What type of UHF antenna?

Hello,

I am asking for some advice before I go and spend my money

I live just south of (by about 1K) and underneath the Kaukau transmitter, there's no line of sight from our roof as there is a chunk of Mt Kaukau in the way.

My current antenna is the YAGI type UHF and with that I get limited reception.

I've entered my address in the 'get freeview' page and it tells me 'freeviewplus and myfreeviewplus are your best options" but I see no words indicating like or likely with high aerial'

A couple of extra metres on the pole may be about enough to sight the top of the tower. but this is a very high wind area and how far from the top is the actual signal sent from?.

Signal strength is 9-10/10 but quality is 0-4/10 depending on the channel. (36 and 28 unwatchable, 32 and 34 mostly OK but this week 34 has been dropping out leading to me now doing something about it). After the wind blew it around I've been up on the roof with a compass playing with little changes horizontally and vertically in pointing it direct tat kaukau or in the little gap between the hills hoping to pick up a bending signal:-), all with insignificant improvement.

Interestingly (for me) one or our other TV's is not connected at all, just a 5m length of coax running along the top of the window frame inside the house (facing Kaukau) and this picks up most channels fine. If I connect this cable to our YAGI the picture drops out / gets worse.

So I think I'd like to try the a phased array type antenna. I see a few turning up around the neighbours roofs also.

Are there other things I should try before buying a phased array? Is a phased array OK in a high signal strength area but with a big hill in the way? nothing I've read indicates this...

Or do I persist with the current Yagi but buy a longer pole, damn the wind and work on the pointing?

Cheers, and thankyou for reading.

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Permalink Reply by Biggles on February 2, 2017 at 18:45

It's difficult to say without some experimentation but it's possible you are getting signal overload. If the short piece of co-ax on the other set works then maybe a UHF indoor antenna may be all you need. I get a picture OK on my Android Box with just a few inches of wire plugged in the antenna socket at about 13km line of sight from Waiatarua. I'd suggest you start with a short length of co-ax with the braid folded back about 6 - 8 inches effectively forming a coaxial dipole. It may be all you need. If that doesn't work try an indoor antenna or go to a simple phased array. Your Yagi is probably too directional and too much gain. You could also try removing the active element from the yagi and try that just by itself i.e remove all the rest of the antenna. There are many options available to you til you find the right answer. Best option is probably a pro installer who can measure the signal strength and install the appropriate antenna.

P.S. I don't think putting your antenna on a longer pole will solve the problem if you are so close to the Transmitter.

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Permalink Reply by willis on February 3, 2017 at 1:40

turn the aerial vertical and try fitzherbert

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Permalink Reply by Mike on February 7, 2017 at 23:20

Hi, thanks for the suggestions. Solved. I removed half the active elements and found many of the freeview channels i previously couldn't watch I could now watch, and some of the ones that were previously OK (TV1&2 3) I couldn't. Now I didn't really understand this but it meant I was on to something & in the right direction so I simply removed the rest of the elements except for one and the bit that the cable screwed into - Wunderbar! Now there is also much less antenna to get blown around in the summer breezes. Confusing the situation and making the troubleshooting quite annoying was a dodgy cable between wall socket and receiver. DoH!

I did have a go pointing at Fitzherbert, but got nothing, I am too close to & underneath Kaukau even for Fitz I think.

Thankyou for your time and comments.

Took most of Monday afternoon in the wind & rain on the roof & deck, but I didn't need to spend any money & had an excuse to avoid shopping:-)