Troubleshooting
© Philex Electronic Ltd. 2008. v1
TV Signal Boosters
USER GUIDE
Introduction
Philex Customer Careline 08457 573479
Congratulations on the purchase of your TV signal booster. The CCA111 and CCA121 are ideal for boosting TV
aerial signals when reception is poor. The CCA141 and CCA161 are designed to distribute TV signals around your
home without loss of signal strength. All CCA boosters will amplify both analogue and digital TV signals.
To receive terrestrial digital TV you will need to make sure that your existing aerial and cabling are suitable
and in good enough condition to receive digital terrestrial TV services (e.g. Freeview™). If any of your TVs do
not have a built-in Freeview™ receiver you will need to fit a set-top or Scart plug-in type Freeview™ receiver.
CCA111
CCA121
CCA141
CCA161
Distributing the aerial signal around your home
Analogue Terrestrial TV
Snowy Picture
A faint, grainy or snowy picture is generally caused by
a weak signal. Normally the TV transmitter will be a
long way away. A possible improvement could be made
by reducing the aerial downlead losses, installing a
high gain aerial and by adding a low noise masthead
amplifier or signal booster. In a small number of cases, a
snowy picture can also be caused by a TV signal that is
too strong.
‘Herringbone’ Pattern
A herringbone pattern is generally caused by too strong
a TV signal or by interference from a local high power
transmitter such as CB, amateur or taxi radio. Your TV
sound may be affected as well as the picture. Using an
attenuator will reduce the gain of an aerial signal and
improve the overall picture.
Digital Terrestrial Television
Unlike analogue TV signals which can still be viewed
under weak signal strength conditions, with digital
terrestrial signals blocking/freezing and/or loss of digital
picture and sound can be caused by insufficient digital
signal and carrier to noise ratio.
Similarly blocking and even a completely blank screen
with no sound can result if the input signal to the set
top box is too high. The digital cliff refers to the rapid
change from the picture and sound being perfect, to
disappearing altogether.
For specific help with DTT reception problems,
log onto *
www.digitaluk.co.uk/
No picture:
Check all connections from aerial to TV.
Poor picture:
Check all connections from aerial to TV.
Check aerial is properly aligned to the correct
transmitter.
If the aerial has been loft mounted try mounting
outside.
Make sure new digital coax cable has been used
throughout the installation.
Check the transmitter signal is not obstructed by nearby
trees or buildings.
If in a very weak signal area or for long cable runs,
installing a masthead amplifier will improve the signal.
If in a strong signal area the signal strength may need to
be reduced by fitting an attenuator.
Intermittent Picture:
Make sure all RF cable to
connector joints are tight (both inner and outer)
including all flyleads and surface outlet connections.
To Prevent Overheating
The recommended clearances and other precautions
given in the installation section of these instructions
must be observed to prevent overheating.
In addition, the booster should not be fixed where it is
likely to become smothered by curtains or other fabrics,
etc., or other thermal insulation materials in a roof space
or similar building void. The unit should not be left
resting on a carpet.
Cable Installation
Do not install cable -
Closer than 50mm to mains or
telephone wiring.
Under carpets in areas likely to be walked on regularly.
With sharp bends at corners
.
Other Precautions
Your TV signal booster and power adaptor are not
waterproof and are for indoor use only.
They must not be fixed where they could be exposed to
dripping or splashing water. Objects containing liquids
should not be placed on or near the appliance.
To prevent risk of fire, no object with a naked flame
should be placed on or near the appliances or the wiring
to them.
Mains Power Adaptor
Always use the power adaptor supplied with your CCA
TV signal booster. In the unlikely event that this is
broken or lost you must use a regulated power supply
with an output of 12VDC 100mA.
General Safety Precautions
For further information or any queries please contact
Philex Customer Careline: 08457 573 479
(Local rate – UK only)
Technical Support: http://technical.philex.com
Waste electrical products should not
be disposed of with household waste.
Please recycle where facilities exist.
Check with your Local Authority for
recycling advice.
Planning Your Distribution System - Choosing a Location for the TV signal booster
Your TV signal booster (CCA) may be fitted in any convenient position, the most popular being the
sitting room near your existing TV aerial socket. Alternatively it may be easier to run cable to your
other rooms from the loft or some other location. In choosing a location, consider the following:
a) The booster power adaptor needs to be plugged into the mains, so it must be near a mains socket.
b) You will need to run cables from the CCA booster to each outlet point and to minimise loss of signal
strength cable runs should be kept as short as possible.
c) You must be able to get the cable from the aerial to the input of the booster (via the DVR/VCR if you
wish to distribute signals from these as well as from your aerial)
Locating the TV signal booster
in the main sitting room
Aerial*
Downlead
Power
Supply
PF100 Cable
Aerial Flyleads
Locating the TV
signal booster
in the loft
Aerial*
Downlead
Power
Supply
Coax plugs, sockets, leads and cables are not supplied with your CCA booster. For optimum digital
reception always use fully screened cables and outlets recommended for digital use.
*Aerial downleads and main room aerial outlet are
presumed to be already installed and are not supplied
Existing*
Aerial Outlet
