Rooftop aerial to loft?

MNM2903

I had a rooftop aerial fitted at my parents house, this was for use while we have been saving to purchase our first home. We are now due to move in to our new home on Friday 26th February. What I'm wondering is if I can take it down and fit it in my lift at my new house? Not sure if it's a different aerial required or not and if I can do it is it easy enough to do as the connections are already in the loft?

Robisere

Depends on the signal strength at your new home. Also, a digital signal is very "tight band", in that anything but air between the antenna and the transmitter, is capable of affecting the signal. For example, some years ago, as the country was preparing to set up for Digital TV, my area of rural Lincs was way down the line to receive a transmitter boost. You only have to see the height of the antennas around my village to realise that! We put an antenna in the loft, but when our TV went digital, the signal was poor to non-existent. Then we found that it was blocked by a huge tree. A mate who was a commercial TV and network engineer, raised an antenna on a 20' scaffold pole to prove that and we were able to get the tree removed, after which the signal was perfect.

The problem with trees in the way is that, even in the winter with no leaves, the signal is confused by branches waving about.

I would have a professional antenna erector check your signal, then put it where he recommends.

Kurtis_Blue

If its on the roof donot bother, not worth going up there.

Depending on location a good aerial for loft use is only going to cost you £10-£30. Donot buy them from a DIY super store or screwfix type place, they are over priced garbage.

Goto the digitalUK website and see you local transmitter and probable signal strength at you new property.
It will also tell you whether you should have a grouped aerial or wideband, also look at whether the aerial needs to have vertical or horizontal alignment.

In most good signal strength area a long "log periodic" aerial works well and takes up minimal space.

For weaker areas a Unix 52 type aerial may be better.

You new home will have the coax ends in the loft, with no connectors.

If it is just one TV point just connect it straight to the aerial.

If it is multiple try it first with a passive splitter with f connectors, then if signal is weak swap out for an amplifier.

MNM2903

Thanks for the advice looks like I'll be buying an aerial. Didn't think using the rooftop aerial would be much good. Probably a bit big to be putting in a loft. I'll check out the website you recommended.

Thanks again

Moneymaker

As a general rule, you'll need a longer aerial in the loft compared with the aerial required above the roof of the same building, because the roof attenuates the signal and you may need to compensate.
Read http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/articles/whatsat-201007.pdf

Rodders53

Location is key. Without that we are guessing. DigitalUK site is good for predictions.

Usually not worth recovering a roof aerial ... they degrade over time as do the coax cables. Then there's the Rod Hull incident you should heed.

http://www.aerialsandtv.com/atvschoiceofaerials.html and http://www.aerialsandtv.com/loftaerials.html are worth reading - along with the rest of Justin's site. Freely given good advice like that deserves the occasional purchase from them! {I have no connection to them - but used to be paid well to advise on TV & Radio reception matters.}

C_Mababejive

Dont bother clambering on the roof ! It just isnt worth it in terms of cash or safety. Antennas are cheap. Mt top tip,dont buy a yagi,buy a log periodic.