Lining up a TV ariel

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Quickie.

Mrs zcacogp and I moved into zcacogp towers about 4 months ago, and were told at the time that the TV ariel wasn't very securely mounted on the roof. ("Balanced" was the word used.)

Recently, we have had bad weather, and the TV picture has deterioraited markedly. BBC1 is unwatchable (no rude comments please!), 2, ITV and CH4 are not much better. Ironically, the only channel with unaffected picture quality is 5. We are using a standard TV ariel, no satellite reciever/set top box/cable set up malarky.

So, if I shin up onto the roof this weekend (not looking forward to it - I don't like heights) and adjust the ariel, where do I point it?


Oli.

[jmorgan]

Where the others are pointing? Assuming you can see others.

[Parrot of doom]

www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/tv_trans/index.shtml

Point it to the nearest visible transmitter.

[Egbert Nobacon]

zcacogp said:

Chaps, Quickie. Mrs zcacogp and I moved into zcacogp towers about 4 months ago, and were told at the time that the TV ariel wasn't very securely mounted on the roof. ("Balanced" was the word used.) Recently, we have had bad weather, and the TV picture has deterioraited markedly. BBC1 is unwatchable (no rude comments please!), 2, ITV and CH4 are not much better. Ironically, the only channel with unaffected picture quality is 5. We are using a standard TV ariel, no satellite reciever/set top box/cable set up malarky. So, if I shin up onto the roof this weekend (not looking forward to it - I don't like heights) and adjust the ariel, where do I point it? Oli.

Don't do it yourself - look what it did for Rod Hull - that poor Emu, left to fend for itself

[DJ111S]

Egbert Nobacon said:

zcacogp said: Chaps, Quickie. Mrs zcacogp and I moved into zcacogp towers about 4 months ago, and were told at the time that the TV ariel wasn't very securely mounted on the roof. ("Balanced" was the word used.) Recently, we have had bad weather, and the TV picture has deterioraited markedly. BBC1 is unwatchable (no rude comments please!), 2, ITV and CH4 are not much better. Ironically, the only channel with unaffected picture quality is 5. We are using a standard TV ariel, no satellite reciever/set top box/cable set up malarky. So, if I shin up onto the roof this weekend (not looking forward to it - I don't like heights) and adjust the ariel, where do I point it? Oli. Don't do it yourself - look what it did for Rod Hull - that poor Emu, left to fend for itself

Man U have a lot to answer for.

[M3 Mitch]

If it's a "Yagi" type antenna for VHF they are quite directional and you need to point it at the station of interest. What you need, ideally, is a very small hand-held set that you can plug in to the antenna would be useful, but basically point it horizontal to the ground and at the weakest station of interest to you. Maybe you will want to find a compromise position. If a small set is not available you can have someone in the house look at the TV while you adjust.

UHF are basically a loop that goes perpendicular to the station of interest.

You may want to get a rotator and use that, if you are interested in several stations that are in different directions.

Alternatively, a really good amplified "rabbit ear" type indoor antenna can work well too. I have a Recoton, cost me about $50, works great and is way beyond the simple rabbit ear and loop that come with the TV generally.

Or at least did. Maybe we are among the last to get our TV off the air, vs cable.

[Pigeon]

M3 Mitch said:

If it's a "Yagi" type antenna for VHF they are quite directional and you need to point it at the station of interest. What you need, ideally, is a very small hand-held set that you can plug in to the antenna would be useful, but basically point it horizontal to the ground and at the weakest station of interest to you. Maybe you will want to find a compromise position. If a small set is not available you can have someone in the house look at the TV while you adjust. UHF are basically a loop that goes perpendicular to the station of interest.

TV is no longer broadcast on VHF in the UK, and rooftop UHF antennas are almost all Yagis, not loops.

The way that sounds like most hassle but is actually the least is to use extension cables as necessary to move the TV outside so you can watch it while you rotate the aerial. Take the remote up the ladder with you so you can check all the channels.

[M3 Mitch]

Thanks Pigeon! As soon as I posted that, I thought, they probably use different frequencies in UK than here....

And we definitely agree on getting the TV where you can see it as you rotate the antenna. Either the big TV out in the yard, or a very small one (I have a little hand-held job about 2X the size of a pack of cigarettes) that was handy to aim mine. A very small change in direction made a lot of difference to me.

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

All good stuff - the link to the BBC website was particularly helpful, thanks. Not sure how I work out exactly which direction my local transmitter is in (I can see from the list that it will be Greenwich, London, but when I am standing on my roof I don't know precisely which way that will be ... maybe I ought to buy a compass on the way home tonight!)

I like the idea of someone looking at the TV while the ariel is moved, but we don't have a hand-held TV, and the house is too tall and the garden too small to see the TV if placed outside (and what happens if it is raining?) I can see that putting Mrs zcacogp in front of the TV with a mobile 'phone, and me on the roof with another mobile 'phone will be the answer. Unless the 'phone signal interferes with the TV picture. Oh, what the heck, I'll just point it the same way as everyone else's!

Thanks again.


Oli.

[Tyre Smoke]

Egbert Nobacon said:

Don't do it yourself - look what it did for Rod Hull - that poor Emu, left to fend for itself

Wasn't the Frank Skinner joke at the time - United win and send Hull down.

And.......[pedantic] It's aerial not ariel [/pedantic]

>> Edited by Tyre Smoke on Friday 11th November 14:30

[sybaseian]

www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/coverage.html


try this link - it's for digital. Just pop your postcode in and it gives you a compass bearing from you house to the nearest transmitter and what type of arial you need.

[TypeR]

Just remember that due to new Health and Safety regulations, you're not allowed to climb more than 2 metres on a ladder anymore. You'll need to go to your local tool hire shop to rent an access tower at enormous expense. Furthermore, due to new EU regulations concerning electrical wiring, you'll need to employ a sparky with all the current certification to move the aerial for you. Once you've paid the sparky, you'll need to arrange an appointment with a Council inspector to check that that aerial is mounted in accordance to current guidlines, and then you'll need to check the validity of your TV licence, just in case.
After that, you'll find that there's bog all worth watching, and the local Pikeys have probably nicked your telly anyway!!

[MilnerR]

Its a black art lining up an ariel. A few years ago i helped my dad with his ariel. It involved a lot of shouting through the window as to what the picture was like. After about an hour on a freezing roof i lost my temper and threw the ariel into the garden, at which point my dad shouted "hold it there, thats perfect!"

>> Edited by MilnerR on Saturday 12th November 10:43

[simpo two]

Teamwork. You rotate the aerial slowly shouting 'How's that, is that better?' while wifey looks at TV set set and says 'Better, worse, better, back a bit...'

[scared but happy]

Using PMR radios help or as stated before take a small portable up there.
Aligning a sat dish is fun to do without a meter. Just takes a bit of time.

[BliarOut]

We did mine using the house phone and the "better/worse" method and it worked a treat. Has your house phone got an intercom facility, that'll do the trick.