TV aerial problems

[Ubique]

Out of interest, (you might remember I had a brief foray into antenna physics), surely there must be some kind of balun, even on a cheap aerial, to convert the balanced dipole signal to unbalanced coax, and match its 300 ohm to the coax’s 75 ohm? I’d look it up in the ARRL antenna book, but I can’t find it and it’s impenetrable anyway.

I assume it’s like others I’ve seen on cheapie antennas, a wiggly PCB track.

I’ll look into upgrading, thanks.

Before you get all spendy, check which antenna band you need, looking at your screenshot, probably group B - I wouldn't recommend a wideband unless you really need one, also try and match the antenna to the predicted signal strength at your location.

Knowledge – A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials

www.aerialsandtv.com

Transmitters – A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials

www.aerialsandtv.com

Detailed transmitter information for industry professionals

If you're an industry professional, use this tool to check local DTT transmitter coverage and UHF channel allocation for an address.

www.freeview.co.uk

 

[Onoff]

Make a bfo corner reflector "tuned" by calculation to the exact band. I've done a couple for neighbours here, one from mesh, one from sheet. Proper yesteryear stuff and the maths is fun.

Or buy a band specific aerial. Can't recommend these people enough. Give them a ring, they are superb:

A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials – Established 1994.

www.aerialsandtv.com

See here on their site:

Main 6 MUX Transmitters (I to W) – A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials

www.aerialsandtv.com

Specifically:

Then, I always, always, without fail, use silicone grease on my coax cable ends and plugs following this:

How to fit F Connectors to coaxial cable for Sky and Freesat

how to make a signal distribution plate

www.glodark.com

 

[ajlelectronics]

How to fit F Connectors to coaxial cable for Sky and Freesat

how to make a signal distribution plate

www.glodark.com

I had a brief glance and would take issue with most of it.

 

[Onoff]

I had a brief glance and would take issue with most of it.

What the use of silicone grease?

An RF engineer first introduced to me to it's use on the roof of New Scotland Yard many years ago and I never looked back.

Reading that back now seems a bit disturbing...

 

[Kayos]

Good for you! One local amateur keeps using the plural antennae for the singular, which really gets "on oi teets".

My pet hate is amateurs droning on about their kit

 

[ajlelectronics]

What the use of silicone grease?

Messy and not required with decent connectors. Screw on connectors can never be described as such, I would have serious words in the ear of anyone I caught using them. Fitting them in the way described is also nonsense, leading to potential moisture wicking up any braid left after the threads had chewed it away.

 

[voipio]

Not sure. How would I find out?

The channels are shown in the "frequency" column in the screenshot in the first posting, and also the link I gave, repeated here, for good measure:

Rosemarkie (Highland, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter

Freeview HD transmitter: Rosemarkie, Multiplexes: 7, Height: 327.5m/m, Power: 20kW/10kW/kW, Channels: 39/40/42/43/45/46/52, Polarity: Horizontal

ukfree.tv

e.g. C45 (555.0MHz)

 

[ajlelectronics]

My pet hate is amateurs droning on about their kit

It may be of brief interest to some, but I wouldn't offer the info unless requested.

 

[Mark 5]

The usual cause of that is water in the connection box or damaged outer coaxial cable, letting water in that way. Symptoms lessen after a week or two of dry, warm weather which is another clue.

I've been reading your posts with interest.

I have replaced a few antennae's, my method was install, point in the same direction as original, twist and adjust pole and someone else shouting up " that will do it ".

After a tip from a professional installer years ago I only ever used WF100 coax. I didn't install many so only got through a couple of 100m rolls.

I think perhaps @Guineafowl issues might be caused by water ingress, a replacement antennae might be a good thing to.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I've been reading your posts with interest.

Thank you, but oh Mark, how could you do this to me? ...

I have replaced a few antennae's,

Antennae's what?

a replacement antennae

One antenna, multiple antennae.

 

[Kayos]

It may be of brief interest to some, but I wouldn't offer the info unless requested.

It's nice to ask how one sounds using new kit, but I think it's all some know how to talk about

I'm outcast from most of the community because I'm not a fan of HF

 

[ajlelectronics]

It's nice to ask how one sounds using new kit, but I think it's all some know how to talk about

I'm outcast from most of the community because I'm not a fan of HF

My HF radio sits on 10.1008 most of the time and 7.127 on a Sunday morning for an hour. Anyone who wants me will call on 70.450 or the local repeater GB3CG or GB3GH.

 

[Guineafowl]

Thank you, but oh Mark, how could you do this to me? ...



Antennae's what?


One antenna, multiple antennae.

I prefer ‘aerial’ these days…

 

[Kayos]

My HF radio sits on 10.1008 most of the time and 7.127 on a Sunday morning for an hour. Anyone who wants me will call on 70.450 or the local repeater GB3CG or GB3GH.

GB3XL was my old local repeater, very active most nights

 

[ajlelectronics]

GB3XL was my old local repeater, very active most nights

We lost GB3WR before Christmas (Swindon). Very popular and often busy. Rumour has it that the repeater keeper didn't pay the bills and it caught up with him. No idea if it will ever resurface.

 

[Mark 5]

Thank you, but oh Mark, how could you do this to me? ...

Antennae's what?
One antenna, multiple antennae.

I was taking up your point about Antennae and Aerial and you nipping things in the bud.

Multiple can't remember, how ever many 200m took me over the years.

 

[Robotstar5]

Make a bfo corner reflector "tuned" by calculation to the exact band. I've done a couple for neighbours here, one from mesh, one from sheet. Proper yesteryear stuff and the maths is fun.

I'm guessing your bfo doesn't stand for beat frequency oscillator?

 

[ajlelectronics]

I'm guessing your bfo doesn't stand for beat frequency oscillator?

I wonder what the velocity factor was?

 

[Robotstar5]

I wonder what the velocity factor was?

Probably involved armstrong newton metres

 

[Mark 5]

I prefer ‘aerial’ these days…

The problem with " aerial " there are several spellings for the word and meanings and I can never remember them or mix them up, Antennae, no such issue--I think.