Connecting 2 uhf and 1 vhf aerial together

iqon66

Hi all and happy new year.
My first problem im faced with is to do with connecting 2 uhf and vhf aerial together.The first uhf aerial is for receiving bbc1,bbc2,utv and channel 4 the second uhf aerial if for saorview and the vhf is one for picking up rte1 and 2,This is a job im going doing for a man,He is using the uhf for saorview in the kitchen but he wants the bbcs,channel 4 utv rte1 and rte 2 in his bed room.The uhf saorview aerial on the roof has a diplexer connected so the uhf input is used up on that on so how many more diplexers do i need for to connect all 3 aerials together.Any help welcomed greatfully thanks guys.

Peter Rhea

Easy enough to do, provided the UHF channel groups from each transmitter don't overlap. Which transmitters are you receiving from?

iqon66

The uhf bbc etc aerial is group a ch21-37 for limavaddy transmitter northern ireland,The other uhf for saorview is a group c/d ch46-68 for truskmore transmitter co sligo and the vhf is pointed towards truskmore also.i have 2 extra diplexers so i want to use them up if possible just a bit confused how to connect them.

Peter Rhea

Limavady is group C/D. Maybe you're thinking of Brougher Mountain?

iqon66

Im sorry it is brougher mountain apologies ,the bbc aerial and vhf aerial were connected before but not now just the uhf aerial for saorview is in a diplexer so how do i go about connecting all together,

Peter Rhea

You need a diplexer for the 2 UHF aerials, with a split at the appropriate frequency. Maybe a group A/group E (split at channel 38).

Some also pass the VHF channels on the lower frequency leg. I have a similar setup, using a Triax 50/52 diplexer to combine UHF from NI & ROI, with the combined signal routed to a distribution amplifier which also has a separate input for the ROI VHF transmissions, but you could use another separate diplexer of the appropriate type for this.

iqon66

what do you mean by as split at the frequency?i have 3 diplexers altogether how can i use them rather that buying more stuff?

watty

Only 10months left for VHF RTE. Forget it.

You only need UHF.

iqon66

Yes i know there is no need for the vhf aerial so i might take it down so that leaves me with the two uhf aerials so how do i go about connecting them with the diplexers?

GerardKeating

watty wrote: »

Only 10months left for VHF RTE. Forget it.

You only need UHF.

Unless they want the VHF for radio...

iqon66

No the vhf aerial was only used to pick up tv3 and tg4 analogue the uhf aerial covers the saorview now.just myproblem is with the Two uhf aerials now how to connect them via diplexers.

Peter Rhea

iqon66 wrote: »

Yes i know there is no need for the vhf aerial so i might take it down so that leaves me with the two uhf aerials so how do i go about connecting them with the diplexers?

There's still over 10 months of VHF analogue transmissions to go; the person concerned may want to hold on to it for another while. If the equipment is already in place, you may as well leave it there.

Why the confusion about combining 2 UHF aerials (with the appropriate UHF/UHF diplexer)?

iqon66

Peter Rhea wrote: »

iqon66 wrote: »

Yes i know there is no need for the vhf aerial so i might take it down so that leaves me with the two uhf aerials so how do i go about connecting them with the diplexers?

There's still over 10 months of VHF analogue transmissions to go; the person concerned may want to hold on to it for another while. If the equipment is already in place, you may as well leave it there.

Why the confusion about combining 2 UHF aerials (with the appropriate UHF/UHF diplexer)?

If i had a uhf-uhf diplexer id be grand all i have is 3 uhf-vhf diplexers can i use them or do i need a uhf-uhf diplexer.thanks.

Ronnie Raygun

iqon66 wrote: »

... all i have is 3 uhf-vhf diplexers can i use them or do i need a uhf-uhf diplexer.

Usually, a person who has a reason to have 3 diplexers wouldn't need to ask a question like that .....

iqon66

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

iqon66 wrote: »

... all i have is 3 uhf-vhf diplexers can i use them or do i need a uhf-uhf diplexer.

Usually, a person who has a reason to have 3 diplexers wouldn't need to ask a question like that .....

I dont put up aerials everyday for a living im just trying to help someone out thats why i came on here to try and get some help.thats why i asked can the job be done with the diplexers i have or do i need something different.

Peter Rhea

Maybe have a read of this article & you'll know better what you're dealing with.

The Cush

@iqon66

Just to add to Peter's post #6 above, my suggestion

Keep the VHF/UHF diplexer as is (VHF aerial/UHF Brougher Mt) -> co-ax out -> co-ax into Input 1 (47-590 MHz ) of this Triax UHF Diplexer TFC 3537.

Truskmore Saorview UHF aerial into Input 2 (598-862 MHz) of the Triax UHF Diplexer TFC 3537.

Co-ax out of Triax UHF Diplexer TFC 3537 to distribution amplifier.

Alternatively, this or this would combine all 3 aerials if you can find one.

lucernarian

The Cush wrote: »

@iqon66

Just to add to Peter's post #6 above, my suggestion

Keep the VHF/UHF diplexer as is (VHF aerial/UHF Brougher Mt) -> co-ax out -> co-ax into Input 1 (47-590 MHz ) of this Triax UHF Diplexer TFC 3537.

Truskmore Saorview UHF aerial into Input 2 (598-862 MHz) of the Triax UHF Diplexer TFC 3537.

Co-ax out of Triax UHF Diplexer TFC 3537 to distribution amplifier.

Alternatively, this or this would combine all 3 aerials if you can find one.

I wouldn't recommend using those Televes yokes. There's no filtering on the UHF inputs so any signal picked up from Brougher on the Truskmore C/D aerial will probably appear as ghosting and whatnot on the analogue TV3 and TG4 signal. I'd recommending using a grouped UHF/UHF diplexer and then using a UHF/VHF diplexer.

watty

GerardKeating wrote: »

Unless they want the VHF for radio...

Well, that really would need a different aerial and overall VHF/UHF diplexer on cable after everything else is combined.

Channel based helical filters are best for combining UHF aerials. Group filters tend to be poor isolation.

After October 2012 there will be no N.I. Analogue or Irish Analogue, so no ghosting. However channels are changing on Transmitters Border areas, probably on both sides. Any amp on an aerial receiving Brougher may need reduced in gain after Oct 2012 too.

Peter Rhea

iqon66 wrote: »

. . . i asked can the job be done with the diplexers i have or do i need something different.

You can (obviously) use one of your UHF/VHF units if you still wish to include the analogue RTE.

When you go to buy the UHF/UHF diplexer, make sure it's a fully screened one such as the Triax TFC group range referred to already. These seem to be the most widely available that offer 2 UHF inputs.

Don't use those types with no screening & just an exposed PCB inside (if your UHF/VHF are this type, it can be removed later when the VHF transmissions cease).

This screening, along with using decent cable & screened components elsewhere, is recommended to protect reception from the kind of interference that causes 'dropouts' when viewing digital programs.

iqon66

Thanks very much to all who left comments,and suggestions the job is done now and working great i had to buy a uhf-uhf diplexer and use a uhf-vhf diplexer to combine all 3 aerials together.Appreciate all the help i got thanks again.