RE: Signal loss on RG 6U cable from sat. dish?

["Jimmy" <Jimmy@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I use DTN satellite.  I use a short jumper and take the receiver to the
satellite to test it then test it over the 100 foot line to my office
and the loss is pretty small no where near 1/3.  Same with my Direct TV
dish.  I did have to replace my coax cable some time ago as I had it
buried for about 30 foot and it finally got water logged and the signal
dropped very low.  1/3 loss is far too high.  Don't bother with an ohm
meter.  You are checking it the right way now.  DB loss is how you
measure it.  You might buy a better grade of coax.  Try Home Depot or a
place like that.  RG6 should be good but check this site out.

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/cabletech/2.+CATV+Wiring

I've used cheap cable before and it doesn't pay/work.  Check you
connectors as best as you can.  Crimping is important but a clean end
and no shorting from ground to solid connector is very important.  Use
some silicone in the end that connects to the dish to keep water out.  I
don't know what the problem is but a 1/3 loss over 100 foot is way too
high.

Jimmy




-----Original Message-----
From: Jbclem [mailto:jbclem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Sunday, October 06, 2002 2:09 AM
To: omega-list@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Signal loss on RG 6U cable from sat. dish?

I'm trying to solve an intermittent data loss problem...one minute bars
missing on the ES2Z charts(TS4), sometimes 10-20 a day. I've measured
the
signal level(using a small satellite finder signal level device-shows
relative levels) at the dish and at my BMI receiver.  There is quite a
difference, signal at the receiver is 1/3rd the level of that at the
dish.
I've made the same measurements using a different(new) RG 6U cable and
the
problem is the same.  Does anyone know if the length of the cable could
be
an issue, one cable is 50ft long, the other one longer(probably 100 ft).
Both are RG 6U.

I've also noticed that when the measuring device is hooked up next to
the
receiver the level will sometimes vary up and down in a short period(2-5
seconds).  One thing both cables have in common is that I have replaced
the
F connectors on some of the cable ends.  I have a good quality crimper,
but
is it possible to do this so poorly that it would cause this signal
loss.
Would measuring the cable with an ohm meter show anything?

I'd welcome any suggestions...at this point my TS4 is useless for
serious
trading.

John