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Indoor Digital TV Aerial

caryn
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Registered: ‎20-09-2010

Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Hi
Not having the first idea what I need in TV aerials, I was wondering if anyone could recommend something suitable for me.
My daughter has a freeview TV in her room, primarily for use with a blue ray player. We don't have a digital aerial as we have Sky downstairs, but as the TV has freeview capabilty anyway, it seems a shame not to be able to use it. Unfortunately, connecting to the satelite isn't an option. Would an indoor aerial be man enough for the job? If so what sort would we need - some of the ones I was looking at on Amazon, the reviewers said they couldn't get Freeview, which confused me even further.
Thanks in advance for you help
Caryn
25 REPLIES 25
Oldjim
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Whether an indoor aerial will work depends on signal strength which is largely dependent on how far you are from the transmitter
See what this says http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe? and what sort of aerial is recommended
caryn
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Registered: ‎20-09-2010

Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Thanks for the reply Oldjim.
The results for NP18 3RD show two, one being 6 miles and 'Log Periodic' recommended, the other 17 miles and 'Amplified Extra Hi-gain'. They talk of a minimum height of 10m, is that for internal aerials as well (as in it's upstairs so 10m from the ground) or do they mean external aerials?
Do I need to look for an aerial that says log periodic or amplified etc etc?
Sorry for all the questions, but I really don't understand what I need to look for or what any of that means.
Thanks again.
Oldjim
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

A quick check indicates that Mynydd Machen is a local transmitter serving a small area to the west of Risca and you aren't in it.
The main transmitter is Wenvoe and it almost certain that an indoor aerial will not work given the distance and topography (note that the Wenvoe transmitter is south west of Cardiff)
artmo
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

I had the same thought as caryn about a TV in one of the bedrooms.  The digital UK organisation is running roadshows around the areas to be switched over and I will be popping along to the one in my town when it arrives next month. Useful information here:
Digital TV
caryn
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Registered: ‎20-09-2010

Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Thanks again for the replies.
The link to Digital Tv was interesting artmo. My postcode has already switched over to digital and is listed as the Mynydd Machen transmittor relaying from Wenvoe. Wish I knew someone who had an indoor aerial I could borrow to see if it worked or not  Sad
if I were to buy one, is there anything specific I should look for?
shutter
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Presumably you are thinking of the "set top" type of "indoor aerial"...  as oldjim says, you are very unlikely to have any luck with those.... would suggest you talk to your local TV shop, and see about getting an aerial to fix in your loft space... (you can do this yourself, so long as you have a compass, and know the bearing to point the aerial at)... and the lead will need to go down through a hole in the ceiling to your daughters bedroom.
You should be able to get the bearing from the transmitter from an online website, or ask the tv shop. (not curry`s ! ! )
pierre_pierre
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

A set top is only suitable if you can see the transmitter, Wenvoe  is a very high power transmitter, so you are probaly OK with that in the loft, but do take advice as your location is low down on the river side, and part of newport near the M4 are bad
the yellow on the map is good, the white is no signal
caryn
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Registered: ‎20-09-2010

Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

The loft one sounds like a plan  Smiley
Thanks for all the help guys.
artmo
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Good idea Shutter Smiley Smiley
pierre_pierre
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

and that from a man who cant get a good signal in Portsmouth
shutter
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Because I cannot get a good line of sight to the transmitter, being only 25 feet above SEA LEVEL..... And that is the AERIAL HEIGHT TOO>>>>>>>>  Roll_eyes
pierre_pierre
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Caryn is not much better, virtually on Sea level and a fair distance from Wenvoe  with mountains all around, I did research it before I replied
Mav
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

@ artmo Thanks for that link.
Something that isn't clear is that if you already receive all available Freeview channels does that mean the ariel will be just as suitable after switchover or is it possible that with the change of frequencies and strengths that the ariel may still need replacing?

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Oldjim
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Re: Indoor Digital TV Aerial

Some do - most don't but you can check from the relevant site