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Terrestrial Aerial Install

  • 23-02-2015 12:03pm
    #1
    Irreverent
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭


    Hi. I recently bought a Digital Active DVB-T/T2 Outdoor Antenna SRT ANT 45 for Saorview.


    I have installed it at the rear of the house generally facing the direction indicated to Mount Leinster online and aligned horizontally. The problem is that reception is pretty crap from it at the moment. If I do not attach the power supply I get RTE2/TV3/TG4 at 40% and nothing else. If I attach the power supply I get RTE1/UTV/News Now but then RTE2 gets all pixelated.

    The funny thing is I have a crappy indoor amplified antenna which picks up all the channels perfectly (but looks a bit messy) and doesn't please the OH.

    I am running the outdoor antenna into a combiner with a sat feed. It is then split behind the tv using a splitter using the correct frequencies. My tv does not specify if it uses 5v to feed the antenna (Sony KDLW796b) but it has something called LNA (low noise amplifier) which can be turned on or off during tv tuning.

    Does anyone have any idea why my signal might be so bad using the outdoor antenna? I have a feeling it is something simple but not certain what it is.


Comments

  • #2
    Thurston?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,278 ✭✭✭Thurston?


    There's no such thing as a 'digital' aerial, or a 'DVB-T/T2' aerial. That's just marketing BS.

    If you're using it with combiner/splitters that have satellite on 1 leg, & UHF/VHF on the other, only the satellite side passes power, so the aerial amplifier won't be getting power if its PSU is downstream of the combiner.
    Irreverent wrote: »
    I have installed it at the rear of the house generally facing the direction indicated to Mount Leinster online and aligned horizontally. The problem is that reception is pretty crap from it at the moment. If I do not attach the power supply I get RTE2/TV3/TG4 at 40% and nothing else. If I attach the power supply I get RTE1/UTV/News Now but then RTE2 gets all pixelated.

    I presume this test was without the satellite/UHF,VHF combiners blocking the power to the aerial amplifier, so is actually an observed effect of powering the amplifier, not just random?


  • #3
    winston_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭winston_1


    You'd be much better off buying a proper aerial (no amplifier needed) than some fancy box that (as you have discovered) does not work.

    Professionals use yagis or log periodics, so should you.


  • #4
    Irreverent
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭Irreverent


    Hi Thurston. Thanks for your reply

    Yes I am aware of the marketing BS. I just included that info as that is the 'brand' name of the aerial so that people could identify it as necessary.

    You are right, the power supply is downstream of the combiner. I did notice on the splitter that power passing was only on the satellite side while I was installing it but wasn't sure what effect this would have.

    I am in rented accomodation so not comfortable running any more cables. However there are two cables running from a satellite dish close to the aerial. I will try running the UHF aerial down one of these, doing away with the combiner/splitter for the moment and see does that work. It would be a shame to lose one sat feed but not a disaster.

    Regretting buying a powered antenna now when presumably a normal group b would have done the trick.


  • #5
    Irreverent
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭Irreverent


    winston_1 wrote: »
    You'd be much better off buying a proper aerial (no amplifier needed) than some fancy box that (as you have discovered) does not work.

    Professionals use yagis or log periodics, so should you.

    Touche. I just made that point to the other poster. You live and learn.


  • #6
    Thurston?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,278 ✭✭✭Thurston?


    Irreverent wrote: »
    Regretting buying a powered antenna now when presumably a normal group b would have done the trick.

    Mt. Leinster is group A. Yeah, as already pointed out, you're better off with an aerial that actually has some inherent gain, & doesn't rely on an amplifier for most of the quoted figure, & you'd be able to keep your 2nd sat. feed without adding a cable.


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  • #7
    Irreverent
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭Irreverent


    Thurston? wrote: »
    Mt. Leinster is group A. Yeah, as already pointed out, you're better off with an aerial that actually has some inherent gain, & doesn't rely on an amplifier for most of the quoted figure, & you'd be able to keep your 2nd sat. feed without adding a cable.

    Cheers I appreciate your feedback. I'll just get a decent aerial with gain and be done with it so.


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