Megaboost (Log Periodic) v High Gain Aerial for Freeview

[PhilReed]

Hi All,

Has anyone any experience of the Megaboost Digital TV Aerial http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47022 and how it works compared to an unamplified high gain aerial such as http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=22523 or http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=906 ?

I am wanting to connect a freeview box in a bedroom and will want to put the aerial in the loft – not on the roof.

Our two nearest transmitters are Bilsdale, 21 miles away and Emley Moor, 35 miles away. We already have a professionally installed aerial in the loft which gets pretty good freeview downstairs and is pointing towards Emley Moor. The aerial is nothing special (something like http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=893), but it does have a masthead amplifier. We also have an unamplified cheapo analogue aerial in the loft which points towards Bilsdale and gives pretty good analogue reception (all five channels) and some Freeview channels (couple of the 16QAM muxs, not the 64QAMs). Emley Moor needs a group B (or W) aerial and Bilsdale a group K/W so will probably just opt for a wideband type as I’m not sure which will give the better reception. If I go for a high gain class 2, I would probably try it unamplified at first.

But is the Megaboost a better bet?

If high gain, any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nick_UK]

Is there any reason why the aerial must be in the loft ? When signals pass through building materials, they lose up to half their strength. The aerial is also closer to sources of interference within the house, too.

 

[PhilReed]

The reasons are ease of access, aesthetics and cost plus I know that we can get the reception we require with a loft aerial as we have one already installed and working.

 

[PhilReed]

As an alternative, could I swap the masthead amplifier on the aerial I already have fitted for a two way one and feed both digi boxes off the one aerial? Would I lose signal strength doing that and would the PSU I already have in the downstairs room be sufficient or do I need a second PSU? The advice given here http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/masthead.htm seems to suggest it is technically possible, at least, and that only one PSU is required. Is it important to match the masthead amplifier to the PSU (i.e. if I changed the amplifier might I need to change the PSU also?)

 

[Bl4ckGryph0n]

Don't get it why you are even considering two antenna's pointing at the same transmitter?

I'm 32 miles away from Crystal Palace, have one aerial and a Antiference 261LR 6 way amplifier...Works a dream....

If you have only two point to serve my assumption is that the loft is very small anyway, so having two aerials close together will most likely cause inteference between them....