Maghera Aerials. Reception

construct06

Hi, ive just moved into my new house and set up my aerials, pointing at Maghera, i can see Maghera claerly, no obstructions. Ive placed my aerials in an upstairs room, close to tv and pointing at Maghera.

First i had a yellow aerial (uhf i think), which ive now found out was for Woodcock Hill. I got RTE 1, RTE 2 TV3 and TG4. But TV3, TG4 reception was very poor. RTE 1 and RTE 2 wasnt great either.

I changed this aerial to a green one and got a Band 111 VHF aerial aswell.

Now i can get TV3 and TG4 perfect, but RTE1 and RTE 2 not that good.

Anyone any ideas as to what im doing wrong?

Sponge Bob

UHF is V and VHF is H on maghera IIRC the VHF aerial should be ' flat on the ground' like and with the two prongs pointing towards Maghera . The green UHF would be 'standing on its end' with the mesh pointing at Maghera

construct06

Im getting ghosting with Rte 1 and 2, im using a tee to combine the two aerial cables, then into a booster, which is plugged in, and then cable from booster out to Tv.

I qonder do i have the proper aerials?

I think the green one is fine for TV3, TG4, but should i get RTE1 and 2 on the other aerial?

Sponge Bob

yes 1 and 2 are on vhf , that should be a H shape with the H lying on the ground and the 2 tips pointing to Maghera , swivel a bit around .

Antenna

Sponge Bob wrote:

UHF is V and VHF is H on maghera IIRC

Its the other way round

construct06, put your aerials in the attic. Use a VHF/UHF diplexer to combine them. Using a normal splitter might result in ghosts and interference as well as loss.

The Rods on the VHF(Band 3) aerial (for RTE1,2) are vertical, and the Rods for UHF (TV3,Tg4) are horizontal. Green Colour code is correct ("Group C/D")

Sponge Bob, the H type aerial you mention sounds like a 2 element Band 1 aerial, and Band 1 indeed was previously used for RTE1 from Maghera but that is long gone. You will still see old Horizontal Band 1 aerials in rooftops in that part of the country as a legacy, but of course they are not doing anything!

Mayo Exile

Im getting ghosting with Rte 1 and 2, im using a tee to combine the two aerial cables, then into a booster, which is plugged in, and then cable from booster out to Tv.

You would really want a proper UHF/VHF combiner, instead of a "tee" to prevent loss of signal. Is the "booster" a distribution amplifier to send a signal to one or more tv sets in your house? If it is, connect the two aerials into the relevant sockets of the combiner (if you wish to get one), and then run the single cable into your distribution amplifier/booster, and then to your tv.

Sponge Bob

oh bugger . Thy put a UHF transmitter near me when that band1 was switched off so I get them from there except TV3 which is maghera but I was sure the UHF is vertical.

Ulsterman 1690

Antenna is right

UHF (TV3 and TG4) from Maghera is Horizontal (as it is with all main transmitters except Claremont)
VHF (RTE 1 and 2) from Maghera is Vertical

construct06

THANKS FOR ADVICE GUYS, will try tonight, had a bad night, was really peeved off about the RTE reception, especially as i can actually see the Tower at Maghera!

where would i get a proper "UHF/VHF combiner"?

or maybe someone could post a link as to waht it looks like.

The VHF aerial is Band 111 LOG periodic by Antiference and there are 2 Mhz No's. on it that i cant remember.

I dont know if that information means anything

Mayo Exile

where would i get a proper "UHF/VHF combiner"?

or maybe someone could post a link as to waht it looks like.

Have a look at this pic:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Images/Products/size_3/MXMHST8U.JPG

Any typical VHF/UHF combiner should look roughly like this.

Any good local aerial installer should have these in stock and/or will give you advice about them.

construct06

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT LOOK MORE LIKE THIS:

http://i22.ebayimg.com/05/i/07/18/d2/d9_1_b.JPG

THIS WOULD BE MORE LIKE MY 'TEE'

Foggy43

Construct06
That looks to me like a Satellite / UHF VHF Combiner. You would need a Diplexer to combine your VHF and UHF Aerials and connect the output coax to the right hand 'F' socket. If you look closely if gives you the frequencies allowed. 0.15 to 860mhz will cover U and VHF.
The left socket will not. Satellite only.

It is a diplexer but not the one you want. Mayo Exile has the correct one.

One question I have is the terms Diplexer and Combiner. What are the differences

construct06

tried last night, by just plugging in the vhf aerial on its own and still reception not 100%. Maybe im not making off the connections right. Is there any INTERNET GUIDE/PICTURES of how connections are made off.

Foggy43

The Kippure transmitter in Wicklow also transmits RTE1 and 2 on the same frequencies as Maghera. I do not know your location or how high up you are but maybe someone else could confirm my suspicion of code channel interference?
Last night did you plug your aerial directly in to the back of the TV. No diplexers or combiners? There will be a small signal loss when you use a diplexer, combiner or splitter. Usually 4dbu.

Ulsterman 1690

co-channel interference is unlikely given that

1) Kippure is on a different polorisation
2) The OP lives within sight of Maghera

Foggy43

Ulsterman 1690!
You are probably right and looking at the opening question for this thread, 'the aerial in an upstairs room' probably answers the question.
For the best reception possible I would go for a chimney or outside wall bracket.

Ulsterman 1690

construct06 wrote:

tried last night, by just plugging in the vhf aerial on its own and still reception not 100%. Maybe im not making off the connections right. Is there any INTERNET GUIDE/PICTURES of how connections are made off.

http://www.megalithia.com/elect/bellinglee/

watty

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

http://www.megalithia.com/elect/bellinglee/

much better than my pictures of it.

Foggy43

Ulsterman 1690!
So that is how you are supposed to do it.
A web site like that is the last place I would expect to find this solution :eek:

Well done! I spent 30 minutes on Google trying to find something like that. The proper technical term may have helped

Galway

Construct06

where exactly are u located? it will give me any idea of signal strength u should be getting

construct06

thanx 4 de continued help guys, appreciated.

Galway, im in Sixmilebridge,

Just wondering, as i can see the mast at Maghera, is the signal strength the same in all directions and is it broadcast in all directions ?

Tried again last night with the aerial directly into back of Tv, and got RTE 1,2 good at last.

But i currently have the aerials on 2 chairs in my Walk in Wardrobe, which is the closest room upstairs to Maghera and with line of sight through window and plugged directly into tv.

But now if i want to hook things up properly, im worried ill lose quality, ill have to put the aerials in the attic, and at the opposite end of the house, furthest from Maghera. Well thats if i put aerials close to where all the aerials leads from the tv points are. I suppose i could put the aerials at one end of the attic and run cable back to other end..

Oh what a bit of planning could have done 4 me!

Galway

Put the aerials outside. wall or chimney. UHF at top, VHF under but spaced to avoid interference. Use a proper UHF/VHF combiner - johannson do a good one, try electrical factors crossagalla ind est limerick they are sure to have one of these or an equivalent. use proper shielded cable (foil wrap inside) and u should have no problems

You will be amazed what difference a proper, good outside installation will yield in term of picture quality and stability instead of muckin about danglin aerials inside the house or in a loft.

construct06

By the way, isnt

http://www.megalithia.com/elect/bellinglee/

an excellent tutorial for beginners, id suggest, it be put as a sticky along with pages, sort of like a glossary. So u could have a link to a combiner etc...