TV Roof aerial Fitting

[Stephen19]

Fitting a new TV aerial: Can anyone advise me on any aspect of this project? (It is for an LCD 19" TV.)
For example;-
# Where best to buy the aerial and how much I should pay?
# Is a 'special' one needed with channel broadcasts changing soon?
# Am I ok to fit in the loft to a joist rather than on chimney (if the latter I will have to farm out) and still get a great reception?
# Is it relatively easy to fit and wire up?

I am thinking that I could fit in loft and then drill through ceiling at appropriate point then run coaxial cable around the walls as needed until reach TV.
If possible, I would run two TV's from here but that may be tricky. Or it may be really simple! See, any and all advise most welcome. Hope to complete before Xmas TV bonanza.

 

[plugwash]

more height and not being indoors will lead to better signal, whether this is nessacery for you depends on local signal conditions.

remember to use good quality coax (the stuff advertised as being suitable for satalite) the cheap stuff is very high loss.

Aymplifiers are great for distributing a reasonable singal to more TVs but if your ariel setup can't run one TV reasonablly well directly then you are wasting your time with them.

higher antenna gain means better signal but it also means you will need to point more accutately. I belive there is a website somewhere that tells you what transmitter serves your area and what gain you are likely to need but i'm not sure where it is.

make sure you get a wideband ariel as in some areas some of the digital muxes are outside the band conventionally used in your area.

always use proper splitters to split the signal, just doing a plain wired split will cause reflection problems.

where possible try to select stuff with F connectors rather than the conventional TV ariel plug, they are much lower loss, more reliable and are easier to fit onto high grade coax.

 

[Stephen19]

more height and not being indoors will lead to better signal, whether this is nessacery for you depends on local signal conditions.

remember to use good quality coax (the stuff advertised as being suitable for satalite) the cheap stuff is very high loss.

Aymplifiers are great for distributing a reasonable singal to more TVs but if your ariel setup can't run one TV reasonablly well directly then you are wasting your time with them.

higher antenna gain means better signal but it also means you will need to point more accutately. I belive there is a website somewhere that tells you what transmitter serves your area and what gain you are likely to need but i'm not sure where it is.

make sure you get a wideband ariel as in some areas some of the digital muxes are outside the band conventionally used in your area.

always use proper splitters to split the signal, just doing a plain wired split will cause reflection problems.

where possible try to select stuff with F connectors rather than the conventional TV ariel plug, they are much lower loss, more reliable and are easier to fit onto high grade coax.

Thanks for the tips. Questuion, what is wideband? I have seen the options in Args and they have product that ranges fom 320, to £35 and then £45 and £50. All seem to handle digital and come with set up wires. Not sure which to go for! Very confusing. We live an area withg good reception and are reasonable high up.

 

[AlanE]

Best suggestion would be to avoid Argus, and the like, and go to a local, to where you live, specialist aerial supply shop.

They will know the best aerial for your area and also know of any problem areas in your locality. Might cost a little more to start with but almost certainly cheaper in the long run!

They will also have a selection of amplifiers and splitters and the technical knowledge to ensure you get the best from your system.

 

[resq]

I'm not an expert but I have recently completed an ariel install in my loft attached to roofing strut. I got one from Argos which turned out to be useless. Bought a better one from Maplin and bobs your uncle lovely picture now.

Best advise is to get the direction you point it in correct. either search the net for transmitter nearest to you and set a bearing using a compass or look at which way your neighbours are pointing.

In the end it took me less than an hour to install to two outlets

 

[Stephen19]

I'm not an expert but I have recently completed an ariel install in my loft attached to roofing strut. I got one from Argos which turned out to be useless. Bought a better one from Maplin and bobs your uncle lovely picture now.

Best advise is to get the direction you point it in correct. either search the net for transmitter nearest to you and set a bearing using a compass or look at which way your neighbours are pointing.

In the end it took me less than an hour to install to two outlets

Thank you. Would you be able to tell me the cat number of the Argos one that was poor, or description or price? They seem to have many at varying prices but all thg edescriptions are pretty much the same. All do the same thing but at all price levels!

Also, the one you did get that was so good and price guide.
I am not sure if I have a proper eaeriel dealer near here in watford zone?

 

[LeeJC]

What's your local transmitter? Seems to be hemel for you or you could go for crystal palace which is throwing out 20kw
What distance are you away from it? About 5 Miles to centre of watford to hemel, 25 to crystal palace.
Is this aerial only ever going to be feeding one set?
Do you have power in the loft?
How do you feel about climbing on the roof?
What distance roughly is your set going to be from your antenna?

I always use the same people for my kit CPC, which used to be farnell.
Same sort of range as maplins, plus a bit more.

I would go with a 10 or 18 element Triax unit between 10-12 quid, possibly with a head amp, but don't buy one until you have checked how good the picture is without. They are group specific so decide which transmitter you are going for before you buy.

Cheers
Lee

 

[jefoss]

Fitting a new TV aerial: Can anyone advise me on any aspect of this project? (It is for an LCD 19" TV.)
For example;-
# Where best to buy the aerial and how much I should pay?
# Is a 'special' one needed with channel broadcasts changing soon?
# Am I ok to fit in the loft to a joist rather than on chimney (if the latter I will have to farm out) and still get a great reception?
# Is it relatively easy to fit and wire up?

I am thinking that I could fit in loft and then drill through ceiling at appropriate point then run coaxial cable around the walls as needed until reach TV.
If possible, I would run two TV's from here but that may be tricky. Or it may be really simple! See, any and all advise most welcome. Hope to complete before Xmas TV bonanza.

if you do put it on the roof and its not quiet right, dont ask rod hull to sort it for you

 

[Stephen19]

What's your local transmitter? Seems to be hemel for you or you could go for crystal palace which is throwing out 20kw
What distance are you away from it? About 5 Miles to centre of watford to hemel, 25 to crystal palace.
Is this aerial only ever going to be feeding one set?
Do you have power in the loft?
How do you feel about climbing on the roof?
What distance roughly is your set going to be from your antenna?

I always use the same people for my kit CPC, which used to be farnell.
Same sort of range as maplins, plus a bit more.

I would go with a 10 or 18 element Triax unit between 10-12 quid, possibly with a head amp, but don't buy one until you have checked how good the picture is without. They are group specific so decide which transmitter you are going for before you buy.

Cheers
Lee

As I said, I have no technical knowledge on this so your post is lost on me in the main. We are in Watford, very near the Hemel site. I am ONLY interested in siting in the loft and prtobably right above the bedroom so the link wire will be shortish. The aerials at Argos come with all wiring needed as far as I can see...
Someone said they had an issue with their products, but they have a whole range at various prices. They cant all be bad ? NO power in loft, didnt think I needed this for an aerial?

 

[dogsbelly]

Hello, i was just passing by, searching for ariel info, saw this site/question and thought i would help out.
The reception predictor website lets you know what type of ariel is suggested for your area.

http://www.wolfbane.com/articles/tvr.htm

 

[Stephen19]

Hello, i was just passing by, searching for ariel info, saw this site/question and thought i would help out.
The reception predictor website lets you know what type of ariel is suggested for your area.

http://www.wolfbane.com/articles/tvr.htm[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I have used this site and it advises, for digital to go for an 'Extra Hi-Gain' type aerial with Hemel being best transmitter.
There is a Philex extra high gain outdoor one (suitable for loft mounting) for £59.99. Think I shall try this...

 

[bernardgreen]

Another useful tools is GoogleEarth Draw a line ( using Tools Measure ) between the aerial on your house to the transmitter site. Then you have a line from your aerial along which to aim the aerial. You may need to go a degree or so either side of this line as Google is a flat image and the real world is curved.

 

[LeeJC]

You go for it, looks a cracking antenna.

But............................can i just add one thing.

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/Aerials+.../PHILEX/27884G/displayProduct.jsp?sku=AP01362

Although in the loft you hardly need anodised and if you do then you have bigger problems than TV reception so..................

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/Aerials+.../PHILEX/27884D/displayProduct.jsp?sku=AP01361

 

[Stephen19]

You go for it, looks a cracking antenna.

But............................can i just add one thing.

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/Aerials+.../PHILEX/27884G/displayProduct.jsp?sku=AP01362

Although in the loft you hardly need anodised and if you do then you have bigger problems than TV reception so..................

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/Aerials+...27884D/displayProduct.jsp?sku=AP01361[/QUOTE]

Thnaks Lee, wish I had seen this earlioer as far cheaper than Srgos! Never mind, aerial is up, easily and picture is fantastic. Guess I overspecced but pleased all has gone so well. Stephen