Trouble Shooting Guide

Troubleshooting your existing or new ANTSIG Antenna System Installation doesn’t have to be a complicated task,but it does require a little time and effort to resolve. Here are some things you can do before you contact ANTSIG for Technical Support to see if you can resolve the issue(s) yourself. The following guide is split into two parts,the first is for an existing installation and the second is for a new installation.

Existing installation

Is the antenna suitable for your area

Is the area VHF/UHF or is it UHF only? Make sure the antenna suits your area.

Too small an antenna cannot be compensated with an amplifier.

Too large an antenna can be as bad as too small (ie. cause pixelation).

Addition of new components: Splitter

Check connections.

Too many splits may reduce the signal too much. Replace with a smaller splitter or distribution amplifier.

Do not use a larger splitter than required. Any unused outputs means that your splitter is too large, and you are reducing the signal unnecessarily at each output. Replace with a smaller splitter

Addition of new components: Amplifier

Check connections

Are connections between the amplifier and antenna good quality.

Check location

a) Do not locate near noisy electrical items.

b) Install as close to antenna as possible to amplify the best signal.

c) Masthead amplifiers should be located directly underneath the antenna.

d) Distribution amplifiers should be in the roof cavity.

Is amplifier suitable for your application

Kindly check following points:

a) An amplifier can increase the signal too much. Bypass the amplifier to see if the signal improves.

b) The amplifier must be connected to a suitable antenna. Do not use to amplify signals from an insufficient antenna, increase antenna size.

Installed masthead amplifier that also includes a splitter

Kindly check following points:

a) Splitter must include a ‘power pass’ output.

b) Power supply for amplifier (located behind TV) must be connected to the ‘power pass’ output of splitter .

c) Input of splitter must then connect to masthead amplifiers ‘power pass’ output.

Masthead amplifier

Kindly check following Points:

a) Check power supply unit – Is LED green or red.

* Green LED = no short RED LED = short detected – re-terminate connections.

Replacement of existing components

Splitter replaced or increased in size (more splits)

Kindly check following points:

a) Check that the connections are tight.

b) Too many splits may reduce signal too much. Replace with a smaller splitter or distribution amplifier.

Termination involved (new connection)

Try re-terminating the connection.

Nothing replaced - Outdoor antenna

Outdoor antenna

Check following points:

A) Check fly lead joining TV to wall plate.

B) Visually inspect Antenna for damage or degradation. Replace if necessary.

Connection

a) Check all connections between the antenna and wall plate, starting with any splitters.

b) Replace any old, broken, degraded or suspicious looking connections.

c) Replace any old cable with RG6 Quad shield coaxial cable.

Antenna

a) Compare the direction and type of antenna to others in neighborhood.

b) Replace antenna with correct type (ie: Larger/smaller and a combination VHF/UHF or UHF only).

c) Re-align the antenna if necessary.

Nothing replaced-Indoor antenna

Check location not on ground not next to electronic equipment.

Check connections are they loose or faulty: Replace antenna if necessary

Is antenna amplified if so, turn down gain, as too much gain can cause same problems as not enough signal

Is indoor antenna suitable for your area. Check Antsig maps to see if a more suitable antenna should be used?

if required Install Outdoor antenna. Use F connectors and RG6 quad shield coaxial cable.

New Installation

Ensure you are using RG6 Quad shield for all cabling.

Ensure you are using “F type” connectors for all connections – including terminations, splitters and wall plates.

Check all connections for any shorts. Try re-terminating all new connections.

Have you included an amplifier in your installation?

Is the antenna suitable for your area. Too large an antenna can be as bad as too small.

Kindly check following points:

Check ANTSIG antenna maps to determine correct type of antenna – VHF/UHF combination.

Check ANTSIG maps to determine correct antenna size: Is it too big or too small?

a) A Fringe antenna in a prime area will produce too much signal, unless you intend to split the signal.

b) Adversely a Prime antenna in a fringe area is no good either. Do not try to compensate for this arrangement with an amplifier – it will not help.