Advice needed

MenloPete

Apologies if this has been asked before - I live in a low lying area near Galway city. I need to combine VHF and UHF signals to get all the Irish channels (from Mahera). I also want to feed two different rooms. I have very poor reception currently and am replacing my aerials. I have a masthead preamp currently, but presumably due to splitting the signal between rooms, the results are not satisfactory.
Any advice on what to install to get this right once and for all?

Thanks...

lucernarian

You'd need a VHF/UHF combiner, CT100 cable - as much as you need and more, and a 2 way distribution amp like those done by Fringe electronics. We have a 9 dB fringe amp which does a good job of providing the existing aerial around the house.

I'm not sure what the scéal is with regards to masthead amps. I would expect that you need one, except that most amps are just for UHF.

Someone else would need to advise on that.

cast_iron

Yuo could go for the distribution amp suggested above. It need a socket where they are to be split though.
Another option is to buy an inline type splitter (similar to a diplexor). It draws power off your power supply and can go in or outside.

Your pre-amp may be gone, maybe the aerila s are knackered - hard to say what's at fault.

lucernarian

Would that inline type splitter not make it impossible to use a masthead amp?

cast_iron

To_be_confirmed wrote:

Would that inline type splitter not make it impossible to use a masthead amp?

No, it allows the power to pass through to the pre-amp.

Link.

MenloPete

Well, I started again with new aerials, new cable, new Televes masthead amp and power unit which also splits the signal to two outlets - result not much better than I had previously. The UHF aerial is a little 8 element one. I get good reception at odd locations around the house (for instance, at the windowsill level) but it doesn't improve on the rooftop. I'm wondering if I really need a higher gain aerial and if so what would you recommend?

lucernarian

I'm pretty suprised that there's little difference. What's between you and Maghera? And I understand that you have two aerials and the proper combiner, so I'm not sure what can be done in that regard. What do the neighbours have? Do they have perfect reception?

This bit is all common sense, but just for the record, try to avoid any trees or buildings in the way. The best position is where you can see the furthest distance to Maghera.

There's also the remote chance of getting TV from Cairn Hill (to the east), though that would need a Group B or wideband aerial. You could try it if your 8-element aerial has a black cap at the end of it.


Cast_iron, what I was wondering was if you could get diplexers powered by the co-axial and a PSU at the end, like a masthead amp. And I only know of one thing being powered by a PSU at any one time, for domestic aerials.

ethernet

I receive my terrestrial TV from Maghera also.

The usual routine in my area is the separate UHF [8-element C band; not wideband] and VHF aerials [about 5 elements]. VHF is strong enough where I am but the masthead amp is on the UHF. 20 dB does the job nicely even though you'd be better off if you could attenuate it as it can overload a bit otherwise during the seasons.

MenloPete, you say your reception is poor. Is the picture grainy or do you see ghosting? Good sample images here.

cast_iron

To_be_confirmed wrote:

Cast_iron, what I was wondering was if you could get diplexers powered by the co-axial and a PSU at the end, like a masthead amp. And I only know of one thing being powered by a PSU at any one time, for domestic aerials.

The diplexers don't draw any power themselves (though sometimes the power must pass through them and a modification must be made).

But both the splitter and the amp can run off the PSU. They are essentially connected in parallel, therefore the voltage across them is equal. The PSUs can usually give 100mA and the total current drawn from both should be well under 100mA.

One leg of the splitter allows the power to pass through to the amp.

lucernarian

If the splitter/diplexer doesn't draw any power itself, how will it be running off the PSU??

MenloPete

@Ethernet:
My UHF signal is grainy. By positioning the aerial in certain particular (unacceptable) positions it is good to excellent.
My VHF, I haven't played with as much, but I notice RTE2 has herringbone patterns and RTE1 looks like it's raining with lines through at 45 degrees.

ethernet

MenloPete wrote:

@Ethernet:
My UHF signal is grainy. By positioning the aerial in certain particular (unacceptable) positions it is good to excellent.
My VHF, I haven't played with as much, but I notice RTE2 has herringbone patterns and RTE1 looks like it's raining with lines through at 45 degrees.

How unacceptable is this position for the UHF antenna? Both antennae will be facing the same general direction. How far apart are the antennae? What type of cable are you using?

Sponge Bob

will this rig survive the new bridge pete or should you just get a mast or a sky sub ??

cast_iron

To_be_confirmed wrote:

If the splitter/diplexer doesn't draw any power itself, how will it be running off the PSU??

Actully yes, the splitter doesn't actually draw power. It only allows it to pass through (diplexer does same).

Personally, I see no reason that could prevent a splitter that could draw power to be used.