DAB Aerial.

[Joe]

Well, that seems to be working fine. I've put a 3.5mm Audio Out socket on to save wazzing about with SCART. The sound quality is certainly better than the DAB radio.

- Joe

[Skywave]

It shows what a Dark Art it is in that what shouldn't work does and what should, doesn't.
- Joe

Yes, agreed: when dealing with 'R.F.' and especially aerials, it certainly often appears that way. The problem with this area of electronics - and especially aerials - is that there are so many 'variables' that are not apparent to us, and of those that are 'visible', they are often outside of our control. Consequently, for most people in most situations, the solution is either to trust a manufacturer / installer to provide a suitable product and (hopefully) to have it fitted correctly or, for those of us with some knowledge, to use 'tried and tested standard designs', such as a dipole, etc. and follow simple 'rules', such as as 'high as possible' and 'in the clear' as much as possible, and, if it's a directional aerial, to try to get it pointing in the 'right direction', which within itself, can be fun. Once those basics have been established, we're then into the relatively murky waters of impedance matching, SWR, cable losses, etc. And it is often difficult to assess the importance of these particular 'variables', since to do so requires not only a thorough understanding of the principles involved, but also access to the necessary (and often complex and expensive) test gear to determine and measure them. Consequently, on the one hand, the whole area of 'aerials' is wide open for the enthusiastic experimenter, but on the other, it is also open for questionable and spurious designs to be produced.

Just my views, based on my experience, of this fascinating topic.

Al.

[Keithstv]

I have a Matsui DA-1 DAB tuner which came with a short pice of wire hanging out of the back as an aerial. I worked reasonably well in one room but we are line of sight to Emley Moor and Holme Moss. However when I moved it to another room on the other side of the house the performance was varialbe and depended on where a) the aerial wire was positioned and b) where you were standing or sitting.

I opened it up and fitted an F connector to ground and where the wire aerial was soldered to. This was connected to the distribution system in our house which includes a loft mounted vertical DAB aerial with DAB, FM and TV triplexers where appropriate. Result - consistent low error rate on the stations I normally listen to on DAB.

Keith