TW56X81 - Unacceptable Cable/OTA picture

TW56X81 Main

 

My employer provides communications for the local Time-Warner cable outfit....and I see their service agents often. A statement made by one of the service people gave me a wake-up call; stating that ghosting and snow can be caused by interference, not just low-level signal. AND that they are seeing more cases where the interference was generated by the TV, VCR, DVD player themselves. Sensitive circuitry inside the devices was well shielded, but emissions outside the cabinet were high. This interference was making its way into average shielded hook-up cables and interfering with the cable signal. We know that any imperfection in signal is magnified/amplified by HDTV rptv's coupled with a line doubler.

This came to home since I noticed a wavy pattern using the s-video input and a fair-to-good s-video cable connecting my original DVD player....but that the interfering pattern disappeared when using a high quality shielded cable. I've always suspected the large switching powersupply in my TW56X81 to be the interference generator, and the statement made by Time-Warner service guy started to add things up.

My original idea was to build a shielded box to enclose the powersupply....but decided that would be too much work.

I went to work on the hookup cables. I purchased high quality RG-6 and RG-59 bulk cable and started making my own cables...all cables....even the ones not going to my 56X81. This included the initial cable run from my outside cable-tv service box into my utility room drop (was RG-59...now RG-6). RG-6 through the amp to the splitter to TV's/VCR's/Dish receiver OTA input....main connects/interconnects; everything connected with an "F" connector.

Then I had a few items connected via composite. I took the high grade RG-59 and made patch cables for everything (except my component cables connecting my SD9100 DVD player that had a set of highly shielded AR cables ). They actually make a crimp-on RCA connector that is made for RG-59 (though you have to solder the center conductor). All RCA type video patch cables were replaced.

Why did I not just buy all new high quality pre-made cables? Well, I didn't know if it was going to make any improvement and was able to buy bulk cable, crimp and solder connectors cheap, and my time was free! Each installation will be different based on how much audio/video equipment one has.

Wow, what a difference; a very noticeable improvement. There are less artifacts and snow, and it looks like I had turned the sharpness level up since everything looked so much finer. And colors are so much truer. Watching cable-tv is now great.

TPro