[Solved] Choosing the Right Antenna for Digital Terrestrial TV: ALFA7 vs DIPOL 19/21-60 DVB-T UHF

Hey.
I would like to advise you when choosing an antenna.
Basic information:
- the signal I receive from the transmitter Suwałki Krzemianucha, distance ~ 24km, transmitter power 20kW.
- I live in a single-family housing estate, the antenna will be on the balcony, the neighbor's house bothers a bit (maybe it will change as nicely )
- I'm not interested in mux-8, so it's enough that the antenna receives a signal in horizontal polarization

I currently have the ALFA7 antenna, which I was advised to replace what I want to do. From my knowledge I found a DIPOL 19 / 21-60 DVB-T UHF antenna link

Will it be good or do you recommend something else? The current has an amplifier and this one is not ok? I immediately want to replace the cable with such , may be?

First of all - the DIPOL 19 / 21-60 antenna only receives the UHF (470-862MHz) band, i.e.MUX-1/2/3. MUX-8 are VHF bands (174-230MHz). Polarization is the second thing.
Secondly - we will ask for the exact address or coordinates to evaluate identify reception options and problems / obstacles on the way to the transmitter.

It looks like the one you have in Suwałki, and only 20kW ?! Hmm ... maybe because it's close to the Russians. Does not matter...

As for the antenna you gave ... In forums, rarely anyone will say that a given antenna will certainly work - there are too many variables. Your choice is probably a more directional antenna - unfortunately there are no characteristics or measurements on the page, but I see that it has arms so it may also catch a signal from reflections, because it's important for you if the neighbor's house is obstructing the direction. I think that with such a weak transmitter you will have to use the amplifier, but try without it first. I would risk in your place, 30 zlotys is not a fortune, or I could get along with some local seller, if it does not check whether you can not exchange for an amplifier version.

You can also read about the selection of antennas on the Emitel forum - " Antenna 20km from the transmitter ".

Recently I bought an identical cable as yours, I think a very good choice - the cable gives the impression of being solid, thick inside, a lot of braided hair, PE coat quite hard. Buy a "Rubber seal F connectors" and F connectors also with a seal / O-ring inside.

The given antenna is strongly directional (small angle of half power of 5-7 degrees) and hit the beam from reflections is a real feat. The rest cannot be done without a meter. It's like looking for a room antenna in a full IKEA warehouse.
Secondly, how do you "catch" it VHF or MUX-8?
It is difficult to say what the conditions are in front of the antenna and information about the balcony and obstacle such as a neighbor's house is a bit low. Here you need specific information about the location, direction of reception and type of installation (how much TV is to supply, approximate lengths of cables).

TELMOR_PL wrote:

Secondly, how do you "catch" it VHF or MUX-8?

The author of the post is not interested in receiving MUX-8.

BTW, I have the Telmor asr IQ antenna, which was mounted on the balcony and also in denser buildings. The antenna worked brilliantly at that place (except maybe lawnmowers ) - was mounted to the balcony on such a 2-meter seat post, interestingly in the opposite direction than the dominant transmitter (the strongest). Despite this, she caught everything including the MUX-8 even in the strongest wind or rain. Apparently the antenna was catching the signal "back" reflected behind her from the wall. In the new place it is not centrally directed at the transmitter, although the signal is of decent quality. Unfortunately, there is no MUX-8 anymore, because the polarization is different, and the skylights have nothing to bounce off or are too weak. The second downside is that it is an active antenna and requires power.

If it were the same antenna only with VHF in vertical polarization (V) and passive, I would buy such an antenna without any hesitation. @TELMOR_PL , any plans for such a model in the future / 2018?

You're right, sorki, but somehow I misread the author. Not those eyes.
As for asr, this is a very successful design and depending on the location it can also receive a VHF band with vertical polarization. In many cases in Poland it is so although it depends on many factors. The asr IQ version has a 470-790 band amplifier and therefore does not receive VHF at all. If a colleague used asr classic then maybe it would be ok.

As I wrote in the first post, I'm not interested in mux-8, I have miracles such as zoom tv or metro, so I don't need it. I will be happy as the other muxes will work properly.
Co-ordinates:
53 ° 59'9.822 "N, 22 ° 47'7.275" E
53.9860618 ° N, 22.7853542 ° E

The choice of this antenna was caused by the analysis of this one reading . It shows that it is better to have an antenna without an amplifier, and only when it is not enough with an amplifier. Currently, I have a picture that can flicker and works well in the middle of the night when the neighbors turned off their TVs.

Scottie33 thanks for the link, I will definitely read the thread. Yes, the price is not high, so I can take a chance, but I prefer to have the best chance that I will get it right - hence this thread. It's good that the cable received a positive opinion, one thing I already have

TELMOR_25 the antenna will power one LCD TV, Skymaster decoder, cable length 8-10m. What is important is that I do not have a railing on the balcony, so the antenna would be on the concrete / box.

I will add that in most cases neighbors have directional antennas, similar to the one I mentioned or crocodiles, plus for them that they are on the other side of the street and the neighboring buildings are less disturbing.

That's kind of "they are on the other side of the street and neighboring buildings are less disturbing" .
Each case is different and not necessarily the antenna that works at the neighbor's 40m next to us, it will receive as well. It's like a room antenna in a room - micro scale - ... somehow it receives on the wardrobe and nothing gets caught on the TV. On a macro scale, furniture is houses and ferns are big trees on the street in front of the balcony.

I bought what I planned and it works
Thanks for the help.