Saorview aerial opinions?

tonc76 · 25-07-2016 2:52pm #1

I picked up a new tv yesterday which is Saorview ready so need to get an aerial now. The plan is to mount the arial in the attic and there's a transmitter within 500m of the house with line of sight.

Barring price what's the difference between these two http://www.satworld.ie/mini-uhf-log-periodic-aerial-20-element.html and http://sat-planet.ie/antiference-high-gain-uhf-wideband-aerial-digital-tv-saorview-hd-mpeg4 and which is the better of the two price aside?

Thanks

winston_1 · 25-07-2016 4:08pm

The first one is described as high gain. They are lying as it is only 7.5dB gain. The second one is also described as high gain. It is at 16.5dB.
However at only 500 metres from a transmitter you are unlikely to require a high gain aerial.

So go for the first one. Being smaller it will be easier to set up and unlikely to overload the tuner.

Alun · 25-07-2016 4:17pm

You live within 500m of a television transmitter in Dublin?

Digifriendly · 25-07-2016 7:37pm

winston_1 wrote: »

The first one is described as high gain. They are lying as it is only 7.5dB gain. The second one is also described as high gain. It is at 16.5dB.
However at only 500 metres from a transmitter you are unlikely to require a high gain aerial.

So go for the first one. Being smaller it will be easier to set up and unlikely to overload the tuner.

Very sound advice. Log periodics are highly recommended for bringing in a good signal. It should easily pull in both Saorview multiplexes in your loft.

castle2012 · 25-07-2016 10:56pm

Power city have a medium gain ariel available for only €14.99. I bought one a few weeks ago , stuck it in my attic , I'm picking up soarview and also uk free view , comes with bracket to attach in Attic , transmitter for soarview is about 30km away and I think the uk one is about 40km away in my case

winston_1 · 26-07-2016 12:29am

castle2012 wrote: »

Power city have a medium gain ariel available for only €14.99. I bought one a few weeks ago , stuck it in my attic , I'm picking up soarview and also uk free view , comes with bracket to attach in Attic , transmitter for soarview is about 30km away and I think the uk one is about 40km away in my case

I assume you mean aerial. Ariel is washing powder. But your post is irrelevant for someone only 500 metres from a transmitter.

exaisle · 26-07-2016 12:50am

If you're 500 metres from a transmitter, just plug a foot long length of coax with the outer core stripped back for about half its length, into the back of the tv....that should be good enough to pick up signal.

castle2012 · 26-07-2016 8:19am

winston_1 wrote: »

I assume you mean aerial. Ariel is washing powder. But your post is irrelevant for someone only 500 metres from a transmitter.

Yea well I'm saving that chap a bit of money , the aerial he was looking at was more expensive, so my post is not irrelevant

Alun · 26-07-2016 9:06am

If his location, Dublin, is correct then the only way he can really be 500m from a transmitter is if he's living in a tent on Kippure or Three Rock. Maybe he's mistaking a phone mast or similar for a transmitter mast.

Hotblack Desiato · 26-07-2016 9:13am

This is cheaper than the first two - €15.93 inc VAT. I have the older version of it (black - includes channels no longer used for TV) in my own attic. Edit: it's a Blakes and more than sturdy enough for an attic aerial. I'd go with something better if I needed an outdoor aerial, with the hassle of putting it up or paying someone to do it for you you want something that will withstand 20+ years of weather.

winston_1 · 26-07-2016 9:50am

You can always find something cheaper or bodge it with a bit of stripped coax, but there is such a thing as quality and doing a good job that will last. The Antiference log satisfies those criteria and is not really expensive compared to the cost of a TV.

Sam Russell · 26-07-2016 11:26am

I have had a log-periodic aerial for the last ten years - just as well, as I'm receiving from Three Rock which has changed from ch 54/58 to ch 30/33. If I had gone for a grouped aerial I would have had to change it. Log-periodic is a broad band by nature and is a very good choice in a high signal area.

As an aside, I have a bedroom TV that uses a piece of bent coat-hanger wire as an aerial that gets 100% signal and 100% quality. It sits beside the TV and is completely inconspicuous - like it is meant to be there.

Hotblack Desiato · 26-07-2016 11:29am

Hopefully not just jammed into the aerial socket though as that can damage it

Sam Russell · 26-07-2016 11:35am

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Hopefully not just jammed into the aerial socket though as that can damage it

My aerial is well constructed using a cable and connector. I used to design aerials in a previous life.

icdg · 26-07-2016 1:36pm

less pedantry please, winston_1 and Alun

exaisle · 26-07-2016 8:31pm

winston_1 wrote: »

You can always find something cheaper or bodge it with a bit of stripped coax, but there is such a thing as quality and doing a good job that will last. The Antiference log satisfies those criteria and is not really expensive compared to the cost of a TV.

There's nothing bodgy about a length of stripped coax that's about 15.5 inches long for channels 54/58....in fact, taping it horizonally to the back of the TV will most likely get even better reception rather than letting it hang...

Similarly, hanger wire can be cut to the same precise lengths....

We're talking highly technical stripped coax or hanger wire here..

:-)

Saorview aerial opinions?

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