Indoor Aerials

jolsen

Quick question, where is the best place to pick an indoor aerial? I have no idea about terrestrial tv (used to have sky and no aerial) and am going blind reading all here trying to figure it out. I 'think' it should be one of these: http://www.techtir.ie/saortv/saorview so any recommendations where to get one either online or bricks and mortar.

Cheers.

watty

Local Co-op, Euro bargain stores, Maplin.

Not Argos (Homebase = Argos)

Not Tesco

You could try this "log periodic" in B&Q. I have not tested it.
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9686693
£7 so maybe €10 here.

If an indoor aerial beside TV isn't good enough an amplifier is no use. An amplifier in the attic can help if you put an indoor aerial in attic.

Try also Expert brand Local TV shops (not very expert) http://www.expertireland.com/list.html

Don't beleive anything a Sales assistant in a shop tells you. Some are knowledgeable but how many Engineers or Technicians will be working for Tesco Checkout wages?

If it gets any harder to find a simple basic aerial rather than cosmetic aluminium foil, plastic and electronics I shall publish one that can be made of knitting needles.

Sam Russell

As Watty says, but where are you located and how far from the transmitter?

60% of people should be able to use an indoor aerial.

You can make one yourself from a coathanger.
1. Straighten out the coathanger to a long piece of wire.
2. Make a T shaped piece of wood 2 inches (5 cm) thick and twelve inches (30cm) along the top and 6 inches (15 cm) from the middle. The dimensions are not that critical as if they are, you need a better aerial.
3. Bend the wire around the piece of timber so it forms a T shape, with 2 inch gap in the middle of it.
4. Connect the coax to the end of the T piece, the solid centre to one side and the braid to the other, without shorting it out. Apply electrician tape, or selotape, to insulate and bind it.

That should work as good as most cheap aerials. If you use a connecting coax cable, it will have the connector on the end. Point towards the transmitter, keeping it horizontal if it is a main transmitter.

It is difficult to explain in words, but try it, it cost next to nothing.

12 element

Sam Russell wrote: »

As Watty says, but where are you located and how far from the transmitter?

60% of people should be able to use an indoor aerial.

You can make one yourself from a coathanger.
1. Straighten out the coathanger to a long piece of wire.
2. Make a T shaped piece of wood 2 inches (5 cm) thick and twelve inches (30cm) along the top and 6 inches (15 cm) from the middle. The dimensions are not that critical as if they are, you need a better aerial.
3. Bend the wire around the piece of timber so it forms a T shape, with 2 inch gap in the middle of it.
4. Connect the coax to the end of the T piece, the solid centre to one side and the braid to the other, without shorting it out. Apply electrician tape, or selotape, to insulate and bind it.

That should work as good as most cheap aerials. If you use a connecting coax cable, it will have the connector on the end. Point towards the transmitter, keeping it horizontal if it is a main transmitter.

It is difficult to explain in words, but try it, it cost next to nothing.

Would that be impedance matched? :pac:

Sam Russell

12 element wrote: »

Would that be impedance matched? :pac:

No not really. It depends on how it is constructed. The results are good in high signal areas. It is almost at the level of a joke, but it does work, and is as cheap as can be.

Try it and see. Let me know how you get on.:)

Tom Slick

A small,cheap outdoor aerial can be used indoors,if you can keep it out of harm's way/hide it.;)

steveq

I have an indoor aerial similar to the ones shown on the link and it works perfectly for DTT reception.

I also have an old 'rabbits ears' aerial sitting on a windowsill and attached to another TV in the house. Swapping between the two I can't detect any difference in signal strength or picture quality.

Rabbits Ears aerials can be bought in a Euro Shop for a couple of Euro and are worth a try. Actually, the rabbits ears sits on the windowsill far better than the other aerial as it is far less bulky, has a small footprint and doesn't get caught up in curtains, etc.

Ultimately, the quality of reception is based on your proximity to the transmitter and the obstructions in-between.

exaisle

watty wrote: »

If it gets any harder to find a simple basic aerial rather than cosmetic aluminium foil, plastic and electronics I shall publish one that can be made of knitting needles.

I saw one in Donegal years ago made from a bicycle wheel....was that one of yours too, Watty? ;-)

Sam Russell

exaisle wrote: »

I saw one in Donegal years ago made from a bicycle wheel....was that one of yours too, Watty? ;-)

That would be too revolutionary for Watty.:D

jolsen

Thanks for the replies. I haven't had a chance to pick one up or try make one as I've been stupidly busy the last couple of weeks.

I have a ton of noobish questions, so I'll probably try sort this out this week.