On Sun, 24 Jan 2021 18:13:02 +0000, wrote:


We're in a "variable reception" area for Ridge Hill mast, about 20 miles
away. The Humax STB reports a very weak signal on most channels but the
picture is OK for much of the time - the boss would like it to be OK all
the time so I need some advice.
The current aerial is a 16 element Yagi, with a masthead amp and newly
replaced Webro WF100 cable; all connections are good. The house is tall
and the aerial is on a 1m'ish mast attached to a tall'ish chimney
(worryingly, a bit above the lightning conductor!).

It looks like I need to replace the aerial with a higher-gain type so
I'm wondering whether to go for a group A multi-boom type, a Yagi18A, an
XB16A or ... ? Also, the attic has lots of headroom (about 9 feet in the
centre) so, with a higher gain aerial, I'm tempted to try it in the
Attic to make life easier, but have no idea what attenuation the block
walls might cause(?).
All suggestions gratefully received.


I too would be worried about lightning. The small aerial on the
chimney of my terraced house, lower than the chimney pots, was struck
by lightning, blowing many fuses in the TV and recorders. The
lightning blew the plastic cover off the aerial's terminal block, and
now flaps about in the wind making an annoying clicking noise.

Luckily I'm in a good reception area so installed a loft aerial, which
was fine until the recent use of channel 55 which is outside London's
group A. I now use a small set-top aerial mounted at the top of the
loft.

In your case Freesat is the way to go. I have installed a dish at the
base of a tree at the end of my garden, as it can see over my roof
without being visible in the street.
--
Dave W