|
||||||||
Aerials |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NE England
Posts: 3,096
|
Aerials
I live in the same road as my parents and have noticed their terrestial tv reception is a lot better than my own, in fact, their picture looks like the quality I get on Sky Digital.
I am wondering whether to play around with the tv's loft aerial or whether aerial's have a life span and a new one is called for. The actual picture we get is fine just not as good as what I see in my parents' house. Do you think a new aerial would substantially improve the picture or do these things never deteriorate over time? We are both in relatively new houses (4 years) so I don't think the cable would have deteriorated. The only other difference is they are higher up than us. Thanks for any ideas. |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Posts: n/a
|
Them being higher up than you could have something to do with the quailty of your picture as their signal is getting to them with nothing in the way.
Another thing you could try is putting your aerial on a long pole and attach it to your roof/chimmney pot. That way if might clear up the picture. |
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Skegness, UK
Posts: 1,002
|
It's very unlikely there is anything wrong with the aerial itself. Has the reception always been like this? If so, it's probably because loft aerials are rather hit and miss at UHF. Due to reflections from the house walls, water tanks, metal pipes and so on, standing waves are set up. The aerial could just be in a bad spot where the signals cancel. The only way round this is to take a portable TV up into the loft and experiment with the aerial position. Just a foot or two to one side could make all the difference.
If the reception was good but has deteriorated, the most likely causes are dodgy connections to the cable at the aerial or tv, or water getting into the cable (not so likely with a loft aerial). The centre pin on the plug at the TV end should be soldered. If it isn't, it has probably corroded and is not connecting reliably. The outer shell on these plugs often works loose too. The quick fix, but more costly, is an outside aerial which will probably work fine, first time. Or you could just rely on satellite!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NE England
Posts: 3,096
|
Appreciate the replies, I will have a look at the aerial connections in the loft just to check, then have a play around with it. The picture we get is good for the majority of the time but just noticeably not as good as my parents, they even get an excellent picture via the video which is what made me think it may be the aerial or how we had positioned ours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dún na nGall
Posts: 566
|
Is your aerial connected to a signal amplifier of any sort? You could maybe try one of these.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NE England
Posts: 3,096
|
I have just disconnected the aerial from a booster amplifier because it was playing havoc with the picture, for some reason ITV was extremely flickery. So I have by passed the booster/distributer and am only using the this to distribute signals via Sky's second RF output.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Co Wicklow-Republic of Ireland
Posts: 327
|
You would be better off putting your aerial on a pole on the chimney-Thats the way it's mostly done here in Ireland to pick up UK signals.
The signal is obviously going to be stronger in the air outside. Regarding amps, they are used all the time here for the UK signals. You could run into problems with them though as you may amplify unwanted weaker signals also thereby causing co channel interference commonally seen as wavy lines on the picture. |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NE England
Posts: 3,096
|
Many thanks for all your help. We had a look in the loft yesterday and realigned the aerial which has worked a treat. My husband had the cable connecting the aerial running over the lofting boards which had been moved when 'stuff' had been loaded over the them. The cable itself was okay, I think the cable had nudged the aerial a bit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Teesside
Posts: 151
|
Actually I have a relative question....
I'm getting a new roof aerial fitted tomorrow as I am currently unable to receive some ITV Digital channels with the current setup I have. Any recommendations with the aerial itself, or any useful pointers?? |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NE England
Posts: 3,096
|
Hi pjl
If you run a search for aerials you will get a lot of recommendations from people who have ITV Digital. I ran it first when I was trying to get an answer to my problem but didn't find one but you will probably find an answer. wicket |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Teesside
Posts: 151
|
Quote:
Originally posted by wicket Cheers mate!
Hi pjl If you run a search for aerials you will get a lot of recommendations from people who have ITV Digital. I ran it first when I was trying to get an answer to my problem but didn't find one but you will probably find an answer. wicket |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Teesside
Posts: 151
|
Well there we go - Mr Aerial Man has been, fitted me a spanking new roof aerial, and finally pjl can receive channels from all 6 Mux'!
A lot less interference now also. I'm happy! |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 16:43.

