Aerial right way up, no better

You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

..... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.


AAaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!

--
Chris Green

wrote in message
...
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.


AAaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!

--
Chris Green

It's probably been said already, but the location and height plays such a
big role in obtaining good reception through trees. You'd be much better off
getting someone in with proper test equipment, or hire a meter if you want
to have a go yourself. Otherwise you're just flying blind.

In article , -
GB-Carpy scribeth thus

wrote in message
. ..
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.


AAaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!

--
Chris Green

It's probably been said already, but the location and height plays such a
big role in obtaining good reception through trees. You'd be much better off
getting someone in with proper test equipment, or hire a meter if you want
to have a go yourself. Otherwise you're just flying blind.



Why don't you just go freesat?..
--
Tony Sayer

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article , -
GB-Carpy scribeth thus

wrote in message
.. .
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.


AAaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!

--
Chris Green

It's probably been said already, but the location and height plays such a
big role in obtaining good reception through trees. You'd be much better
off
getting someone in with proper test equipment, or hire a meter if you want
to have a go yourself. Otherwise you're just flying blind.



Why don't you just go freesat?..
--
Tony Sayer



I think he said he'd made an investment in Freeview equipment didn't he?

Otherwise Freesat would be a good choice....

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article , -
GB-Carpy scribeth thus

wrote in message
.. .
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.


AAaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!

--
Chris Green

It's probably been said already, but the location and height plays such a
big role in obtaining good reception through trees. You'd be much better
off
getting someone in with proper test equipment, or hire a meter if you want
to have a go yourself. Otherwise you're just flying blind.



Why don't you just go freesat?..
--
Tony Sayer

Perhaps he too has more than one TV and recorder?

I'm a fan of satellite, but for the foreseeable future they'll have to be an
aerial on this house.

wrote in message
...
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.

All this is quite normal when there are trees in the way. Anyone with an
analyser and half a brain could find the best location for the aerial for
you in no time.

Bill

In article , Bill Wright
scribeth thus

wrote in message
. ..
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.

All this is quite normal when there are trees in the way. Anyone with an
analyser and half a brain could find the best location for the aerial for
you in no time.

Bill



Indeed.. except that might be where the aerial can't readily go!...
--
Tony Sayer

"tony sayer" wrote in message
news
In article , Bill Wright
scribeth thus
All this is quite normal when there are trees in the way. Anyone with an
analyser and half a brain could find the best location for the aerial for
you in no time.

Bill



Indeed.. except that might be where the aerial can't readily go!...

The 'through the roof' mounting method can save the day. See
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ourwork...ckets.htm#img1

Bill

Bill Wright wrote:

wrote in message
...
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.

All this is quite normal when there are trees in the way. Anyone with an
analyser and half a brain could find the best location for the aerial for
you in no time.

See my long follow-up to my original posting. It didn't need a signal
analyser it needed a bit of thinking and a realisation that the
original aerial was pointing in the wrong direction.

Actually *some* STBs do give enough diagnostics to use as a cheap
signal strength meter at least. I used a Philips STB which gives bar
graphs of signal strength and quality, it refreshed frequently enough
to be usable though obviously not as nice as an analogue meter. Set
up so the TV screen can be seen from where you are playing with the
aerial and with the remote to change channels as necessary it worked
quite well.

Once I'd twigged that our location really *isn't* marginal it all
became a lot easier! :-)

--
Chris Green

wrote in message
...
Bill Wright wrote:

wrote in message
...
You may remember my recent query about an aerial that had appeared to
deteriorate. Well I have 'fixed' everything about it, it has all F
connectors (where there are any) on the way down, it has better co-ax
for the couple of bits that weren't good quality, it's now the right
way up and I have cleaned up the balun and tied the downlead to the
mast etc.

.... and it has made very little difference at all. In fact the
performance on ITV (channel 56) has improved quite a bit, but the
performance on BBC1, BBC2 etc. (channel 49) is now absolute crap.

I get the feeling my aerial must be sitting in an area full of
reflections, second path, etc., etc.

I found that sticking a rubbish 'contract' aerial out of a window
lower than the 'proper' aerial gave better BBC1 reception.

I suspect that the recent significant deterioration may be due to new
leaves growing and that the better BBC1 reception lower down may just
be 'looking through' less leafy areas.

All this is quite normal when there are trees in the way. Anyone with an
analyser and half a brain could find the best location for the aerial for
you in no time.

See my long follow-up to my original posting. It didn't need a signal
analyser it needed a bit of thinking and a realisation that the
original aerial was pointing in the wrong direction.

Actually *some* STBs do give enough diagnostics to use as a cheap
signal strength meter at least. I used a Philips STB which gives bar
graphs of signal strength and quality, it refreshed frequently enough
to be usable though obviously not as nice as an analogue meter. Set
up so the TV screen can be seen from where you are playing with the
aerial and with the remote to change channels as necessary it worked
quite well.

Once I'd twigged that our location really *isn't* marginal it all
became a lot easier! :-)

--
Chris Green

Although don't forget you need to check reception of every mux, not just the
one which is indicated on the STB signal bar.