Which TV aerial to fit?

ThisIsWeird

Hi.

Mil's reception is breaking up, especially on HD. I've had a look in t'loft, and see a Yagi with 8? thingies:

Her transmitter is Huntshaw, and I suspect reception is partly poor due to the low positioning of her house. There is a booster fitted up in the loft, but it obviously needs a bit more - I guess all that was fitted when the b'low was built around 20 years ago.

Soooo, what aerial should I stick up there?

ThisIsWeird

On a connected note, her TV is a Samsung UE40ES5500, and I can't find 'signal strength' under any menu. Any idea?

She also uses a Manhatten box, and that seemingly does show a signal guide when it's being set up, but again I cannot find it retrospectively - and I don't want to mess with the box in case I lose stored progs and stuff

Any idea how to access either?

I guess I could buy a signal meter - they are pretty cheap.

ThisIsWeird

Apparently the 'group' changed in 2019 from C/D to A. What difference could this have made at that time?

debitcardmayhem

ThisIsWeird said:

On a connected note, her TCV is a Samsung UE40ES5500, and I can't find 'signal strength' under any menu. Any idea?

She also uses a Manhatten box, and that seemingly does show a signal guide when it's being set up, but again I cannot find it retrospectively - and I don't want to mess with the box in case I lose stored progs and stuff

Any idea how to access either?

I guess I could buy a signal meter - they are pretty cheap.

On my samsung its under support ..> self diagnosis

TadleyBaggie

Group A is the low end of the frequency band, C/D is the high end. So if that is a C/D aerial, reception of group A channels may not be ideal. It's possible to get Wideband aerials that cover the whole TV spectrum. Clearly now a group A aerial will be optimum.

Wikipedia confirms that the Huntshaw Cross transmitter changed from C/D bands to A in 2019. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntshaw_Cross_transmitting_station

Alderbank

If the aerial used to be OK but has stopped working it might have moved. Pointing in exactly the right direction is critical for an indoor aerial.
Don't splash out just yet on a new antenna or signal strength meter.
Download one of the free direction finder apps to your phone such as Antenna Mate.
Solved this problem when it happened to me. My loft aerial had moved, just a few degrees but enough to degrade the signal. Fixed in 5 minutes.

ThisIsWeird

Thanks all.

Alderbank - that app will give a compass bearing? If I can't get the signal strength reading from the tele itself, then I'd benefit from having a meter for this anyway, or else I wouldn't know what the optimum direction was - eg, mightn't it require a vertical tilt too, if she's in t'valley, and t'trannie up on t'hill? Meters are only around a £enner.

DCM - thanks, I'll look there.

TadleyB - no idea if the current aerial is C/D. Where does a Yogi of this size fall on the strength range? If it has 8 elements, what is it referred to?

ThisIsWeird

I see most aerials commonly available are now 'tuned to K' to avoid 4 and 5G interference. How does that fit in with it requiring 'A'?!

Why the hell is this so bludy confusing... :-(

What's this baby like compared to the existing aerial (I ask 'cos there's a new one for sale nearby, so wondered if it was worth a punt...): https://fracarro.com/en/product/216249-lp45f-lte/

Are double-Yagis any good? https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-double-yagi-high-gain-tv-aerial/195jr

Or just go 'big'? https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-log-megaboost-tv-aerial/799jr#product_additional_details_container

Grey_Critic

BBC has switched a lot of channels over to HD and we had problems for around three weeks - seems to have sorted itself now. and we are on Freesat - Sound/Signal being lost

Aerial may not have moved the problems could be caused by new masts or upgrades, something outside your control. Freeview channels have also been changed requiring you re-tune.

ThisIsWeird

I suspect it's also weather related - seem to be worse in dry warm weather. That make any sense?

SurferDan

Have a look at this site. It contains a wealth of information about aerials and transmitters. You will be able to find information about your local transmitters, bands, polarisation, what aerial is best for your location, installation and trouble shooting tips.

https://www.aerialsandtv.com/

The site is easy to follow, and quite humourous. Have a look at the Cowboys’ Locker (awful aerial installations)