We were called out to a new client in Tokai today, with a few small but tiresome problems. The first problem that we had to deal with was the installation and setup of the HDMI over CAT6 Transmitter / Receiver units. We were unable to get a constant signal across the CAT6 cable. After closer inspection, we found that the termination was not done well which was causing connection issues on the transmitter.
Today on our DSTV Service call we noticed a strange fault with a clients DSTV Satellite system. The fault on the system seemed simple: The single view decoder would boot up, but once it had booted the channels would not receive a feed from the satellite dish except for the program information. After our client had called MultiChoice and swopped out the decoder for a new one, she called us in to trouble shoot the problem.
The setup is an Extra-View setup: A High Definition decoder in the main lounge with a Single View decoder in the gym. A pair of coax cables link the satellite dish to a multi-switch, which then splits the cables out to the two decoders.
We found that there was a problem with the installation and replaced the multi-switch and LNB. We were surprised that only the single view decoder showed any problems as usually the High Definition decoders are more susceptible to interference or issues with the LNB. Thankfully it was a quick service call and now all is back up and working again. Our client is very happy that she can gym and watch television.
DSTV Satellite Dish with LNB
Network Humour
As professional installers, we can joke from time to time about cabling and how difficult it is to keep tidy. However we have come across some incredible messes recently. This is just a short post to highlight some of the reasons why an untidy installation can be such a problem.
A client of ours recently contacted us to query an intermittent audio issue on his Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 5 speakers. He would occasionally have the audio stop working, or the speakers would simply not switch on at all.
After visiting our client and seeing the issue for ourselves, we assessed the cabling and could determine that the problem was certainly associated with the cabling. Upon closer inspection of the cabling we could see that there is corrosion on the speaker cable terminations, with further investigations, we found that there was in fact sitting water in the conduits that link the Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 5 speakers back to the BeoSound 9000 CD plater.
To remedy this issue we ordered the correct replacement Bang & Olufsen cable and proceeded to replace the cables which were now so corroded as by this point in time they had stopped working completely. Before installing the new cabling we called Cape Carpet Cleaners to assist us with their high power suction vacuum cleaners to suck as much of the water out of the conduits as possible, before running through draw wire with an old cleaning cloth attached to soak up any last moisture in the conduits.
Extra cabling that was installed
One of the speaker locations was designed to be a television location when the house was originally built, but due to the way our client uses the room and his television viewing habits, this television point is no longer required. So at the same time as the service on the speaker cabling we took out all extra cabling that had been installed that wasn’t needed. Our client was quite surprised to see so much extra cable had been installed, but glad that the whole audio system was back up and running again.
We have been contacted to carry out a service call to address an issue with the Main Video Output of an Audio Video Receiver in a home theatre in Blouberg.
When we arrived onsite, this is the condition that this home theatre installation was left by the company that installed the Audio Video System.
