Decoupling Sky coaxial cable to avoid ground loops

Decoupling coaxial cable to avoid "ground loops" and magic eye video/audio interference problems for Sky etc.

Interference from the TV may cause a problem with magic eyes. This is easy to check. Unplug the "magic-eye" fly-lead from the TV aerial socket. If the "magic eye" now changes channel on the Digibox, the TV is the cause. If this doesn't help, unplug the TV at the wall socket and try again.

Make up a long (3m) fly-lead with double-screened cable to connect the "magic eye" to the TV aerial socket. DECOUPLE the cable near one end. Test it with the "magic eye" as far from the TV as the cable allows. See how close to the TV you can move it. Test it again with the cable reversed.

If your remote control won't work when the tvLINK is connected to the TV aerial input, make yourself a decoupled "fly-lead" to connect it to the TV aerial input. (It should never be plugged directly into the TV aerial socket because that puts strain on it, which can damage the socket AND the tvLINK!)

Make two cuts around the outer PVC sheath about 5 mm apart, at any point in the cable (but not too near the end, otherwise it will pull apart when you try to strip the cable for fitting a plug).

Remove the ring of plastic to expose the shield.

Carefully cut away the shield foil and braid, making sure that no strands can connect across the gap.

Wrap self-adhesive plastic tape around the cable, pressing it down so it adheres to the white dielectric plastic.

Cut a 5 cm strip of aluminium foil and wrap it around the cable with the gap at its centre.

Finally, secure the cable by wrapping tape (self-amalgamating tape recommended) around it so that it adheres to the cable and to the aluminium to prevent movement.

A cable which is "decoupled" like this will pass the normal UHF signals unimpeded but will block DC and low frequencies.

Better still, for a really neat and secure job, use our heat shrink tubing.

Read how to fit TV plugs to the fly-lead.

Decoupled "fly-lead" connected to TV aerial input socket.

Note: some modern TV sets chuck out so much interference that the "magic eye" might need to be up to three metres away!

©2009-2011 SatCure

Decoupling coaxial cable to avoid "ground loops" and magic eye video/audio interference problems for Sky etc. Interference from the TV may cause a problem with magic eyes. This is easy to check. Unplug the "magic-eye" fly-lead from the TV aerial socket. If the "magic eye" now changes channel on the Digibox, the TV is the cause. If this doesn't help, unplug the TV at the wall socket and try again. Make up a long (3m) fly-lead with double-screened cable to connect the "magic eye" to the TV aerial socket. DECOUPLE the cable near one end. Test it with the "magic eye" as far from the TV as the cable allows. See how close to the TV you can move it. Test it again with the cable reversed.
	If your remote control won't work when the tvLINK is connected to the TV aerial input, make yourself a decoupled "fly-lead" to connect it to the TV aerial input. (It should never be plugged directly into the TV aerial socket because that puts strain on it, which can damage the socket AND the tvLINK!)
	Make two cuts around the outer PVC sheath about 5 mm apart, at any point in the cable (but not too near the end, otherwise it will pull apart when you try to strip the cable for fitting a plug).
	Remove the ring of plastic to expose the shield.
	Carefully cut away the shield foil and braid, making sure that no strands can connect across the gap.
	Wrap self-adhesive plastic tape around the cable, pressing it down so it adheres to the white dielectric plastic.
	Cut a 5 cm strip of aluminium foil and wrap it around the cable with the gap at its centre.
	Finally, secure the cable by wrapping tape (self-amalgamating tape recommended) around it so that it adheres to the cable and to the aluminium to prevent movement. A cable which is "decoupled" like this will pass the normal UHF signals unimpeded but will block DC and low frequencies.
	Better still, for a really neat and secure job, use our heat shrink tubing.
	Read how to fit TV plugs to the fly-lead.
	Decoupled "fly-lead" connected to TV aerial input socket. Note: some modern TV sets chuck out so much interference that the "magic eye" might need to be up to three metres away!
©2009-2011 SatCure