Loud static noise from antenna cable, please help

[Karppila]

I helped a relative get the same setup as me with a Wiim Ultra and a Hypex power amp. The hardware is not that important here because the problem is not there.
Instead ill explain the wiring setup from source to speakers. TV - HDMI ARC - Wiim Ultra - RCA - Power amp - Speaker cable - speakers.

The issue is that when you have the TV antenna plug in, there is a loud static noise. We tried three different antenna cables, no difference. I think we also turned off everything else nearby and still static. Could this issue be in the TV circuitry that the Antenna signal interferes with the outgoing audio signal that goes to the HDMI or is this static coming from another device etc. and the Antenna cable picks that interference.
There is quite a lot of electronics nearby and the antenna box is next to mains.

But there is also the fact that I have the identical setup at home, and I have my entire PC setup next to my antenna socket location with all kinds of electronics, router, screens, PC etc. Although one difference is that my antenna cable runs about 4 meters away from the socket as my relatives setup has the antenna socket within 1 meter or almost 50cm of the TV, Wiim, amp etc.

Please help solve this issue as now my relatives are unable to watch TV with their new great Wiim+power amp combo and have to use their TV speakers for that.

 

[kyuu]

Just a couple of quick things before diving deeper into this:

1) Is the static for sure coming out of the speakers connected to the Wiim and amplifier setup, or is it coming out of the TV's speakers?
2) Have you looked through the TV's options to make sure all the settings there are correct as far as audio goes?
3) Does this static happen with the antenna cable connected when the Wiim setup isn't connected to the TV?

 

[antcollinet]

Another question or two:

Does the antenna cable go only to an antenna? Or does it go to some other electronics first? (such as a digital set top box, satellite receiver, or an antenna booster amplifier - or anything else)

Is there anything else connected to the TV such as game console, set top box, fire tv stick, avr etc etc.

What is on the TV screen when the noise is produced?

 

[Karppila]

Just a couple of quick things before diving deeper into this:

1) Is the static for sure coming out of the speakers connected to the Wiim and amplifier setup, or is it coming out of the TV's speakers?
2) Have you looked through the TV's options to make sure all the settings there are correct as far as audio goes?
3) Does this static happen with the antenna cable connected when the Wiim setup isn't connected to the TV?

1. Yes, coming out of the speakers, not the tv.
2. Yup. Nothing to affect this.
3. No, it does not.

 

[Karppila]

Another question or two:

Does the antenna cable go only to an antenna? Or does it go to some other electronics first? (such as a digital set top box, satellite receiver, or an antenna booster amplifier - or anything else)

Is there anything else connected to the TV such as game console, set top box, fire tv stick, avr etc etc.

What is on the TV screen when the noise is produced?

No clue about the antenna overall, as it is an apartment building. It is an antenna "box" that are in "all" apartments, you just plug your tv in it and you get tv channels. But this should not be an issue as this is a very common thing. Outputting your audio through HDMI and having this antenna box connected to your tv is very very common.

Everything that was connected to the tv was disconnected one by one and all at once and none had an effect, so none of them at fault.

It does not matter what is on the screen.

 

[AnalogSteph]

I reckon it's a classic ground loop and he needs something like this.

Is it possible to create a balanced RCA to XLR cable?

And if so, is there anything "less" balanced about such a cable than a mini-XLR to XLR cable? I'm asking in the context of Pro-Ject turntables, as I decide between two different models, one with and one without a mini-XLR output. Finally, if such a cable is possible, is there anything I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I'm assuming the power amp is an IEC Class I device also sporting XLR input.

Failing that, the antenna connection would require galvanic isolation.

 

[restorer-john]

No clue about the antenna overall, as it is an apartment building. It is an antenna "box" that are in "all" apartments, you just plug your tv in it and you get tv channels. But this should not be an issue as this is a very common thing.

It's pretty much always the issue in apartments. You have antenna(s), lots of cabling, distribution amplifiers, sometimes LV AC power riding on the coax to power in-wall/on roof masthead amplifiers and sometimes even people plugging in Ethernet over Power adaptors in their apartments. It all pours down the coax...

Get your own antenna or experiment as @AnalogSteph suggested with isolation.

 

[DVDdoug]

An antenna ground isolator might be worth trying.

 

[antcollinet]

No clue about the antenna overall, as it is an apartment building. It is an antenna "box" that are in "all" apartments, you just plug your tv in it and you get tv channels. But this should not be an issue as this is a very common thing. Outputting your audio through HDMI and having this antenna box connected to your tv is very very common.

Everything that was connected to the tv was disconnected one by one and all at once and none had an effect, so none of them at fault.

It does not matter what is on the screen.

Yep - @restorer-john has summarized the situation for you.

You need to break the ground somewhere between the antenna box and the Wiim/Amp

1 - The antenna ground isolator suggested might work, but I have no experience of these
2 - If you have Toslink out of the TV, use that instead of HDMI ARC
3 - If not use an ARC to Toslink adapter (Make sure it is ARC and not just HDMI)
4 - Use the pseudo balanced connection between Ultra and Amp as suggested by @AnalogSteph

Of these the Toslink options will have the best chance of fully eliminating the noise.

Another option if the internet is good enough is to abandon the antenna altogether, and use internet based TV services.

 

[Randyman...]

I use RF isolators at every MATV connection to my TV's and FM Tuners for this reason. Another potential culprit is Satellite and Cable STB's - but isolating them can be a bit more finnicky (Satellite STB RF needs to be dc coupled for LNB switching and powering)...

 

[Karppila]

I reckon it's a classic ground loop and he needs something like this.

Is it possible to create a balanced RCA to XLR cable?

And if so, is there anything "less" balanced about such a cable than a mini-XLR to XLR cable? I'm asking in the context of Pro-Ject turntables, as I decide between two different models, one with and one without a mini-XLR output. Finally, if such a cable is possible, is there anything I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I'm assuming the power amp is an IEC Class I device also sporting XLR input.

Failing that, the antenna connection would require galvanic isolation.

Bought a galvanic isolator for 10 euros and the problem was fixed! Thank you everyone for your help! Wish you all happy holidays!

 

[antcollinet]

Bought a galvanic isolator for 10 euros and the problem was fixed! Thank you everyone for your help! Wish you all happy holidays!

Thanks for letting us know. Is that one of the antenna isolators mentioned above?

(It might help someone else in the future if you give the exact item)

 

[Multicore]

Bought a galvanic isolator for 10 euros and the problem was fixed! Thank you everyone for your help! Wish you all happy holidays!

Fantastic. I hope you both enjoy your WiiMses and Hypexes.