Signal problems

[Granty]

Hi guys, would appreciate a little help with my Q's below and any addittional advice, thanks, my girlfriends Dad has just had A new wideband digi ariel fitted by some guy he knows for use on 2 TV,s and soon 3, he is in a poor signal area, but some channels have been breaking up, we rotated the ariel while checking the signal on his Humax freeview box and managed to get it between 50 and 52% (flickering between) We then raised the ariel as high as possible and now have about 70% but my girlfriends tv with built in freeview is still breaking up, the strange thing is all other ariels in sight face the same way but our signal is stronger facing a slightly different way, also I dont know if this is normal but with the booster turned off the signal drops to 0 so I guess there is a very weak signal, how does a booster multiply 0, The booster looks like a decent one twice as big as mine, there is a line of trees in the far distance 150 meteres away, these would not affect it much if at all would they? anyway heres my Q's
1) How important is the alignment/tilt of the head of the arial up or down, as they have it set totally straight and we have only rotated the ariel on the mast not the actual head up/down
2) could height be a problem as the ariel is on a chalet, and the signal improved when we raised it
3) the ariel does wobble in the wind a bit as it is on a pole is this OK
4) what are the boosters? or amplifiers? that fit to the base of an ariel, can I get one for this ariel or would i need to buy another ariel with this built on?
5) just for reassurance is it always possible to get a good signal with amps and boosters in place or do you just have to settle for a ok signal that breaks up occasionally sometimes?

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by Granty

Hi guys, would appreciate a little help with my Q's below and any addittional advice, thanks, my girlfriends Dad has just had A new wideband digi ariel fitted by some guy he knows for use on 2 TV,s and soon 3, he is in a poor signal area, but some channels have been breaking up, we rotated the ariel while checking the signal on his Humax freeview box and managed to get it between 50 and 52% (flickering between) We then raised the ariel as high as possible and now have about 70% but my girlfriends tv with built in freeview is still breaking up, the strange thing is all other ariels in sight face the same way but our signal is stronger facing a slightly different way, also I dont know if this is normal but with the booster turned off the signal drops to 0 so I guess there is a very weak signal, how does a booster multiply 0, The booster looks like a decent one twice as big as mine, there is a line of trees in the far distance 150 meteres away, these would not affect it much if at all would they? anyway heres my Q's
1) How important is the alignment/tilt of the head of the arial up or down, as they have it set totally straight and we have only rotated the ariel on the mast not the actual head up/down
2) could height be a problem as the ariel is on a chalet, and the signal improved when we raised it
3) the ariel does wobble in the wind a bit as it is on a pole is this OK
4) what are the boosters? or amplifiers? that fit to the base of an ariel, can I get one for this ariel or would i need to buy another ariel with this built on?
5) just for reassurance is it always possible to get a good signal with amps and boosters in place or do you just have to settle for a ok signal that breaks up occasionally sometimes?

I surgest you dial up Blakes Aerials on Google,a Sheffield Company of High repute. Good info.

for my pennyworth.

1.The UHF signal is a strange animal the tilt can be as important as the
direction ( straight loks nice), not as critical as satellite.
2.Yes anything in the way effects the signal,I live on a mountain,so mine is at ten foot height.
3.All wobble, if they dont they break, no problem
4.The best booster is on the ariel, set top boosters only boost awful
reception so it becomes terrible, IE if the picture is rough a set top booster will only make it worse, dont confuse this with a 2/3/4 booster
that only amplyfys around the house.
5.The only help here is a set top booster.Then you must amplyfy it again
for more than one tv. Answer is yes amps do a good job,if the picture
is OK.

Now due to terry analog switch off, everyone is fitting wideband aerials
due to a mux change, however wideband aerials are weaker than dedecated A B C D F etc. We all have had problems with break up due to the weather, but when analog is switched off Digital will increase in power
by 20 to 30 times, so what you have at the moment is a weak transmission from the transmitter.

I will get more info for your area.Hope this helps

Bob

[merlodlliw]

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=TF218836

This should help. I note power from Belmont Digital will incease by 12 times
after terry analog switchoff.


Bob

[redrabbit]

Sorry to gatecrash the thread, but...

I have an aerial in the loft, and the freeview signal is terrible now. A few channels work alright, BBC1 for example, but the majority don't. They break up, and stutter and are unwatchable because of it.

Any suggestions on how to fix this. Is it possible that a professional aerial installer could get it working properly?

[madrat]

freeview dose not like indoor or loft aerials, even after switchover they are not recommended.

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by redrabbit

Sorry to gatecrash the thread, but...

I have an aerial in the loft, and the freeview signal is terrible now. A few channels work alright, BBC1 for example, but the majority don't. They break up, and stutter and are unwatchable because of it.

Any suggestions on how to fix this. Is it possible that a professional aerial installer could get it working properly?

Agree unless you live under the transmitter and have turned green the aerial must be outside, you also must use double screened cable,

Yes an Aerial rigger will assist you, and lower your bank balance,look at the other aerials around,which way they point, then for a few £ get one
and new cable, if you are able, if you get a pro as they used to be called at the end of the street, you will see no change from £150.
Also any break in the cable or aerial near to any source of interference
(boiler,Fridge etc) will cause picture break up

Bob

[redrabbit]

I don't think I could for the aerial, for a start I have no ladder! Plus I'm not confident enough to go drilling an aerial into the side of my rented house.

I will stick with Sky for now.

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by redrabbit

I don't think I could for the aerial, for a start I have no ladder! Plus I'm not confident enough to go drilling an aerial into the side of my rented house.

I will stick with Sky for now.

OK, with dig terrestrial you need an outdoor aerial, and of course everything is on low power until swich off,even when its on full power
indoors aerials are OK for the beeb, but not for others.
ill link you a page to have a look at find your area,
http://www.ukfree.tv/starthere.php

Bob