TV Aerial for 18 TV Points

BMD

Hi,

I have my house wired for 18 TV points (I have a minimum of two coax points in each room). The 18 coax cables and 4 from the aerial/dish point in the attic are fed back to a central point in my utility room.

I just want terestrial tv (rte, bbc, utv etc.). I am based near the border so it is usually no problem receiving these.

Could someone please advise me on what equipment I need to set this us.

I assume I need an aerial and a distribution box. My question is really in relation to the distribution box. Most of these seem to have a maximum of 8 ports. What do I do to accomodate my 22 coax cables?

cast_iron

Terrestrial aerial only needs one cable to be used at each tv.
So you will only need to feed 9 points...since there is 2 per point and 18 cables, unless the main tv point has even more cables?

Something like this should do the job. It's good for 10 tv points.

BMD

Thanks,

Can you advise on what I should look out for when buying 1) An Aerial and 2) A distributor/amplifier?

Also what are the main steps I need to follow in setting up a tv aerial and what equipment do I need to trace the coax cables?

Where is the best place to get this equipment

cast_iron

Your aerial will depend entirely on where you live, and what the signal is like in that area. Where do you live? Best to consult a local tv shop for advice on that imo.
If you only want aerial to each tv, then the distribution box I linked to will do the job. Linking sky and satellite through it will require more thought to be put in to choosing it.

As for sorting the cables out, a simple multimeter to "bell" them out would be easiest. short out the 2 cores at the remote end and find the short with the meter. Then mark appropriately.

BMD

Thanks for this.

On the multimeter, do I need some type of remote multimeter? Could you send me a link to such a product

heffo500

Hi

I would check them prices of those proreception amps elsewhere because a normal 10 way on there is priced at €99. When I bought this exact one I get it for €10-€20 at most including psu.

This is the one I'm talking about:
http://www.satellitetv.ie/shop/index.php?controller=product&path=32&product_id=225

I would be more inclined to go for a triax as the build quality is better. I would connect a satellite dish to the multiswitch even are just using freeview as it gives the option of sky or freesat at a later date.

NewHillel

heffo500 wrote: »

Hi

I would check them prices of those proreception amps elsewhere because a normal 10 way on there is priced at €99. When I bought this exact one I get it for €10-€20 at most including psu.

This is the one I'm talking about:
http://www.satellitetv.ie/shop/index.php?controller=product&path=32&product_id=225

I would be more inclined to go for a triax as the build quality is better. I would connect a satellite dish to the multiswitch even are just using freeview as it gives the option of sky or freesat at a later date.

I don't understand this post.

1. What exactly did you get for €10-€20? Where?
(The Proception unit appears to be good value, to me.)
2. The OP referred to terrestrial Tv, only. Why is a satellite dish required.
3. If a satellite dish is required, why would the Sky Amplifier be better?
(The Proception unit has an LNB input, and it doesn't.)
4. What Multiswitch?

BMD

Ok, I have everything set up but my reception isn't good. I have checked all my connections (to the best of my knowledge) and everything looks of.

What can I do to get good reception? Just keep turning the aerial and get some to shout up at me when it looks ok.

There is good reception in the area and I have my aerial pointed in a similar direction to other houses.

Are there tools a TV aerial installer would use to find the best reception?

cast_iron

BMD wrote: »

Are there tools a TV aerial installer would use to find the best reception?

A signal meter. They are expensive.

Are you trying to get digital or analogue tv?
What sort of aerial are you using?
Where are you located?
Have you terminated the connections properly?
How did you distribute the signal to all the rooms?

I could go on but these questions are most relevant.

heffo500

NewHillel wrote: »

I don't understand this post.

1. What exactly did you get for €10-€20? Where?

I got the one that I link in my post.
(The Proception unit appears to be good value, to me.)
2. The OP referred to terrestrial Tv, only. Why is a satellite dish required.

I thought would useful to put in now in case the op changed his mind at a later date and wanted freesat.
3. If a satellite dish is required, why would the Sky Amplifier be better?
(The Proception unit has an LNB input, and it doesn't.)

I didnt reccommnd that amp for sky that website is a bit misleading saying it is suitable for sky. it would only be suitable to distribute a sky box as a seperate channel to every tv in the house and for magic eyes.
4. What Multiswitch?
I said at the bottom of my post that I would recommend a triax multiswitch as they are better built.

Out of interest op what amp did you get?

Peter Rhea

heffo500 wrote: »

Out of interest op what amp did you get?

We'd still like to know what you got for your 10-20 quid.

BMD

Ok,

I have my aerials (one for RTE and one for BBC) set up. All connections checked and in order.

My reception for all UK channels is excellent (Aerial in attic pointed towards Divis transmitter in Belfast). I am also picking up all UK digital channels.

The RTE reception is not so good. I am getting good TV3 and TG4, poor RTE 1 and no RTE 2. Has anyone got any suggestions on how I might resolve this? Also I am getting RTE digital radio stations but no saor view.

My TV is digital but is there a reason why I might not be picking up saorview? My aerial (in the attic) is pointing towards a saorview transmitter in Monaghan.

All advice appreciated

Peter Rhea

Analogue RTE from Monaghan is in the VHF band, so your (presumably) UHF aerial will be wrong for this. Also, analogue TV3 is not transmitted from Monaghan so must be coming from somewhere else.

Your tv must be MPEG2-only if it receives radio channels but can't display picture (post the make & model).

Can you list the UHF/VHF channel nos. for the Irish analogue & digital services you're receiving?

Are your aerials grouped or wideband?

BMD

Thanks for all the help.

Irish Analogue Channels
RTE1 - Channel 40
TV3 - Channel 46 and 60 (best reception on 60)
TG4 - Channel 50 and 63 (best reception on 63)
Rte Radio Channels on Digital 201 to 209

My television is a Panasonic TX-32LMD70. I have no problem viewing UK digital channels (ITV3 and 4, BBC News etc.)

Based on the saorview website, the Monaghan transmitter has been activated for saorview, therefore should I not be able to be receive this or is my telly the problem?

I also have the option of pointing my aerial towards the Dundalk transmitter. Does this have analogue on UHF?

Regarding my aerial, I don't know whether it is wideband or grouped. How can I tell? I know the make is Televes but don't have the paperwork at hand to confirm the model number.

Does it make a difference whether my aerial is polarised vertical or horizontal if I am pointing at Monaghan or Dundalk?

Peter Rhea

Channels 40, 46 & 50 are from Cairn Hill in Longford, 60 & 63 are Truskmore (Sligo). 201-209 are not UHF channels, the entire Saorview lineup is currently on one UHF channel.

Monaghan, Cairn Hill & Truskmore are horizontally polarised, Clermont Carn (Dundalk) is vertical.

Where are you located? Does the Saorview coverage checker recommend the Monaghan transmitter?

If you can take a pic of the aerial it would help with identification but most Televes are wideband.

BMD

Hi,

Yes when I put in my address it recommends Monaghan.

Do you think my tv will support saorview?

At the moment my aerial is vertical, but I will try it horizontal based on your information below.

The information I gave you on my aerial was wrong. It is actualy Unix 52 C/D +W

Here is a link to show you an image

http://www.triax.ro/unix-52-c-d-w-108790.html

BMD

Hi,

It is a wideband aerial (http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/19491-unix-52-aerial-cdw-group-108790-triax.html). Is this a problem?

When I am checking my channels, how can I tell what channels are coming from where?

Lets assume that I cannot get analogue (UHF) from Monaghan. What is my best course of action. Continue adjusting my aerial with the hope of picking up all rte channels on UHF from Longford or Sligo?

If my TV is saorview compatible, should I be able to pick up saorview from monaghan if I mount my aerial horizontal?

I think my TV is MPEG 4 (http://www.afterdawn.com/products/product_details.cfm/5551/panasonic_tx-32lmd70)

Peter Rhea

The wideband aerial isn't a problem & will give you the widest choice of available transmitters. Not sure about the tv though, maybe ask in the terrestrial forum.

The fact that the radio stations are there means you are at least getting a signal. The UHF channel in use for Saorview can be found by clicking on the transmitter icons on the coverage map.

The analogue channels can be found here, but these will be switched off for good in less than a year from now. Cairn Hill & Clermont Carn are all-UHF for analogue. Truskmore & Monaghan are VHF for RTE.

BMD

I managed to get this sorted...perfect analogue reception and digital reception for both Irish and UK TV.

One final issue...I can get ITV and Channel 4 with analogue but can't get these on digital. Is this expected or is there something I can do (e.g., change aerial direction)??

I can get film4 and ITV 4 on digital