DIY aerial install

PauloMN

I'm planning a DIY aerial installation for RTÉ and the UK channels and would appreciate some advice. I'm based in Trim, Co. Meath. I currently get pretty good analogue and perfect digital RTÉ from Clermont Carn using an old cheapo Maplin wideband beam which I currently have sitting in the attic space. Lots of houses around here have high gain beams for UK television, so I assume they can get decent analogue anyway. These appear to be setup for Divis based on the polarity and direction. I've no idea if anyone around here is currently getting the reduced power Freeview, but I'd like to avail of it when it goes full power.

I'm planning on getting a high gain group A something like this for the UK channels - this is one of a few that achieve the CAI benchmark standard 1:
http://abcaerials.ltd.uk/product.php?idx=367

For RTÉ etc., this one would do but I know these contract types are pretty poor, so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know:
http://abcaerials.ltd.uk/product.php?idx=30

Anyway I've a few questions:

I've noticed that one of the muxes for DTT from Divis is out of band i.e. not in group A. Is there any particular reason for this? Obviously it rules it out of the possible muxes I could receive using the group A aerial.

If I want to combine the RTÉ aerial and the high gain aerial to have just one downlead, can this single download then enter the masthead amp? I'm afraid of the very strong RTÉ signal overloading the masthead amp. Based on the current setup I have, an external aerial for RTÉ around here would not need a preamp but the BBC one obviously would.

Is there a good quality screened distribution amplifier that would also power the masthead amp? I'd be willing to pay for decent quality stuff rather than cheap stuff that would be susceptible to interference from other sources (mobiles, cordless phones, WiFi, video senders, amateur radio - I have the lot!).

Coax - is genuine CT100 the recommended cable to use for all of this - downleads and internal distribution? Any specific recommendations?

Any good sources in the Republic for these aerials and coax, also chimney lashing equipment and other general accessories?

Sam Russell

The Irish DTT will proberbly be strong enough to come in the back of you high gain Divis aerial. Try the DX first and see what you get as far as the Irish DTT.

PauloMN

Sam Russell wrote: »

The Irish DTT will proberbly be strong enough to come in the back of you high gain Divis aerial. Try the DX first and see what you get as far as the Irish DTT.

Will try that. Suppose I can just reuse the Maplin piece of crap for RTÉ anyway if I need to.

emaherx

I live between Navan and Trim.

I have an 80 element wideband Aerial with mast head amp mounted in the attic pointed at Divis. I have near perfect reception of all analog stations from NI except channel 5 which varys from unwatchable to not bad depending on weather.

RTE1/2/TV3/TG4 come in clear in digital and analog on the same aerial on several frequency's. With those coming from Claremont Cairn being strongest.

Also get occasional Reception of Freeview, but its not reliable (yet). you may have more luck with an outdoor Aerial depending on your elevation / line of sight.

I suspect that you should be fine with a single wideband Aerial and mast head amp.

You should not really use a distribution amp along with a mast head amp. more than one amp in the system may cause problems. Insted opt for a fairly high gain masthead amp and a splitter with power pass on one of the outputs.

PauloMN

That's good news that you can get near perfect analogue with an attic aerial. I'm planning to put mine outside - the house is elevated enough to have a clear path north (no high trees or buildings near me in that direction).

I already have a wideband amp, so for the moment I think I'll just get the new aerial, some coax and the mounting hardware and take it from there.

HappyHarry

PauloMN wrote: »

Coax - is genuine CT100 the recommended cable to use for all of this - downleads and internal distribution? Any specific recommendations?

Any good sources in the Republic for these aerials and coax, also chimney lashing equipment and other general accessories?

I've used Triax TX100 for both Sat and Terestial with great success. AFAIK it's Triax's name for CT100.

I've gotten two lots of stuff from Vanjak, found them great in terms of price, delivery price and speed.

Good luck with your install, I'll be doing something similar on south east coast soon.

cauliflower69

In Co. Galway, I have pulled in perfect freeview from a High Gain Band A aerial and contract B aerial (Cairn Hill) with A/B combiner with the thruleg on A.

I cant get all channels as afaik some are outside Band A.

Sponge Bob

You must be very east/northeast Galway though

PauloMN

HappyHarry wrote: »

I've used Triax TX100 for both Sat and Terestial with great success. AFAIK it's Triax's name for CT100.

I've gotten two lots of stuff from Vanjak, found them great in terms of price, delivery price and speed.

Good luck with your install, I'll be doing something similar on south east coast soon.

Well Vanjak are no use to me, trade only they say.

Satdog

PauloMN wrote: »

Well Vanjak are no use to me, trade only they say.

Vanjak are not trade only. You can register and when you are finished shopping and you go to the "check out" it will ask if you have a vat no., if you don't then vat is charged as a non trade customer..

PauloMN

Satdog wrote: »

Vanjak are not trade only. You can register and when you are finished shopping and you go to the "check out" it will ask if you have a vat no., if you don't then vat is charged as a non trade customer..

I registered about a week ago and got a phone call yesterday evening from them telling me they are trade only.

I did find it strange that they had an option during registration for "Rep. of Ireland - no VAT #" or similar, but then they ring me to tell me they can't sell to me.

Recession my arse.

Satdog

PauloMN wrote: »

I registered about a week ago and got a phone call yesterday evening from them telling me they are trade only.

I did find it strange that they had an option during registration for "Rep. of Ireland - no VAT #" or similar, but then they ring me to tell me they can't sell to me.

Recession my arse.

The only reason I posted was that I was so sure. I only registered with them last month and got a delivery two weeks ago to Wexford.

PauloMN

Satdog wrote: »

The only reason I posted was that I was so sure. I only registered with them last month and got a delivery two weeks ago to Wexford.

I'm not doubting you at all! I registered after I read HappyHarry's post above as I was having trouble finding suppliers for stuff in Ireland. I got a call yesterday from a lady there who asked me was I in the trade. I said no, I'm a DIYer and she said they were trade only.

She also said it was clear from their website that it's trade only. Wasn't clear to me - otherwise I'd not have bothered registering!

Anyway maybe they're changed their policy recently about dealing with the public. Well for them, I'll have to go elsewhere.