Query re TV aerial

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linw

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#40693 2-Sep-2009 09:20

Scene:- DSE UHF/VHF aerial several yrs old. Weak TV1 signal. Fine on UHF signal and VHF TV2 and up. Direct line-of-sight to Mt Kau Kau. RG6 feed of about 10m. Plenty of salt air and wind! The UHF and VHF elements are linked by the straps so only one feed wire.

I would love to ditch the TV1 analogue feed but I still need it for recording with GBPVR. I can't feed a .ts recording to my PCH.

The active elements are linked with alu straps which are clamped between the element and the plastic mount. They are held together with a big rivet. My feeling is that there could well be an oxide build up between the strap and element. If so, it would need major surgery to fix this.

I would welcome suggestions as to what to do. (Yes, get a new aerial could well be the best answer!).

wellygary

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#252473 2-Sep-2009 10:03

linw: Scene:- DSE UHF/VHF aerial several yrs old. Weak TV1 signal. Fine on UHF signal and VHF TV2 and up. Direct line-of-sight to Mt Kau Kau. RG6 feed of about 10m. Plenty of salt air and wind! The UHF and VHF elements are linked by the straps so only one feed wire.

I would love to ditch the TV1 analogue feed but I still need it for recording with GBPVR. I can't feed a .ts recording to my PCH.

The active elements are linked with alu straps which are clamped between the element and the plastic mount. They are held together with a big rivet. My feeling is that there could well be an oxide build up between the strap and element. If so, it would need major surgery to fix this.

I would welcome suggestions as to what to do. (Yes, get a new aerial could well be the best answer!).

If you are only suffering weak TV one, this would point to the connection issue being on the low end VHF elements, and as you say it is likely to be a connection corrosion issue.

I would suggest that you might need to haul it down and give them a bit of a clean, alternatively you going look at adding a new connection to those elements, with some spare AL strapping, if you cannot get at the original connection points.

linw

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#252486 2-Sep-2009 10:47

Thanks for reply. Yes, I considered backing up the strapping. The serious weakness with these aerials seems to me to be in having to rely on alu to alu contacts. Aluminium WILL form an oxide coating that is non conductive, especially in a salt air environment.

linw

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#252615 2-Sep-2009 15:40

Well, I have just put it back on the mast after working on it most of the day! (You can do that when you are retired!). I drilled out 6 rivets and, after sanding all alu mating surfaces, replaced the rivets with bolts. Added a new balun, as well.

The TVOne picture certainly looks better so it'll do for now.