Replacing three aerials with one

[amfisted]

Thank you for another excellent and informative post.

 

[JohnD]

I notice that on freeview, although I get good pictures and HD on most channels, some, like Film4, are weak and pixellated.

I am to the east of Portsmouth, and the existing YAGI loft aerial seems to be pointing towards Fareham, where I understand there is a transmiiter.

I'm sure there is a website that will tell me where my nearest transmitter is, and its orientation or band, so I start to know what sort of aerial and other gadgets I need, but I haven't found it yet. Where should I look?

 

[Sam Gangee]

See http://sam-radford.me.uk/wolfbane.htm

 

[JohnD]

thanks

should I be able to click and type into the Postcode field? I can't

edit

ah, this one http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?

 

[JohnD]

OK, it says Rowbridge (IoW) which would probably be line of sight apart from the rain. No hills in the way and loft is 10m above ground.
It seems to be group A, pol V and Pol H. Is that significant?


Log periodic Antenna, like http://aerialsandtv.com/atvschoiceofaerials.html#DMlog
I gather?

 

[Sam Gangee]

The page link I gave gives full instructions and a link to the Wolfbane site.

Log-periodic explanation is here:
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/best_aerial.htm

(Your prediction actually says "Rowridge", which is a "Group A" transmitter.)

 

[Sam Gangee]

Dependent on your signal strength, you could use a V11-20A2 "Group A" log-periodic aerial or, if more signal is required, a V10-36L (plus a "Group A bandpass filter if required).

Or you could simply use a "Group A Yagi" aerial. It's your choice.

 

[JohnD]

Thanks

The table says Field is 63dB at Pol V. Is that good? (Pol H is lower, and the old aerial has horizontal fingers)

The old aerial is a long (came in two halves and has a cradle in the middle) Yagi with a black plastic end cap. I could try re-orienting it to point at Rowridge at a bearing of 235, which I calculate to be about WSW and more Southerly of where it currently points. The old one might possibly have been knocked, but is aligned to a pencil mark on its platform. This is a coastal area so external aerials get battered.

I may be getting Solar PV panels in future, they would be on the South side of the roof. Will that spoil things?

 

[Sam Gangee]

The explanation of table values is on the first page I provided a link for.

Solar panels or indeed any obstruction or nearby metalwork can affect the signal in diverse (unpredictable) ways.