My UHF antenna

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DaMo73

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Topic # 85142 14-Jun-2011 16:44

I've had my UHF aerial since Southland got Sky's UHF service back in 1994 and now with Freeview HD about to hit at the end of June (so Trackside UHF and the website says) I'm curious as to the kind of aerial I have on the house.

Now there are a row of vertical bars at the back of the antenna and the elements are horizontal.

So what does this make my antenna? Horizontal and Vertical? Or just H or V? Now I can pick up Trackside, Prime and Maori so I'm hopeful I'll be able to get Freeview HD but I'm not 100% sure.

I also checked the Hedgehope frequencies (for TS, Maori and Prime) at SMART and they came back as being vertical polarization so I assume I'll be ok for HD but I wanted to find out from the Geekzone community first.

Behodar

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Reply # 481101 14-Jun-2011 17:13

It looks like Freeview comes from Forest Hill but I'm not sure whether it's horizontal or vertical. You just need to rotate the aerial 90 degrees to change the polarity.

DaMo73

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Reply # 481102 14-Jun-2011 17:17

I've checked the Forest Hill info at SMART and it's vertical.

Behodar

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Reply # 481105 14-Jun-2011 17:19

So it is; I hadn't even noticed that it was listed there :)

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 481234 14-Jun-2011 22:44

It would help if you posted a picture but if the elements are horizontal it will be horizontal polarisation. The bars you describe sound like the reflector part of the antenna.
If you currently receive Prime and Maori OK you will have no trouble with Freeview.

DaMo73

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Reply # 481267 15-Jun-2011 00:23

That sounds about right actually.

But the only thing I don't understand is that if my aerial's in horizontal and Sky's UHF service was vertical (according to SMART currently) before it was shut down, and before I got digital, then how come I was able to get it? And how come I'm able to get Trackside, Maori TV and Prime from Hedgehope which broadcast vertically?

DaMo73

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Reply # 481392 15-Jun-2011 11:20

I just had another look at my aerial and I stuffed up. The reflector and elements are actually vertical and I think I was initially confused by all the imagery I've seen of UHF aerials in horizontal position.

Before checking here I think I'll check things a little more thoroughly before making a thread.

cleggy2

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Reply # 481553 15-Jun-2011 17:46

Hi. Are you able to get CUE TV with your aerial? I have just set up a new uff aerial (hills brand) in Vertical position. The only channel I can get is CUE (plus tv1,2,3) which is very snowy. hopefully I will get freeview HD ok. I am in the Otatara area. Where bouts in Southland are you?

DaMo73

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Reply # 481622 15-Jun-2011 21:10

cleggy2: Hi. Are you able to get CUE TV with your aerial? I have just set up a new uff aerial (hills brand) in Vertical position. The only channel I can get is CUE (plus tv1,2,3) which is very snowy. hopefully I will get freeview HD ok. I am in the Otatara area. Where bouts in Southland are you?

The reason those channels are snowy is because they are VHF channels and are in horizontal position so therefore they shouldn't be able to be received at all off a UHF aerial.

You will be able to receive Freeview HD however but Cue TV isn't on this service.