Tv perfect picture but magic eye not lighting up

[Willybob71]

Magic eye stopped working about 3 wks ago, "set up" from front room tv sky plus box cable goes to dining room tv picture is perfect but magic eye stopped working not lighting up either, we have a tv in bedroom which is working perfect & works off same io box, I have switched magic eye's from dining room with bedroom & bedroom is working perfect with either magic eye & dining room still isn't working or lighting up but still get perfect picture. I thought it's looking like Ariel cable to dining room is causing problem but tv in dining room is working fine picture is perfect just magic eye isn't, any advice would appreciated. 

[Mark39 · Accepted solution]

If they're not prefitted to the cable, the most likely cause is a poor connection in the plugs at one or both ends of the coax cable. That will prevent the dc current reaching the magic eye to power it. 

Oddly enough the high frequency ac video and audio signals from the IO Link can usually still be received ok.

Solution is to remove the connectors, cut back the cable and refit them one at a time. Ideally solder the centre pin of the connector to the central wire of the coax. 

[Willybob71]

Hi, @Mark39  sorry to take so long to get back but had a bit of a mishap yesterday. 
Thank you for reply, have done as you explained & I fully understand what you meant. I have tried this morning & taken off 2" at either end of cable but it's still exactly as before, would it be worth buying new ends. ??

[Mark39]

OK, a bit more troubleshooting needed! As an IO Link has only one RF output, I'm guessing,the two TVs must be connected to it via a splitter. Try connecting just  the cable that goes to the dining room tv directly to the IO Link's RF output. Does the power LED in the magic eye then light up?

[Willybob71]

Hi @Mark39 I've tried that & no light, I have a coax cable in caravan which i use when we are on site & I have connected via IO box & it works fine light coming on & able to change stations etc so I think it's looking like a new cable is needed am I correct. Big job if it is this as it goes under floor boards then outside up over garage roof & back into dining room. 😟😟😟

[Mark39]

@Willybob71 based on what you've told us, I'm afraid you're probably right. I'm slightly sceptical because cables don't usual fail unless there's water ingress or a too-tight bend somewhere along the route which stresses the internal insulation. Given the aggravation you're clearly going to have replacing the cable, I think I'd replace the connectors first (use all metal ones) just in case the old ones have oxidised.

When you ran the test with the spare coax cable, did you connect it directly to the IO Link, or via the splitter as your set up would normally use? I ask because IO Links are designed to supply a single magic eye. It's just conceivable that a magic eye which has developed a fault is drawing excess current and starving the other one when the splitter's in place. 

[Daveybhoy]

Chances are the cable has water ingress. This stops power to the IR. See it all the time.

You could trace the cable and look for wear and tear and simply join the cable and **bleep** with self emalgamating waterproof tape or use a plastic IP box to keep the join dry

I'd always explore this avenue before running a complete new cable that would be a mare to change.