Device for tuning in TV aerials

titewad_2

Where can I cheaply buy a device or meter thingy to correctly align my TV aerials. We were previously on a communal aerial which has been disconnected. Not wanting to pay the £100 I was quoted for fitting an external aerial. I have been up a ladder and done it myself. I now have three aerials on one pole, with varying degrees of success regarding signal. One aerial I have managed to achieve a decent picture on all channels except ch 5. The other two I have buzzing, fuzzy pictures and crackling, and also when a moped goes past we have lines go across the screen accompanied by buzzing until the moped has passed. However, I can't seem to find the device that a professional fitter would use to perfectly align aerials. I have tried ebay Maplins and also at my local tool hire shop.. Someone advise please. Thankyou

espresso

I doubt if you will find a signal analyser like the professional aerial installers should use (a lot don't bother) because they are very expensive.

You can however use most freeview boxes to do this, as they usually have both signal strength and signal quality measurements displayed in the set-up menu.

penrhyn

If you are getting a lot of interference it could be that your coax downlead is substandard, or the outer braid is not connected.
The channel 5 issue may be due to having the wrong type of aerial for your area. Fuzzy crackles and pops sound like a poor connection.
This site gives some aerial type information by postcode http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tva.exe?DX=L&OS=SN5881

If you havn't got a freeview box then you could just align yours with other nearby aerials.

windym_2

I know that Focus do one, about £30 but it is not on their website. It is with all the TV bits and pieces.

espresso

I think that you will find that item is for aligning satellite dishes NOT TV aerials.

_pale_

sicker

Could I suggest that you look around at other rooftops (assuming you are not isolated) and point your aerial in the same direction. channel 5 is hard to get in some areas.
Best of luck

John

djohn2002uk

espresso wrote:

I think that you will find that item is for aligning satellite dishes NOT TV aerials.

_pale_

You get them for terestrial TV too. Signal Strength meters.

titewad_2

I have pointed the aerial in the same direction as others around me but as I say,reasonable successs with one but not the other two.My co-ax was brand new off a fresh drum.Thanks penrhyn for your link,at the present time it isn't loading.Thanks windym for the focus recommendation,I will have a look tomorrow.

jon_r_2

Penryhn is on the right track, i used to be in the tv trade, aerials can be tricky, ie the 'grouping' is important,usually colour coded. viz if you live in say the London Area you can only use a group 'A' aerial (channels 21 to 37 only) using a wrong aerial...a group B one (for channels 35 to 50)say... will result in poor or even no pictures on SOME channels, also mounting it horizontally or vertically is an issue,to glance at there is little difference,between 'groups'.
You may have something reflecting your signals ie a gasometer, crane etc,or you may have a transmitter with a combination of widely spaced channels, like i do here in Berkshire 35 39 42 45 66, the last one is channel 4 this meant that when channel 4 came along many folks needed completely new aerials,finally try bbc home page then go into engineering that will list your local transmitters by channels or even give them a ring, they will be able to help good luck,i hope that helps you and others without being too technical