Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by Le Phantom on 04/4/2010

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Hmm, while you don't have to have a signal detector it's very useful imo, a good one will help you locate either a digital or analogie signal quickly, easily and accurately.

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What I actually say about (cheap) signal meters is that for aerial installing they`re a waste of time. Not only are they not frequency specific but the the signal level LEDs are usually about 10dB apart which is a huge amount.

However, the fact that (cheap) signal strength meters aren`t frequency specific is actually a bonus for caravanners or boaters because they can locate the source of the strongest transmissions with one. Then I`d use the analogue signal (or digital signal level on your TV or STB) to peak up your aerial for direction and polarity. 

I think it`s worth reading my researched info for maximising your signal from a caravan or boat TV aerial.

 

Quote: Originally posted by Justin Aerial on 04/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Le Phantom on 04/4/2010

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Hmm, while you don't have to have a signal detector it's very useful imo, a good one will help you locate either a digital or analogie signal quickly, easily and accurately.

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What I actually say about (cheap) signal meters is that for aerial installing they`re a waste of time. Not only are they not frequency specific but the the signal level LEDs are usually about 10dB apart which is a huge amount.

However, the fact that (cheap) signal strength meters aren`t frequency specific is actually a bonus for caravanners or boaters because they can locate the source of the strongest transmissions with one. Then I`d use the analogue signal (or digital signal level on your TV or STB) to peak up your aerial for direction and polarity. 

I think it`s worth reading my researched info for maximising your signal from a caravan or boat TV aerial.

 

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Quote: Originally posted by Justin Aerial on 04/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Le Phantom on 04/4/2010

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Hmm, while you don't have to have a signal detector it's very useful imo, a good one will help you locate either a digital or analogie signal quickly, easily and accurately.

---

What I actually say about (cheap) signal meters is that for aerial installing they`re a waste of time. Not only are they not frequency specific but the the signal level LEDs are usually about 10dB apart which is a huge amount.

However, the fact that (cheap) signal strength meters aren`t frequency specific is actually a bonus for caravanners or boaters because they can locate the source of the strongest transmissions with one. Then I`d use the analogue signal (or digital signal level on your TV or STB) to peak up your aerial for direction and polarity. 

I think it`s worth reading my researched info for maximising your signal from a caravan or boat TV aerial.

 

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Quote: Originally posted by digisatman on 04/4/2010

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Justin you only use a specky to test, try putting in to place the same tests as in the benchmarking process. Thats when you really get the correct answers.

You can get all the answers from the aerial manufactures themselves

At least we both recommend a Log Periodic Aerials

Post last edited on 04/04/2010 17:52:11

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Lastly, you can`t get all the answers from the aerial manufacturers, most don`t even release the gain curves, and even if they do I`m unconvinced they`re directly comparable.

Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 04/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Justin Aerial on 04/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Le Phantom on 04/4/2010

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Hmm, while you don't have to have a signal detector it's very useful imo, a good one will help you locate either a digital or analogie signal quickly, easily and accurately.

---

What I actually say about (cheap) signal meters is that for aerial installing they`re a waste of time. Not only are they not frequency specific but the the signal level LEDs are usually about 10dB apart which is a huge amount.

However, the fact that (cheap) signal strength meters aren`t frequency specific is actually a bonus for caravanners or boaters because they can locate the source of the strongest transmissions with one. Then I`d use the analogue signal (or digital signal level on your TV or STB) to peak up your aerial for direction and polarity. 

I think it`s worth reading my researched info for maximising your signal from a caravan or boat TV aerial.

 

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Just more junk to carry around. There is a much easier way to find the best signal. Look around and see where everyone else's aerial is pointing. Even better if there are any houses nearby.

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I`d agree with that, though at Boseley Locks (see linked article) they, and me initially, were all wrong !

I don`t know whether it`s more a boaters problem but quite often you`ll moor up and there aren`t any other aerials to see. That`s part of the reason I love boating, esp on canals you can moor up just about anywhere, in the middle of nowhere if you want. Nobody else about, absolute quiet, bliss......

Quote: Originally posted by joecroft2 on 05/4/2010

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as i am new to the Aerial installation game only 4 years experience , i really enjoy reading all articles on your site Justin , keep up the good work , joe

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Quote: Originally posted by Justin Aerial on 04/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by digisatman on 04/4/2010

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Justin you only use a specky to test, try putting in to place the same tests as in the benchmarking process. Thats when you really get the correct answers.

You can get all the answers from the aerial manufactures themselves

At least we both recommend a Log Periodic Aerials

Post last edited on 04/04/2010 17:52:11

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I`m confident that my tests are accurate enough, on the average figure for a group at any rate. As far as I`m aware no test site will guarantee its gain figures to better than +/- 0.5dB anyway.

The reason I think the tests are accurate is because they`re repeatable and furthermore testing on our shop roof gives more or less the same results as it does at the test site. The other reason I`m confident in them is because the results are generally what one would expect. I have a good example of this. We recommend the DMX10B as a decent aerial (though the SR18B performs just as well as a B group) but after testing it I realised that it was just as good as a K group, so I phoned Paul Blake and said they could sell that aerial as a K group. He replied they used to sell it as a K group but too many aerial installers were confused by it so they just sell it as B group now ! The latter comment probably says just as much about some aerial installers lack of knowledge as it does about the accuracy of my aerial testing but there we go ! ! !

Lastly, you can`t get all the answers from the aerial manufacturers, most don`t even release the gain curves, and even if they do I`m unconvinced they`re directly comparable.

Post last edited on 04/04/2010 21:53:00

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