Aligning TV Aerials And How To Get Polarisation Correct

This video gives some important information on how to correctly align your TV aerial with the right polarization. This is particularly important when re-aligning TV aerials from transmitter to transmitter as often nearby transmitters will broadcast their signals using a different polarization. It is very important to get this right when directing your antenna as to get it wrong can cause poor signal, loss of TV picture and pixelation.
For more information on installing TV aerials these videos should help you too:
• How To Fit An F Connec...
• How To Fit A TV Aerial...
• How To Fit A MASTHEAD ...

[@keith7307]

Thanks, saved me hours of trying to tune an aerial the wrong way round!! Now works perfectly

[@smartaerials]

You're welcome Keith, glad the video helped. Please subscribe to our channel.

[@tomelliott90]

Cheers mate. Exactly what I was searching for, right down to the Heathfield transmitter 👍

[@timb9998]

Thanks Tom , I have installed a tri band aerial and trying to watch hd tv station intermittent (no picture on screen ) or sometimes picture breakup . Any ideas

[@adamlang7361]

I'm struggling to get channels on the Com7 multiplex from the Crystal Palace transmitter. Freesports, Now70s etc.The polarisation is listed as H -6.7dB. Is this more about aerial type/ tolerance that orientation?

[@mattbarr510]

Good videos. But I need some help plz mate. I moved into anew build house and got to sort the TV Ariel out myself, been here 3 months now and I've tried my loft TV Ariel at every degree, but no matter wot degree I've got it pointed to there is part of the day where I will loose some channels completely for no obvious reason, I don't understand, I've got a booster rigged up to the Ariel and theres no obvious reason why it loses signal, and the signal and quality is nearly at 100%, any ideas why its doing that? Any ideas greatly appreciated. Matt Ps I even brought them compression connectors to make sure there isn't any loose ones.

[@TerryByles]

Hi Tom, my situation is as follows I'm currently living in a summer house I'm looking to install a tv aerial outside the log periodic sounds like the right aerial for me , the highest point of fixing the antennais about 10ft high please can you advise what I will need .

[@markdennis6914]

Hi Tom, thanks for clarifying that mate. Quick question, my house is about 200 meters away from the TV tower which transmitted in vertical polarization. Does it matter that the TV antenna on my roof is vertically polarized and the azimuth is correct I pointed towards the TV tower, but there is no elevation, ie zero degrees. Would this affect analog or digital reception on my TV? Thanks.

[@user_i.d]

How do i find out where the tv transmitter are and what tv signal Detector do u recommend for the UK

[@eurossocial]

I am searching the youtube to find a video of how to replace the wire/cord on the antenna, and i can't find.

[@stevenm8970]

Thanks, didn't even know this was a thing.

[@smartaerials]

You're welcome, yes a lot of people don't and end up mounting their aerials the wrong way.

[@ScreechyRecords]

Does a TV areal need earthing whether its a long long pole or it from your roof top

[@mrvolcada5355]

Have a large 3 year old Yagi (Horizontal) aerial mounted around 30 foot up (outside) with new cable run, 10 miles from Crystal Palace on top of a large hill and our reception varies at different times of the day/year, also depending on Channel, ITV being better than BBC. Reception hovers around 40/50%. What to try next? please.

[@mrvolcada5355]

@Louis Williams Thanks for the reply. Have it 95 per cent sorted now, Fitting a high end amp and filter unit have sorted most of it. I think that most of the problems came about when they fitted a new mobile mast around 100 yards away. Anyway thanks for the input.

[@ro63rto]

I bought and installed an aerial in my loft around 15 years ago. Got it from Maplin. Is around 4ft long and the elements are large and small X's. It's great running two TVs but I want to connect up a 24" TV in a bedroom as no portable aerials pick up a decent signal (tried 5, amplified and not). My nearest transmitter is Crystal Palace (3miles away). What bits should I get to allow me to connect 3 or more TVs to that one loft aerial? Thanks

[@smartaerials]

Hi, A three way splitter should be OK for running 3 TV's, but you may need an amp to run more. It's hard to give exact advice here as I don't know how much signal your aerial is receiving.

[@ro63rto]

@@smartaerials Thanks. I'm getting 100% signal strength and 100% signal quality on BBC channels and on Smithsonian channel (which normally has artifacts)

[@redroutemaster]

@@smartaerials 👍🏻 preferably a mast head amplifier, within a meter of the aerial, to ensure less chances of interference, if the amp was positioned further from the aerial interference could be an issue.

[@fredbloke3218]

More questions - should co-ax be passed down through pole for weather protection? also how would tree branches in line of sight effect ?

[@L1RW]

No it will rattle around when it’s windy etc hence why you would tape it down the pole using electrical tape. Tree branches, depends how tall the tree etc is and how far away you are from the transmitter.

[@LANCEofIRAQ]

Thanks for this video. What is the name of this design of DVB-T2 aerial? And is there information about what's there inside the main metal part?

[@smartaerials]

You're welcome, I don't quite understand the last question but the aerial is relatively basic, it's an Optima L20F.

[@playerone82]

Hi couldn't find the link you mentioned on the transmitters. I am trying to find details for the Droitwich/Bromsgrove transmitter? Most neighbours have horizontal and our main tv (roof aerial) is but the signal strength really fluctuates up and down wildly every second from 0 to 10. We also have a different tv in conservatory connected to aerial on a pole in garden which is vertical and signal strength hardly moves from about 9 (although this looks a newer aerial, lots more metal spikes sticking out). Any advice?

[@smartaerials]

Here is the link for the Bromsgrove transmitter - ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Bromsgrove - It says that it's vertically polarised here.

[@playerone82]

That's great thank you. Your videos are excellent by the way, very informative, keep up the good work. :-)

[@adamwhite1556]

Would an indoor aerial need to be mounted in the correct way also? I bought a panel indoor aerial and had it sideways. My local transmitter is vertically polarised so would I need to turn the aerial lengthways?

[@L1RW]

They are usually omni directional. So it doesn’t matter which way you have it. I would suggest using those if you live near a transmitter. Otherwise get an aerial in the loft or outside.

[@jordanwood5613]

I know its not ideal, buy which aerial would you recommend for installation in a loft? thanks

[@smartaerials]

Sorry. It's difficult to say Jordan. There are so many variables, sometimes you get a better signal higher up in the loft with a smaller aerial. Other times you may be better off with a higher gain aerial.

[@jordanwood5613]

@@smartaerials okay thanks for your help.

[@smartaerials]

Hi, No they shouldn't do as they are not transmitting anything. Just keep a metre or so between the aerials.

[@davidcwilliams4941]

Hi, how can I find out the Polarisation for the transmitter I'm using please? (Llanddona, Anglesey, North Wales. Many thanks for the video. David

[@L1RW]

It’s horizontal.

[@roryscanlan5843]

Living in Ireland we had rebroadcasting of uhf signal many years ago we were using grid ariels Colorking Aerials. Signal was picked up on Vertical uhf for BBc1 & 2. While messing around in my attic I noticed I was picking up extra channels UTV & CH4 but only got a clear picture when I twisted off 90 degree Vertical just by maybe 10 degrees Then I picked up Both Vertical and Horozantal.signals. Now with Saorview or the UK Freeview signal running up to 5 TV's using a Passive splitter is the only way to avoid loss of signal for all TV's. These splitters can be expensive but years ago I found a method of making a passive splitter using a metal cigar tin with a straight middle copper core wire as a direct signal carrier for connecting to one TV output from Aerial then using 20 winds of bell wire wound in the same direction around core wire with it's insulation still on bell wire would pick up a perfect signal to run other TV's. The metal tin being the earth shield. This was recomended for splitting satellite dish signal at the time analog. I further modified this to opening a Y splitter soldering core wire from input to one output and putting 20 winds of insulated bellwire around the core wire connected to 2nd TV output filling the casing of Y splitter with sillicone Homemade Passive splitter with one active through connection. Used this method for splitting the then Microwave Transmittion signal first used in Ireland during the 90's. Further Modified the passive splitter just using the solid core high gain co-ax cable with satellite screw in connectors. Stripped the cable wound insulates bellwire with as many winds as I could manage then re insulate the core with tape and connect earth screen to mantain active connection to Tv Aerial / Sat dish or Microwave Aerial it worked a treat. Have used the same method for Mpeg 4 signal.

[@smartaerials]

That's interesting Rory, I know the aerials you're referring to. I went to a family wedding in Kilcormac, Offaly a few years back and I remember thinking what on earth are those grid aerials on the roofs. I ended up Googling it when I got back home. Keep up the good work. Tom

[@seanmcgee5762]

On assembling my aerial, i noticed that the wire doesn't come into contact with the main body (the arms) of the aerial. The plastic connection block just clips on the aluminium aerial. How does the signal get through...?

[@smartaerials]

Hi Sean, what aerial (make/ model) do you have? Tom

[@jelloy3577]

And the newish RG6 cable good.

[@Marti1659]

Brilliant, thank you. Learnt a lot!

[@smartaerials]

You're welcome, glad the video was of some use. Please subscribe to our channel. Tom

[@DeeBee2013]

Which way is crystal palace?

[@smartaerials]

Horizontal.

[@mrvolcada5355]

@@smartaerials Thanks, I was just about to look that up ha ha

[@saajansingh5499]

How many tv channels it show u

[@smartaerials]

It depends on what area you're in and what transmitter you're using. Should get around 60 channels.

[@genesky61]

Here is the article for Helical Tv antenna. Radio News , November 1958 , pages 66 and 67. www.americanradiohistory.com The print of magazines will display correctly when using Mozilla Firefox as the look up website. The article is presented by a Ham radio operator. The pictures of antennas show LHCP because he is Ham radio operator. Hams use LHCP. However the article diagram/s are for RHCP for Tv reception. The Helical Tv antenna is sized for the original UHF Tv band , 470 to 890 Mhz of years ago here in USA. Helical antennas are very wide band and will cover the 470 - 890 Mhz. The circumference of the Helical Tv antenna is 1 Wave Length. at 716 Megahertz. The circumference is 16.49 ". Or 41.8836 cm.

[@genesky61]

Americanradiohistory also has UK magazines.

[@smartaerials]

Thanks for the info Gene, I will have a browse through the links

[@maxhamilton4017]

Thanks for the advice, it’s been very helpful at this time I’m on Shielding, so I don’t go crazy, im home for 3 months, (off work ,The LAS) can you tell me i have a aerial in the loft, am I wasting my time, and should I point it towards Hastings or Heathfield from Eastbourne, near 24 Tesco. I got a bit confused.many thanks Max

[@smartaerials]

Hi, a loft aerial should work in your location. Align it to Heathfield.

[@maxhamilton4017]

Smart Aerials many thanks for taking the time to answer me, I will have a go. And let you know how I get on. Max

[@tonynobrega9115]

Hi I’m in Eastbourne I have a loft aerial .. just bought new LG tv but has poor reception but the last 10year old Samsung was perfect. Any ideas ? Will the loft aerial need moving about ?

[@smartaerials]

Hi Tony. If it worked well before it could be the tuning on your new TV. Try resetting the TV and manually tuning your TV instead of running an auto-tune. You will need the UHF channels/ frequencies for the transmitter you're using to be able to do this. I can't say for certain but you're most likely using the Heathfield transmitter.

[@tonynobrega9115]

@@smartaerials thanks you. I’ve put up a new aerial in the loft today and still only picking up about 42 channels..... if I use a indoor temporary one it picks up 102 channels. 😩

[@thunderpop20]

Climb the ladder

[@jhc_fan]

RIP Rod Hull

[@smartaerials]

RIP

[@genesky61]

Quality and Truth. If your Country or location has both Vertical and Horizontal Polarization Tv transmissions in the UHF Tv Band. The Right Hand Circular Polarization , Spiral Antennas at , www.wadeantenna.com , will receive Vertical , Horizontal , and all angles. Wade Antenna advertises to the CATV and professional industries , however you can buy them because they are in fact Tv receive antennas.

[@smartaerials]

Thanks, I will have a look through the website when I get this chance. Tom

[@genesky61]

The antennas are Helical antennas. I will post an article in a older magazine of building a Helical antenna for Tv reception , when I find the article again in my many magazines.

[@genesky61]

Ok here is the article for Helical Tv Antenna , Radio and Tv News , November 1958 , pages 66 thru 67. www.americanradiohistory.com The circumference of the Helical is one wave length at about 716 Mhz. at the old UHF Tv Band , 470 to 890 Mhz. The Helical antenna is wide band width antenna.

[@thunderpop20]

It’s being raining a bit I have family I ask

[@boyakka79]

just look at all the houses nearby and it will tell you direction and position.Common sense.

[@smartaerials]

Thanks Steven

[@eldog5040]

5 mins to tell us to either mount it horizontal or vertical Hahaha

[@haganaacademy4739]

I'm sorry but is very difficult to see what you doing you need to do the video or close up specially the one for fitting aerials any touching plugs the video is too far from you can see anything you doing

[@thunderpop20]

My tv attacting funny

[@PJANGELES30]

nauseating voice and he does not really know what polarization is. only thinks he does.

[@smartaerials]

Thanks, you got me. I had a guess on what polarisation is and made a video.

[@swagon4545]

Why is it when you get some one to fit a new Aerial, they charge you over the top prices.. They always say you need adigital Aerial.. Fact is, there is no such thing of a digital Aerial.. A Aerial is just a Aerial... The free view box is what picks up in digital not the Aerial it self... So don't be conned.. Buy one off e bay & try & fit it your self.. Always be careful, take health and safety serious...

[@smartaerials]

Correct, no such thing as a digital aerial.

[@samuelmkare3275]

You talk too much dude

[@smartaerials]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@stevenm8970]

No he doesn't

[@swagon4545]

We all do, he's alreet really