funinthesun
Well-Known Member
Can anyone advise on the best TV aerial to fit for good digital reception on the Thames. I've seen the birds nest type things and also the UFO type? are there others?. Also do they use much power?
TV reception
- Thread starter funinthesun
- Start date
Brayman
Well-Known Member
You need a very long pole and a hose type aerial, alternatively get a satellite dish from Maplins and providing there's nothing in the way you shold be ok - except for Channel 4, so you won't be able to watch Countdown!
The bent multi-coathanger aerials are useless.
The bent multi-coathanger aerials are useless.
byron
RIP
I concur with young Ian. A good old fashioned house aerial on a pole works best and not having owned one myself but having spoken to many who do, the satellite systems available from such as Maplins seems to be a splendid choice especially in view of how cheap they are.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Agree with everybody.
We struggled for years with an 18ft. mast, masthead amplifier, and got patchy reception at best. The worst problem was knowing which way to point the aerial depending on where we were. ?Crystal Palace, Oxford, Henley local, Sutton Coldfield?
When we moved marine we couldn't get a picture at all - too many trees. So I thought I'd try satellite and am very glad I did.
BUT satellite, no tall mast, always point the dish in the same direction, usually get a signal - provided the dish can "see" 28.2 deg East.
s/h Sky box of eBay, £20 one off fee to get 5; free for BBC, ITV, Channel 4. Excellent EPG (programme guide). Freesat doesn't have a decent EPG yet, and the Maplin type kit has only "now and next".
Sorted.
We struggled for years with an 18ft. mast, masthead amplifier, and got patchy reception at best. The worst problem was knowing which way to point the aerial depending on where we were. ?Crystal Palace, Oxford, Henley local, Sutton Coldfield?
When we moved marine we couldn't get a picture at all - too many trees. So I thought I'd try satellite and am very glad I did.
BUT satellite, no tall mast, always point the dish in the same direction, usually get a signal - provided the dish can "see" 28.2 deg East.
s/h Sky box of eBay, £20 one off fee to get 5; free for BBC, ITV, Channel 4. Excellent EPG (programme guide). Freesat doesn't have a decent EPG yet, and the Maplin type kit has only "now and next".
Sorted.
apollo
...
Yep, another vote for secondhand sky decoder and a cheap dish, even get a good picture at Henley which I guarantee you never will with a TV Aerial...
pheran
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
except for Channel 4, so you won't be able to watch Countdown!
[/ QUOTE ] Have you (like me) noticed how Carol Vordermans bust seems to vary in size from programme to programme? Does that count as 'make-up' ?
Ps that should ensure at least one additional viewer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
except for Channel 4, so you won't be able to watch Countdown!
[/ QUOTE ] Have you (like me) noticed how Carol Vordermans bust seems to vary in size from programme to programme? Does that count as 'make-up' ?
Ps that should ensure at least one additional viewer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Brayman
Well-Known Member
Yes, funnily enough I have noticed that but at least they do stay in tandem.
byron
RIP
From TV reception to that rapidly aging TV star's Bristols, that really is thread drift. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Gumpy
Well-Known Member
I use a portable sat system like the one from maplin about £50. I walk down the bank with GPS to find where east is and rotate the dish from there astra is the first one you come to
There are places where it doesn't work but its obvious because of the trees.
As for channel 4 you do get it its just not called channel 4 its 8530 or something like that.
The only two channels I dont get are Dave and channel 5
Julian
There are places where it doesn't work but its obvious because of the trees.
As for channel 4 you do get it its just not called channel 4 its 8530 or something like that.
The only two channels I dont get are Dave and channel 5
Julian
rr_123
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I use a portable sat system like the one from maplin about £50. I walk down the bank with GPS to find where east is and rotate the dish from there astra is the first one you come to
There are places where it doesn't work but its obvious because of the trees.
As for channel 4 you do get it its just not called channel 4 its 8530 or something like that.
The only two channels I dont get are Dave and channel 5
Julian
[/ QUOTE ]
are you sure that boating is for you?
I use a portable sat system like the one from maplin about £50. I walk down the bank with GPS to find where east is and rotate the dish from there astra is the first one you come to
There are places where it doesn't work but its obvious because of the trees.
As for channel 4 you do get it its just not called channel 4 its 8530 or something like that.
The only two channels I dont get are Dave and channel 5
Julian
[/ QUOTE ]
are you sure that boating is for you?
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
are you sure that boating is for you?
[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
are you sure that boating is for you?
[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
pheran
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
From TV reception to that rapidly aging TV star's Bristols, that really is thread drift.
[/ QUOTE ] Don't be such a jealous old tart. Ageing she may be, but I still wouldn't climb over her to get to you /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
From TV reception to that rapidly aging TV star's Bristols, that really is thread drift.
[/ QUOTE ] Don't be such a jealous old tart. Ageing she may be, but I still wouldn't climb over her to get to you /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
byron
RIP
Why Chris? all of a sudden you no longer prefer men?
pheran
Well-Known Member
Hmmmm.......... us ex-boarding school types don't all bat for the other side, thar knows. Anyway, you know what the judge said last time /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
ADLS
Well-Known Member
"Walks down the bank with his GPS to find E" ??????????
He must need the exercise
He must need the exercise
ADLS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I use a portable sat system like the one from maplin about £50. I walk down the bank with GPS to find where east is and rotate the dish from there astra is the first one you come to
There are places where it doesn't work but its obvious because of the trees.
As for channel 4 you do get it its just not called channel 4 its 8530 or something like that.
The only two channels I dont get are Dave and channel 5
Julian
[/ QUOTE ]
Walk down the bank, why???????????
I use a portable sat system like the one from maplin about £50. I walk down the bank with GPS to find where east is and rotate the dish from there astra is the first one you come to
There are places where it doesn't work but its obvious because of the trees.
As for channel 4 you do get it its just not called channel 4 its 8530 or something like that.
The only two channels I dont get are Dave and channel 5
Julian
[/ QUOTE ]
Walk down the bank, why???????????
boatone
Well-Known Member
In a static location, the GPS will not tell you what your 'heading' is. Once the GPS receiver is moving in a steady direction it will display a heading from which you can then determine where N (or any other direction) is.
In any normal summer, I make a rough judgement based on the sun or from a chart, knowing my location.
Must admit, i think taking the GPS for a walk is a bit OTT - maybe he needs a dog? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Incidentally, here's another vote for a conventional TV aerial on a pole. I do have a Maplin Sat TV which is great but in terms of simplicity the pole aerial works better than any of the fancy boat or caravan gimicky thingies. If you have 240v available, a cheap signalbooster can also help.
In any normal summer, I make a rough judgement based on the sun or from a chart, knowing my location.
Must admit, i think taking the GPS for a walk is a bit OTT - maybe he needs a dog? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Incidentally, here's another vote for a conventional TV aerial on a pole. I do have a Maplin Sat TV which is great but in terms of simplicity the pole aerial works better than any of the fancy boat or caravan gimicky thingies. If you have 240v available, a cheap signalbooster can also help.
Doolittle
Well-Known Member
Charts? GPS?
Good grief, have none of you heard of one of these????
Good grief, have none of you heard of one of these????
byron
RIP
A Godly person such as myself would wait until Sunday and when attending the several services I go to every week I would take careful note where the altar is in relation to my boat. then I have found East.
boatone
Well-Known Member
Having been in the Satellite TV business some years ago (I would like to think I was a 'mover and a shaker' having hardwared up the independant radio stations for a Queen concert stereo broadcast in the mid-80's) I actually have a nifty satellite location meter so ya-boo-sucks! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
But....why would you want a whistle????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
But....why would you want a whistle????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
