Combine Group A and Groub B Antennas

Kenny Powers

Lads,
I want to put a second Group A antenna up in the attic to point at a different site ill use a diplexer to combine them, does it matter how far apart they are from each other? (limited space in attic) and do the cables feeding the diplexer from the antennas need to be the exact same length?

Thanks,

KP

Peter Rhea

This article on attic installations is worth a look.

It describes the 'capture area' of an aerial & how it should be kept free of conductive objects, including other aerials. I would try to allow at least 1 metre all around each aerial.

The length of the cables to the diplexer doesn't need to be equal.

zg3409

Kenny Powers wrote: »

does it matter how far apart they are from each other? (limited space in attic)

The further apart the better. Avoid water tanks etc. Ideally as high as possible. I often hang them on strings (old shoe laces) so they float in mid air. Try not to have one in front of another. The signal arrives from the front so keep this clear.

and do the cables feeding the diplexer from the antennas need to be the exact same length?

No.

There is a good explanation here:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/how-to-combine-saorview-and-freeview-on-the-same-digital-receiver.html

A combiner like this is needed:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/triax-uhf-diplexer-tfc-3537.html

Click on the "how to install" tab

The group A aerial (red tip) needs to go into input one, the group B (yellow tip) into input 2

It would be best to align each aerial seperately without the diplexer and then add it last. If signals are very strong then the attic will not be a problem.

If using masthead amplifiers you need a diplexer that allows power to pass through. An ordinary splitter could be used to combine them if the signal is very strong, but a diplexer is best.