Which aerial for Dublin Loft? (Harold's Cross)

HappyHarry

Just moved house and terrestrial reception is terrible with set top aerial.

I need a loft or external aerial. I've already fit FreeSat with no problems, but am unsure of what aerial I need for terrestrial or if it will work well in the loft (I know it will need to be Wideband UHF).

I'm 9.5km from Three Rock and there isn't really anything tall between me and Three Rock except the houses across the road (same height as mine)

I'd much rather a loft antenna for convenience of installation, maintenance and aesthetics. But I want a very good signal so will go external if I have to.

My questions are:

1) Is a loft antenna likely to work well at this location or will the houses across the road cause a problem?

2) Will a larger or higher gain antenna and or a amp help make the loft more viable?

3) What antenna should I use for loft? If going external what antenna there?

4) If going external I'll need to mount on Apex of side wall or elevated from chimney on a pole, where can I get suitable mounting devices? Chimney is on opposite side of roof to 3rock, how high do I need to go above roof line?

5) There will be only 1 TV point connected to this, it will be 25m-30m away from the antenna, I will be using TX100 cable. Do I need an amp?

6) Where is the best place to buy the bits I need? I've used Vanjak in the past, but their website is playing up at the moment.


TIA

Sam Russell

If it is for DTT, then anything will work. If it is for analogue, any broadband will work. Group A is normally installed around Dublin, but strictly speaking, TG4 and DTT is out of band. I can get DTT on a bit of bent coathanger under the carpet in my conservatory on the far side of the house from 3Rock.

You will not need an amp except to distribute it to many TVs. Try without.

HappyHarry

Sam Russell wrote: »

If it is for DTT, then anything will work. If it is for analogue, any broadband will work. Group A is normally installed around Dublin, but strictly speaking, TG4 and DTT is out of band. I can get DTT on a bit of bent coathanger under the carpet in my conservatory on the far side of the house from 3Rock.

You will not need an amp except to distribute it to many TVs. Try without.

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the reply. It's not specifically for DTT, and yes the DTT reception is good sometimes with set top aerial but does get badly pixelated now and again - can go altogether sometimes. I get nothing at all on analogue - just the faintest wave through the snow when on the right channels.

Group A is 21-37 but TG4 is on 55 from 3 Rock and DTT is on 54, so I thought as I'm buying a new antenna I should get Wideband, is there a reason that Grp A would be a better idea?

I've been looking at the contract aerials online, seems very cheap at < €10 should I be looking at something better like a Yagi? If contract, is 10 element enough in the loft or should I go 18?

You'll get what you need in peats,just walk in pay and collect.
You might also get something in argos.

A wideband is the way to go for now.

In the loft it may improve your analogue reception but if your TV has an mpeg 4 decoder,you'll get RTE 1,2,TG4 and RTE news now in perfect quality.

It's possible with the loft aerial,that you may receive Kippure and possibly clermont carn aswell.
Stick with which ever is strongest.

Tv3 unfortunately won't be available on digital untill at least october 31st by the looks of things.
It is sometimes...but the RTENL engineers don't often put it on...probably because TV3 aren't paying.

yes a yagi.
A contract will be useless in the loft but would work well on the chimney.

HappyHarry

Thanks lads.

Got my hand on one of these set top aerials, and DTT is perfect and analogue is pretty watchable.

I've also got a Yagi so will be sticking that in the loft when I can borrow a long ladder.

strongman

@HappyHarry
Where did you buy this setup aerial.

bmaxi

strongman wrote: »

@HappyHarry
Where did you buy this setup aerial.

I've seen them in Maplins, but you may get them in Power City or the like.

Finne1993

Deleted User wrote: »

yes a yagi.
A contract will be useless in the loft but would work well on the chimney.

I beg to differ, I live in North Louth and I have 2 contract aerials in my loft, one picks up the Kilkeel and Greenore transmitters (unamplified) and the other picks up Kippure/Three Rock (amplified) All channels crystal clear and DTT signal from Kippure and Three Rock always at 95-100%. I might also add I'm not situated at any great height.

HappyHarry

strongman wrote: »

@HappyHarry
Where did you buy this setup aerial.

Sorry for the delay in replying haven't checked here in a while.
I got this one from Vanjak, but was buying other stuff too, they may not want to send just 1 of those. It was about €5, I've seen similar listed in Maplins but they didn't have any when I looked.

HappyHarry

Thanks guys.

I just installed the aerial and cable this morning. It works great.

I got a Triax Supergain 18W Aerial, it's probably way overkill, but wasn't expensive and gives crystal picture. I haven't even put any effort into aligning the aerial as yet.

I'm guessing that I won't need an amp if I decide to split it later on.
Analogue looks better that I've ever seen anywhere, it looks as good as DTT to me. If anything the DTT picture looks a bit softer to me... but maybe that's my imagination. DTT Quality and Strength are both locked at 10.

Thanks for your help.

lucernarian

Good stuff. At least your good analogue TV3 reception can make up for the test card that's currently displayed on digital should you wish to follow the Champions' League!