Digital TV from VHF antenna?

[bluedragon]

Just a thought (probably stupid /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) before I splash-out on a masthead TV antenna ...is there any possibility of the VHF antenna picking-up DVB signals? I know the frequency band is different, but the reason I ask is that the little antenna that comes with my USB DVB receiver for the laptop, looks just like a small VHF unit. This works fine in strong signal areas, but not in the marina, where I think a masthead unit is essential.

Any other ideas appreciated.

 

[captainslarty]

Nope....
Also, the masthead units are generally totally pants. (certainly the flying saucer typers, crap !)
Use high quality uhf coax to a reasonably high gain vertical indoor and pot it in epoxy, slip a small plastic tube over it and fill it with epoxy.. fit it at the masthead if possible.

 

[andbos]

Yes, you will receive better, look for masthead antennas that are DVB ready. i have the the omnimax and that one works just fine.
Andy

 

[Richard10002]

Havent tried DVB, didnt have a receiver in the UK, and Portugal didnt have DVB), but my Triax UFO provides a great picture with ordinary TV .... UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy so far.

 

[Travelmate]

I Have a Maxview "active" antennae. The flying saucer is not active and the whole system is a waste of money. The antennae shorts out the amplifier as there are no active components in the antennae

 

[Malcb]

I use a Glomex 'flying saucer type' with a Glomex variable gain control. Perfect Digital TV reception all along the South Coast from Chichester to Falmouth this summer. I just haul it up to the spreaders.

 

[wotayottie]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a thought (probably stupid /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) before I splash-out on a masthead TV antenna ...is there any possibility of the VHF antenna picking-up DVB signals? I know the frequency band is different, but the reason I ask is that the little antenna that comes with my USB DVB receiver for the laptop, looks just like a small VHF unit. This works fine in strong signal areas, but not in the marina, where I think a masthead unit is essential.

Any other ideas appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

To work effectively, the aerial needs to be tuned to the frequency / wavelength of the signal you are trying to receive. The VHF signal and the TV signal are miles appart, so whilst your VHF aerial will receive TV signals, the output from it to the TV will be much less than with a proper TV aerial. Whether that poor output is sifficient will depend on how close your location is to a TV repeater mast. If you are 10 yards away you could well use wet string for the aerial.

From memory the wavelength of the TV signal is about 60cm. Sop if you wanted you could make your own simple TV aerail by taking a 30cm length of stiff copper wire, splitting it in the middle and joining eeach piece to either the braid or centre wire of some 70 ohm co ax. Set it up like the traditional old style TV aerial.