Digital TV aerials
Discussion
Thank you. I'd just had an "expert" round to try and make my reception better - he spoke as if "digital" aerials and "analogue" aerials were two different things. Basically because he wants me to pay £200 to have a new aerial fitted.
I think my problem might be as simple as a dodgy connection on the fitting on the end of the aerial cable.
I think my problem might be as simple as a dodgy connection on the fitting on the end of the aerial cable.
If you are in an area where the signal is not strong enough you can buy a new ariel that will give you more gain and has been optimised for a digital signal. It will of course still give you the analogue one 
You can buy a decent 50+ element ariel on e-bay for about £40 and upgrading your co-ax cable to the stuff used for Satellite systems all help. £200 might be OK if it involves climbing all over the roof, parts inc down cable etc.
You can buy a decent 50+ element ariel on e-bay for about £40 and upgrading your co-ax cable to the stuff used for Satellite systems all help. £200 might be OK if it involves climbing all over the roof, parts inc down cable etc.I might need a new aerial installing before the switchover next month, as we have no aerial points upstairs.
We live in an area where it's allegedly quite tricky to get a good 'view' of the transmitter, All my neighbours have huge aerials, some on massive poles. However, we get freeview in the lounge no problems with a normal looking aerial on a short pole. This makes me wonder if a lot of the time, big aerials and poles are just a good scam for getting a few extra quid out of the customer.
Is there some sort of trade body for aerial blokes that will at least give me some confidence that I'm getting someone who knows what they are doing?
We live in an area where it's allegedly quite tricky to get a good 'view' of the transmitter, All my neighbours have huge aerials, some on massive poles. However, we get freeview in the lounge no problems with a normal looking aerial on a short pole. This makes me wonder if a lot of the time, big aerials and poles are just a good scam for getting a few extra quid out of the customer.
Is there some sort of trade body for aerial blokes that will at least give me some confidence that I'm getting someone who knows what they are doing?
This site is worth a read, it's quite informative without going over the top with the technical jargon.
http://www.aerialsandtv.com/index.html
In essence though, as has already been said, an antenna is an antenna (Or aerial, take you pick what you call it). They are tuned to a specific range of frequencies though, so one optimised for radio won't be too good with TV etc. They also have gain, which is essentially just passive amplification (of the signal).
Digital signals are more sensitive to degredation of the aerial, connections, cable et al, and will reach a point where the signal effectively just stops, whereas an analogue signal on the same system will 'get through' although quite possibly with a significant loss of quality (but could still be useable, to a point).
A good quality aerial, properly fitted, with good components throughout the chain to your TV will cost a few quid, £200 doesn't seem bad IF the fitter uses quality stuff. CT100 Cable is quite cheap (less than a pound a metre I think), but is of very good quality in terms of signal loss (or lack of).
Having said that, the aerials I use for work are the size (and shape) of a packet of Polos (but white, not green!), and cost around £500 + VAT each, so what I think of as a reasonable price may well not be.
http://www.aerialsandtv.com/index.html
In essence though, as has already been said, an antenna is an antenna (Or aerial, take you pick what you call it). They are tuned to a specific range of frequencies though, so one optimised for radio won't be too good with TV etc. They also have gain, which is essentially just passive amplification (of the signal).
Digital signals are more sensitive to degredation of the aerial, connections, cable et al, and will reach a point where the signal effectively just stops, whereas an analogue signal on the same system will 'get through' although quite possibly with a significant loss of quality (but could still be useable, to a point).
A good quality aerial, properly fitted, with good components throughout the chain to your TV will cost a few quid, £200 doesn't seem bad IF the fitter uses quality stuff. CT100 Cable is quite cheap (less than a pound a metre I think), but is of very good quality in terms of signal loss (or lack of).
Having said that, the aerials I use for work are the size (and shape) of a packet of Polos (but white, not green!), and cost around £500 + VAT each, so what I think of as a reasonable price may well not be.
blueST said:
I might need a new aerial installing before the switchover next month, as we have no aerial points upstairs.
We live in an area where it's allegedly quite tricky to get a good 'view' of the transmitter, All my neighbours have huge aerials, some on massive poles. However, we get freeview in the lounge no problems with a normal looking aerial on a short pole. This makes me wonder if a lot of the time, big aerials and poles are just a good scam for getting a few extra quid out of the customer.
Is there some sort of trade body for aerial blokes that will at least give me some confidence that I'm getting someone who knows what they are doing?
Winter hill is getting a 10 fold increase in its power output at switchover, if i were you id wait until then before getting a new aerial, you could end up fitting a 50 element jobbie now to get reception only to find out you need to fit a big attenuator after switchover We live in an area where it's allegedly quite tricky to get a good 'view' of the transmitter, All my neighbours have huge aerials, some on massive poles. However, we get freeview in the lounge no problems with a normal looking aerial on a short pole. This makes me wonder if a lot of the time, big aerials and poles are just a good scam for getting a few extra quid out of the customer.
Is there some sort of trade body for aerial blokes that will at least give me some confidence that I'm getting someone who knows what they are doing?
blueST said:
I might need a new aerial installing before the switchover next month, as we have no aerial points upstairs.
We live in an area where it's allegedly quite tricky to get a good 'view' of the transmitter, All my neighbours have huge aerials, some on massive poles. However, we get freeview in the lounge no problems with a normal looking aerial on a short pole. This makes me wonder if a lot of the time, big aerials and poles are just a good scam for getting a few extra quid out of the customer.
Is there some sort of trade body for aerial blokes that will at least give me some confidence that I'm getting someone who knows what they are doing?
CAI...Are on eof the two approved bodies. Try and watch a rerun of Watchdog from tonight if you can!We live in an area where it's allegedly quite tricky to get a good 'view' of the transmitter, All my neighbours have huge aerials, some on massive poles. However, we get freeview in the lounge no problems with a normal looking aerial on a short pole. This makes me wonder if a lot of the time, big aerials and poles are just a good scam for getting a few extra quid out of the customer.
Is there some sort of trade body for aerial blokes that will at least give me some confidence that I'm getting someone who knows what they are doing?
I was just about to post a thread on this topic, but luckily found this thread.
Can anyone recommend a set up for the best possible digital signal/£? The aerial currently fitted is probably very old (as all the house fittings when we moved in are circa mid 70s). At some point in the next couple of years, I will be going HD anyway, but want to something for the interim.
Having read a few sites on aerials / cables etc. I am thoroughly confused. Some sites recommend log-periodic (a long straight) aerial, others recommend YAGI (??) type aerials (which have a reflector and multiple elements and then there seems to be several classes of these. To confuse matters further, it would seem from above that you can have too sensitive an aerial.
I'm going to get something professionally fitted, but would like to be forewarned about what kit they should be fitting so I don't get ripped off.
Can anyone recommend a set up for the best possible digital signal/£? The aerial currently fitted is probably very old (as all the house fittings when we moved in are circa mid 70s). At some point in the next couple of years, I will be going HD anyway, but want to something for the interim.
Having read a few sites on aerials / cables etc. I am thoroughly confused. Some sites recommend log-periodic (a long straight) aerial, others recommend YAGI (??) type aerials (which have a reflector and multiple elements and then there seems to be several classes of these. To confuse matters further, it would seem from above that you can have too sensitive an aerial.
I'm going to get something professionally fitted, but would like to be forewarned about what kit they should be fitting so I don't get ripped off.
There are a million types of Aerial because there are a million variables to take into account. A good Aerial installer will know exactly what to use, a bad one will just stick up some massive impressive looking thing. Get a local firm in and discuss it with them, different types and sizes are used in different applications, it really is to specialised to generalise on a forum.
headcase said:
There are a million types of Aerial because there are a million variables to take into account. A good Aerial installer will know exactly what to use, a bad one will just stick up some massive impressive looking thing. Get a local firm in and discuss it with them, different types and sizes are used in different applications, it really is to specialised to generalise on a forum.
Any tips for picking a good installer? 
Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff