My NTL Buzzes. Please help

darrendonald · 24-05-2006, 22:59

I'm looking to set up my NTL box in another room. I've bought a splitter and ripped out the old broadband cable from outside the house (as I don't need it anymore) and used this for the cable to the other room.

Now, when I put a plug on the end of the coax and screw it into my NTL box, all the speakers buzz and the screen goes wavy. Now if I take the plug off the end of the coax and just shove it in the back of the box, I get no buzzing but some of the channels don't work. The signal seems to suffer. There is no waveyness either.

So, I'm in a bit of a situation.

A: I listen to a humming sound and get all my channels

or

B: Have fewer channels and no buzz.

Does anyone know why this happens. Is there a difference between the coax they use for broadband and cable tv or is it the same.

I know I can get NTL down to do it but there is a 2-3 week wait, I've been let down 4 times in the past by engineer no shows and I don't want to pay Ã‚Â£25 to get it done after the world cup is finished.

I really appreciate your help

Jules · 25-05-2006, 01:06

I am not sure if the cable is different but welcome to the forum and I am sure some one will be along today that can help you

Paul · 25-05-2006, 06:20

Erm you're not supposed to tamper with the installation as it can lead to signal issues.
One of the NTL guys may be able to advise you on this but it sounds like you need to sort out your cable termination to the box properly.

spiderplant · 25-05-2006, 08:50

You've probably got the wrong signal levels - a splitter and a longer cable will reduce the levels a lot. Put it all back and get ntl to sort it.

Bit confused though - why did you buy a splitter?

**Stuart C** · 25-05-2006, 11:33

darrendonald,

to CableForum.

I think you'd be better off following spiderplant's advice.

darrendonald · 25-05-2006, 14:55

I got a splitter so i don't have to rum outside to swap the connection so I can watch my NTL in the other room.

Thanks for the help guys

**Stuart C** · 25-05-2006, 15:22

I believe that spiderplant's point is that if you had got the NTL engineer to run the splitter for you, he would have made sure that the signal levels are not too degraded. He may even have done this for free if you offered him a cup of tea.

jaycee · 29-05-2006, 15:06

You mention taking the plug off, this would cause the screening braid to not come into contact with the box. This sounds like a problem called an "earth loop", which shouldn't happen as the digiboxes aren't earthed! Is one of your TV's an old TV that has an earth connection in the plug?

Jon T · 29-05-2006, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaycee

You mention taking the plug off, this would cause the screening braid to not come into contact with the box. This sounds like a problem called an "earth loop", which shouldn't happen as the digiboxes aren't earthed! Is one of your TV's an old TV that has an earth connection in the plug?

I too suspect an earth loop.

Just remember an earth connection may not be obvious, if a terrestrial aerial is involved then that is one point an earth my enter the system, even if the aerial isn't earthed itself the wall will be, if it's flush mounted on to a metal back box.

jaycee · 29-05-2006, 16:29

Thats quite true! Personally I avoid this by having no aerial connected - I don't see the point when you can get all of the terrestrial channels via cable anyway!

Also, another thought, if he is tapping the signal directly from the omniriser, the odds are that he doesnt have an isolator before the feed connects to the digibox. Again, the isolator would prevent an earth loop forming, this time between the earth in the streetside cabinet, and his own premesis earth.

mob227 · 29-05-2006, 17:35

The buzzing is due to no isolator at all most of the time,
The correct way to split a ntl cable signal is with a high qulity splitter E.G a vocom qamtex splitter like this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-way-splitter...ayphotohosting then spit it inside the gray ntl dop box outside your house then take some high qulity cable E.G rg6 or i use rg11 or wf125 myself then take a cable to each room then in each room you need a isloator like this qamtex one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ntl-cable-sky-...QQcmdZViewItem in each room you put a cable in to,

darrendonald · 30-05-2006, 12:26

Hi

I don't have an aerial connected so there won't be an earth from that. I have tried an isolator which used to be on my cable modem but that didn't make any difference.

I'm a bit puzzled so, after the advice if some of the earlier posts, I've got NTL coming round to sort it. I'll get the kettle on.

Thanks for your help

Acropolis · 04-06-2006, 16:25

The cable is the same for both broadbanda nd cable tv, it sounds to me like you have messed up one of the connections, it is best to leave this to NTL to sort out, as loose connections can cause all sorts of problems.

darrendonald · 05-06-2006, 09:00

Well, NTL have been round and fitted a new connection. I watched the TV later on and noticed a green tint very slowly rolling down the screen. Again there was a slight humming sound. After a little trial and error it was the wiring again. I took the plug off the end of the coax and there was no green line or buzzing.

I have tried an isolator and it helps reduce the buzz slightly. Can anyone tell me what kind of isolator I need. I'm not sure how it is measured but I have a 4.

Thanks for your help

Acropolis · 05-06-2006, 16:52

If there is still a problem, then get back onto NTL again, this what you pay your money for at the end of the day and get them back out again.