Quad FM3 poor reception

[Terry]

Jac's graph couldn't get closer to the required 20dB signal level increase we were told about when stereo was first introduced if it tried!

[ppppenguin]

A friend came over this morning and we fitted a new aerial. Access is fairly easy with a large and safe flat roof to work from. Getting the ladders and flat roof protection rigged is very much easier with a mate. The cover over the cable termination on the old aerial had perished and there was a lot of corrosion and muck around the terminals.

The new aerial is actually an old 3 element Antiference I had around. No balun but you can't have evrything. Also fitted a new first stage of downlead using PF100 cable, replacing old "low loss". Now getting about 65dBuV (almost 2mV) on Radio 2/3/4. The FM3 is now working well. I tried attenuating the signal and even with 24dB it was still pretty good. So I reckon the old aerial and downlead was giving me problems with reflections too.

The downlead is in 3 sections. Aerial to under loft floor via disused flue (now PF100), to hall cupboard via underfloor and stud wall spaces (RG6?), to tuner mainly under ground floor(not looked at cable type)

While I was up there I probably should have replaced the first stage of the TV aerial downlead too but it's working well and life is sometimes too short.

[Trumpetrousers]

Would just add that alignment may have drifted over the years. if you haven't checked it? Early models are more likely to have drifted. Later models after serial number 10000 are solid. We all know how much difference a tweak can make.