/freeview are cohabiting happily.