Need a new digital aerial! - Page 2

SteevieNiteHeat · 02-09-2008, 17:47

OK thanks Kymmy!
The way it is going we are considdering just staying with virgin and not bothering with a TV aerial, what is the point hehe!

**Chris** · 02-09-2008, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteevieNiteHeat

Thanks all for your input!
I clicked on Andy's link (http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability) and it says that for Sandy Heath, I can get all of the channels (even though there are only 69 channels shown) but for the Waltham transmitter, none are availible from our area (even after the switchover), so this leads me to believe that either: a) the aerial isn't as alligned as it is supposed to be or b) we need a new aerial!

I have checked on the new PVR in the digital settings, and the RF channel is 33, signal strength fluctuates between 0-46%, but the signal quality fluctuates betewwn 0-50%, at the moment of writing this it is 45% signal strength & quality is 34% (in yellow, fair)

So are we just going to get these boring 17 channels until we upgrade the aerial, and when we do upgrade, will we only get the 69 channels that are shown? as I know people in other towns of England that have 100's of freeview channels, seems poor to me!

Thanks all again

If there are channels on Sandy Heath that you can't get, and your signal strength is poor, then there's something wrong with your existing aerial. It may not be sufficiently high gain, it may be the wrong group, it may be pointing the wrong way ... or it may be all of the above.

As others have said, you need local knowledge here; get yourself down to your local independent TV shop and buy your aerial there. They will be able to advise you what you need and what to do, if you're determined to let your neighbour do the install rather than a pro.

beeman · 04-09-2008, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Losttheplot

Sandy Heath may well have a very directional antenna to prevent interference with existing analogue transmissions from other sites. I have little to no idea on the location of the transmitter, but the antennas may well be directed to prevent interference with French Tv.
Your location will define which site you have to use.

Sandy (the town where the transmitter is located) is 50 miles NORTH of london (just off the A1) so theres no chance of interference from frenchTV

Quote:

If I recall correctly, Sandy Heath doesn't have a full picnic basket (full set of channels).

Sandy heath dose have the full range of freeview channels. however as your in peterbrough your at the very edge of the sandy heath range so some of the weeker carriers wont bee avlaible to you (sandy to edge of peterbrough is appx 60 miles). Im using sandy heath and get the full range but im only about 15-20 miles away

SteevieNiteHeat · 04-09-2008, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeman

Sandy (the town where the transmitter is located) is 50 miles NORTH of london (just off the A1) so theres no chance of interference from frenchTV

Sandy heath dose have the full range of freeview channels. however as your in peterbrough your at the very edge of the sandy heath range so some of the weeker carriers wont bee avlaible to you (sandy to edge of peterbrough is appx 60 miles). Im using sandy heath and get the full range but im only about 15-20 miles away

Very interesting Beeman!

just a quick question: how many channels can you get?
I have asked around, and in a shop yesterday they quoted me Â£115, told it could be a bit more or a bit less depending on how much work needs to be done.
But as I see it, all they need to do is rip down the old 1, errect(no jokes pls) the new 1, run the new coax to the entry point down stairs & tune it in, job done!
If I was ok with heights, I'd buy 1 from Maplins for Â£39.99 & the meter and do it myself!

**Chris** · 04-09-2008, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteevieNiteHeat

Very interesting Beeman!

just a quick question: how many channels can you get?
I have asked around, and in a shop yesterday they quoted me Â£115, told it could be a bit more or a bit less depending on how much work needs to be done.
But as I see it, all they need to do is rip down the old 1, errect(no jokes pls) the new 1, run the new coax to the entry point down stairs & tune it in, job done!
If I was ok with heights, I'd buy 1 from Maplins for Â£39.99 & the meter and do it myself!

That's a reasonable price for an independent installer to do a thorough job, including the supply of an appropriate aerial for your location.

haydnwalker · 05-09-2008, 09:09

Our local installer charged us Â£80 including fitting and the materials... try and haggle slightly. Its far better to get a professional to do it as they know the locations of the transmitters and other local knowledge. You might save money doing it yourself BUT you aren't guaranteed to get the best reception.

jrhnewark · 05-09-2008, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeman

Sandy (the town where the transmitter is located) is 50 miles NORTH of london (just off the A1) so theres no chance of interference from frenchTV

I disagree, there's not a whole lot between Sandy Heath and the French and Dutch coasts!

The antennas for both analogue and digital terrestrial at Sandy Heath are engineered to protect continental transmissions.

By the way, a very good website for checking field strength in your local area is www.wolfbane.com

CrowmanUK · 09-09-2008, 17:26

I put mine up myself, bought the aerial from maplins with the bracket and put it in the attic, just had to keep shouting down to the missus to check what the signal strength was as I moved the aerial round, quick squint at the neighbours aerial to see what sort of direction was a good indicator and with it being inside I dont have to worry about it blowing over in the wind and I can take it with me if I ever move.

**Chris** · 09-09-2008, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrowmanUK

I can take it with me if I ever move.

I'd be careful about that - a standard contract to purchase your house would include the TV aerial unless you specifically excluded it from the sale. And if you tried to exclude it, many purchasers would be put off, or at least start trying to re-negotiate the asking price. If you decided to take it with you and not tell anyone, you risk being pursued through the courts for the cost of replacing it.

beeman · 09-09-2008, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

I'd be careful about that - a standard contract to purchase your house would include the TV aerial unless you specifically excluded it from the sale. And if you tried to exclude it, many purchasers would be put off, or at least start trying to re-negotiate the asking price. If you decided to take it with you and not tell anyone, you risk being pursued through the courts for the cost of replacing it.

Thats easy to deal with, the tick boxes on the contracts simply ask if your including an aerial not specifically the one there atm, so when you climb up to grab the new one off stick the old one back up

CrowmanUK · 09-09-2008, 21:42

Its a rented place and there wasnt an aerial here to start with, all the cabling was in place as it was a new home, all the fancy face plates and what have, pity the fecking engineer didnt wire the damn things up properly, there were 5 cables in the attic, one for the living room and 4 for the bedrooms, none of them marked up and none of them wired into the faceplates properly. So there was me in the attic attaching them to the aerial trying to get a signal and wondering why the hell none of them worked. Plus it was the hottest week of the year and it was like a bloody oven, all sorted now though.