All posts by Dave Lindsay
Below are all of Dave Lindsay's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
jay: If your rooftop aerial points to Crystal Palace then I suggest that attempt a manual tune on the five (or six if it's HD) channels with the aerial pointing in roughly the right direction, orientated vertically.
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Catherine: Wiring two aerial leads to the same set of terminals is a no no. The first thing you need to do is to try connecting one cable to the aerial and see what sort of signal you get; then do likewise for the other.
This will allow you to ascertain whether the aerial is any use as wiring two leads without a proper splitter could be your issue.
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Catherine: For information on this subject, see A.T.V (Aerials And Television) TV Aerial, DAB Aerial, FM Aerial.
You can either get a distribution amplifier that is powered from the mains directly; that is the mains lead goes directly into it and therefore requires a local socket to plug it into. Or you can get remotely-powered ones which are the sort you put outside on the aerial mast; these require a power supply to be sited, usually adjacent to one of the TVs with the low voltage being fed up the aerial lead to the amp.
As you can get condensation in the loft it is maybe a good idea to not have mains appliances up there if you can avoid it. For that reason, either use a remotely powered amp in the loft or site a mains-powered one somewhere within the living quarters, ensuring appropriate ventilation etc.
This is an example of the remote type I am thinking of:
A.T.V (Aerials And Television) TV Aerial, DAB Aerial, FM Aerial. onlinesplittersandamps.html#4WayMHamp
You are predicted to have an excellent signal from Redruth transmitter at 16 miles away. You would be able to see it were it not for Treringey Round.
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Catherine: The link to the amplifier when wrong. Here it is:
Online TV Splitters, Amps & Diplexers sales
You may find that an unpowered 4-way splitter will do. I would stick to the fully-screened types with f-connectors:
Online TV Splitters, Amps & Diplexers sales
If you find that it isn't good enough, you might like to have a Plan B which is to replace it with a powered amplifier.
Replacing the cable with double-screened such as Webro WF100 will reduce losses, although I'm not sure how important this, particularly if replacing a length of cable that is plastered into the wall and requires a lot of work:
Satellite, Television, FM, DAB, Aerial, Coaxial Cable, Plugs, Sockets, Connectors & Leads
The current aerial will give you an idea of the sort of signal area you are in. Clearly I can't say for certain, but if you are in a good area then a Log 40 or DM Log will do:
Online TV FM DAB Aerial sales
You may be able to utlise the existing loft bracket and pole, or get another.
Or you may find that the current aerial works fine - once you've corrected the bodged connection. Again, if it proves not to work once you have your distribution system installed, you can always swap the aerial.
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Mick: The position is absolutely critical. See here where Bob had the same issue and management to rescue it without the services of a professional:
No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellite - general | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
I'm not a professional myself. However, I am wondering whether you may be struggling as it needs aligned both horizontally and vertically and you could potentially be here until the hot summer trying all positions. Then again, you may strike lucky.
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Jack Gaffney: I have no idea where you get your TV signal from as I, like others on here, aren't psychic!
The Sky Sports channels are not available from all transmitters, but they are available if you can receive the COM6 multiplex which carries Film4, 4Music, Yesterday and others. So if you have these, then you will have Sky Sports (subject to required subscription).
If you are missing COM6 (or COM4 or COM5) you may be able to receive them with a different aerial, or, you may not be served in your area.
For a full list of digital terrestrial TV services by multiplex (e.g. PSB1, COM6 etc), see:
DTG :: DTT Services by Multiplex
Reigate is a full service transmitter (carries PSBs and COMs), but a replacement aerial "may" be needed to receive all channels without which only the PSBs are received.
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Mick: I can't help you any more as I'm not a professional and have never even used a satellite receiver!
The only thing I will say is that if it was Bob's pole that moved, then the elevation would not have been altered because his dish was bolted to the pole. Therefore he only had to set the azimuth by gradually rotating the pole.
As you have taken the dish down then your task would appear to be far more complex.
I don't know whether something like this might help:
Sky Dish Alignment & Installation Guide, Aligning Sky Satellite Dish
One of the professionals will hopefully be along soon.
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Catherine: A further thought regarding use of a mast-head amplifier with separate power supply: some devices (TVs and set-top boxes) have the ability to send power up the aerial lead to run an amplifier. This would mean that there would be no need for a separate power supply, but it would mean that the device would have to be powered on in order to watch any TV fed from the amp.
I'm not an aerial professional and haven't looked into this deeply. As an example the Humax HD-FOX T2 can provide 5V (when activated). However, the amplifier I directed you to on the ATV site is a 12V one, so you would have to see what voltage and maximum current rating your device could support and then look for a suitable amp.
The above is if you decide to go down the route of using a powered amplifier - not entirely sure that it's necessary.
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Kevin Hodges: Not sure that I can answer your question, but maybe this page might be useful:
BBC High Definition test card | High definition | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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Tuesday 22 January 2013 8:41PM
jay: Which transmitter are you directing it at? If I were you I would probably be looking at Hemel Hempstead rather than Crystal Palace.
Looking on Streetview most aerials appear to be on Crystal Palace (aerials horizontal on a bearing of 140 degrees).
Hemel Hempstead aerials are vertical and it is on a bearing of 124 degrees.
If the aerial has to be pointed through a neighbour's loft then I think you're pretty much on a non-starter.
If your rooftop aerial faces Hemel Hempstead then use it to tune in your TV. Ensure that it is tuned to Hemel Hempstead and not Crystal Palace by observing the signal strength screen whilst on the following channels:
BBC One C44
ITV1 C41
BBC One HD (if applicable) C47
ITV3 C50
Pick TV C59
Film4 C55
So BBC One should be tuned to UHF channel (frequency) 44.