Better Freeview aerial?

Hi,

I've just bought a Digihome PVR 160. Digital reception is not
brilliant here in Chesham Bucks [hills valleys and what not] but where
I am I've been able to run a Grundig freeview box pretty much ok with
only the odd bit of picture breakup, but the problem seems to be worse
with the new Digihome box [ok, my fault for buying a cheapo unit], but
the question is, can I get a better aerial than what I presently have:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vindaloo77/aerial.jpg

The cable run is about 12m, and is black satellite stuff, although I
don't think it's the top quality variety. That FM aerial is also fed
down the same cable and then split nearer the TV & stereo units.

Cheers
Garry

"Garry" wrote in message
...

Hi,

I've just bought a Digihome PVR 160. Digital reception is not
brilliant here in Chesham Bucks [hills valleys and what not] but where
I am I've been able to run a Grundig freeview box pretty much ok with
only the odd bit of picture breakup, but the problem seems to be worse
with the new Digihome box [ok, my fault for buying a cheapo unit], but
the question is, can I get a better aerial than what I presently have:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vindaloo77/aerial.jpg

The cable run is about 12m, and is black satellite stuff, although I
don't think it's the top quality variety. That FM aerial is also fed
down the same cable and then split nearer the TV & stereo units.

Well if the FM aerial is combined at roof level and then splits into a dual
outlet plate behind your TV, then I'd be very tempted to give it a miss and
have a continuous run of good quality CT100 type cable connected (without
any breaks if possible) from the aerial directly to the Digihome receiver.



Cheers
Garry

Garry wrote:
Hi,

I've just bought a Digihome PVR 160. Digital reception is not
brilliant here in Chesham Bucks [hills valleys and what not] but where
I am I've been able to run a Grundig freeview box pretty much ok with
only the odd bit of picture breakup, but the problem seems to be worse
with the new Digihome box [ok, my fault for buying a cheapo unit], but
the question is, can I get a better aerial than what I presently have:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vindaloo77/aerial.jpg

The cable run is about 12m, and is black satellite stuff, although I
don't think it's the top quality variety. That FM aerial is also fed
down the same cable and then split nearer the TV & stereo units.

Cheers
Garry


Well I use one of the blake aerials biggies. I think it was the
JBX21CD. See he http://www.blake-uk.com/prod_products_aerials_JBX.aspx

I also finally used the really good downlead that Bills recommends. It
really was the difference between me getting Freebiew and not. I live
in mid wales, and get service from Winter Hill 83 miles away.

It's good enough for me to use a Freeview PCI card in a PC and shipping
TV over ethernet, or rather my ring main.

Regards,

Rob.

"Garry" wrote in message
...

Hi,

I've just bought a Digihome PVR 160. Digital reception is not
brilliant here in Chesham Bucks [hills valleys and what not] but where
I am I've been able to run a Grundig freeview box pretty much ok with
only the odd bit of picture breakup, but the problem seems to be worse
with the new Digihome box [ok, my fault for buying a cheapo unit], but
the question is, can I get a better aerial than what I presently have:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vindaloo77/aerial.jpg

The cable run is about 12m, and is black satellite stuff, although I
don't think it's the top quality variety. That FM aerial is also fed
down the same cable and then split nearer the TV & stereo units.

Cheers
Garry


The co-ax looks white to me rather than black?

I would replace the co-ax with some CAI approved stuff (Webro WF100, CT100,
Philex PF100) trying for one continuous run from aerial to PVR, without
diplexing it with the FM aerial (which is a horrid all rounder (far too
close to the TV aerial) and must be struggling to produce anything
meaningful by the time it's been diplexed then split again!)

If that fails;
The aerial appears to be a wideband pseudo high gain affair. If you're using
Crystal Palace, try a Blake DMX10A which is a CAI Cat 1 aerial for group A
transmitters such as Crystal Palace. Move the FM aerial 1 metre down the
mast away from it, or better still replace it with a horizontal yagi
pointing at London, or an omni directional vertical dipole.

If that fails;
Consider using a low gain ultra low noise masthead amplifier.

"Garry" wrote in message
...

Hi,

I've just bought a Digihome PVR 160. Digital reception is not
brilliant here in Chesham Bucks [hills valleys and what not] but where
I am I've been able to run a Grundig freeview box pretty much ok with
only the odd bit of picture breakup, but the problem seems to be worse
with the new Digihome box [ok, my fault for buying a cheapo unit], but
the question is, can I get a better aerial than what I presently have:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vindaloo77/aerial.jpg

The cable run is about 12m, and is black satellite stuff, although I
don't think it's the top quality variety. That FM aerial is also fed
down the same cable and then split nearer the TV & stereo units.

Cheers
Garry


The co-ax looks white to me rather than black?

I would replace the co-ax with some CAI approved stuff (Webro WF100, CT100,
Philex PF100) trying for one continuous run from aerial to PVR, without
diplexing it with the FM aerial (which is a horrid all rounder (far too
close to the TV aerial) and must be struggling to produce anything
meaningful by the time it's been diplexed then split again!)

If that fails;
The aerial appears to be a wideband pseudo high gain affair. If you're using
Crystal Palace, try a Blake DMX10A which is a CAI Cat 1 aerial for group A
transmitters such as Crystal Palace. Move the FM aerial 1 metre down the
mast away from it, or better still replace it with a horizontal yagi
pointing at London, or an omni directional vertical dipole.

If that fails;
Consider using a low gain ultra low noise masthead amplifier.

In article ,
Doctor D wrote:

If that fails; The aerial appears to be a wideband pseudo high gain
affair. If you're using Crystal Palace, try a Blake DMX10A which is a CAI
Cat 1 aerial for group A transmitters such as Crystal Palace. Move the FM
aerial 1 metre down the mast away from it, or better still replace it
with a horizontal yagi pointing at London,

Pointing at Wrotham would be better, although it is roughly the same way.

or an omni directional vertical dipole.

Please not.

--
From KT24 - in "Leafy Surrey"

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11

On Jul 23, 12:10 am, charles wrote:

Pointing at Wrotham would be better, although it is roughly the same way.

Depends whether the OP wants to receive the London stations, if so
better to aim at CP/Croydon, the much higher power national radio from
Wrotham will still be received well enough I suspect.

or an omni directional vertical dipole.

Please not.

Again, depends what radio stations (non London) the OP might wish to
receive ?

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:28:50 -0700, Mark Carver
wrote:

On Jul 23, 12:10 am, charles wrote:

Pointing at Wrotham would be better, although it is roughly the same way.

Depends whether the OP wants to receive the London stations, if so
better to aim at CP/Croydon, the much higher power national radio from
Wrotham will still be received well enough I suspect.

or an omni directional vertical dipole.

Please not.

Again, depends what radio stations (non London) the OP might wish to
receive ?

The FM aerial is fine for my needs - Radio 4, BBC Radio London - which
are ok at the moment.

Doctor D - you're right, the outside cable is white - it changes to
black just inside the roof, where the two cables merge.
I'll get some decent cable and run two seperate lines down sometime
this week....when it's not raining!

Thanks for the input. Appreciated.

I've just bought a Digihome PVR 160. Digital reception is not
brilliant here in Chesham Bucks [hills valleys and what not] but where
I am I've been able to run a Grundig freeview box pretty much ok with
only the odd bit of picture breakup, but the problem seems to be worse
with the new Digihome box [ok, my fault for buying a cheapo unit], but
the question is, can I get a better aerial than what I presently have:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vindaloo77/aerial.jpg

The cable run is about 12m, and is black satellite stuff, although I
don't think it's the top quality variety. That FM aerial is also fed
down the same cable and then split nearer the TV & stereo units.

Cheers
Garry


Someone else mentioned Crystal Palace. If you are using that transmitter
then your wideband is very wrong. CP is ALL group A (analogue and digital)
and a wideband is poor for group A (see Bill's excellent website for some
comparisons). A proper group A and continuous cable (as suggested by
others) will be much better.

Paul DS.

Pointing at Wrotham would be better, although it is roughly the same way.

From Bucks, an aerial pointing at London will point at Wrotham, but also
provide all the London locals. I would have to explain where Wrotham is. I
suspect the OP knows where London is :-)
or an omni directional vertical dipole.

Please not.

Why not? I'd appreciate knowing why you feel a vertical dipole would not be
suitable, or did you misread that as me suggesting an all-rounder?