Advice on an antenna please...

Barack Obama

I've used this website http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/aerial-setup to get info for an outdoor antenna and this is the info it gave me. I'm in Leixlip and my nearest transmitter is Three Rock -
Muxes P1 - 54
B1 - 58
B2 - 61
B3 - 64 Direction 129° / ~ SE Polarization Horizontal Aerial Group C/D Distance 22km / 14miles

The first question is does the antenna need to be within line of sight - the house next door blocks the path!

I have a spare cable run to my satellite dish which I'm hoping can be used to connect the antenna. I need to get one that is as small\neat as possible so are any of these recommended?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/outdoor-digital-antenna-97488
http://www.maplin.co.uk/outdoor-digital-aerial-46230
http://www.maplin.co.uk/tri-fold-43-element-high-gain-digital-tv-aerial-221128

Or any others of course!! Thanks

Sam Russell

Just put an 8 inch length of stripped coax at the end of the cable.

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coax................................. 8 inches bare.

If the end is horizontal, it might help. Signal is strong, particularly outside and high up. Try it first.

The Cush

Barack Obama wrote: »

I've used this website http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/aerial-setup to get info for an outdoor antenna and this is the info it gave me. I'm in Leixlip and my nearest transmitter is Three Rock -
Muxes P1 - 54
B1 - 58
B2 - 61
B3 - 64 Direction 129° / ~ SE Polarization Horizontal Aerial Group C/D Distance 22km / 14miles

An RTÉNL coverage checker is now available - http://www.saorview.ie/make-the-switch/coverage-checker/

Barack Obama

Sam Russell wrote: »

Just put an 8 inch length of stripped coax at the end of the cable.

================

---

coax 8 inches bare.

If the end is horizontal, it might help. Signal is strong, particularly outside and high up. Try it first.

Cheers Sam - never thought of that! Surely corrosion is a worry tho?

Barack Obama

The Cush wrote: »

An RTÉNL coverage checker is now available - http://www.saorview.ie/make-the-switch/coverage-checker/

Just checked - thanks. I'm in a green zone alright and I've confirmed (with a compass) that I have line of sight to Three Rock.

I just need an ariel but I need it to be as small and neat as possible. I was hoping that one of the top two above would do the trick but I simply don't know.

Sam Russell

Barack Obama wrote: »

Cheers Sam - never thought of that! Surely corrosion is a worry tho?

Of course it is. But if a piece of wire works, you can do a better job of weather proofing it. If it does not, you buy an aerial.

Simples.

Peter Rhea

Barack Obama wrote: »

I just need an ariel but I need it to be as small and neat as possible. I was hoping that one of the top two above would do the trick but I simply don't know.

Something like this log periodic or this group C/D 'contract' aerial , or read here & make up your own mind . . .

L1011

I'm using the middle link one there ^ outdoors in Maynooth, works perfectly.

Charles Slane

The Cush wrote: »

An RTÉNL coverage checker is now available - http://www.saorview.ie/make-the-switch/coverage-checker/

According to that, in Beaumont I should be looking at Kippure and not Three Rock. Is that right?

The Cush

Charles Slane wrote: »

According to that, in Beaumont I should be looking at Kippure and not Three Rock. Is that right?

As the website states "Coverage shown is indicative only".

It simply indicates there is coverage in your area but that coverage could be provided by a number of transmitters but the site only indicates one transmitter.

Generally if you or your neighbours receive analogue TV from a particular transmitter they will also use that transmitter for DTT as the aerial will be in the same group.

If installing an aerial for the first time check with the neighbours/local installer for information regarding the best transmitter for your area. All transmitters are to increase power output between this May and the end of 2012 so you could have coverage from both Kippure and 3-Rock and others.

lucernarian

Beaumount? Unless there are some large buildings immediately to your south (e.g. a 5 story apartment block or the hospital) then a loft aerial should work fine.

Try the bare wire trick if you have the view of a south-facing window.

Gerry Wicklow

In Beaumount you should get Three Rock on a wet finger:)

Sam Russell

You should try the bare wire first. The signal for me in Ballsbridge is very strong.

lucernarian

Sure wire is free! Go for it. Only time I've had issues in an ordinary house was in a brand new build in Dublin where the walls had foil-backed insulation.

Peter Rhea

Charles Slane wrote: »

. . . in Beaumont I should be looking at Kippure and not Three Rock. Is that right?

You're looking at both anyway from there & they're on the same frequency, so it doesn't matter.