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[alanh]

For transmitter locations, channels & polarisation. Go to the Geographic Viewers' Forum, which is near the bottom of the main forum's home page. Select the region and read the pinned post "Get the Best Reception". Click on the name of the state for a list of all TV transmitters, digital and analog.

Analog FM reception, What to use if you have a digital TV antenna Many ABC radio services are on FM including local radio. High Frequency or Short Wave is also used in the NT & NE Kimberley


Desireable Antenna Characteristics
For more detail read Antenna Design Basics + Amplification

If the antenna has extendable rods please set them to the lengths on page 1 of Recognise antenna types and bands The station list will give you the band for that site and whether the antenna should be vertical or horizontal.

Remember when siting the antenna, that TV signals will not travel through metal!

This list is selected on the basis of travelling anywhere in Australia, the antenna must be able to be collapsed only and quotes the appropriate website's antenna gain. The antenna must be able to be mounted for horizontal or vertical polarisation and if possible be used in a cross polarisation mode. There are 6 regions in Australia requiring cross polarisation.

The higher the number of dB the larger the antenna, the more sensitive and more directional it is. It is also more expensive. The advantage of getting gain from the antenna rather than an amplifier, is that the antenna becomes more focussed thus rejecting delayed signals and interference sources. Amplifiers can become overloaded which antennas cannot. Thus amplifiers can make reception worse.

If the antenna signal is too strong at the receiver, a low cost attenuator can be used. I would carry one of these in a caravan. At the other extreme of very weak signals a masthead amplifier can be useful. A masthead amplifier must not be used if the antenna itself contains an amplifier as some of the antennas below do. Masthead Amplifier Survey, Must include filtering. Use the Band 3, 4-5 recommendation. There are very few sites now with band 1 & 2 analog transmitters and no equivalent digital transmitters in another band.

These antennas are recommended for caravans, so that they are not too big and can be collapsed many times.  They may not be as sensitive as the larger antennas.

Caravans

Yagi – Band 3 Channels 6-12 and Band 4-5 Channels 27-69
Horizontally polarised local reception and medium distance)
Vertically polarised diffuse reception (either long distance or blocked by terrain)

Matchmaster catalog page 14
01MM DE7 Not stated,  low sensitivity
01MM DE 13 Not stated, more sensitivity than DE7.

Hills Antennas
Caravan range has low sensitity,
Soctramax SMX WB range
SMX14WB B3 5 - 7 dB, B4 - B5 8 - 12 dB
SMX24WB B3 6 - 8, B4 - B5 9 - 13 dB
These antennas are not suitable for main transmitters in Goulburn Valley Vic, Canberra ACT, Manning River NSW and Wide Bay Qld. This problem should be removed by the end of 2014.


National Antenna Systems  page 9
ANTPL 10-6/1110 dB
ANT30D 6-11 with 20 dB amplifier
ANTVACATIONER7 Gain? 7 element
Vacationer 13 Gain ? 13 element

Note. You are better off using the highest gain antenna without an amplifier then use a

Phased Array - Band 3 Channels 6-12 and Band 4 - 5 Channels 27 - 69
Vertically polarised local reception and medium distance)
Nil
Horizontally polarised diffuse reception (either long distance or blocked by terrain)
Nil
Nationwide Antenna Systems, page A5
ANTVACATIONER7
ANTVACATIONER13
Both similar to Matchmaster products.

For caravanners, you are better off using the highest gain (in dB) antenna without an amplifier, then if needed insert a Kingray KMD24FSDP

Happy Wanderer
DX brand dta2700
Remotely switched local and distance modes. Amplifies band 1 in DX mode. Dipole at VHF, Cloverleaf in UHF
No mention of ability to mount for vertical polarisation.

Happy Wanderer original T Bar No specifications on their website, but from the picture looks like a channel 2 dipole inside a plastic tube. If this is the case it will not be very directional or sensitive compared to other antennas. For vertical polarisation must be on a plastic or fiberglass pole.

Jaycar
Jebsee DAE-101CSE
This is rabbit's ears for VHF and something a bit directional for UHF. There is a fixed gain antenna amplifier of around 20-26 dB. This is like a weatherproofed indoor antenna with amplifier. So read Indoor Antennas

Marine
The Issues

• Signals can come from any direction
  
• due to the rocking action the vertical angle can vary.
  
• The station polarisation may be horizontal or vertical polarisation.

Some will be sensitive to vertical polarisation in band 4 - 5. None are vertically polarised in band 3, so Manning River area NSW, and Wide Bay in Queensland will be a problem as all stations except SBS are on vertically polarised band 3
Signal strength can also be widely varying
Withstand the marine environment

Clover Leaf Omidirectional  Band 3 Channels 6-12 and Band 4-5 Channels 27-69
Note all of these antennas contain an amplifier, which will amplify from channel 0 – 69. Thus motor ignition noise could be a problem in DTV reception.

http://www.gme.net.a...ine-amfm/AE2000 Channels 0-69 Horizontally polarised only Contains a 20 dB amplifier

Moonraker
TV AM/FM Dome Mk II All international channels.  26 dB UHF horizontal and vertical polarisation, VHF horizontal only. No restrictions in band 1. Filter to remove VHF marine transmitters on board. Note channels 11 & 12 not covered.

TV/S Dome Mk II TV AM/FM Dome Mk II All international channels.  26 dB UHF horizontal and vertical polarisation, VHF horizontal only. No restrictions in band 1. Filter to remove VHF marine transmitters on board. Note channels 11 & 12 not covered.

http://www.matchmast.../section1-3.pdf page 17
01MM-UFO Channel 0- 69 Amplifier 28 dB

http://www.hillsante...15&ProductID=38
Triax UFO Antenna Ch 1-11 12-16 dB, Ch 28-69 22 dB all after amplification

http://www.naspl.com...atalogue_02.pdf  page A-4
ANTAE2000 Channels 0-69 Horizontally polarised only Contains a 20 dB amplifier
ANTOMNI/A800 Channel 1 – 12 24 dB, ch 21 – 69 22 dB all after amplification

VAST satellite reception is difficult because of the movement of the vessel.

AlanH
Please post errors and omissions here

Edited by alanh, 31 July 2012 - 12:22 AM.