Range of reception

Does anyone know how many kilometers one needs to be within for an internal aerial to work?

What is the range in comparison to outdoor aerials?

If there are high trees in between my house and the transmitter, how badly will that effect my reception?

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Permalink Reply by Julian Visch on June 7, 2013 at 11:04

How was your reception when you tried internal aerials?

http://freeviewforum.co.nz/forum/topics/sound-dropping-out-and-pict...

is an example of external aerials not working when having been installed by a professional.

If you can receive a good picture 200km away then my parents should be able to receive a good picture with an internal aerial when only 5-10 km away.

We always had reliable analogue reception with rabbit ears.

Mike Gailer said:

My outside uhf aerial is running perfectly and has for several years. No breakup of signal, ever. Around 20kms from the transmitter. Haven't got line of sight but I'm just below a ridge and it works well. All I can suggest is that those professional installers weren't.
The only breakup problems I have encountered have been due to either a VHF aerial being used, poor quality cable, old splitters, or signal loop through of old devices.

Keep us updated once you have tried an external aerial.

Julian Visch said:
Price for an outside aerial is $250 (including installation), inside $50 (including installation).

If they were reliable then why are people losing conection with outside aerials installed by professionals?

Mike Gailer said:

Those rabbits ears with the little UHF antenna on them aren't really good enough and they cost as much as some outdoor aerials!

External aerials are the right way to go. (They were also the way to go for reliable analog reception too.).

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Permalink Reply by Mike G on June 7, 2013 at 11:54

Hi Julian, try not to be too hard on NZDTV or me, we're just trying to help you.

Hundreds of thousands of kiwis are watching terrestrial freeview with no problem. The coverage is good, the signal is strong and reliable, all it takes is a good receive aerial and cable. This will last for many years, so isn't a big cost per year for what is basically free entertainment.

I haven't tried an indoor panel antenna but it has to be better than a set of rabbits ears at rejecting multipath signals. Neither will be as good as a real aerial.

I'm sure that once you sort out your reception, you will be pleased with digital.

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Permalink Reply by Julian Visch on June 7, 2013 at 12:11

While I accept you are trying to help, your constant dismissal of internal aerials and always going for expensive options is not helpful to the poor.

Given a budget of $70 what would you recommend? Or should they just throw away their tvs and save their $70?

Mike Gailer said:

Hi Julian, try not to be too hard on NZDTV or me, we're just trying to help you.

Hundreds of thousands of kiwis are watching terrestrial freeview with no problem. The coverage is good, the signal is strong and reliable, all it takes is a good receive aerial and cable. This will last for many years, so isn't a big cost per year for what is basically free entertainment.

I haven't tried an indoor panel antenna but it has to be better than a set of rabbits ears at rejecting multipath signals. Neither will be as good as a real aerial.

I'm sure that once you sort out your reception, you will be pleased with digital.

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Permalink Reply by Mike G on June 7, 2013 at 14:04

My own reception is with an outdoor UHF aerial I bought online as a deal from dick smith. It cost $30 and included 15m of cable.

If you're renting, have you asked the landlord if they will do it? If there was an old VHF aerial there already, they should replace it at their cost if you ask nicely...

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Permalink Reply by Julian Visch on June 7, 2013 at 14:14

How did you install it?

Mike Gailer said:

My own reception is with an outdoor UHF aerial I bought online as a deal from dick smith. It cost $30 and included 15m of cable.

If you're renting, have you asked the landlord if they will do it? If there was an old VHF aerial there already, they should replace it at their cost if you ask nicely...

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Permalink Reply by Mike G on June 7, 2013 at 16:24

I installed it myself. There was an old j-pole mounted to the side of the house with an old VHF aerial on it. I removed the old aerial and put the new one in its place. The new cable came with p clips which I ran the same way as the old cable down the wall and through a gap under the house to the lounge. Not too tricky to do yourself.

Total cost $30 plus a beer I needed to cool down afterwards!

Julian Visch said:

How did you install it?

Mike Gailer said:

My own reception is with an outdoor UHF aerial I bought online as a deal from dick smith. It cost $30 and included 15m of cable.

If you're renting, have you asked the landlord if they will do it? If there was an old VHF aerial there already, they should replace it at their cost if you ask nicely...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julian Visch on June 7, 2013 at 16:55

How could one do it if one doesn't have an old aerial on the roof?

Mike Gailer said:

I installed it myself. There was an old j-pole mounted to the side of the house with an old VHF aerial on it. I removed the old aerial and put the new one in its place. The new cable came with p clips which I ran the same way as the old cable down the wall and through a gap under the house to the lounge. Not too tricky to do yourself.

Total cost $30 plus a beer I needed to cool down afterwards!

Julian Visch said:
How did you install it?

Mike Gailer said:

My own reception is with an outdoor UHF aerial I bought online as a deal from dick smith. It cost $30 and included 15m of cable.

If you're renting, have you asked the landlord if they will do it? If there was an old VHF aerial there already, they should replace it at their cost if you ask nicely...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike G on June 7, 2013 at 19:43

The type I got was like this one but it was cheaper then. (On special) http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/product/L4735/dick-smith-hd-uhf-outdoor-...
I had forgotten that it came with a wall mounting bracket too, but I didn't need it. So you could use the bracket in the kit to mount it instead of needing a j-pole.
Just keep looking for a deal and one could do it cheaply.

Julian Visch said:

How could one do it if one doesn't have an old aerial on the roof?

Mike Gailer said:

I installed it myself. There was an old j-pole mounted to the side of the house with an old VHF aerial on it. I removed the old aerial and put the new one in its place. The new cable came with p clips which I ran the same way as the old cable down the wall and through a gap under the house to the lounge. Not too tricky to do yourself.

Total cost $30 plus a beer I needed to cool down afterwards!

Julian Visch said:
How did you install it?

Mike Gailer said:

My own reception is with an outdoor UHF aerial I bought online as a deal from dick smith. It cost $30 and included 15m of cable.

If you're renting, have you asked the landlord if they will do it? If there was an old VHF aerial there already, they should replace it at their cost if you ask nicely...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julian Visch on June 7, 2013 at 20:48

Thanks for that. Site mentions you can use inside, so just a matter of some masking tape.

Mike Gailer said:

The type I got was like this one but it was cheaper then. (On special) http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/product/L4735/dick-smith-hd-uhf-outdoor-...
I had forgotten that it came with a wall mounting bracket too, but I didn't need it. So you could use the bracket in the kit to mount it instead of needing a j-pole.
Just keep looking for a deal and one could do it cheaply.

Julian Visch said:
How could one do it if one doesn't have an old aerial on the roof?

Mike Gailer said:

I installed it myself. There was an old j-pole mounted to the side of the house with an old VHF aerial on it. I removed the old aerial and put the new one in its place. The new cable came with p clips which I ran the same way as the old cable down the wall and through a gap under the house to the lounge. Not too tricky to do yourself.

Total cost $30 plus a beer I needed to cool down afterwards!

Julian Visch said:
How did you install it?

Mike Gailer said:

My own reception is with an outdoor UHF aerial I bought online as a deal from dick smith. It cost $30 and included 15m of cable.

If you're renting, have you asked the landlord if they will do it? If there was an old VHF aerial there already, they should replace it at their cost if you ask nicely...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julian Visch on June 8, 2013 at 19:45

Will take another 2 weeks until my parents can get a tech in, huge waiting list at mo.

Mike Gailer said:

The type I got was like this one but it was cheaper then. (On special) http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/product/L4735/dick-smith-hd-uhf-outdoor-...
I had forgotten that it came with a wall mounting bracket too, but I didn't need it. So you could use the bracket in the kit to mount it instead of needing a j-pole.
Just keep looking for a deal and one could do it cheaply.

Julian Visch said:
How could one do it if one doesn't have an old aerial on the roof?

Mike Gailer said:

I installed it myself. There was an old j-pole mounted to the side of the house with an old VHF aerial on it. I removed the old aerial and put the new one in its place. The new cable came with p clips which I ran the same way as the old cable down the wall and through a gap under the house to the lounge. Not too tricky to do yourself.

Total cost $30 plus a beer I needed to cool down afterwards!

Julian Visch said:
How did you install it?

Mike Gailer said:

My own reception is with an outdoor UHF aerial I bought online as a deal from dick smith. It cost $30 and included 15m of cable.

If you're renting, have you asked the landlord if they will do it? If there was an old VHF aerial there already, they should replace it at their cost if you ask nicely...