aerials - again :-(

Well, got my 18 element from screwfix today, put it up about an hour ago, and the picture is still a steaming pile of dung :-/

I can get all the channels great, but not at the same time :-(

Does anyone know if the position of the mounting bracket can affect picture quality ? - the existing bracket was attached to the end of the old aerial, but the new screwfix one had a U bracket underneath, which was in a poor position for my existing fixing unless I moved it backwards, so instead of... / [-O/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/- \ |_____|

i`ve got...

/ [-O/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/- \|_____|

If the U bracket location can cause this I might have to rejig the fixings somehow...

TIA :-}

At a guess, I'd say no. but there are a million and one books on aerials and RF transmission. it is a complicated animal.

What do you mean exactly by "but not at the same time"?

Do you mean you have to point the aerial in different directions for different channels? Or do you mean that you can't get different channels on different televisions at the same time?

Some twigs must be fitted at the top of the mast but that would be obvious by looking at it.

What you hsould have done is bought a proper twig from a proper supplier. I recently bought a pro45, 10' mast, t&k brackets and a 30m roll of double screened, oh and an omni directional FM twig too, plus all the necessary U brackets etc - all for less than £70. £69.96 to be exact!

The signal is amazing.

Cheap twigs usually offer poor signal, especially in border coverage area's.

Buying a proper jobbie and installing it high as poss is the best start.

Also check how you've wired the thing - but that's another story.

Have you tried connecting the twig directly to a TV with a new length of Coax, to eliminate the possibility of any bad connections anywhere?

If there is a short between the centre and the screen anywhere, then depending on your install, it could bring the whole system down.

Sparks...

^^ This one...

Liverpool - not that bad a reception area I would have thought - and i`m not in any valleys :-}

This may be my "only" downfall at present - i`ve got it mounted on the back wall of the house with it pointing in the same direction as all the other aerials on the terrace across an open space (several hundred yards at least)

Satellite coax (took the old analogue dish down and remade the connections either end - there was plenty of slack)

I haven`t, but I don`t have any coax going spare :-(

Might just say "ah b*ll*cks to it" and get another cheapo yellow pages plonker out... I just don`t like climbing on roofs (and at almost 18 stone I don`t think they`d like me either :-} )

Lol!

The cable that connects to the twig - where does the other end go?

Can you connect this directly to a TV (Unless it is already!)

Do you have a multimeter handy?

Sparks...

The only thing is Niel, that if the reception varies by channel outside, it will be subject to that to a greater degree in the loft.

.andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

This one by chance?

Work out which transmitter you need:

You don't want it too close to the dipole (i.e. the active bit of the aerial that the coax connects to)

You would be better of with an aerial that can be back mounted by the sound of it. Try CPC for a Triax UNIX 52 for example.

How old was the coax? and were the connections at the satellite dish fully encased in self amalgamating tape?

Coax cables have a tendency to absorb moisture. especially if weathered or not terminated and sealed correctly. This can cause a big loss of signal especially toward the top of the TV spectrum (so not much of an issue for Crystal Palace viewers, but it might be for you).

Again CPC etc will do a roll of CT100 for not too much.

I'll bet that's it Sparks, it prob comes from the roof and connects to the water-but

As long as it is a water butt and not the butt of a Trans-Vestite.

Is the polarity correct for the transmitter, vertical or horizontal elements ?

Dave

Maybe that's the problem. Your "cheapo" attitude. If you want the best you have to pay and the best is never cheap.

Using used coax is never a great idea. Also the wiring sequence if you multiple TV's.

If you want to do a proper job but a high quality twig and some new double screened coax. Wire direct into your main freeview box or TV - no joints, no amp, no dis box. It has to go straight in. Then check the pic. If all OK then play around with the distribution cos then you have a known starting point.

If you have a digi box/freeview box wire from the RF out into a dis amp and then back down to all the TV's inc. the main one. More cables I know but the result will be worth it.

If you nice new hi-gain twig brings in all sorts of crap you may have to consider a small band pass filter but they're only around £10 and they filter out all the crap. Unlikely to be needed though.

In article , Colin Wilson writes

Can U explain why you had to move the fixing clamp back in a little more detail.

BTW preserve with your DIY efforts the cheapo yello pages plonkers are usually just that:-(

I reckon the of the U bracket causing a problem is around

On my 10ft mast I have an omni directional FM aerial just under my TV job and on the top of the mast I have a disc cone, only around 8 inches above the TV aerial. I also have various brackts holding them all in place.

None of this has any effect on the TV signal so your U bracket, unless you have it connected to a 240V supply (!!) is very unlikely to cause problems.

My money is on the cheap twig, poor cable or crap (or too many) connections/joints. Or of course the fact that it maybe in the wrong position/height won't help.

Sometimes you know we have to pay. Although I installed my own mast etc on my own house I have just had an aerial company install one on my brothers place. They came with all the gear, field strength meter the lot. It cost £130 for the twig (pro45) on a 10ft mast with T&K's etc. Not cheap but proper. And no grief with signal!

Don't buy cheap and instead of buying specialist equipment from the likes of Screwfix consider buying from a specialist. I chose the company who quoted the most!

That suggests then that you have the wrong aerial as you should be able to get all the signals you want from one transmitter. Check which transmitter is nearest (or gives the best signal) and then see what channels it uses for all the ones you want. This tehn tells you what aerial you need - either an oridnary one (for the right channels) or maybe a wideband one.