Attic vs Roof UHF Aerial??

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Attic vs Roof UHF Aerial??

sumitonly

38 posts

Geek

# 184066 9-Nov-2015 13:10

Hi,

I am thinking of giving SKY a well deserved boot.. but I have a few concerns, regarding setting up the Freeview (I prefer the HD version)

My main issue is that I need a UHF aerial, but I prefer not to install that on my roof.

Has anyone got their UHF aerial, installed in their Attic/Loft.. (with Metal Roof).. and if you do, hows the performance?

Do you get good signal, even when it's raining etc? I really like some feedback regarding the UHF aerial..

Other option that I am considering is the indoor aerial.. Please provide feedback.

Location: Maungaraki, Lower Hutt

Preferred Freeview product: FreeView Plus

Many Thanks,
SB

DizzyD

523 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 1423703 9-Nov-2015 13:52

I have one mounted inside out roof space, works perfectly, but we have a tile roof.

Unless you can aim the antenna through a non steel section in your roof, you just going to waist your time trying.

timmmay

15408 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

# 1423709 9-Nov-2015 13:53

I wonder if putting it under the house would work, assuming there is an "under the house". May rely on line of sight to transmitter.

littleheaven

2059 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

# 1423753 9-Nov-2015 14:28

You could potentially mount to the side of the house, as long as you had a good line to the transmitter. Are you high up? I'm in a valley so mine has to be up on the roof. There's a map you can look at online here (just enter your address to see how the coverage is at your place).

I flicked Sky in March/April, and I got a professional to come look at my YAGI-type UHF antenna because my signal was really bad. Turned out to be some corroded connections where the UHF was spliced into the old VHF antenna/connection. Got rid of the VHF, re-connected the UHF to a clean section of cable and now it comes through loud and clear. We very rarely have rain break-up - certainly it's a lot more stable than the Sky feed was in bad weather. Usually it's crystal clear HD all the time - I've only had a couple of instances since switching where there's been a little bit of pixellation from weather interference. So I'm very happy with the switch indeed.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Currently using: Modified 2008 Mac Pro, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S, AppleTV4.

sumitonly

38 posts

Geek

# 1423842 9-Nov-2015 16:10

no part of my roof is non-steel..

I am high up.. so signal strength is not an issue. Two transmitters are within 10 km mark.

BEST option

Second best option

mdf

2368 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

# 1423865 9-Nov-2015 16:42

2 people support this post

You've basically got no show of getting a signal through a steel roof.

You might *might* get a signal if there's line of sight between a non-steel bit and the transmitter (e.g. through the gable).

B1GGLZ

1956 posts

Uber Geek

# 1423958 9-Nov-2015 19:20

One person supports this post

UHF antenna under a steel roof is total waste of time. The steel roof acts like a Faraday Cage. Will only work if the house has a gable end and it just happens to be facing the Tx.
As you are close to the Tx it's worth trying an indoor antenna first. If that doesn't work you'll need an outdoor antenna but a small one could be placed unobtrusively on a wall facing the Tx. Even an indoor one that's weatherproof could be mounted outside under the soffit facing the Tx. Next best would be a small UHF on short Hockey Stick mount attached to a Barge Board.

JoshWright

369 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 1423985 9-Nov-2015 20:44

How close are you to the transmitter?

In a house in Waitakere ranges a few KMs away from the Waiatarua tower and got crystal clear reception with the tiny antenna included with my USB DVB stick. I you have line of sight you could get away with an indoor antenna.

jamesrt

855 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

# 1424004 9-Nov-2015 21:17

I've got my UHF antenna installed in my loft space under a Coloursteel roof; and I get great signal strength and quality. Of course, the fact that I'm 500m away from the Baxters Knob transmitter probably helps.... :-)

Apsattv

1414 posts

Uber Geek

# 1424669 10-Nov-2015 20:10

Just try it, mine works inside a steel roof 50 K from Transmitter. The tricky part is finding a way to mount it. I used an old freestanding lamp base with something heavy holding it down.

A less directional phased array aerial may work better as you can get a scattered signal multipathed signal due to the blocking effect from the metal roof.