Budget High Def Aerial for my balcony?

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TeaLeaf

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#210408 26-Mar-2017 11:46

I live inner city so reception isnt a problem, Ive never connected my TV to an aerial as I watch 100% net based content. Probably the reason being my inbuilt box is high def only and everywhere the TV has been all the aerials are SD digital aerials.

Anyway I cant install a permanent aerial, I just need one I can hang on the balcony edge and run it in through one of the windows.

Something $30-50

richms

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#1747974 26-Mar-2017 11:49

Try a random piece of wire in the antenna socket before spending any money on something.

Richard rich.ms

Jase2985

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#1747975 26-Mar-2017 11:51

how do you define an SD aerial?

Freeview terrestrial is is mainly delivered in HD (a few channels are not)

Spyware

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#1747978 26-Mar-2017 11:58

Jase2985:

how do you define an SD aerial?

Freeview terrestrial is is mainly delivered in HD (a few channels are not)

1,2 and 3 are the only HD channels so that would mean most channels are not.

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B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#1748084 26-Mar-2017 15:00

"everywhere the TV has been all the aerials are SD digital aerials"

There's no such thing as an SD digital antenna. A UHF TV antenna covers all the UHF TV Band whether the signals be Digital, Analogue, HD or SD. It's the frequency range that's important, not the mode of transmission.

B1GGLZ

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#1748085 26-Mar-2017 15:05

richms:

Try a random piece of wire in the antenna socket before spending any money on something.

Definitely worth a try before spending money. About 12 inches of wire stuck in my K1 Plus TV Box antenna socket gets all the local UHF channels and I'm about 17km LOS from the Waiatarua Tx. Worked on my TV and Recorder too though I did put up a decent outdoor antenna for them.

A simple indoor antenna may work if you are in a good signal area. If none of that works then just a simple cheap outdoor antenna mounted on your balcony perhaps?

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

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#1756281 4-Apr-2017 13:08

I have coax cable for the box on the back of the TV, what If I plugged that in and it has a window right above the TV, what would you join to the other end, a coast hanger or is that not conducive metal?

richms

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#1756286 4-Apr-2017 13:18

Coat hangers are a bit thick and will damage the socket on a pal plugged cable.

I just cut the plug off a bit of coax and exposed about 200mm of the center conductor and wedged it in a window to hold it up.

Richard rich.ms

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TeaLeaf

6325 posts

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#1756289 4-Apr-2017 13:19

You mean cut one end off the pal cable?

They easy to rejoin anyway right.

richms

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#1756351 4-Apr-2017 14:42

No, they are not easy to reattach since they are typiclaly molded plugs on those cables. It came from the $2 shop so I wasnt too worried.

Richard rich.ms

ArcticSilver

729 posts

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#1756356 4-Apr-2017 14:54

Need a bit more information.

Where do you live (what City?)
Is this to pickup Freeview?
Does your TV have a inbuilt Freeview tuner? (if you don't know then supply the model number)

As it was said above, there is no such thing as a SD vs HD aerial, I assume you are plugging into a coaxial socket that is wired to a satellite or else ware rather than a UHF aerial, or your TV does not support Freeview.

Assuming you are talking freeview and your TV supports it I would highly recommend a amplified (powered) internal antenna, these generally work well with Freeview so long as you have reasonable coverage.