Using indoor UHF aerial for Freeview in Auckland

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henareho

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#225500 22-Nov-2017 06:03

Hi guys,

Am on the western side oof Mt Eden Rd and have line of sight to the Waiatarua transmitter.

Am trying to setup Panasonic Smart TV using indoor UHF aerial but am getting no signal.

Does this mean that i need an external UHF antenna?

Thanks

Henare

SATTV

1648 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1905569 22-Nov-2017 07:29

An indoor aerial is always for strong signal areas, can you see Waitarua?

Try rotating the aerial 90derees i.e. vertical and trying for signal from Skytower, even though you cant see it signal will be there.

IMO you will need an external aerial, I always say get an installer with the proper equipment and UHF can be a fickle beast.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1905589 22-Nov-2017 09:07

Not necessarily provided your antenna can also see the Waiatarua Tx through one of your windows. Yesterday I installed an indoor antenna ($16 from China) on my Android TV box which has built-in Sat and UHF Tuners. I can see the Waiatarua Mast out my lounge windows from my location at North Shore. I only had to move the antenna around a bit behind the video cabinet until I found the 'sweet spot' where it can see the Tx thru a glass door and works OK. Although it is working OK it is still nowhere near as good as an external antenna. I use an external antenna through a splitter for my TV, Panasonic Recorder and PC Tuner.

Rickles

2938 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1905618 22-Nov-2017 10:35

Supplementary question: IF the signal is good enough for an internal antenna, which is better? Viz. the upright stick type (like a large dongle), or the flat sheet/mat type that sticks to the window?

Anyone had experience with either of these?

henareho

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1905735 22-Nov-2017 12:30

Thanks guys, we do have an outlet in the lounge but it would mean running a coax lead about 10m into the bedroom.

Would like to avoid that if I could. Tried one of those dongle types and it couldn't pick up anything.

I currently live in Kilbirnie, Wellington and have a cheap $16 jobbie which works marvelously.

Can see Mt Vic but no line of sight to Mt Kaukau or Fitzherbert transmitters which are more than 5km away.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1905765 22-Nov-2017 13:21

henareho:

Thanks guys, we do have an outlet in the lounge but it would mean running a coax lead about 10m into the bedroom.

Would like to avoid that if I could. Tried one of those dongle types and it couldn't pick up anything.

I currently live in Kilbirnie, Wellington and have a cheap $16 jobbie which works marvelously.

Can see Mt Vic but no line of sight to Mt Kaukau or Fitzherbert transmitters which are more than 5km away.

The trick would probably be to get the TV tuned in to the correct transmitter via a really good solid signal (maybe the roof aerial), then move it and try your portable indoor aerial. Digital TV is binary - in that it either gets enough signal to work or not work. Trying to tune a TV in on marginal signal would just mean you would get nothing.

If the TV was already 'tuned', at least you would have a chance of fiddling with your indoor aerial and seeing if a picture appears.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

henareho

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1905768 22-Nov-2017 13:33

Great idea @robjg63, thanks!

richms

28187 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1905785 22-Nov-2017 13:55

Well a stripped piece of coax works in beach Haven which is probably about the same distance so I would just try moving it around.

Richard rich.ms

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B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1905800 22-Nov-2017 14:40

Rickles:

Supplementary question: IF the signal is good enough for an internal antenna, which is better? Viz. the upright stick type (like a large dongle), or the flat sheet/mat type that sticks to the window?

Anyone had experience with either of these?

I got one of these yesterday and it works fine once I found the right spot to install it. I doubt the dongle type ones are of much use.

https://www.banggood.com/Long-Range-Amplified-Flat-Indoor-HDTV-Antenna-VHF-UHF-Digital-Analog-TV-HD-Home-p-1119610.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN

Spyware

3762 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1905807 22-Nov-2017 14:58

richms: Well a stripped piece of coax works in beach Haven which is probably about the same distance so I would just try moving it around.

Maybe post your piece of coax, bound to work then 100%.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.