Digital aerial

[geo0939]

I've just bought a digital TV ( Grundig) and I need an aerial to suit, as my old one is around 22 years old. Is it feasible to fit one these myself ?, I'm above average in DIY, but I'm not too sure about the technical end of it. The equipment seems to be pretty cheap on ebay, and it would be a loft installation. I enjoy doing my own jobs, but I might buy the wrong equipment. If I have it professionally installed, does anyone have an idea what it would cost. I live in SW Scotland. THANKS.

[buildersmate]

I assume you are wanting to tune to digital terrestial, not satellite. In which case you use a similar (or in some cases the same) aerial. The digital signals come from your local transmitter, the same one as the analogue signals, they just come in on a different Channel number. You may be right that you have to change the aerial because older aerials were banded A to D to cover the analogue Channels 21 to 66. Nowadays a widebank aerial, designated E is typically sold, and you might need one of these. You could try running the set-up programme on the grundig to see what it can pick up - digital sets usually tell you the strength of the signal they can find. If all have need to do is change the aerial, this is definitely DIY, the hardest part being mounting it on the outside high up. Is this what you wanted to know, or am I assuming something different?

[Postdog]

I have freeview on two tv's (one on my PC).

Prior to the PC tv, I just had a freeview set top box, and it was connected via an aerial at least 40 years old, with no problems. When I got the PC, the aerial didn't seem to handle 2 tv''s, so I bought a signal booster from a diy shop for about �20.00, and both are fine.

When you say you NEED an aerial, is this from experience or are you just being told you will need an aerial. Seriously, if you are getting some signal, just not good enough, I would suggest a signal booster as a cheap an easy option.

[=rizla=]

If your old aerial is 22 years old i'm going to guess that it isnt a wide bandwidth needed for the digital signals.

The hardest ( in my opinion) bit of changing an aerial is to get to it!!!

Normally it'll be a couple of bolts to physically change it and then just connect the centre of the coax to the new one and the same for the screen. The cable should already be stripped etc as its being used at the moment, just pay attention to how the old one was connected as you remove it to give you a clue for the new one.

The connections etc havent changed on aerials for donkeys years, just the frequecies they 'pick up'

[BillyNoMates]

Apart from a decent wideband aerial (if wanting decent Freeview reception), the next most important component is the cable quality.

Freeview can be more suceptable to interference from electrical impulses eg. central heating, lights going on/off. Look to replace your coax with some good quality CT100 spec cable especially if you currently have the old brown coax. It makes a big difference.

If it's a loft setup go for a higher gain aerial than you would need for an outdoor installation and consider a distribution amplifier if you are feeding 2 or more outlets.

Check here for recommended aerial types for your area using a potcode ;

http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?

[xrayspecs]

Like Postdog, I just bought a booster. and my freeview works fine. Our arial is exremely old.

[diana.m]

I wish I saw this thread last week, just paid Pds150 for installation of a new digital arial and new cable by an expert! So if 20 pds can do it I feel cheated.

[buildersmate]

No such thing as a digital aerial. Its an aerial that picks up digital broadcasts. I suppose aerial installers have to earn a crust too.