TV aerial problems

[Onoff]

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.

Without the silicone grease the screw on ones are horrible. With it they're a breeze to get on and in my experience stay watertight with no capillary action of water getting up the cable.

I'm all for a bit of lube...

 

[Onoff]

The problem with " aerial " there are several spellings for the word and meanings and I can never remember them or mix them up

"airy 'ole" is something completely different...

 

[Robotstar5]

Without the silicone grease the screw on ones are horrible. With it they're a breeze to get on and in my experience stay watertight with no capillary action of water getting up the cable.

I'm all for a bit of lube...

If I've had to use a screw on connector it normally gets wrapped in self amalgamating tape, I've opened them up years later and no sign of water ingress

 

[Mark 5]

"airy 'ole" is something completely different...

Indeed, fortunately not a mistake I have made todate.

 

[pedrobedro]

Is my aerial an old analogue type, and worth replacing with a digital-ready one

No difference between them, has someone tried to sell you a digital one? Have you got shielded coax?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Without the silicone grease the screw on ones are horrible.

The problem is that the thread destroys the braid, that is why no professional would use them.

 

[ukracer]

The problem is that the thread destroys the braid, that is why no professional would use them.

What do they use instead?

 

[ajlelectronics]

What do they use instead?

It depends on the budget. No limit, Snap 'n' Seal (compression plugs). A bit more cost conscious, crimp type.

 

[ukracer]

It depends on the budget. No limit, Snap 'n' Seal (compression plugs). A bit more cost conscious, crimp type.

like these?

 

[Ubique]

That's the 'traditional' co-ax plug, push-in the F connectors are usually around £0.50 each

 

[ukracer]

That's the 'traditional' co-ax plug, push-in the F connectors are usually around £0.50 each

I thought Aj was not advocating the screw 8ns?

 

[Seadog]

Antennae's what?

My thoughts, entirely

 

[ajlelectronics]

I thought Aj was not advocating the screw 8ns?

Nothing wrong with F connectors, it is the method of mounting them which makes all the difference. The Snap 'n' Seal F connectors can't be bettered, but at a cost of around 50p+ each. The "best" Nickel plated screw on F plugs are 6p each in bags of 100, so you can see why some use them. Same with cable, RG6 is a quarter of the price of WF100 and appeals to the here today and gone tomorrow crowd.

 

[ajlelectronics]

View attachment 480093like these?

Nope, those are "Belling-Lee" plugs, but yes as far as the mounting method is concerned.

 

[Ubique]

Nope, those are "Belling-Lee" plugs, but yes as far as the mounting method is concerned.

I'd forgot they were called that! Jogged a memory of Belling Lee Intec, early providers of electronically secure shielding (and IIRC 'Tempest' filters) to HM Forces - and the Belling electric fire factory in Burnley we used to drive past every month on the way back to Gods Country to visit relatives.

 

[Onoff]

that is why no professional would use them

Lets me off the hook then!

 

[Tom O]

Years ago dad use to spray down the antenna after a storm to get the salt off of it.

 

[ajlelectronics]

and match its 300 ohm to the coax’s 75 ohm

Just out of interest, the only time a folded dipole is 300r is in free space. Adding a reflector and directors with the right spacing brings it down some where near target impedance.

 

[Guineafowl]

Just out of interest, the only time a folded dipole is 300r is in free space. Adding a reflector and directors with the right spacing brings it down some where near target impedance.

I’ve ordered the Practical Antenna ( ) Handbook by Carr. Apparently a good bridge between A-level physics and the ARRL book.

Lots of useful advice, cheers, but I think I’ve found the problem. I’ve never seen (in all the 4 or 5 aerials I’ve played with) one without a balun (as predicted by @ajlelectronics ) and in such bad condition:


I must be in a good signal area.

All the ones I’d seen before had the middle one above. Can anyone tell me how that one works?

I’ve dug up a little log periodic aerial I’d forgotten about, and a reel of ordinary coax. It’ll clamp onto the same mount, so I’ll give it a go before going for the decent stuff recommended.

@voipio you mentioned transmitter groups. Rosemarkie is B, but aerials seem to come in A or K.

No difference between them, has someone tried to sell you a digital one? Have you got shielded coax?

Yes, not very well worded. I know the aerials are the same (or there would have been uproar at the switchover, from everyone needing a new aerial), but I had it in mind that the modern aerials were designed to reject mobile signals.

 

[Ubique]

Group B Antenna or Aerial if you prefer

XB10B Aerial – A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials

www.aerialsandtv.com