Recommend me a Decent Freeview Aerial
Discussion
So, I've moved into Uni and for the last few F1 races I've had to set the TV up in the kitchen because my room doesn't have an aerial plug in the wall, and I can't get a good signal with the indoor aerial I have got, which is this one http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=11512... Now, I'm fed up of having to watch the F1 in the kitchen because one of the flatmates is an inconsiderate tit, who comes in and asks me a billion questions about it and then decides he'll sit there and play bagpipes or give me a religious lecture, so naturally I want to get the TV working in my room. But with this aerial supposedly being a good one, but not working at all really (I can get BBC1 only just, but it keeps breaking up, and thats with the aerial pointing out of the window), so what should I do? Anyone recommend a good aerial that will pick up all the channels, but is able to fit in my tiny prison cell "lovely" student accommodation?
Interested as well, as I live in a shared house and have the same problem, it's all about how you angle the aerial, sometimes I get a good signal with it pointed one way, 1cm differences results in nothing being detected, is there a meter you can buy to determine strength or some logic to where the best reception will be?
t84 said:
Interested as well, as I live in a shared house and have the same problem, it's all about how you angle the aerial, sometimes I get a good signal with it pointed one way, 1cm differences results in nothing being detected, is there a meter you can buy to determine strength or some logic to where the best reception will be?
I think there might be one in Argos here but it's something like £65, don't really want to spend that much on something I'll be using for <1 minute. I've tried angling the aerial all over the place but the only way it works is out of the open window, and even then as I say, BBC1 is the only channel I get, albeit very fuzzy/broken up.It's far less to do with the actual aerial and a lot more to do with where you put it.
For a start, determine which transmitter you are receiving from and what group of channels it uses - I think that's called a "band". You will get a better reception from an aerial that is designed for your band rather that one which is designed for all.
Then buy a couple of brackets, a mast and stick the damn thing as high as you can OUTSIDE, or at least in the loft. Every item between your aerial and the transmitter will attenuate your signal.
Maplin used to do some natty splitters too, sometimes with built-in amps, so you could provide each bedroom and the lounge with a signal. We wired up our student accommodation like this. It doesn't cost much, especially if you can divvy the costs amongst all in the house.
For a start, determine which transmitter you are receiving from and what group of channels it uses - I think that's called a "band". You will get a better reception from an aerial that is designed for your band rather that one which is designed for all.
Then buy a couple of brackets, a mast and stick the damn thing as high as you can OUTSIDE, or at least in the loft. Every item between your aerial and the transmitter will attenuate your signal.
Maplin used to do some natty splitters too, sometimes with built-in amps, so you could provide each bedroom and the lounge with a signal. We wired up our student accommodation like this. It doesn't cost much, especially if you can divvy the costs amongst all in the house.
paolow said:
Thanks I'll look into that oneMars said:
It's far less to do with the actual aerial and a lot more to do with where you put it.
For a start, determine which transmitter you are receiving from and what group of channels it uses - I think that's called a "band". You will get a better reception from an aerial that is designed for your band rather that one which is designed for all.
Then buy a couple of brackets, a mast and stick the damn thing as high as you can OUTSIDE, or at least in the loft. Every item between your aerial and the transmitter will attenuate your signal.
Maplin used to do some natty splitters too, sometimes with built-in amps, so you could provide each bedroom and the lounge with a signal. We wired up our student accommodation like this. It doesn't cost much, especially if you can divvy the costs amongst all in the house.
One problem, we don't have a loft For a start, determine which transmitter you are receiving from and what group of channels it uses - I think that's called a "band". You will get a better reception from an aerial that is designed for your band rather that one which is designed for all.
Then buy a couple of brackets, a mast and stick the damn thing as high as you can OUTSIDE, or at least in the loft. Every item between your aerial and the transmitter will attenuate your signal.
Maplin used to do some natty splitters too, sometimes with built-in amps, so you could provide each bedroom and the lounge with a signal. We wired up our student accommodation like this. It doesn't cost much, especially if you can divvy the costs amongst all in the house.
and I don't think the accommodation people will take kindly to us whacking a huge aerial on the outside. We did consider putting a 6 way splitter and a hell of a lot of coaxial cable in the kitchen. I was very suprised that there was a coaxial plug in the kitchen but not in our rooms.dpbird90 said:
One problem, we don't have a loft and I don't think the accommodation people will take kindly to us whacking a huge aerial on the outside.
Obviously I don't know what kind of place you live in, but some landlords might be OK with it if you did it neatly and offered to leave it there when you left. Naturally if you live in some area of "beauty" or of architectural interest, then I can see why it wouldn't go down well. and I don't think the accommodation people will take kindly to us whacking a huge aerial on the outside.dpbird90 said:
We did consider putting a 6 way splitter and a hell of a lot of coaxial cable in the kitchen. I was very suprised that there was a coaxial plug in the kitchen but not in our rooms.
We surface mounted ours (ran it along the skirting) because we always planned to take it with us to the next student house. We left the house exactly as we found it (which wasn't pretty to start with 
).Mars said:
dpbird90 said:
One problem, we don't have a loft and I don't think the accommodation people will take kindly to us whacking a huge aerial on the outside.
Obviously I don't know what kind of place you live in, but some landlords might be OK with it if you did it neatly and offered to leave it there when you left. Naturally if you live in some area of "beauty" or of architectural interest, then I can see why it wouldn't go down well. and I don't think the accommodation people will take kindly to us whacking a huge aerial on the outside.dpbird90 said:
We did consider putting a 6 way splitter and a hell of a lot of coaxial cable in the kitchen. I was very suprised that there was a coaxial plug in the kitchen but not in our rooms.
We surface mounted ours (ran it along the skirting) because we always planned to take it with us to the next student house. We left the house exactly as we found it (which wasn't pretty to start with ).
thole, but they still don't want us putting anything up outside, apparantly the previous tenants got a right bking for trying to put a Sky dish up. At this rate does look like we'll be using a splitter, only problem is we have to get past a fire door which should be kept shut. mind you, next door drilled through the walls to put a darttboard up and the accommodation people don't seem to give a st, so there's a possibility.paolow said:
Checked this one out today, its less powerful than the one I already have. Looks like a 6 way splitter is becoming more likely. Just how do I get round the problem of 6 bits of coaxial cable needing to go through a fire door?look and see which way other peoples ariels are pointing.
use this as a start and then fine tune the position.
iv also found that making your own leads gives you far better quality than the crap the shops sell.
make the lead no longer than it has to be and make sure its not looping up.
use this as a start and then fine tune the position.
iv also found that making your own leads gives you far better quality than the crap the shops sell.
make the lead no longer than it has to be and make sure its not looping up.
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