FAQ: Analogue, DTT, Aerials

warlikedave

warlikedave wrote: »

Have decided to go with this aerial - ordered and hopefully will have it soon

http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/60285-aerial-43-element-f-conn-digi-343-triax.html

Shall let you know how i get on with it

Have it up and running in a temporary position on the east wall of the house....signal has improved somewhat but the following mux keeps fading out:

PSB2
D3+4
Maximum64QAM 8k 2/3
24Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG220,000

3 ITV 1 (ITV Wales), 4 S4C, 5 Channel 5 Part Network ads, 6 ITV 2, 8 Channel 4 South ads, 13 Channel 4+1 South ads, 14 More 4, 33 ITV 1 +1 (ITV Wales), 102 Rabbit, 103 Gay Rabbit,
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C46+ (674.2MHz)

Its only a temp test setup so i might not have the aerial in the best place...the best mux the the PSB1 which is almost always viewable with the new ariel. Media Centre is rubbish for providing accurate signal quality.

COM 4-6 (COM 5 is non existant) are more prone to fading in and out but that doesnt bother me too much - PSB2 is important (for rugby world cup especially :P ). PSB3 i cant test since i dont have a DVB-T2 tuner yet for my PC

Overall the ariel has certainly improved things but I need mount it higher and get a proper digital meter for better allignment. Saorview is coming in at 738mhz Mux1 and 770mhz mux 2 (future services) - think thats kippure so thats an added bonus

Update - all freeview channels seem to be coming in nice and strong now even on the lower powered COM muxes ( COM 5 is still missing however)

Thanks again for your help folks

Vince Cable

warlikedave wrote: »

Question though - how does it compare to the 12 element 12db one i have in terms of db gain? . . . Im just wanting to learn how to properly compare ariels by the values provided on sites

Worth reading this article & the rest of the site too, even if you've already bought your aerial.

Vince Cable

warlikedave wrote: »

Im leaning towards the wideband at the moment

Just curious, what exactly is your understanding of 'wideband'?

warlikedave

Vince Cable wrote: »

Just curious, what exactly is your understanding of 'wideband'?

It recieves channels 21 to 69 while group specific ariels can only recieve a small certain set of channels in comparison. Is there anything else that is different between wideband aerials and group specific aerials?

Vince Cable

That's pretty much it.

warlikedave

Quick question btw - rumour has it that all the main freeview transmitters will go up to 100 kWatts in late 2012 (thier PSBs at present run at 20 kWatts for the most part). Can anyone clarify this and will this increase signal quality in the overspill areas in any noticable way?

I know its a bit off topic but it is certainly something relvent in regards to future setup of aerials in freeview overspill areas in our fair republic plus in regards to mount leinster and welsh dtt co-channel interferrence

Peter Rhea

Where did you get this 'rumour' (it's nonsense btw)?

warlikedave

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Where did you get this 'rumour' (it's nonsense btw)?

I read it on digital spy forum somewhere - ill try and find the link. Also spotted on another site but I need to find that link again - its not confirmed on any official site however :P There is mention of Divis been powered up to 100kW as well on boards.


mrdtv2010
Registered User

Drogheda will be buried by a 100kW omni service from a station like Divis, with its new much higher mast now under construction, outside its immediate service area. RTENL should rechannel this station to use Brougher's frequencies as there will be no CCI. However the longer things go on the more I think anything other than a 1 Mux Irish DTT service is DOA. It will also antagonise Divis analogue viewers in the runup to 2012: but RTENL are masters at own goal after own goal of late...

Ive just started looking into this anyways but ive found no official report or site saying that we will see UK PSBs @ 100kW....just curious to see if anyone here knows any more about this

The Cush

warlikedave wrote: »

Quick question btw - rumour has it that all the main freeview transmitters will go up to 100 kWatts in late 2012 (thier PSBs at present run at 20 kWatts for the most part). Can anyone clarify this and will this increase signal quality in the overspill areas in any noticable way?

I know its a bit off topic but it is certainly something relvent in regards to future setup of aerials in freeview overspill areas in our fair republic plus in regards to mount leinster and welsh dtt co-channel interferrence

These Ofcom switchover documents include the present and planned power for the UK transmitters - http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/transmitternetwork/tools__and__resources/ofcom_information

Transmitter power is subject to ITU and bilateral agreements with neigbouring countries - Ireland, France, Belgium, Holland.

warlikedave

The Cush wrote: »

These Ofcom switchover documents include the present and planned power for the UK transmitters - http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/transmitternetwork/tools__and__resources/ofcom_information

Transmitter power is subject to ITU and bilateral agreements with neigbouring countries - Ireland, France, Belgium, Holland.

Thank you kind sir Looks like Preseli is to remain at 20kW

lucernarian

warlikedave wrote: »

Quick question btw - rumour has it that all the main freeview transmitters will go up to 100 kWatts in late 2012 (thier PSBs at present run at 20 kWatts for the most part). Can anyone clarify this and will this increase signal quality in the overspill areas in any noticable way?

I know its a bit off topic but it is certainly something relvent in regards to future setup of aerials in freeview overspill areas in our fair republic plus in regards to mount leinster and welsh dtt co-channel interferrence

Several of the main TX sites in the UK will have the 3 public muxes broadcasting at 100kW ERP but definitely not all of them. Many others will be at 20kW for example, like Brougher Mountain and Limavady.

Vince Cable

warlikedave wrote: »

Quick question btw - rumour has it that all the main freeview transmitters will go up to 100 kWatts in late 2012

Go up to 100 kW? That would be a large drop in power for the likes of switched-over Crystal Palace, Sutton Coldfield, Rowridge, Belmont, Sandy Heath, Emley Moor which will all have erps well in excess of 100 kW.

Peter Rhea

warlikedave wrote: »

. . . There is mention of Divis been powered up to 100kW as well on boards.

Typically, the digital broadcasts are set at 1/5 the erp of the analogue (Divis analogue is 500 kW) but afaik, analogue levels are peak power while cofdm levels are given as an average & can be significantly higher if multiple 'carriers' within the overall cofdm symbol bandwidth combine in phase or somesuch . . .

Vince Cable

warlikedave wrote: »

I read it on digital spy forum somewhere - ill try and find the link. Also spotted on another site but I need to find that link again - its not confirmed on any official site however :P There is mention of Divis been powered up to 100kW as well on boards.

There is mention of it in various places, there are better sources for this kind of thing than the reception 'predictions' of mrdtv.

warlikedave

Vince Cable wrote: »

There is mention of it in various places, there are better sources for this kind of thing than the reception 'predictions' of mrdtv.

Hence why I asked for more reliable info via this thread on boards by asking for clarification about the bits and pieces I mentioned

FYI mrtv got his "prediction" correct for Divis :P Still I did say romour aka unverified opinions :P I couldnt find the links to the other articles but is was only forum based conjecture (probably digital spy forums if I remember correctly)

mdfire

Have the Saorview in about 4 weeks now and orginally I was getting 90% signal quality, 85% intensity. Have had a problem over the weeks when trying to watch HD transmissions, particularly sport with the picture freezing periodically.

Heavy rain tonight and signal intensity is down to 78% and the freezing, on all DTT is so bad I had to turn off and watching Ireland game on RTE website.

My installer put in a normal 10 element wideband aerial and new masthead amp etc. The aerial is in the attic. Is this an aerial issue? Would putting a high gain aerial improve the situation, or does the aerial need to go out on the roof?

The Cush

mdfire wrote: »

My installer put in a normal 10 element wideband aerial and new masthead amp etc. The aerial is in the attic. Is this an aerial issue? Would putting a high gain aerial improve the situation, or does the aerial need to go out on the roof?

I'd go with aerial on the roof. Mentioned it here previously.

mdfire

Signal intensity rock solid at 84% and quality 90% this morning. Its difficult to get an aerial on the roof. Question remains would a better aerial improve on these?

NUTZZ

mdfire wrote: »

Signal intensity rock solid at 84% and quality 90% this morning. Its difficult to get an aerial on the roof. Question remains would a better aerial improve on these?

Can you check the signal you're receiving on the the box or do you need a meter? I just bought one of the Bush HD STB's and can't see any info on it regarding my signal quality and intensity, I'd love to know what I'm getting!

Booms

Press Menu
Then select Setup, Installation and Manual Search.
Then Channel Search.

Page shows present channel number and its sig quality and strength.

Just hit menu to exit without scanning.

NUTZZ

Booms wrote: »

Press Menu
Then select Setup, Installation and Manual Search.
Then Channel Search.

Page shows present channel number and its sig quality and strength.

Just hit menu to exit without scanning.

Nice one, thanks for that!

mdfire

Swapped out the 10 element aerial for an 18 element one I got for £13 in Newry yesterday. Doesnt change the readings but it does seem to have stopped the freezing of the picture. Raining hard and pretty windy outside and it does not seem to be affecting the signal. Fingers crossed.

lucernarian

Are you certain you've found the best spot in the attic for hanging the aerial? Reception can vary widely within an attic and things like leaving it on the floor/rafters of the attic will severely reduce performance compared to suspending the aerial or fixing it to a pole etc.

mdfire

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Are you certain you've found the best spot in the attic for hanging the aerial? Reception can vary widely within an attic and things like leaving it on the floor/rafters of the attic will severely reduce performance compared to suspending the aerial or fixing it to a pole etc.

Its in the position the installer put it, so I guess he knew what he was at. Its also on a bracket and pole so not sitting on the floor

Strange thing is, he has it pointing almost SE whereas I would have though it would go south. Others in the area are pointing south.

Vince Cable

mdfire wrote: »

Raining hard and pretty windy outside and it does not seem to be affecting the signal.

Why would it? Are there trees in the signal path?

Is it receiving Saorview on UHF channel 54?

mdfire

Yes there are trees.

Yes its receiving soarview channel 54.

Spoke too soon, last 15 mins of AI final unwatchable due to freezing. Phoning installer in the morning to put on roof.

halkar

I got one of those 48 element Aldi aerial. I will be putting on the loft but not picking good signal. My rabbit ears have much better reception. :rolleyes:
What am I doing wrong or this aerial no good?

Peter Rhea

Useful guide to loft installs here.

Elmo

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056490789

Charlie-Bravo

1. What's the difference between DVB-T1, Saorview & DVB-T2 and where does MHEG5 feature in all of these?

2. And more precisely, what spec is Freeview , Saorview and Freeview HD using?

3. Does Freeview have MHEG5 for their teletext? If not, does Freeview HD?