Re-wiring antenna cable head?

[Positively Negative]

I'm sorry but I don't even know the the input knobby at the end of the antenna co-ax cable is called
Anyways the cable got hooked onto something and the force ripped the cable right out the 'head'. I opened up the white input and now I'm just confused.
There are 2 silver plates that just fell out. I understand how it all works but just need help with one part. The signal is fuzzy and just not the way it was.
My question : inside the co-ax cable is the main steel wire that obviously connects into the tv. But it is surrounded by a shiny type tinfoil and then thinner wiring around it.
Which way am I meant to wire these to the silver plates? Like I said, I tried it and put it all back together but the picture is terrible . I'm obviously not putting the thin wiring in the right place? I'm just confused. I don't want to even try open up another one in the house because I'm scared I will FCK it up aswell
Any help?

 

[damian24]

there should be a centre pin (with a screw the side of it), a plastic cover, the 2 silver shields and then the 2 plastic sections forming the cover.

• unscrew the centre pin, and insert the centre cable of the coax in it then refasten.
• next put the first plastic cover around, there should be a key hole for the screw to fit in.
• put the silver shield sections around the outside (once again around the locator holes of the plastic cover for the inner core)
• feed the out wire through the loop on the outer connector and wrap it clockwise
• now fasten the 2 sections of the plastic cover

Importantly, make absolutely sure that the outer core doesn't touch part of the centre core otherwise the signal will suffer and give the snow.

D

 

[greg_SA]

The inner core of the cable should be connected to the middle pin of the connector (normally a screw holds it in place).

The outer wire mesh of the cable (and foil, but not too important) should be folded back on the cable, and the outer metal plates of the connector should touch it.

To inner wire and outer mesh/foil should not touch anywhere...

Edit - ^^^ beat me to it!

 

[InTheCube]

Is this coax cable connected to an outside aerial, and used to tune into broadcast analogue terrestrial TV (i.e. SABC 1, 2, 3, e-tv)?

If so, why even bother? Get DSTV installed (dish + decoder + installation) for R500, and sign up for their basic package - DSTV Easyview, which costs like R10 per month. You get SABC1,2,3 e-tv, Supersport Blitz, and a few other channels. Well worth it, and better than have to deal with poor signal issues on your outdoor antenna, coax cables and connectors, etc, etc.

One day, you will probably also want to upgrade your DSTV package to Select, Compact or Premium. Or you could upgrade to a higher package just for a few days/weeks/months if you'd like better content, or there is some sporting event (like the World Cup) that you want to watch, but don't want to subscribe to higher package for longer than is necessary.

You could also get TopTV, which costs R299 for dish, installation and decoder. Not sure if they have a basic package like DSTV, but worth investigating.

I was in a similar situation as you - I needed to replace my outdoor aerial which got damaged, but it was gonna cost a few hundred rand. So I decided to just get DSTV with the Easyview package. Upgraded to Compact for the 2 months of the World Cup, then downgraded again.

Picture quality is excellent - waaaaaaaaaaaay better than broadcast public TV.

 

[Positively Negative]

yeah I just don't know WTF I am doing wrong. It randomly worked for a week or two but now it's gone all snowy again.
What is the main cause of the fuzzy picture?

 

[howardb]

The general main cause of a fuzzy/snowy picture is the outer wires are shorting on the inner wire (per above posts). These must be isolated from each other. The co-axial plug into the TV/device may also be loose - if this is the case, it's better to replace the co-axial plug

If you've got the plastic outer case type, chances are the thing is knackered - rather try and get a decent metal replacement, similar to the one below - it's called an F-Type Connector, and you can get them from Builders Warehouse and the like:

How to fit it:

 

[nic777]

+1 for using metal connectors rather than the plastic. I had the same problem and re-did my TV connection and changing to metal from plastic worked for me, especially the strength to keep the cable together.