Best aerial for DTTV at reasonable cost?

I'm looking to install a new aerial at the back of my property in an attempt
to escape some of the interference caused by the vehicles, particularly the
local yobs on their earsplitting hairdryers, passing by on the road outside.
Currently on the roof I have Wickes high gain aerial, a rebadged Maxview I
think, which works very well but does seem prone to interference. So what
are the current faves of the experts? I don't really want to spend more than
about £30.

Cheers

Matt


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"Matt" wrote in message
...
I'm looking to install a new aerial at the back of my property in an
attempt
to escape some of the interference caused by the vehicles, particularly
the
local yobs on their earsplitting hairdryers, passing by on the road
outside.
Currently on the roof I have Wickes high gain aerial, a rebadged Maxview I
think, which works very well but does seem prone to interference. So what
are the current faves of the experts? I don't really want to spend more
than
about £30.

Cheers

Matt


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 23/08/2003



I would definitely go for an aerial that incorporates a balun. That is a
small tuned circuit that attempts to match the aerial, a balanced device,
with the screened co-ax down lead which is intrinsically an unbalanced
device.
Any mis- match results in reduced signal transfer and can also result in the
downlead itself acting as an aerial and picking up interference from all
directions.

If you are in a region where a wide band Aerial is not necessary so much the
better as an aerial specific to your locality will be more directive , less
prone to interference and gives more "Bang per Buck".

Richard.

"Matt" wrote in message
...
I'm looking to install a new aerial at the back of my property in an
attempt
to escape some of the interference caused by the vehicles, particularly
the
local yobs on their earsplitting hairdryers, passing by on the road
outside.
Currently on the roof I have Wickes high gain aerial, a rebadged Maxview I
think, which works very well but does seem prone to interference. So what
are the current faves of the experts? I don't really want to spend more
than
about £30.

Cheers

Matt


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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In reality it is unlikely to be the aerial that is at fault, Maxview or not.
Assuming the connections are good and it is pointing the right way (and it's
the right way up!) then it is more likely to be pick-up on the downlead.
Replacing it with good quality copper-foil CT100 as a first step will
probably eliminate most or all of your problems.

As for the comment elsewhere about baluns - if the signal is so low that the
improved matching achieved by a balun makes a difference then you have more
significant problems. Agreed however baluns are very good if you have a
problem with local static (not ignition pick-up 'static!')


--
Woody

"harrogate" wrote in message
...


In reality it is unlikely to be the aerial that is at fault, Maxview or
not.
Assuming the connections are good and it is pointing the right way (and
it's
the right way up!) then it is more likely to be pick-up on the downlead.
Replacing it with good quality copper-foil CT100 as a first step will
probably eliminate most or all of your problems.

Yep we have CT100 already and we don't seem to have any problems with
interference other than that due to vehicles. I doubt that the downlead is
at fault because we have a faulty boiler thermostat which produces a huge
amount of static interference that seriously disrupts radio listening but
has no effect on digital TV viewing. Actually I bet that really ****es off
the radio ham next door if it propagates outside of our house, well he'll
have to put up with it for a few more months till the boiler gets changed.

Matt


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What direction is the transmitter relative to the main road?

Bill


A little bit of what you fancy does you good -
Miss Marie Lloyd

"Wrightsaerials" wrote in message

What direction is the transmitter relative to the main road?

The angle from our aerial to the transmitter across the road is about 45
degrees. It's not a very busy road but we're near a school and recreation
ground where the local louts hang about so we get more more of our fair
share of poorly serviced mopeds causing inteference. As it is the aerial on
our bungalow is about 15 feet from the road. I'm wondering if putting a new
aerial about a 100 feet back might help.

Matt


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As it is the aerial on
our bungalow is about 15 feet from the road. I'm wondering if putting a new
aerial about a 100 feet back might help.

I should think it would help, as long as the new aerial location has as good or
better field strength from the relevant transmitter than the old one. Don't
expect miracles, though. DTT problems caused by ignition interference always
seem to come down to inadequate field strength in the end.
For an historical perspective, and to show there's nothing new under the sun,
take a look at
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/dipolegarden.htm - just one of the many delights
on my splendid website, soon to be augmented with 30 additions to the Roagues
Gallery.
Yours in modesty

Bill

--
A little bit of what you fancy does you good -
Miss Marie Lloyd