New aerials/cables advice please

In article , JoeJoe
says...

As you can see two face in the same direction, the third slightly off... I
am not sure though which of them is the one that I manage to get something
out of.

The only way to accurately figure out where they should be pointing is
to find out where the transmitter is, what the direction is in degrees
from your house (don't forget to convert from map to magnetic by adding
the difference between true north and magnetic north) and use a
compass. Standing on the ground in front of the house will give you a
close enough idea - you don't need to be stood directly where the
antenna mast is.


--
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On Sat, 8 Aug 2009 18:18:21 +0100, "JoeJoe" wrote:

My 3 aerials look like this: http://tinypic.com/r/11qh3c0/3

As you can see two face in the same direction, the third slightly off... I
am not sure though which of them is the one that I manage to get something
out of.

The neighbours' aerials - see here http://tinypic.com/r/2myq1sg/3 - with
our houses perfectly aligned - face around 10 degrees off mine.

Alignment I can definitely help with, or at least my site can, if you
can find out which transmitter you are receiving:

http://www.macfh.co.uk/Test/UKTerrestrialTVTest.html

The signal on a rather old Philips FV box shows as around 30% signal
strength, and 100% signal quality.

Strength sounds perhaps a bit low, but let's see if others want to run
with that.

I may not have put it clearly enough, but I am looking for a cost effective
solution, not a state of the art one. Our main viewing is through Sky, not
Freeview, and we are merely looking for a backup solution + a FV for one
spare TV in the kids playroom.

Ok, but equally, if a job's worth doing at all, it's worth doing to a
certain minimum standard - there's no point in spending money now
doing half a job, only to find that you have to spend double the
amount later.

It rather sounds to me as though something based on a distribution
amp, and, given the rather low signal strength, a masthead amp

However, apart from any the alignment, I'm not sure there's much more
I can add, though you may care to take a look at the following thread,
concerning the problems I had here - I installed a masthead amp and
a distribution amp, so while not all of it will be relevant to your
situation, a fair slice will be:
http://tinyurl.com/llougd
.... standing in for ...
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.te...2d6d033115b50d

======================================

Please always reply to news group as the email address in
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Use a masthead amplifier/splitter and send the power to it up the
downlead from one of the TV points.

Don't. They amplify all the **** as well as what you want and they
fail.

Get 3 decent antennas stuck up there. Maplin do some excellent wideband
ones. They do a 71 element one which is extremely directional with a
good high gain.

Just the job for your truck then, but as the OP has not told
us which Tx he is using, how can you know that a W/B aerial
is appropriate?

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

"JoeJoe" wrote in message
o.uk...
The setup that we inherited from the privious owners consists
of 3 x aerials attachet to the (same) chimney and poll with
separate cables running to each TV point. The aerials look very
old and rusty, and so are the external cables. We now can just
about get a signal strong enough for freeview from one of them.
The other two appear to be dead (cables? connections? aerials?
all?).

A diagram of the current setup can be found he
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2lmuv86&s=3

With the painters coming over soon to paint the outside of the
house providing easy access to the chimney , we are looking to
replace everything with new aerial(s) and cables. TV point 3 is
connected to Sky, but we would like to have Freeview there as
well as a back up. TV points 1 + 2 need to be connected to
Freeview only.

Before I go ahead and do it there are a few considerations that
I would appreciate if those in the know could comment on:

- Should I go for 1 or 3 aerials? If at all possible then I
would rather avoid having to use a distribution and/or
amplifier box. This will probably need to be housed in the
attic space which will mean having to come in and then out of
the house again (only way to route the cables downstairs) +
having to work out a new power source there.
- Cable length. TV point 3 is at least 25 metres from the
aerial. Would such a run be ok without amplifying the signal
along the way?
- Which cable should I use?
- Connector along the way. The wall socket of TV point 3 is
connected to a cable that runs under the house, and the new
cable from the aerial will have to be joined to it. What is the
best way to do this (the connection will be under the house)?

Many thanks in advance for any advice/suggestion/comments.

J.




You've had half a million replies and not one single person has
asked which transmitter you are using and how far away you are
from it?

If your signal is strong enough in the first place a single
aerial and a three way passive splitter could easily suffice.


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

"Woody" wrote in message
...
"JoeJoe" wrote in message
o.uk...
The setup that we inherited from the privious owners consists of 3 x
aerials attachet to the (same) chimney and poll with separate cables
running to each TV point. The aerials look very old and rusty, and so are
the external cables. We now can just about get a signal strong enough for
freeview from one of them. The other two appear to be dead (cables?
connections? aerials? all?).

A diagram of the current setup can be found he
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2lmuv86&s=3

With the painters coming over soon to paint the outside of the house
providing easy access to the chimney , we are looking to replace
everything with new aerial(s) and cables. TV point 3 is connected to Sky,
but we would like to have Freeview there as well as a back up. TV points
1 + 2 need to be connected to Freeview only.

Before I go ahead and do it there are a few considerations that I would
appreciate if those in the know could comment on:

- Should I go for 1 or 3 aerials? If at all possible then I would rather
avoid having to use a distribution and/or amplifier box. This will
probably need to be housed in the attic space which will mean having to
come in and then out of the house again (only way to route the cables
downstairs) + having to work out a new power source there.
- Cable length. TV point 3 is at least 25 metres from the aerial. Would
such a run be ok without amplifying the signal along the way?
- Which cable should I use?
- Connector along the way. The wall socket of TV point 3 is connected to
a cable that runs under the house, and the new cable from the aerial will
have to be joined to it. What is the best way to do this (the connection
will be under the house)?

Many thanks in advance for any advice/suggestion/comments.

J.




You've had half a million replies and not one single person has asked
which transmitter you are using and how far away you are from it?

If your signal is strong enough in the first place a single aerial and a
three way passive splitter could easily suffice.


Not sure how to check if signal is strong enough...

My transmitter according to the freeview website is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_H...itting_station

"JoeJoe" wrote in message
o.uk...

"Woody" wrote in message
...
"JoeJoe" wrote in message
o.uk...
The setup that we inherited from the privious owners consists of 3 x
aerials attachet to the (same) chimney and poll with separate cables
running to each TV point. The aerials look very old and rusty, and so
are the external cables. We now can just about get a signal strong
enough for freeview from one of them. The other two appear to be dead
(cables? connections? aerials? all?).

A diagram of the current setup can be found he
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2lmuv86&s=3

With the painters coming over soon to paint the outside of the house
providing easy access to the chimney , we are looking to replace
everything with new aerial(s) and cables. TV point 3 is connected to
Sky, but we would like to have Freeview there as well as a back up. TV
points 1 + 2 need to be connected to Freeview only.

Before I go ahead and do it there are a few considerations that I would
appreciate if those in the know could comment on:

- Should I go for 1 or 3 aerials? If at all possible then I would rather
avoid having to use a distribution and/or amplifier box. This will
probably need to be housed in the attic space which will mean having to
come in and then out of the house again (only way to route the cables
downstairs) + having to work out a new power source there.
- Cable length. TV point 3 is at least 25 metres from the aerial. Would
such a run be ok without amplifying the signal along the way?
- Which cable should I use?
- Connector along the way. The wall socket of TV point 3 is connected to
a cable that runs under the house, and the new cable from the aerial
will have to be joined to it. What is the best way to do this (the
connection will be under the house)?

Many thanks in advance for any advice/suggestion/comments.

J.




You've had half a million replies and not one single person has asked
which transmitter you are using and how far away you are from it?

If your signal is strong enough in the first place a single aerial and a
three way passive splitter could easily suffice.


Not sure how to check if signal is strong enough...

My transmitter according to the freeview website is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_H...itting_station

PS: and I am at G62 7LB

JoeJoe wrote:
"JoeJoe" wrote in message
o.uk...

"Woody" wrote in message
...
"JoeJoe" wrote in message
o.uk...
The setup that we inherited from the privious owners consists of 3
x aerials attachet to the (same) chimney and poll with separate
cables running to each TV point. The aerials look very old and
rusty, and so are the external cables. We now can just about get a
signal strong enough for freeview from one of them. The other two
appear to be dead (cables? connections? aerials? all?).

A diagram of the current setup can be found he
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2lmuv86&s=3

With the painters coming over soon to paint the outside of the
house providing easy access to the chimney , we are looking to
replace everything with new aerial(s) and cables. TV point 3 is
connected to Sky, but we would like to have Freeview there as well
as a back up. TV points 1 + 2 need to be connected to Freeview
only. Before I go ahead and do it there are a few considerations that I
would appreciate if those in the know could comment on:

- Should I go for 1 or 3 aerials? If at all possible then I would
rather avoid having to use a distribution and/or amplifier box.
This will probably need to be housed in the attic space which will
mean having to come in and then out of the house again (only way
to route the cables downstairs) + having to work out a new power
source there. - Cable length. TV point 3 is at least 25 metres
from the aerial. Would such a run be ok without amplifying the
signal along the way? - Which cable should I use?
- Connector along the way. The wall socket of TV point 3 is
connected to a cable that runs under the house, and the new cable
from the aerial will have to be joined to it. What is the best way
to do this (the connection will be under the house)?

Many thanks in advance for any advice/suggestion/comments.

J.




You've had half a million replies and not one single person has
asked which transmitter you are using and how far away you are from
it? If your signal is strong enough in the first place a single aerial
and a three way passive splitter could easily suffice.


Not sure how to check if signal is strong enough...

My transmitter according to the freeview website is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_H...itting_station

PS: and I am at G62 7LB

At the moment, a good quality group B aerial will give you all the analogue
channels, and four of the digital muxes, after DSO 30/03/11 all digital
muxes will be in group B.
--
Adrian

Yes. On the version of the calculator on my PC, I'm developing a
"Find the best TX" program.

For your postcode, it makes Black Hill a clear winner for all of
current analog, current DTT Pre DSO, DTT Post DSO. The signal path to
it is all but clear.

Next best is Darvel, but my program makes it about 20dBm weaker, and
the signal path to it has the tops of obstructions along the line of
sight.

Here's the contents of my site's info file for Black Hill (it's not
laid out particularly readably because it's for programming use, but
the basic info you need is there):
/* Black Hill */
var NS830646 =
[
{
type:"Analog",
bbc:"Scotland",
itv:"Scottish",
aergrp:"B",
aerpol:"H",
aerht:544,
erp:500,
channels:[{name:"BBC1",number:40},{name:"BBC2",number:46},{n ame:"ITV",number:43},{name:"Ch4",number:50}]
},
{
type:"Analog",
itv:"Scottish",
aergrp:"B",
aerpol:"H",
aerht:535,
erp:500,
channels:[{name:"Ch5",number:37}]
},
{
type:"DTTPre",
itv:"STV Central",
aergrp:"E/W",
aerpol:"H",
aerht:556,
channels:[{name:"Mux 1",number:41,erp:20},{name:"Mux
2",number:47,erp:20},{name:"Mux A",number:44,erp:20},{name:"Mux
B",number:51,erp:20},{name:"Mux C",number:55,erp:20},{name:"Mux
D",number:65,erp:20}]
},
{
type:"DTTPost",
itv:"STV Central",
aergrp:"B",
aerpol:"H",
channels:[{name:"BBC
A",number:46,erp:100},{name:"D3&4",number:43,erp:1 00},{name:"BBC
B",number:50,erp:100},{name:"SDN",number:41,erp:10 0},{name:"Arq
A",number:44,erp:100},{name:"Arq B",number:47,erp:100}]
}
]

On Sat, 8 Aug 2009 21:53:05 +0100, "JoeJoe" wrote:

My transmitter according to the freeview website is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_H...itting_station

PS: and I am at G62 7LB

======================================

Please always reply to news group as the email address in
this post's header does not exist. Alternatively, use one of the
contact addresses at:
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/JavaJive.html
http://www.macfh.co.uk/Macfarlane/Macfarlane.html

In article , Graham. says...


Use a masthead amplifier/splitter and send the power to it up the
downlead from one of the TV points.

Don't. They amplify all the **** as well as what you want and they
fail.

Get 3 decent antennas stuck up there. Maplin do some excellent wideband
ones. They do a 71 element one which is extremely directional with a
good high gain.

Just the job for your truck then, but as the OP has not told
us which Tx he is using, how can you know that a W/B aerial
is appropriate?

Because by definition, a wideband antenna will cover everything.

--
Conor
www.notebooks-r-us.co.uk
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

"Conor" wrote in message
...
In article , Graham. says...
snip
Just the job for your truck then, but as the OP has not told
us which Tx he is using, how can you know that a W/B aerial
is appropriate?

Because by definition, a wideband antenna will cover everything.
Conor


Badly, just like you

Steve Terry