TV signal strength meter

[Softus]

This straddles the TV forum and the Tools forum, but I thought I'd ask here first...

I frequently face the situation where the gain/loss/quality of a TV signal is in doubt, and the only ways to be sure are:

(a) pay a specialist a fair amount of money to come and diagnose the problem;
or
(b) cart a known good TV to the site and see if it works;
or
(c) assume that the TV is good and laboriously examine the entire coaxial drop cable for damage;
or
(d) assume that the cable is faulty and laboriously replace it.

I've searched in vain for a small, cheap and simple signal strength meter that would reveal the answer quickly and easily.

Has anyone come across such a thing?
_______________________

It's possible that I've asked this before, but I can't find it.

 

[Zampa]

Any good?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=5635&C=SO

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx...8&ma=Maidstone+-+Aerial+Signal+Strength+Meter

http://buy.maplin.co.uk/Free_UK_Del...ble_Satellite_Signal_Strength_Meter_48331.htm

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=221768&doy=2m2#overview

http://search.ebay.co.uk/tv-signal-...QfsopZ32QQkeywordZtvQ20signalQ20meterQQrprZ78

If all esle fails try these bods..

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=506610

 

[Softus]

Any good?

In a word, YES!

I'd found the first one on the Maplin web site, but the FAQs for the product said this:

Q) Can this be placed between the circuit and ariel to show the output strength? If not, what could? - Michael
A) No this is just a moving coil meter. eg:- part of a self build radio. (TV aerial alignment equipment we don't do I'm afraid)

...so that deterred me from looking for other Maplin products.

This is the one that fits the bill:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=5635&C=SO

Thanks Zampa.

 

[Zampa]

No schwet man...

 

[gcol]

Any good?

In a word, YES!

I'd found the first one on the Maplin web site, but the FAQs for the product said this:

Q) Can this be placed between the circuit and ariel to show the output strength? If not, what could? - Michael
A) No this is just a moving coil meter. eg:- part of a self build radio. (TV aerial alignment equipment we don't do I'm afraid)

...so that deterred me from looking for other Maplin products.

This is the one that fits the bill:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=5635&C=SO

Thanks Zampa.

Softus, the one you say "fits the bill" is the first one Zampa posted a link to. Just curious to see which one you actually went for.

 

[Softus]

This is the one that fits the bill:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=5635&C=SO

Softus, the one you say "fits the bill" is the first one Zampa posted a link to.

Yes, but that's only because I'm a numbskull.

Just curious to see which one you actually went for.

This 'un.

I've just arrived home with it and later on I shall be trying it aaaaht. Do you want to know the outcome?

 

[blondini]

I've just arrived home with it and later on I shall be trying it aaaaht. Do you want to know the outcome?

You did get the 'F' adaptors I hope.

 

[Softus]

I already have a ton of them, but you need only one F plug to coaxial socket adaptor.

 

[gcol]

I've just arrived home with it and later on I shall be trying it aaaaht. Do you want to know the outcome?

Of course!

 

[Softus]

Well, the sky is fine and clear, and it reads "70db uV", which the scale claims is "OK".

I suspected it to be less than ideal because the drop cable is in very poor shape, so now I'm waiting for rain so that I can take another reading, which I'm expecting to show as "60 db uV" or less, which equates to "Poor".

In short, it does exactly what I wanted, and quite cheaply.

All praise Zampa.

 

[gcol]

Yeah he's not a bad lad for a painter type.

 

[Zampa]

Oi!..one more comment like that and I'll let everyone on here know about you and the Albanian trannie...

'it was impossible to tell the difference'

 

[gcol]

I thought all Albanian women had moustache's dammit! Now shut yer yap.

 

[Softus]

You know what they say gcol - 80% of the job is in the preparation.

 

[Zampa]

I thought all Albanian women had moustache's dammit! Now shut yer yap.

You know what they say gcol - 80% of the job is in the preparation.

Like shaving the tash off..