Recommend a wideband digital TV aerial?

[Chris Wilson]

I was awaiting the Wrekin transmitter upping power a few weeks back, in the hope Freeview would come back with the full range of channels. Some have been missing for almost 2 years when they started messing about switching to digital. ITV4 is now back, from the previous zero signal but un-watchable with sound and vision break up, Dave still has no signal at all. The local TV shop suggests the 15 year old loft aerial is "not correct" for the new frequencies and I need a high gain wideband. Ebay is full of them, from 50 odd quid downwards. Can someone in the know or trade recommend one please? I would rather keep it in the loft, but if push comes to shove I will take my brave pills and go on the roof to strap it to the chimney

 

Thanks.

[bignum]

Chris, this http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?rlz=1C1DVCJ_enGB431GB431&q=triax+aerial&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9914877846826570952&sa=X&ei=IOOXTo_VBcenhAeWyKSdBA&ved=0CGoQ8wIwBA triax aerial is high gain and one which i use in "problem areas", it should work ok in your loft, if the aerial needs to go on the chimney don`t get doing any Rod hull impressions, i`ll pop over and install it for you, i have a catladder etc.Also it may be possible that you have too much signal(gives the same symptoms as not enough), you`d need a meter to check.

[Shane]

Chris, this http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?rlz=1C1DVCJ_enGB431GB431&q=triax+aerial&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9914877846826570952&sa=X&ei=IOOXTo_VBcenhAeWyKSdBA&ved=0CGoQ8wIwBA triax aerial is high gain and one which i use in "problem areas", it should work ok in your loft, if the aerial needs to go on the chimney don`t get doing any Rod hull impressions, i`ll pop over and install it for you, i have a catladder etc.Also it may be possible that you have too much signal(gives the same symptoms as not enough), you`d need a meter to check.

 

Chris, I go along with what Bignum says, my guys are installing all day long and in very fringe areas at times, the Triax is a reasonable product and proven, as is the Hirschmann FESA 815 N 69. Is the cable run as old as the hills too and single screened? If so it may just be a case of the cable having way too much loss at the higher end of the UHF frequency spectrum, in which case a decent run of coax could resolve things. And yes, the only way to know for sure is to stick a decent signal meter or spectrum analyser (I believe in political circles these are call rectum parralysers, oh sorry wrong thread) on it to see what's going on. If you have issues with some muxes being way over the top and others being on the edge, then possibly a log periodic would do the trick. We buy all our stuff like this from Alltrade Ltd who I can reccomend in terms of service. If you are not going to use someone you know to do the job, I would consider only using someone who knows what they are doing and are CAI registered (confederation of aerial industries), mainly because if they do do a crap job, at least you have somewhere to go and complain. One last thing, loft aerials are not the best choice in many areas with DTT signals.

[Chris Wilson]

Cable is normal TV coax, never seen damp, and looks good quality air spaced stuff. There's a new modern amp by the aerial, powered by a mains converter. Signal on the missing channels is either nothing or very low, have had a meter direct on the aerial. I have ordered the Triax from the link, we'll see how it is in the loft first. Thanks for the offer Bignum Only issue is it says the aerial has an F type connector, that's the small screw onto the cable satellite type isn't it? Will it go on normal TV Coax? is there an adaptor? The coax runs to 5 rooms from the amp outputs, wouldn't want to try and change it all if avoidable as it is in conduit in the walls under the plaster. Cheers guys.

[bignum]

Yes f connecter is satellite type, should go onto your cable.