Installing Chimney TV aerial

[Phil_D]

Currently I use free sat which i really don't get on with. Even after grouping the channels i watch into favourites it seems i need to open the guide, then favourites, then 'favourite category A', only to find that the guide doesn't load most of the programme info.

I'd like to go back to digital freeview and install an aerial on my chimney stack. I guess i need to lash it on as i don't think chimney stacks are terribly thick.

My roof is steep sloping (presumably was thatched back in the day) and with my ladder i can get up to the chimney but would probably die if i tried to climb round the back of it.

Does anyone know if its possible to lasso one of these lash kits around a chimney? presumably the other option is to get a roofer to come out and put scaffolding up (which just seems an overkill expense just to stick an aerial up!)

 

[gaz1]

you want something like this a corner fitting aerial

this one is the better type

 

[Phil_D]

That’s a lash kit, I’m just thinking about the practicalities of getting it around a large double chimney without getting on the roof and facing a 100% chance of falling to my death

 

[gaz1]

give you an idea your more safer behind a chimney than leaning over to higher the wire to the level that you need to goto otherwise drill the bracket to the chimney

your bolting up as well as wiring that ariel your going to have no hands on that ladder at times

best of being behind the chimney doing whats need than on a roof ladder balancing

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-Chimne...Aerial-Pole-Roof-Install-Fixing-/162801300624

vs wall type

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALVANIS...ffset-Pole-Mast-Outdoor-Bracket-/370407361914

 

[Barlidge]

I don't think there is any chance of installing the aerial without getting up there. Have you tried it in your loft to see if you can get enough signal? Failing that next cheapest option would be a local aerial fitter who would already have the agility and access equipment rather than scaffolding.

 

[Woody.v8]

Be careful !!

 

[123hotchef]

I recently installed a new aerial in the loft rather than on the chimney out of the elements should last forever

 

[ajlelectronics]

A) never drill a chimney, they are single skinned and you will break the mortar bond.

B) wire rope lashing is now old hat. The ones we use are a Polypropylene strap with ratchets, so it causes no damage, doesn't stretch or rust.

C) if you are not confident with ladders, especially roof ladders, then stay off it and pay someone to do it.

D) ideally you need to set up an aerial for best BER which needs a relevant piece of test equipment.

Pay someone is my advice, if you were in our patch I would have done it for you. Don't worry about looking for things like CAI membership, that is now just a club for those that can afford their fees to be listed.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I recently installed a new aerial in the loft rather than on the chimney out of the elements should last forever

We would refuse to do jobs like that without a clearly written disclaimer. There would be warranty calls everytime the weather changed. You can always get away with it on analogue, but digital is either perfect or not there. As soon as the reflections etc change, zilch is often what you will receive on some channels some of the time.

 

[optima21]

Be careful !!
View attachment 130026

he should have known not to take flying lessons from an emu......a bird that can't fly

 

[brightspark]

depends on where u are situated and where the main tv transmitter mast is for a good signal having the aerial in the loft. a cheapo signal strength meter from screwfix for a tenner will tell u if its useable mines in the attic and can get all the channels no probs but its not always the case. trees and buildings can deflect and loose the signal depending on your location

 

[Robotstar5]

I had an ariel fitted at my moms house, cost £80 parts & labour which included running the cable and installing the socket, thought it was a bargain.

 

[brightspark]

I had an ariel fitted at my moms house, cost £80 parts & labour which included running the cable and installing the socket, thought it was a bargain.

it was robbing gits round our way can charge up to 150 quid. a decent aerial with loft stand is only 16 quid more for a n outdoor lashing kit

 

[Phil_D]

I recently installed a new aerial in the loft rather than on the chimney out of the elements should last forever

depends on where u are situated and where the main tv transmitter mast is for a good signal having the aerial in the loft. a cheapo signal strength meter from screwfix for a tenner will tell u if its useable mines in the attic and can get all the channels no probs but its not always the case. trees and buildings can deflect and loose the signal depending on your location

I got one up there earlier, horrible horrible job. The loft space requires me to crawl on all fours over ancient insulation with only some old wonky planks to go on. Literally had to crawl on my stomach for some of it whilst having an aerial and tools in tow! After all that I only got 11 channels so had to go get it back down!!

I had an ariel fitted at my moms house, cost £80 parts & labour which included running the cable and installing the socket, thought it was a bargain.

That is a bargain, I thought with today’s regulations that scaffolding would have to go up for anything roof related. Did that include having all the wiring chased in too?

 

[Phil_D]

A) never drill a chimney, they are single skinned and you will break the mortar bond.

B) wire rope lashing is now old hat. The ones we use are a Polypropylene strap with ratchets, so it causes no damage, doesn't stretch or rust.

C) if you are not confident with ladders, especially roof ladders, then stay off it and pay someone to do it.

D) ideally you need to set up an aerial for best BER which needs a relevant piece of test equipment.

Pay someone is my advice, if you were in our patch I would have done it for you. Don't worry about looking for things like CAI membership, that is now just a club for those that can afford their fees to be listed.

Thanks for the advice mate

 

[Robotstar5]

....That is a bargain, I thought with today’s regulations that scaffolding would have to go up for anything roof related. Did that include having all the wiring chased in too?

No, just came in the side of the window frame to a surface mount socket.

 

[pedrobedro]

I welded a stand off bracket up and plugged it to the gable end. It's on Emley Moor transmitter with a B group aerial and been there for 30 years now. I was looking at it the other day as the co-ax has come loose but it's still working fine, better weather job I think.

 

[123hotchef]

was the aerial facing the right direction mine took some fine tunning

 

[Phil_D]

Just thinking back to what I said about my Freesat, is it common for the guide not to work properly for certain channels? Perhaps it’s worth me having a play with that first..

 

[pedrobedro]

Digital is more critical than the old analogue signal you have to be dead on the transmitter according to all the information I read. It picks up all the Yorkshire broadcasts and odd thing is it picks up some East Midlands as well which is in exactly the opposite direction so must be coming in on the back of the aerial. I installed a dish as well a few years ago and that was a fiddly job. I had a meter but it just locked onto the strongest signal not the Astra I wanted so I went over to dishpointer website for the co-ordinates and did it with the compass and the elevation marked on the back of the dish bracket. The Humax I bought has built in signal meter and what made the biggest improvement was the LNB rotation. There was plenty of signal strength but the quality was low till I trimmed the LNB skew and signal strength went up to 90%.