Need help - no signal from TV antenna in the attic

[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
<ymg200@excite.com> wrote in message
news:c01932e6-116a-464d-9869-66edd260b381@e1g2000pra.googlegroups.com...
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.

 

[TKM]

"buffalobill" <wjohnston@roadrunner.com> wrote in message
news:8c5e89a3-94b0-4201-a025-a16210dd7564@r40g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
On Dec 4, 12:49 pm, ymg...@excite.com wrote:

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.

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

 

[Shawn Hirn]

In article
<c01932e6-116a-464d-9869-66edd260b381@e1g2000pra.googlegroups.com>,
ymg200@excite.com wrote:

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 splitteršs 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.

My guess is the splitter is defective. Splitters are very inexpensive,
so try replacing it.

 

[RickMerrill]

Shawn Hirn wrote:

In article
c01932e6-116a-464d-9869-66edd260b381@e1g2000pra.googlegroups.com>,
ymg200@excite.com wrote:

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 splitteršs 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.

My guess is the splitter is defective. Splitters are very inexpensive,
so try replacing it.

And old splitters were low freq. Replacing is a good idea.

 

[Jeroni Paul]

Why is everyone guessing the same? The poster said:

also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome -

which discards the splitter as a possible culprit. It must be these
cables going downstairs.

On 6 Des, 05:20, Shawn Hirn <s...@comcast.net> wrote:

My guess is the splitter is defective. Splitters are very inexpensive,
so try replacing it.- Amaga el text entre cometes -

 

[Kenneth J. Harris]

If you are sure that the original poster means that he disconnected one of
the cables that goes downstairs and connected it to the cable from the
antenna. What he said could also be interpreted to mean that he
disconnected a cable from one of the splitter outputs and connected the
cable from the antenna to this output (which of course would do nothing).
Nothing surprises me anymore. Anyhow, I guess if all else fails he can
connect a known good cable from the antenna to a new splitter(plus amplifier
if needed) and run four new cables from the splitter down to his 4 tv's.
Not a terribly difficult job if you've done this sort of thing before.

"Jeroni Paul" <JERONI.PAUL@terra.es> wrote in message
news:f1542a8f-1b5e-4c6a-8ac3-51dada4dcfed@k8g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
Why is everyone guessing the same? The poster said:

also connected the antenna to
each of splitter’s outputs (which go to TVs) – exactly the same
outcome -

which discards the splitter as a possible culprit. It must be these
cables going downstairs.

On 6 Des, 05:20, Shawn Hirn <s...@comcast.net> wrote:

My guess is the splitter is defective. Splitters are very inexpensive,
so try replacing it.- Amaga el text entre cometes -

 

[mm]

On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:49:39 -0800 (PST), ymg200@excite.com wrote:

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 can't run four tv's off of a non-amplified antenna. I'm surprised
they could run 4 tv's off of cable without putting in an amplifier
somewhere. I guess I'm wrong about that, but the cable signal is
stronger than a passive antenna signal. Get a radio shack tv signal
amplifier with one input and four outputs. You'll need to power it
with AC.

 

[mm]

On Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:45:46 -0500, RickMerrill
<Rick0.merrill@gmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote:

Ron wrote:
On Dec 4, 3:31 pm, RickMerrill <Rick0.merr...@gmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote:
ymg...@excite.com wrote:
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).
Every 4-way I have seen has actually been an amplifier

Now you've seen one that isn't

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p96/bigelile/IM002459.jpg

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

You're absolutely right but I wouldn't call that an admission. I'd
call it an answer to the OP's problem.

 

[mm]

On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 15:17:55 -0600, "lurch" <lurch@cox.net> wrote:

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.

You'd really have to work hard to make a passive splitter fail. I
guess applying 110 volts might do it.

The inline amp may be
needed to overcome the loss of a 4-way splitter but you should see something
without it.

That might have been true in the old days, but with tv's going blank
if the signal is too weak, I wouldn't count on it.

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

 

[mm]

On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:07:46 GMT, "TKM" <nomail@no.net> wrote:

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,

You want to measure the resistance of the center conductor, right?

Easy to connect to the coax, but what do you want to connect to at the
other end? The rods that stick out of the antenna?

The voltage from a multimeter, 9 volts usually, isn't going to hurt
anything, but I don't think you can expect a meaningful measurement
either. There are semiconductors between the input and output of the
amplifier, and with no power, they might be acting as non-conductors.
Maybe I'm wrong about that, but how would you know if the resistance
is good or not, short of finding an identical antenna and measuring
it?

but suspect an open line going from the
lightning arrestor up the roof to the antenna.

So can't you disconnnect the cable at the antenna and measure the
resistance through the line with the arrestor only?

TKM

 

[Ron]

On Dec 8, 1:03 am, mm <NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote:

On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:49:39 -0800 (PST), ymg...@excite.com wrote:
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 can't run four tv's off of a non-amplified antenna.  I'm surprised
they could run 4 tv's off of cable without putting in an amplifier
somewhere.  I guess I'm wrong about that, but the cable signal is
stronger than a passive antenna signal.   Get a radio shack tv signal
amplifier with one input and four outputs.  You'll need to power it
with AC.

Reread the post, he has an amp. Now granted, it's not a splitter/amp,
and that might make a difference, but there are ONLY two
possibilities.

Either the cable from the ant to the amp to the splitter is bad, or
the splitter is bad.

 

[RickMerrill]

mm wrote:

On Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:45:46 -0500, RickMerrill
Rick0.merrill@gmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote:

Ron wrote:
On Dec 4, 3:31 pm, RickMerrill <Rick0.merr...@gmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote:
ymg...@excite.com wrote:
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).
Every 4-way I have seen has actually been an amplifier
Now you've seen one that isn't

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p96/bigelile/IM002459.jpg
Ok. But you have to admit that putting that on an antenna signal will
send the db down the tubes.

You're absolutely right but I wouldn't call that an admission. I'd
call it an answer to the OP's problem.

As another poster said first, a 4-way unamplified splitter just will not
work with antenna, althought it will work with cable. This leads to a
solution for the OP: get an amplified splitter OR connect just 1 tv,
which I think they did.

 

[GMAN]

In article <n0epj4hn1d8p4ol7dg8kedtb7t8l0mq5dp@4ax.com>, mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote:

On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:49:39 -0800 (PST), ymg200@excite.com wrote:

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 can't run four tv's off of a non-amplified antenna. I'm surprised
they could run 4 tv's off of cable without putting in an amplifier
somewhere. I guess I'm wrong about that, but the cable signal is
stronger than a passive antenna signal. Get a radio shack tv signal
amplifier with one input and four outputs. You'll need to power it
with AC.

I agree it is preferable in his/her situation to get an amplifier but it is
just "NOT TRUE" that a non amplified 4 way wont work. I am doing just that.
My house has a four way splitter, I just placed a Yagi antenna on the roof, an
old school Radio Shack Model VU-90 XR to replace an older model.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103085

I am running it down from the roof, with approx 35 feet of RG6U/Q quad
shield, into the built in house wiring from our 10 year old home. There is at
least a few hundred feet throughout our home and most likely its only RG59
cable to boot. And i get perfect analog and digital signals with this setup. I
DO plan on eventually replacing all the internal cable with RG6U/Q when i can
get aroung to it. And i do plan to add an amplifier to the system at that
time, but there is not one channel in Salt Lake City that i cannot get.

 

[GMAN]

In article <61befa89-f6f0-4ca0-893f-8a246bc47ab8@x14g2000yqk.googlegroups.com>, Ron <BigELilE05@msn.com> wrote:

On Dec 8, 1:03=A0am, mm <NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:49:39 -0800 (PST), ymg...@excite.com wrote:
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 =96 absolutely no
signal is getting to TVs downstairs. I also connected the antenna to
each of splitter=92s outputs (which go to TVs) =96 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 =96 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 can't run four tv's off of a non-amplified antenna. =A0I'm surprised
they could run 4 tv's off of cable without putting in an amplifier
somewhere. =A0I guess I'm wrong about that, but the cable signal is
stronger than a passive antenna signal. =A0 Get a radio shack tv signal
amplifier with one input and four outputs. =A0You'll need to power it
with AC.

Reread the post, he has an amp. Now granted, it's not a splitter/amp,
and that might make a difference, but there are ONLY two
possibilities.

Either the cable from the ant to the amp to the splitter is bad, or
the splitter is bad.
I agree.

 

[Jeroni Paul]

On 8 Des, 13:56, RickMerrill <Rick0.merr...@gmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote:

As another poster said first, a 4-way unamplified splitter just will not
work with antenna, althought it will work with cable. This leads to a
solution for the OP: get an amplified splitter OR connect just 1 tv,
which I think they did.

Even though it drops the signal by some dBs it still can work if the
antenna signal is good. It does for me, no amplifier required. Most of
the channels here come from the same repeater and are well equalized,
they remain strong enough for a snow free tuning after one or two
unamplified splitters.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Jeroni Paul wrote:

On 8 Des, 13:56, RickMerrill <Rick0.merr...@gmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote:
As another poster said first, a 4-way unamplified splitter just will not
work with antenna, althought it will work with cable. This leads to a
solution for the OP: get an amplified splitter OR connect just 1 tv,
which I think they did.

Even though it drops the signal by some dBs it still can work if the
antenna signal is good. It does for me, no amplifier required. Most of
the channels here come from the same repeater and are well equalized,
they remain strong enough for a snow free tuning after one or two
unamplified splitters.

The OP said there was an amplifier at the antenna. How is it
powered? If it is through the coax, the power inserter is missing, and
VERY FEW splitters for TV will pass power from one port to another.
Also, a lot are a single transistor preamp, and will pass a weak signal
without power. Usually 10 to 20 dB down from normal output. Add
another 7 dB loss from a four way splitter, and you can be down to the
noise floor.


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The first sign of insanity is denying that you're crazy.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

RickMerrill wrote:

As another poster said first, a 4-way unamplified splitter just will not
work with antenna, althought it will work with cable.

A typical cable drop is + 10 dB at the tap where the home connectds to
the CATV system. A four way splitter adds a -7 dB loos, beinging the
signal to +3 dB, to cover the loss in the drop & distribution wiring.
If your OTA signals are +7 dB or higher, an unamplifed splitter works
just fine. If not, it can be anything from a little snow, to an
unuasble picture.

This leads to a
solution for the OP: get an amplified splitter OR connect just 1 tv,
which I think they did.

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listed, or I will not see your messages.

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your account: http://www.usenettools.net/ISP.htm


There are two kinds of people on this earth:
The crazy, and the insane.
The first sign of insanity is denying that you're crazy.

 

[RickMerrill]

Michael A. Terrell wrote:

RickMerrill wrote:
As another poster said first, a 4-way unamplified splitter just will not
work with antenna, althought it will work with cable.

A typical cable drop is + 10 dB at the tap where the home connectds to
the CATV system. A four way splitter adds a -7 dB loos, beinging the
signal to +3 dB, to cover the loss in the drop & distribution wiring.
If your OTA signals are +7 dB or higher, an unamplifed splitter works
just fine. If not, it can be anything from a little snow, to an
unuasble picture.

This leads to a
solution for the OP: get an amplified splitter OR connect just 1 tv,
which I think they did.

You're right, of course. I was in my country-mouse mode and not thinking
of the city-mouse who gets a much stronger signal!

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

mm wrote:

On Thu, 4 Dec 2008 15:17:55 -0600, "lurch" <lurch@cox.net> wrote:



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.

You'd really have to work hard to make a passive splitter fail. I
guess applying 110 volts might do it.

Lightning kills them by the millions. As an engineer for a major
CATV MSO years ago, I lost hundreds every month. They are simple three
port RF transformers, wound with wire the size of a human hair.

The inline amp may be
needed to overcome the loss of a 4-way splitter but you should see something
without it.

That might have been true in the old days, but with tv's going blank
if the signal is too weak, I wouldn't count on it.

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

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aioe.org, Goggle Groups, and Web TV users must request to be white
listed, or I will not see your messages.

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your account: http://www.usenettools.net/ISP.htm


There are two kinds of people on this earth:
The crazy, and the insane.
The first sign of insanity is denying that you're crazy.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

mm wrote:

On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:07:46 GMT, "TKM" <nomail@no.net> wrote:


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,

You want to measure the resistance of the center conductor, right?

Easy to connect to the coax, but what do you want to connect to at the
other end? The rods that stick out of the antenna?

The voltage from a multimeter, 9 volts usually, isn't going to hurt
anything, but I don't think you can expect a meaningful measurement
either.

What kind of meter are you using with 9 V between the probes? Ohm
meters are usually current limited, or constant current sdesigns.

There are semiconductors between the input and output of the
amplifier, and with no power, they might be acting as non-conductors.
Maybe I'm wrong about that, but how would you know if the resistance
is good or not, short of finding an identical antenna and measuring
it?

but suspect an open line going from the
lightning arrestor up the roof to the antenna.

So can't you disconnnect the cable at the antenna and measure the
resistance through the line with the arrestor only?

TKM

--
http://improve-usenet.org/index.html

aioe.org, Goggle Groups, and Web TV users must request to be white
listed, or I will not see your messages.

If you have broadband, your ISP may have a NNTP news server included in
your account: http://www.usenettools.net/ISP.htm


There are two kinds of people on this earth:
The crazy, and the insane.
The first sign of insanity is denying that you're crazy.