Question Cable TV problem

[Patroclus]

Hi guys, I need some advice with my problems.
I just moved to a new apartment with tv & internet cable services.
I installed a new LED 40" android TV , FullHD. I have no problem with the internet speed with around 20Mbps Up & downstream. My biggest problem is with the TV channels provided by the apartment.

My apartment provides a direct coaxial cable to connect to the Aerial plug / Antenna-Input on the back of the tv. It is a basic standard aerial plug usually found on old TV ( I believe it is RF, or F connector). I include some photos for your attention.
The tv channels provided by the apartment are all the usual channels found in cable tv which include international channels and movies channels like HBO, HBO Signatures, Cinemax, etc.
The problem is with the picture quality which is really bad. It is really like a bad aerial tv with weak signal reception. The problem is gone with streamed video like youtube. T

he picture is crystal clear like a normal TV .
I assume (from the aerial connector type ) that it can only provide SD channels with 480i or 576i maximum. Correct me if I'm wrong.
But even at 480i or 576i resolution in a FullHD TV, the upscaled video quality is not supposed to be this bad with so much noise. What do you think could be the problem ?
I personally don't think it is the TV, or upscaling problem, since the picture quality is excellent with streamed videos.

I attach some photos and sample videos for your review.

 

[LTC8K6]

Coaxial F connector on the TV looks odd to me.

My cable system uses those connectors and I get 1080P just fine.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I think your problem is that you are trying to connect a coax to a BNC connector. While technically the wires are in the same place (i.e. central signal with outer jacket ground), you will not have a solid connection, resulting in horrible signal.

You need an adapter like this:
https://www.amazon.com/F-Type-Connector-DCFun-10-Pack-Adapter/dp/B06XRTFJGX

That being said, you may still have signal strength issues (results in the image being either too dark (too low of a signal level) or washed out (too high of a signal level) as I do not know if on your TV what signal level it is expecting to receive over that BNC connection (designed for antenna).

 

[RScottyL]

So, you do not say where you are, whether it is here in the USA or in another country!

As the person, mentioned, your antenna connection on the back of the TV looks more like a BNC connector instead of an actually RF connector. The center looks to be too big!

With an apartment complex, you will usually have a signal that is split between multiple apartments, so that could be also why signals would look weak!

 

[pcgeek11]

There is def something amiss with the TV Connector. It looks to be missing an insulator around where the center post goes.

 

[Fallen Kell]

That is a good point. I made an assumption that it was BNC based on that we were speaking in English (the picture doesn't really give enough information to be certain and we don't have the TV's make/model number either). It could very easily be a SR-50 or SR-75 connector or CP-50/CP-75 (Russian in origin): http://qro-parts.com/images/Connector/cp50final.htm The difference between them is that the CP's are screw type, and the SR's are bayonet. There are lots of other standards as well around the world that it could be as well. I suspect it is one of these, without more information, I can't say.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I tracked it down, Indonesia (from the wireless router). Given that, I will make a guess and say that is actually a Belling-Lee connector :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belling-Lee_connector

And what you need is something like this: https://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/male-iec-61169-2-pal-tv-aerial-to-female-f-connector-adapter.html.. Again, this makes an assumption that the cable actually is using an F connector on it (as it appears that it might be from the picture you posted of the cable in the wall, but I only see the outside of the connector and wire (Female F connectors are threaded, and that one in the picture of the TV is clearly not an F connector, but more likely a Belling-Lee)).

 

[pcgeek11]

I think you nailed it!

 

[Patroclus]

Thanks all. Yes, after researching further, you guess it right. It is a Belling-Lee connector.
And I think the cable is not really the problem. I have a strong feeling (not 100% sure), that the problem is from the apartment's content distribution system itself. My guess is that the apartment is still using old analog system, and they use something like signal booster with splitter to distribute the tv content to all apartments in the building.....and in the process, the signal is deteriorated a lot when it reaches the tv unit. Somehow, this reminds me to a 2 or 3-star hotel experience, where I mostly see the same problem with their tv channels being low quality and lots of noise. Streaming the video directly from the internet (like youtube) does not have this problem because even at 480p, the picture is still very clear. Problem only when I watch the tv channels from the apartment. I think there is nothing I can do about this.
. The apartment certainly overcharge for this service. I pay almost $120 for the tv & internet (a package) every month, and all I get is an unbearable tv shows. The internet is good though, very stable at 20 Mbps Up/Down. My only solution seems to subscribe satellite tv , but then.......it is extra cost about $55-60 every month.

 

[piasabird]

Take it up with management. Tell them the 80's are calling them. In reality that is probably the bare minimum that the apartment building thinks they can get away with. You can try some kind of online service.

There may be some kind of in-line filter that clean up a lot of the static.