High Gain TV Aerial needed

[S6PNJ]

I'm in a poor signal area and surrounded by lots of tall trees and so don't get a very good TV signal (Freeview). The picture often breaks up and either spoils watching or spoils recording.

I've found this one http://www.aerialsandtv.com/atvschoiceofaerials.ht... with corresponding AE Gain chart below:


Does anyone know of any other good, high gain aerials for comparison, hopefully cheaper??? I need band A and it will be externaly mounted on a pole on my chimney. I don't want Freesat (or a skydish solution).

This one claims to ahve a higher gain but looks as if it has less elements etc
https://www.blake-uk.com/sr-yagi/404-457-sr-yagi-b...

Edited by S6PNJ on Wednesday 29th November 21:30

[mickmcpaddy]

It depends what part of the Country you are in, they are grouped into different bands, however I've never not managed to get a signal with a Unix 32 wide band aerial.

[S6PNJ]

Thanks Mick, as per my OP, I need Band A, I'm not looking for a wideband antenna. Indeed the Unix 32 is wideband and only has 10dB of gain so less than those I've linked above.

[mickmcpaddy]

S6PNJ said:

Thanks Mick, as per my OP, I need Band A, I'm not looking for a wideband antenna. Indeed the Unix 32 is wideband and only has 10dB of gain so less than those I've linked above.

Maybe but where ever I've been I've used one of these and got a perfect picture first time, even inside lofts, brilliant aerial.

[trickywoo]

Have you investigated a signal booster?

I’m in an iffy reception area and had problems with certain channels and weather conditions which a signal booster has largely resolved. Very seldom I get weather related issues.

[S6PNJ]

Yup, already got a signal booster in line. I currently have an 18 (or so) element Yagi up there but I don't know if it is narrow or broad band or how old it is. I'm assuming broadband as it has a black coloured end.


I've already replaced the coax but am now seeking to address the problem at the root of the issue, not by sticking a plaster on the symptoms. There must be a whole host of aerial manufacturers out there but despite Googling different terms, I seem to get stuck with the links I already have, or aerials that have no signal gain info and hence are probably not as high gain as they'd have you believe. Hence hoping to get some personal recommendations of high gain (backed with specs) of Band A (narrow band) external aerials.

[Ynox]

Signal boosters sadly also boost noise - I'd not recommend them on the whole.

Have you seen http://www.wolfbane.net/cgi-bin/tvd.exe? ? Might give you an idea for an tx which may work better than the usual one for your area.

[hyphen]

Also interested in this, I would like a better tv/dab aerial that can get out of area stations.

[bogie]

We had issues with ours when we moved in, and got the aerials direct guy out. I didnt have a ladder that would reach so not attempting any DIY. He measured the signal and recommended their top of the range high gain AND a mast head amplifier on it. Fitted it all in a couple of hours, tuned in all 4 TVs in the house and left us with perfect telly for under £150

[S6PNJ]

Bogie, any relevant info like aerial make/model, aerial band you are in (ie channel numbers as per the pic I posted) please?

[S6PNJ]

Ynox said:

Signal boosters sadly also boost noise - I'd not recommend them on the whole.

Have you seen http://www.wolfbane.net/cgi-bin/tvd.exe? ? Might give you an idea for an tx which may work better than the usual one for your area.

Mast head amps are feasible as the noise injection at that point is relatively low but amps that sit behind the TV will GREATLY amplify noise, so that is not my first choice (I have one already).

I've already used the Digital TV website coverage checker and also the UKFreeTV website and am on the 'best' mast for my location. There are 2 I can see, the one I'm on is Ridge Hill, the other one I can see (can't work out which one it is right now) doesn't have all of the multiplexes and doesn't have the HD channels and is also poorer for coverage.

[Magic919]

Have you spoken to ATV? They are happy to give advice to prospective customers. I only bought an FM aerial from them and it does a great job compared to the one I had.

[S6PNJ]

Magic919 said:

Have you spoken to ATV? They are happy to give advice to prospective customers. I only bought an FM aerial from them and it does a great job compared to the one I had.

I haven't, but other than suggesting their high gain aerial I've linked above, I'm not sure what else they'd bring to the party? I'm more looking for other suppliers who give gain specs on their aerials as I'm sure there must be lots about, if only I could identify them.

The likes of Screwfix, Amazon etc don't tend to give specs other than to say 'High Gain' but 3dB is twice the power which is 'high gain' to some!

[Magic919]

I presume these gain figures are like rolling road figures. I’d speak to aerial experts, as I’m clearly not one.

[S6PNJ]

Magic919 said:

.....gain figures are like rolling road figures....

Ha ha ha, yes, I think so! I studied aerial design as part of my BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering (mid 90's - a long time ago) so I know the basics of high gain aerials but I have no means of testing etc so can only go on what they claim.

[TonyRPH]

Way back when I did aerial installations (mid 80's) we used 'Log Periodic' aerials in areas where there were a lot of trees (which in those days caused ghosting).

As I understand it, ghost (reflected) signals are still an issue for digital television.

And trees do cause a lot of reflections.

In poorer signal areas, we would place two aerials side by side to get more gain.

Try to avoid boosters, but if you are forced to use one, ensure it's a masthead booster, so you amplify the signal at it's best (right after the aerial) and also use lowest loss cable you can get.

[TheInternet]

S6PNJ said:

I need band A

It's dependent on exactly where you are, but you will need a wideband aerial to get the full Freeview offering next year.

You may have already seen: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/coveragechecker/

Edited by TheInternet on Friday 1st December 12:50

[S6PNJ]

TheInternet said:

S6PNJ said:

I need band A

It's dependent on exactly where you are, but you will need a wideband aerial to get the full Freeview offering next year.

You may have already seen: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/coveragechecker/

Edited by TheInternet on Friday 1st December 12:50

Dammit! Why can't they bloody well leave alone! I wasn't aware of that, so many thanks.

Having checked out my transmitter, there are a few channels moving further up the frequency and I can live without them, BUT, BBC4 HD, BBC News HD, CH4+1 HD and CH4 Seven HD MIGHT be needing a wideband aerial (but no indication of the channel number, so I don't know if they are moving slightly further up or up to the next band up or all the way into the 50's and 60's. Having searched a bit more, I can see the HD multiplexes are moving from Ch 32 and 34 to Ch 55 and 56 (Group E).

ATV suggest diplexing an A and E http://www.aerialsandtv.com/ampsandsplitters.html#... but as my higher Ch in Group A will be Ch 28, that might work. This is fine up to 2020 but who know what will happen after that.

In other good news, we move from Good reception for 54 channels and variable for 60 channels to good for 114 channels (not that there will be anything worth watching on about 100 of them... )

[bogie]

S6PNJ said:

Bogie, any relevant info like aerial make/model, aerial band you are in (ie channel numbers as per the pic I posted) please?

Sorry, lost the receipt, its over 5 years ago now. I do remember the price was mostly hardware, and £50 ish for the fitting...which I thought pretty good considering same/next day call out service for a guy with all the gear.

We are on the edge of coverage between belmont in Lincs and couple of other transmitters in midlands.

[TheInternet]

S6PNJ said:

This is fine up to 2020 but who know what will happen after that.

The reason for the upcoming change is to make space for 5G services. There's no driver nor the capacity to reshuffle things still further any time soon, and any that did occur down the line won't be incompatible with your new setup.