Little advice on Freeview box and indoor aerial please

[Phillius]

I have virgin media.. so i dont get skysports news... so im looking to get a freeview box and an indoor ariel so i can watch it

i have a 42inch plasma tv, can someone recommend a good set up for me.. at a reasonable price of around £50 for the two

thanks

phil

[fernandez]

Unless you live next door to the transmitter indoor aerials are a waste of time and money
Have a read of this
http://www.satcure.com/tech/freeview_problems.htm
and to quote from the above link

"Indoor aerials are notorious for causing problems because the signals can be reflected by nearby walls, roof tiles, pipes, wiring and even human bodies! The result can be signal cancellation, causing complete or partial loss of some channels"

[Geofbob]

Originally Posted by fernandez

"Indoor aerials are notorious for causing problems because the signals can be reflected by nearby walls, roof tiles, pipes, wiring and even human bodies! The result can be signal cancellation, causing complete or partial loss of some channels"

Fernandez' quote is probably correct in most instances, but I wouldn't dismiss indoor aerials quite so quickly or categorically. I obtain reasonable - but by no means perfect - Freeview reception with the very simplest type of indoor aerial (the wire ring provided with the set). Given that you want to watch only one Freeview channel, I suggest you borrow a box (or buy a cheap one for around £20) with a fairly basic indoor aerial before moving onto more inconvenient and expensive alternatives.

[m.stephens]

Originally Posted by Geofbob

Fernandez' quote is probably correct in most instances, but I wouldn't dismiss indoor aerials quite so quickly or categorically. I obtain reasonable - but by no means perfect - Freeview reception with the very simplest type of indoor aerial (the wire ring provided with the set). Given that you want to watch only one Freeview channel, I suggest you borrow a box (or buy a cheap one for around £20) with a fairly basic indoor aerial before moving onto more inconvenient and expensive alternatives.

Good advice.

My bedroom Freeview box is working fine using a 1 ft long indoor aerial, although I eventually put it up into the loft to avoid problems with some of the weaker channels being disrupted by any movement in the room. The multiplex I had most problems with is the one which carries the Sky channels but you may be lucky.

[ROYOLD]

Enter your Postcode in this website to check your freeview reception. It should give some indication of whether an indoor aerial would be suitable.

http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?

If the antenna suggestion is amplified extra hi-gain then I wouldn't think an indoor aerial would be of much use.

Originally Posted by ROYOLD

Enter your Postcode in this website to check your freeview reception. It should give some indication of whether an indoor aerial would be suitable.

http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?

If the antenna suggestion is amplified extra hi-gain then I wouldn't think an indoor aerial would be of much use.

I have found this predictor to be rather unreliable in several circumstances now. In my own location for example it correctly identifies the transmitter but suggests"high gain" whereas the problem hereabouts if any is "wideband". Even then I get excellent reception with my £18 STB from my roof mounted group A aerial. I notice however locally an increasing proliferation of log periodic aerials which are low gain, low noise, but good wideband antennae.

I have just been given an amplified indoor aerial of a specialised design. I will forward details and comparative performance on a separate thread based on results in my study which is upstairs but with "transmitter facing" window

[Geofbob]

Thanks Analogue - I for one will be very interested in your report. Presumably, you will provide details of your indooe aerial.

Originally Posted by Geofbob

Thanks Analogue - I for one will be very interested in your report. Presumably, you will provide details of your indooe aerial.

OK its a One for All SV9200 and I have hung it up frpm the curtain rail and bingo!

I get excellent reception of all Freeview Mux's and analogue channels with spread of
C21 (C4) to C67 Mux B

Very impressed! Does not seem to be affected by people moving round room etc.

http://www.electricshop.com/invt/400...iovisualspares

[Foebane]

Analogue, do you think this aerial will perform the same?

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/d...0/display.html

It seems to be a later model of the one you've got.

I live at CF5 3EH (Cardiff) and I have poor Freeview reception at times with an outdoor aerial on the roof, pointing towards Mendip even though Wenvoe is less than two miles away!

I would really like to get a decent signal, so I'm hoping that this one will do the job!

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by Foebane

I live at CF5 3EH (Cardiff) and I have poor Freeview reception at times with an outdoor aerial on the roof, pointing towards Mendip even though Wenvoe is less than two miles away!

Why not get your outside aerial re-sited on to Wenvoe?

[Foebane]

No-one has the means to get up to the aerial, but it is right outside my window and I tried turning it from there, but its rusted through.

Besides, I think the cable from the aerial has bad shielding, causing horrendous interference (especially last night). That, and also the fact it splits into two to feed a downstairs telly too.

No, I'd rather have my own boosted aerial, and the one Analogue got looks good to me.

Originally Posted by Foebane

Analogue, do you think this aerial will perform the same?

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/d...0/display.html

Yes it does look like a later model of the same.

However whether it would work I cannot say. I agree with JayCee that an outside aerial is better. As long as it can be done properly with good downleads., etc.

Whether an indoor aerial will work I think will depend where it is put. I am trying it upstairs at a window facing the transmitter which is 21Km away. If your window is likewise then it should work if you are close to Wenvoe.
I think that some people in your area used Mendip to get C4 rather than S4C as available on Wenvoe.

[Foebane]

Analogue, how is the new aerial? Does it work in all weathers, or at least most?

Also, I was wondering: If the aerial lead itself is the problem because of poor shielding, what if I was to wrap it up in tin/aluminium foil? I couldn't quite reach up to the aerial outside but once inside the house I could do so. What do you think?

[ROYOLD]

Analogue's clue to good reception is noted in his posting.

HE HAS GOOD RECEPTION BECAUSE HE HAS A WINDOW FACING THE TRANSMITTER.

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by Foebane

what if I was to wrap it up in tin/aluminium foil? I couldn't quite reach up to the aerial outside but once inside the house I could do so. What do you think?

A complete waste of your time and tinfoil.