Aeriel advice please

vf12 · 11-12-2009, 23:00

Hello all,

i have just bought a new TV with Freeview built in, we have the following setup

Televes Dat 45 aeriel

the problem is that the reception is all over the place, i do have an amplifier in the loft to help boost the signal.

could the problem be a mis aligned aeriel or just the wrong aeriel? i put a new cable in from the signal booster last weekend and this didnt improve anything, if its mis-aligned would a simple aeriel signal finder like an SLX one that B&Q sell be ok to try and get it pointing the correct way, or is the aeriel not suitable for my area?

thanks for your help in advance.

VF

danielf · 11-12-2009, 23:06

Personally I'd try Persil or Fairy if your Ariel doesn't work.

There's a couple of people on these forums that know their way around Aerial types and alignment. I'm sure one of them will be around shortly.

And

to the forum btw.

Kymmy · 11-12-2009, 23:24

Antenna needs to be Horizontal and pointing just slightly south of true west. It also recommends Extra Hi-Gain as you're in a low signal area, a loft antenna even with an amp probably won;t be good enough and an external antenna will be better

nodrogd · 12-12-2009, 01:21

My first thought is that you may be pushing things distance wise, as you are 30 odd miles downrange any significant obstruction would cause problems.

Also the aerial being used is quoted by Satcure as having poor performance on Group A channels such as those used by Rowridge.

http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/dat45.htm

vf12 · 12-12-2009, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Antenna needs to be Horizontal and pointing just slightly south of true west. It also recommends Extra Hi-Gain as you're in a low signal area, a loft antenna even with an amp probably won;t be good enough and an external antenna will be better

Hi thanks for the reply, should have said, Antenna is on a pole about 6ft above roofline not in loft...

also would one of those simple signal finders that B&Q do be ok to find the best signal....

could anyone suggest a better antenna more suitable to my situation?

thanks

Kymmy · 12-12-2009, 10:45

Didn't know B&Q did a terrestrial signal finder?? You sure it's not a sat finder??

vf12 · 12-12-2009, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Didn't know B&Q did a terrestrial signal finder?? You sure it's not a sat finder??

Couldnt find the item on thier website, however this is the same one they had in store.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

cheaper at Fleabay too!

is this anygood for finding a good freeview signal?

Kymmy · 12-12-2009, 17:44

Yes it can help, BUT if the antenna doesn't have enough gain in the correct band then there isn;t a meter int he world that will help

altis · 12-12-2009, 18:54

Wrong aerial m8:

http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/dat45.htm

vf12 · 12-12-2009, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

Wrong aerial m8:

http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/dat45.htm

Ok, so i will have to buy a new aerial, can someone point to one which will do the job for me, sorry for the dumb question but i really have no idea about this sort of stuff.

vf12 · 14-12-2009, 11:01

would this be a suitable aerial for my area, it says channels 21 - 68

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MXD48.html

thanks

altis · 14-12-2009, 11:34

Look for a high-gain GROUP A aerial.

Kymmy · 14-12-2009, 11:40

If you get a wideband over an identical group A then the gain figure will be lower and also you're more likely to pick up interference from higher up in the band..

Also you mentioned an amp in the loft? is this a decent low noise amp that is masthead mountable?? or a cheap one??

Also if you haven't already get some decent co-ax as poor co-ax can attenuate the signal more than most people realise

vf12 · 14-12-2009, 15:00

hi, thx for the replies,

From the aerial to the Amp, i have used some single core sattelite cable i bought in error, (should have been sky+ double)
the same cable is used from the amp to the TV, i fitted this new last weekend.

not sure about the amp, again don know too much about these things. but the channels that do work look nice.

just a simple Google search found me the following, would you recommend any of these? or would you suggest something else which you have experience of?

http://www.aerialshack.com/aerials-g...g9m6ukku1ks5i4

thanks for your help

altis · 14-12-2009, 15:32

Yep, the Blake DMX10A is a good aerial and, I think is the only group A, CAI Standard 1 aerial (ie the best).

http://www.cai.org.uk/information/benchmarking-scheme