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New TV aerial choice?
I'm thinking of replacing our rather cheap TV aerial with a new
aerial to improved channel 5 reception and hopefully allow us to pick up digital TV. We have two aerials on the roof the top has 10 elements with a small back plate and the lower has 10 elements with a larger backplate. Reception of channel 5 on the lower one is pretty good but poor on the higher one. I notice looking in Maplin that they have several aerials which should get much better reception than the aerials I currently have but most don't mention a group. Also cpc have aerials which quote different groups A,B,C/D,W/B Questions 1. Will picking a particular aerial group be better or should I simply pick an aerial W/B that will? pick up a wide bandwidth. 2. I notice a large difference in the number of elements some having up to 90 elements making the aerial 2 metres long. Is more elements better? 3. Any advice on make Triax,Antiference,Televes,funke,Maxview Any advice please. There are simply too many aerials to choose from. |
New TV aerial choice?
On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 21:41:12 -0000, "David Cawkwell"
wrote: I'm thinking of replacing our rather cheap TV aerial with a new aerial to improved channel 5 reception and hopefully allow us to pick up digital TV. We have two aerials on the roof the top has 10 elements with a small back plate and the lower has 10 elements with a larger backplate. Reception of channel 5 on the lower one is pretty good but poor on the higher one. I notice looking in Maplin that they have several aerials which should get much better reception than the aerials I currently have but most don't mention a group. Also cpc have aerials which quote different groups A,B,C/D,W/B Questions 1. Will picking a particular aerial group be better or should I simply pick an aerial W/B that will? pick up a wide bandwidth. 2. I notice a large difference in the number of elements some having up to 90 elements making the aerial 2 metres long. Is more elements better? 3. Any advice on make Triax,Antiference,Televes,funke,Maxview Any advice please. There are simply too many aerials to choose from. I wouldn#t bother with any of the unbranded junk in the catalogues at contract grade prices. Triax, Televes and Antiference make good products and I have examples of product from each in use. If you want better results on Ch5 analogue and for digital it will depend on the transmitter that you are using as to whether WB is required. Generally a grouped antenna will have higher gain and give greater signal, but this can be compensated by a higher gain WB antenna and may well prove a better strategy. More elements or the equivalent of more elements in some designs will improve directional behaviour as well as gain and signal level. For best results on digital TV, the antenna should really be aligned with the use of an error rate tester (either a meter or spectrum analyser). Digital TV is optimum with lowest error rate in the derived digital signal, not the signal strength and the two do not necessarily coincide. For example, reflected signal can spoil error rate. So it may make more sense to go for a professional installation. Also, the antenna should be connected using CT100 satellite cable, not TV coax. The latter has poor screening and other electrical characteristics. ..andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl |
New TV aerial choice?
On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 21:41:12 -0000, "David Cawkwell"
wrote: I'm thinking of replacing our rather cheap TV aerial with a new aerial to improved channel 5 reception and hopefully allow us to pick up digital TV. The type of aerial is usually dependent upon the transmitter you are receiving a signal from. Leastways, it was about 10 years ago when I bought a new aerial. You also need to bear in mind what the strength of the signal is, as the further away from the transmitter you are the more sensitive an aerial will be needed. Check this web site: http://tx.mb21.co.uk/ PoP |
New TV aerial choice?
Also cpc have aerials which quote different groups A,B,C/D,W/B Those are standard groups, W/B is wideband, covers all the band but at a cost of lower gain usually. Dave -- And you were born knowing all about ms windows....?? |
New TV aerial choice?
"David Cawkwell" wrote in message ... I'm thinking of replacing our rather cheap TV aerial with a new aerial to improved channel 5 reception and hopefully allow us to pick up digital TV. We have two aerials on the roof the top has 10 elements with a small back plate and the lower has 10 elements with a larger backplate. Reception of channel 5 on the lower one is pretty good but poor on the higher one. I notice looking in Maplin that they have several aerials which should get much better reception than the aerials I currently have but most don't mention a group. Also cpc have aerials which quote different groups A,B,C/D,W/B Questions 1. Will picking a particular aerial group be better or should I simply pick an aerial W/B that will? pick up a wide bandwidth. 2. I notice a large difference in the number of elements some having up to 90 elements making the aerial 2 metres long. Is more elements better? 3. Any advice on make Triax,Antiference,Televes,funke,Maxview Any advice please. There are simply too many aerials to choose from. The BBC website has a useful page on transmitter types and locations. You'll be able to see from the direction of your aerial and the website which one you are using. You can then choose the aerial type. The difference in signal quality you currently have could just be down to a poor connection at the aerial. If water gets in the screw terminals may have corroded. Don't automatically assume bigger is better. If you are close to the transmitter and install a high gain antenna, you can overload the front end of your receiving equipment (not causing damage, but enough signal to introduce picture quality problems). I used Scantec to order my stuff online. Great service and prices. Colin M |
New TV aerial choice?
In article ,
Colin M wrote: Don't automatically assume bigger is better. If you are close to the transmitter and install a high gain antenna, you can overload the front end of your receiving equipment (not causing damage, but enough signal to introduce picture quality problems). Other way round I think. Close to a transmitter (as we are) there are big problems with bounces and ghosting. So most people reduce the ghosts with a directional aerial, (which also tends to mean high gain), and then inline attenuators to reduce the signal. -- Tony Williams. Change "nospam" to "ledelec" to email. |
New TV aerial choice?
PoP wrote
"David Cawkwell" wrote: I'm thinking of replacing our rather cheap TV aerial with a new aerial to improved channel 5 reception and hopefully allow us to pick up digital TV. The type of aerial is usually dependent upon the transmitter you are receiving a signal from. Leastways, it was about 10 years ago when I bought a new aerial. Indeed, from Farnborough, depending if you're pointing at the Meridian transmitter or back to the London mast, it's two different types of aerial. Your local aerial installer will advise what you need and even sell you the right one for decent reception, and let you know where to point it. You then need to buy the fixings from Maplin and get a long ladder ;) Cheers, Paul. |
New TV aerial choice?
It was a number of local installers that ended up giving us these
crappy ones hence my reluctance to use any aerial installed if all they do is turn up and charge £100 for a £3 aerial. "Zymurgy" wrote in message om... PoP wrote "David Cawkwell" wrote: I'm thinking of replacing our rather cheap TV aerial with a new aerial to improved channel 5 reception and hopefully allow us to pick up digital TV. The type of aerial is usually dependent upon the transmitter you are receiving a signal from. Leastways, it was about 10 years ago when I bought a new aerial. Indeed, from Farnborough, depending if you're pointing at the Meridian transmitter or back to the London mast, it's two different types of aerial. Your local aerial installer will advise what you need and even sell you the right one for decent reception, and let you know where to point it. You then need to buy the fixings from Maplin and get a long ladder ;) Cheers, Paul. |
New TV aerial choice?
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New TV aerial choice?
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New TV aerial choice?
Further to the information you can get from the sites I posted I would check
out the following aerial, it cured all of my problems, I also recommend using CT100 coaxial cable. The following gives you information on the DAT45 aerial. http://www.jwhardy.com/televes/An_Ter_1095.pdf Mike P. |
New TV aerial choice?
Mike P. wrote:
Also http://www.maxview.ltd.uk/ Mike P I bought a Maxview 18 element wide-band kit at B & Q for about £9. The kit included 10M of coaxial cable and a complete fitting kit for indoor or outdoor use. It's mounted in my loft & the reception is excellent. Terry D. |
New TV aerial choice?
In article , Terry D
writes Mike P. wrote: Also http://www.maxview.ltd.uk/ Mike P I bought a Maxview 18 element wide-band kit at B & Q for about £9. The kit included 10M of coaxial cable and a complete fitting kit for indoor or outdoor use. It's mounted in my loft & the reception is excellent. They aren't the best aerials though - they are very big, you can get something much more compact and mechanically better for a bit more money. I speak as one who installed one of the twangy things recently with the crap B&Q co ax and since wished he had spent a bit more and got something decent. -- Tim Mitchell |
New TV aerial choice?
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New TV aerial choice?
In article , Tim Mitchell
writes In article , Terry D writes Mike P. wrote: Also http://www.maxview.ltd.uk/ Mike P I bought a Maxview 18 element wide-band kit at B & Q for about £9. The kit included 10M of coaxial cable and a complete fitting kit for indoor or outdoor use. It's mounted in my loft & the reception is excellent. They aren't the best aerials though - they are very big, you can get something much more compact and mechanically better for a bit more money. I speak as one who installed one of the twangy things recently with the crap B&Q co ax and since wished he had spent a bit more and got something decent. Get a decent aerial such as a Triax or Antiference from www.cpc.co.uk and then make sure you use a decent downlead such as CT100 the stuff they use for satellite connections and don't have any unnecessary connections in that lead and you will be well connected. Using low grade aerials and the string that the DIY sheds sell as Low- loss will offset any advantage that a good hi-gain aerial makes. Look upon it as a long term investment just remember how many hours you spend in front of the box!. Of course if you're in spitting distance of a DTV transmitter you may well be able to get away with a lesser system. Local knowledge is useful here... -- Tony Sayer |
New TV aerial choice?
"David Cawkwell" wrote
"Zymurgy" wrote Your local aerial installer will advise what you need and even sell you the right one for decent reception, and let you know where to point it. It was a number of local installers that ended up giving us these crappy ones hence my reluctance to use any aerial installed if all they do is turn up and charge £100 for a £3 aerial. I really meant the local aerial/tv shop (but not Curry's/Dixons obviously ;) rather than a mobile installer. Bloke I talked to was very helpful and sold me an antiference one. Couple of quid more than Maplins, but at least I knew it was the right gain/type ! Where are you located ? Cheers Paul. |
New TV aerial choice?
East Yorkshire Near Doncaster.
"Zymurgy" wrote in message om... "David Cawkwell" wrote "Zymurgy" wrote Your local aerial installer will advise what you need and even sell you the right one for decent reception, and let you know where to point it. It was a number of local installers that ended up giving us these crappy ones hence my reluctance to use any aerial installed if all they do is turn up and charge £100 for a £3 aerial. I really meant the local aerial/tv shop (but not Curry's/Dixons obviously ;) rather than a mobile installer. Bloke I talked to was very helpful and sold me an antiference one. Couple of quid more than Maplins, but at least I knew it was the right gain/type ! Where are you located ? Cheers Paul. |
New TV aerial choice?
On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 21:41:12 -0000, "David Cawkwell"
wrote: I'm thinking of replacing our rather cheap TV aerial with a new aerial to improved channel 5 reception and hopefully allow us to pick up digital TV. Take a look on uk.tech.broadcast there are helpful people on there who are very professional. Google back a bit there are references to site planning websites. Take a look at: http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ DG |
New TV aerial choice?
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 13:06:22 -0000, "David Cawkwell"
wrote: It was a number of local installers that ended up giving us these crappy ones hence my reluctance to use any aerial installed if all they do is turn up and charge £100 for a £3 aerial. So you call several installers and get them to tell you the exact make and model of antenna, or you specify to them what you want, including the cable. If they don't play ball, go elsewhere. There are professional installers of good quality products around. You should be able to get a good product with CT100 cable installed properly for about £120. Don't expect quality for £50 ..andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl |
New TV aerial choice?
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 13:44:55 -0000, "Terry D"
wrote: Mike P. wrote: Also http://www.maxview.ltd.uk/ Mike P I bought a Maxview 18 element wide-band kit at B & Q for about £9. The kit included 10M of coaxial cable and a complete fitting kit for indoor or outdoor use. It's mounted in my loft & the reception is excellent. Terry D. Sorry, but IME, Maxview products are junk. ..andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl |
New TV aerial choice?
In article , Andy Hall
writes On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 13:06:22 -0000, "David Cawkwell" wrote: It was a number of local installers that ended up giving us these crappy ones hence my reluctance to use any aerial installed if all they do is turn up and charge £100 for a £3 aerial. So you call several installers and get them to tell you the exact make and model of antenna, or you specify to them what you want, including the cable. If they don't play ball, go elsewhere. There are professional installers of good quality products around. You should be able to get a good product with CT100 cable installed properly for about £120. Don't expect quality for £50 .andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl Here's yer man if you need a rigger who knows it all, and he's in Yorkshire too!!!!! http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ -- Tony Sayer |
New TV aerial choice?
On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 22:47:38 +0000, tony sayer
wrote: Here's yer man if you need a rigger who knows it all, and he's in Yorkshire too!!!!! http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ Take a look at the rogues gallery link. Gives me confidence that even my worst bodge wasn't so bad after all ;) PoP |
New TV aerial choice?
"David Cawkwell" wrote in message ... East Yorkshire Near Doncaster. [snip] Hmm. As Doncaster is in South Yorkshire, you must be in the old South Humberside - east of Thorne, north of Gainsbrough, west of Scunny-ish? If so you have no problem as, unless you live in the only dip in the area you probably have a choice of three sites from which to get you TV. Primary would be Emley, secondary would be Belmont (near Market Rasen in Lincs) and third would be Bilsdale (Tyne Tees) near Northallerton. What was that about a rotator? -- Woody |
New TV aerial choice?
David Cawkwell wrote:
East Yorkshire Near Doncaster. Try repeating your question on uk.tech.broadcast, there are some very knowledgeable people there including one chap called Bill Wright. If you look here http://www.dtg.org.uk/cgi-bin/www.dt.../coverage.html You will find out whether you have any chance of receiving digital channels. If it says no, it may still be possible as results are very conservative. |
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