Combining two aerials

thejuggler

I don't know if this is even possible but theres no harm in asking. I currently have a colourking aerial on my roof which picks up the 4 UK terrestrial stations from a local deflector. I also get RTE reasonably well on this also (there is some ghosting and reflections on the screen). One of my neighbours is a ham radio enthusiast and when he is using his gear the RTE/TV3 reception disimproves significantly while the reception from the deflector is unaffected. I assume that this is because the aerial is not correctly orientated for the rte transmitter. So my question is - is it possible for me to purchase a second aerial and combine it with my colourking so that I will be able to point it directly at the rte transmitter and be unaffected by interference?

If this is possible what equipment do I need to buy?

Other neighbours in my area have aerials which are shaped like an arrow if this is of any help. I'm in the western suburbs of Cork City so am receiving RTE from either Spur hill or Mullaghinish. (probably Spur Hill)


Just an afterthought. Before I was receiving the deflector signal I had perfect RTE/TV3 reception with the wideband aerial by reversing the polarity. However I don't know if the interference would still have been a factor as it wasn't happening at that time.

Antenna

I suspect you are receiving the national channels from Spur Hill - these are 53,57,60,63, whilst you are receiving the deflector (from a previous post of yours I can figure out what it is, it is the one that was off for a while a few months ago due to lack of money being collected!) on 61,64,66 and 69.
i.e.

53 - RTE1
57 RTE 2
60 TV3
61 BBC1
63 TG4
64 BBC2
66 ITV
69 Channel 4

is this what you are receiving?

They are in the same aerial group C/D (not ideal)

The signals are from approx opposite directions where you are I'd say

you could try combining two aerials with a 'splitter' (get one of the metal, NOT the Y shaped plastic, type ones) and if the 'splitter' is going outdoors wrap the whole thing in self-amalgimating tape (unless you can get one for outdoors - a masthead wideband combiner).

The aerial for Spur Hill can be either a Colour King - or a Group C/D type "arrow" (as you call them) - as is the case with the deflector.

However after doing this if you still have ghosting, or find the strong Spur hill signals now affect the 'deflector' reception you would be better off running two seperate aerial cables down to where your TV is and use a A-B type switch to switch between your desired aerial.
You dont say if you are using a masthead amplifier for receiving the deflector - however you shouldn't need one for Spur Hill.

Alternatively you could try recieving RTE from Mullaghanish - RTE1, 2 are on VHF Band 3 (so need a VHF aerial), whilst TV3, TG4 are at the low end of UHF - 27 and 31, group A. These can be combined on the same aerial cable , with the deflector, with definately no problem, providing you have an OK signal form Mullaghanish.

I dont know what you mean by "polarity" - I suspect you just mean you used have the aerial facing in the opposite direction which is probably towards Spur Hill, a hill just west of Cork airport (rather than opposite polarisation) Both Spur Hill and the defector are the same polarisation (horizontal)
i.e. the rods that make up the aerial are horizontal

thejuggler

Thanks Antenna

Thats the channel numbers I'm receiving alright. Looks like its time to buy the second aerial and the splitter. I had perfect reception of the 4 national stations from the colourking in the attic previously so I'll probably just put the C/D aerial in the attic and feed it into the splitter.

Thanks for the info.

Capt'n Midnight

rather than just a straight combiner (the plastic ones are a waste) you could get a UHF/VHF combiner/splitter. This means you would only get VHF from the VHF antenna and UHF form the UHF antenna, might reduce some inteference.

Also might be worth while having a word with the neighbour as they should know a thing or two about antennas. eg: one point about YAGI antennas (normal TV aerials) is that they pick up signal strongly at 60 degrees off either side of the way they are pointing (in case the neighbour is there.)

http://www.donberg.ie/descript/c/combier1.htm - doesn't have a pic though.

^whitey^

I have a simular problem to the thejuggler:

I dont know much about UHF VHF and Tv signals.

I'm also west of cork city.

I can pick up BBC UTV CH4 on one aerial
And RTE TV3 TG4 on a different aerial.
I want to combine the signals coming from the 2 aerials, like in the attached drawing.

Will this combiner do the job for me http://www.donberg.ie/descript/c/combier1.htm

Also I want to boost the signals coming off both aerials. Whats the easiest way to do this. And should I boost before or after combining the signal.


Thanks for reading