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TV antenna transmitter

MJN
Pro
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Registered: ‎26-08-2010

Re: TV antenna transmitter

Shermans,
The UK's terrestrial TV service has gone digital since you last used it and so your previous experiences regarding received signal strength and reception quality may no longer be valid. Indeed your existing aerial may no longer be even suitable.
Before you go any further I would recommend popping your post code here to see what it says. Fell free to post the output for help interpreting what it means.
twocvbloke
Seasoned Hero
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Registered: ‎06-11-2014

Re: TV antenna transmitter

Bear in mind that soon the 700MHz band will be sold off for mobile data services (thanks to an EU "universal Europe-wide compatibility of mobile data services" directive), so the ever tighter terrestrial airwaves will require yet another new aerial by 2018 at the earliest... Smiley
Wouldn't surprise me if by 2020, terrestrial telly will be a thing of the past, with Cable & Satellite the only remaining options...
Mal08
Rising Star
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Registered: ‎20-08-2008

Re: TV antenna transmitter

I use Freesat - its just like freeview but via satellite and I get a consistant performace across the channels which I dont with freeview.
Freesat is especially good in hilly areas sucha s Wales etc as long as the dish can see the satellite - just look around and see if neighbours have satellite dishes.
shermans
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Registered: ‎07-09-2007

Re: TV antenna transmitter

MJN
Quote from: MJN
The UK's terrestrial TV service has gone digital since you last used it and so your previous experiences regarding received signal strength and reception quality may no longer be valid. Indeed your existing aerial may no longer be even suitable.
Before you go any further I would recommend popping your post code here to see what it says. Fell free to post the output for help interpreting what it means.

I have checked the signal strength but do not understand a word of it. So I have attached a file for you to please interpret for me.
MJN
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Registered: ‎26-08-2010

Re: TV antenna transmitter

First things first, with those figures you are not in a weak signal area. You quite possibly were in the days of analogue but you should be receiving a 46dBuV/m signal from the Rowridge transmitter. Whilst it might be 35 miles away it is pumping out 200KW which is considerable (certainly compared to the analogue days).
Now, that is what the figures say but local issues such as large buildings, trees, etc can make quite a difference - as of course can the aerial type and quality of the aerial, wiring, etc. Starting with local topology grab a compass and look in the direction 125 degrees to see how far towards the horizon you could likely see at aerial height. The aerial needs to be a so-called 'Group A' aerial (different aerials receive different ranges of frequencies and these frequencies are grouped by letter) and mounted with vertical polarisation i.e. the elements should be orientated up-down (not left-right). Your transmitter providers horizontal polarisation too and whilst it might be at a slighly lower received strength at your location you may find it provides better results depending the local environment.
A decent aerial would cost around £20-£30 (example). The recommended aerial type is chopped off your screenshot but it looks like it might be saying an amplified external aerial i.e. that you'd need either a masthead amp or internal one in the down lead. This won't necessarily be the case though if you go for one with a high number of elements (e.g. the 18 element linked to).
There is every chance that you could mount an aerial on the granny annex. I receive a weaker signal than you (still what could be regarded as 'strong' though) and get perfect results from a loft (i.e. internal) aerial without any amplification - indeed the signal is passively split to two points (it is split further but only two are ever in use).
Before you do anything try and work out where your current aerial is pointing. Do you have any means to test it? I don't remember if you said it was full wired up or not.
shermans
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Registered: ‎07-09-2007

Re: TV antenna transmitter

MJN
Thanks for the information.  The recommended aerial is "amplified extra hi-gain.  That has been very helpful.  Incidentally, the old TV aerial is probably 40 years old, and is a horizontal arm with maybe ten crossbars.  No doubt it would need replacing if I ever want to use TV again.
Now, while on the subject, what about DAB ?  My problem is that, being a row of old cottages one room deep, the kitchen is a long, tortuous way from the chimney, and actually it is not very practical to use the chimney for the kitchen.  There is no FM in that room worth speaking of.  DAB is even worse without any sort of aerial.  What I have done with some success during the last four years is to erect a wall-mounted DAB aerial at eaves height, pointing at Rowridge.  So not higher than surrounding buildings.  We are in any case in a close valley.  I have soldered the external screened aerial to the useless length of wire aerial sticking out of the back of the DAB radio, but the screen stops at the joint because the useless wire aerial has no screen.  I have read that doing that is better than nothing but not very effective.  We do get some reception this way, much, much better than without it, (not quite half way up the signal strength indicator sometimes), but lose it for some reason altogether on a cloudless day; I suspect that the little signal there is disappears up into the sky when there is no cloud cover.  But I have also read that it is best to take the back off the radio and solder the aerial plus the screen directly to the set.  But what do I solder them to inside the set ?
If you can advise on that, I really would be grateful.
Thanks.
MJN
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Re: TV antenna transmitter

Is Rowridge definitely your nearest DAB transmitter? You may well find there's one nearer - you can find out here.
In all honesty I haven't had tried hardwiring an external aerial to the internals of a radio however the attachment point for the signal wire would be where the built-in aerial (which ought to be removed if doing this) connects to the PCB. I'd probably leave the screen unconnected and see how you get on.
jelv
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Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: TV antenna transmitter

I'm a bit further out than you (Mere) with our aerial pointing at Rowridge - Shaftesbury is in that direction so that will compromise our signal. Generally it's OK but we get some evenings when it's not quite so good. We've got FreeSat which is brilliant.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
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Mal08
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Re: TV antenna transmitter

RE DAB radio - you can of course use a direction external aerial, but if you have another transmitter within a similar distance you would probably be better of with an omnidirection dipole aerial as all transmitters use the same frequency and the system is designed to select the best signal.
For any radio ( including TV etc ) a good aerial is an essential part of the system, and the higher outside the better. Indoor aerials are ok for strong signal areas, but even then an outside arerial  will give a better margin against noise ( signal to noise ratio ) and always to be recommended.
On subject of multiple TV's - yes two aerials is one solttion - but another is to have an extra high gain aerial - ( 18 plus elements ) feeding a low noise distribution amplifier as used in premises such as blocks of flats etc.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/search?text=tv+distribution+amplifier&x=0&y=0
twocvbloke
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Re: TV antenna transmitter

Just be aware that an amplifier boosts everything, including background noise, local interference and other unwanted rubbish in the airwaves on top of the signals you're trying to gain...
Anotherone
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Registered: ‎31-08-2007

Re: TV antenna transmitter

As has been mentioned, having a good aerial is important. Log periodic aerials are generally better unless you have a very weak signal. @shermans you may well find that your signal on Freeview is not going to be that reliable in your location, so Freesat might be a better option. Using Broadband is an option if you have unlimited usage and a good enough speed.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/industry is one of the best checkers to use and it does suggest you may not get a reliable signal except from the 3 main multiplexes. https://ukfree.tv is also another quite good site to use. Getting a terrain plot from that suggests you are in a bit of a dip or certainly have a highish hill between you and the transmitter, so would need to mount an aerial quite high (higher than the standard 10m.)
There's lots of useful other information on both those sites.

shermans
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Registered: ‎07-09-2007

Re: TV antenna transmitter

 Thanks.  Very helpful. 

Thanks