Indoor antenna - any good?

Barack Obama

I'm in Leixlip and according to the Saorview interactive map, Kippure is 24km south east (152) of me. Strangely, Three Rock looks like it is closer!!

Either way, both are line-of-sight from my sitting room window and I am hoping that I can simply put an indoor antenna behind the curtain. Are these good enough or do you really need to go for an outdoor for decent reception? Just as a test I tried with a set of rabbits ears and the reception was fine until it rained!

Just looking at the One-For-All website for example, they have a few options available for up to 25kms -
http://www.oneforall.com/antennas/sv9215-flat-tv-zimmerantenne.html
http://www.oneforall.com/antennas/sv9365-performance-line-indoor-antenna.html
http://www.oneforall.com/antennas/sv9385-full-hd-indoor-antenna.html

The Cush

No one here can tell you how well an indoor aerial will work at your location. Signal strength/quality can vary from house to house, room to room and even different positions in a room. Only you can determine which works best for you.

The transmission network always recommend an external aerial

Can I Use An Indoor Portable Aerial, Rabbits Ears?

RTÉNL does not recommend the use of indoor portable aerials. They are too susceptible to localised physical and electrical interference. Terrestrial transmission of television, analogue and digital, is designed and built around rooftop reception.

It will be possible for over 50% of the population to receive SAORVIEW with an indoor portable aerial. However on a house to house basis there are many factors than impact on the effectiveness of a portable aerial. For example the orientation of your house, the location of the television in the house, the construction materials, the insulation materials, the proximity to neighbouring houses, walls and obstructions will all impact reception.

An outdoor aerial, positioned as high as possible, pointing towards the appropriate transmission site, with no local obstructions is recommended and will give the best results.

Regarding Three Rock, basically it's an infill transmitter for Dublin city centre/South Co Dublin where Kippure can't reach.

winston_1

Barack Obama wrote: »

I'm in Leixlip and according to the Saorview interactive map, Kippure is 24km south east (152) of me. Strangely, Three Rock looks like it is closer!!

Either way, both are line-of-sight from my sitting room window and I am hoping that I can simply put an indoor antenna behind the curtain. Are these good enough or do you really need to go for an outdoor for decent reception? Just as a test I tried with a set of rabbits ears and the reception was fine until it rained!

Just looking at the One-For-All website for example, they have a few options available for up to 25kms -
http://www.oneforall.com/antennas/sv9215-flat-tv-zimmerantenne.html
http://www.oneforall.com/antennas/sv9365-performance-line-indoor-antenna.html
http://www.oneforall.com/antennas/sv9385-full-hd-indoor-antenna.html

So called rabbits ears aerials are VHF aerials, only good for DAB and FM radio so it is not surprising it did not work.

All those oneforall aerials you linked to are crap as well. They are all amplified types and amplifiers on indoor aerials are a waste of time, money, and electricity. Amplifiers are designed to overcome the loss on a long run of coax which you don't have on an indoor aerial.

One of the better indoor aerials is the Telecam TCE2000. Don't get the amplified version though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TELECAM-TCE2000-performance-indoor-aerial-Black/dp/B000G73ZIQ

watty

One for All is the most overpriced and hyped claims on Indoor Aerials.
See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=90628842&postcount=16

Barack Obama

Thanks guys - I appreciate the feedback!!

I think I have found a compromise - there are a few 'neater' outdoor areials that look like they will do the job (and keep herself happy!). The reviews on Amazon for the same one looks good so I may give it a whirl
http://www.tvtrade.ie/digidome-tv-aerial.html

winston_1

Barack Obama wrote: »

Thanks guys - I appreciate the feedback!!

I think I have found a compromise - there are a few 'neater' outdoor areials that look like they will do the job (and keep herself happy!). The reviews on Amazon for the same one looks good so I may give it a whirl
http://www.tvtrade.ie/digidome-tv-aerial.html

Once again you are linking to a crap aerial that tries to disguise its poor performance with an amplifier where one is almost certainly not needed. No professional users would use such an aerial (PMR users etc). A proper TV aerial has a horizontal boom with cross elements on and has to be pointed at the source transmitter. It is also cheap compared to those fancy omnidirectional things that give a very poor performance.

Herself needs to be brought into the real world. You (and her) paid a lot for your TV. Give it the luxury of a decent signal.

watty

That Digidome is overpriced junk.

IrishHomer

OP, my parents are close to Leixlip, Maynooth area and they pick up Saorview perfect with the old style circular type cats ears sitting on the kitchen window.

winston_1

IrishHomer wrote: »

OP, my parents are close to Leixlip, Maynooth area and they pick up Saorview perfect with the old style circular type cats ears sitting on the kitchen window.

Pointless post as two houses next to each other can have completely different reception.

What are circular type cats ears? A more technical description please.

IrishHomer

winston_1 wrote: »

Pointless post as two houses next to each other can have completely different reception.

What are circular type cats ears? A more technical description please.

The old style base holding a circular piece of wire

winston_1

IrishHomer wrote: »

The old style base holding a circular piece of wire

That's a quad aerial then formed into a circle, often referred as a loop. Why cats ears?

IrishHomer

winston_1 wrote: »

That's a quad aerial then formed into a circle, often referred as a loop. Why cats ears?

I stated "cats ears type/style" not specifically card ears. Anyway in North Kildare those cheap useless aerials actually work fine without having to go to the expense of hiring a professional outdoor aerial installation.

winston_1

We all know that cheap useless aerials can work in high signal strength areas, but the recommended set up is an outdoor aerial 10 metres high.