analog aerial question

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qwerty7

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#109327 18-Sep-2012 10:17

one of the big tall long pieces broke in the wind, where can i get a replacement

i know the aerial will be outdated in a year, but i am fixing it on behalf of someone else, they have lost tv 2 reception

the ideal solution would be to go Freeview but dont really want to confuse them with a new box and extra remotes (elderly)

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#687593 18-Sep-2012 10:27

So it's a VHF aerial then ? I hate the term digital/analog aerial it's either VHF or UHF.

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oxnsox

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#687594 18-Sep-2012 10:31

Ask around, there's bound to be someone who's on digital services with an old antenna about.
You can by some Aluminium at Mitre 10 and Bunnings, but the aerial stuff is usually pretty light weight.

If you've got the old pieces the simplest way maybe to sleeve them back together, it'll last till they go digital.

Of course they're going to have to go digital sometime, and it'll be easier to change now than when they're older still!! (if you believe thats a real concern)

BlueShift

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#687598 18-Sep-2012 10:38

I don't know about where you are, but here in Hamiltron, I'd head to the recycle centre at the refuse transfer station. They get pretty much everything through there.

I used to work for the council dept that runs them, and it didn't matter what you needed, odds are if they didn't have it, it'd turn up in a week or so. Swimming pool ladders, caravan TV aerials, stuff like that. I saw someone drop off a solid kauri clinker-built sailing dinghy they didn't want, complete with trailer.

Zeon

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#687603 18-Sep-2012 10:45

To be honest analogue transmission will be running for another 1 year max. I'd just make the switch to freeview now unless you are expecting them to not make it till analogue switchoff? Hawkes bay has 11 days left of analogue and the last part of the country will be September next year AFAIK.

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cyril7

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#687642 18-Sep-2012 11:51

yep do the pain now or in 12months (or less), I suggest just do it.

Cyril

Jaxson

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#687673 18-Sep-2012 12:30

cyril7: yep do the pain now or in 12months (or less), I suggest just do it.

Cyril

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It's coming, so you will have to address it sooner or later.

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qwerty7

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#687713 18-Sep-2012 13:38

wmoore: So it's a VHF aerial then ? I hate the term digital/analog aerial it's either VHF or UHF.

Yes it is VHF , and fair point

illicit

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#687850 18-Sep-2012 19:04

qwerty7: dont really want to confuse them with a new box and extra remotes (elderly)

For the elderly, PLEASE - DO NOT get them a box - It IS too hard/confusing.

New Panasonic TV & UHF aerial= One remote (with big buttons) and the easiest to use.

I do this for a job - please take this advise - It is the best way for elderly people, well worth the extra $ (which isn't that much these days with current TV pricing as low as it is.)

DjShadow

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#687864 18-Sep-2012 19:42

Big thing to consider also is that is there anywhere you can get an outdoor VHF tv aerial from? just did a quick search of Jaycar and DSE and found none listed

B1GGLZ

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#687865 18-Sep-2012 19:48

illicit:

New Panasonic TV & UHF aerial= One remote (with big buttons) and the easiest to use.

I do this for a job - please take this advise - It is the best way for elderly people, well worth the extra $ (which isn't that much these days with current TV pricing as low as it is.)

+1
Get a new TV and UHF antenna is the best option.

I think Bunnings may still stock VHF antennas but why bother? Total waste of money.

kiwiharry

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#687866 18-Sep-2012 19:48

Still need to know exactly which city or town your friends are in to determine which method of reception you can get for Freeview.

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qwerty7

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#687880 18-Sep-2012 20:28

can get freeview terrestrial fine, there is a sky dish sitting in the roof anyway. There is nothing else wrong with the aerial, it is just one single straight piece of aluminium tubing which snapped in half. I am more inclined to to just fix it so it is good for another year, lowest cost, lowest hassle. I just don't know where i can find 2 meters of aluminium tubing. The dump is a good suggestion but i have heard they don't like you stuffing stuff in your boot.

nickb800

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#687881 18-Sep-2012 20:48

Going against the whole theme of this thread, you could just get an old VHF antenna off trademe (probably going for a few dollars) and cannibalize one of the elements or replace the entire antenna

qwerty7

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#687891 18-Sep-2012 21:14

nickb800: Going against the whole theme of this thread, you could just get an old VHF antenna off trademe (probably going for a few dollars) and cannibalize one of the elements or replace the entire antenna

none in my area at the moment

B1GGLZ

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#687901 18-Sep-2012 21:45

qwerty7: I just don't know where i can find 2 meters of aluminium tubing.

Bunnings and Mitre 10 Mega stock 2m (maybe 1.8m) lengths of Al tubing. It's not cheap though.
Better off at Ullrich Aluminium or somewhere similar.
Certainly cheaper to locate an old antenna somewhere.
Actually if its only half of one element broken it should still work OK unless it's really old and corroded and/or its the driven element. If it's the driven element that's broken just try replacing it with one of the director elements.

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