The AntenasCastelo M-1038 antenna was tested against a simple metal rod antenna. The M-1038 outperformed the rod antenna, providing 3dB stronger signals. When mounted outdoors, the M-1038's performance increased further, receiving digital channels the rod antenna could not. Though a small indoor antenna cannot replace a large outdoor setup, the M-1038 was found to be a viable option for locations relatively close to transmitters, with its simple, discreet design suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

1. TEST REPORT DTT Antenna
AntenasCastelo Indoor /
M-1038 Outdoor
Antenna
• can be mounted indoors and outdoors
• flexible mounting for horizontal or
vertical signals
• excellent design
• good workmanship
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2. TEST REPORT DTT Antenna
Terrestrial
TELE-satellite focuses usually on sat-
ellite dishes rather than terrestrial an-
tennas. However, as the digital switch-
Antenna In an
over takes place almost everywhere in
the world, a new interest in terrestrial
reception arises. And it often entails a
Elegant
need for a new terrestrial antenna. If
your old antenna is in good condition
and the new digital channels are trans-
Enclosure
mitted with high enough power from the
same direction as the analog ones were,
your system should be fine for new tech-
nology. But if not, you will need to re-
configure your reception system and a
new terrestrial antenna may well be a
part of this job.
AntenasCostelo (www.antenascastelo.
com.br) is a manufacturer in Brazil with
more than 40 years of experience. They
have introduced a remarkable little an-
tenna, which can be used both indoors
as outdoors. The M-1038 surprises with
its small size: 23 x 14 cm (9 x 5.5”).
Its black plastic enclosure matches the
1
1-12/2012
shape and proportions of a modern flat
AntenasCastelo M-1038
Highly elegantly styled antenna
screen TV-set. Upon a closer look, it
for in and outdoors turns out it can be installed both hori-
www.TELE-satellite.com/12/11/castelo zontally as well as vertically. So, if in
your particular location the vertical po-
sition yields better results, M-1038 can
be assembled in the vertical configura-
tion. If so, it will correspond not to a
modern TV screen but to a loudspeaker
of a home cinema system. If you think
of keeping this antenna outdoors rather
than indoors – no problem. There is a
special holder attached in the kit allow-
ing you to mount the M-1038 on a pole
of 25 - 34 mm diameter (1 through 1-3/8
inches). Our big compliments for the
mechanical design as well as esthetics
to the designers of this product.
The M-1038 is a passive device, mean-
ing it does not have any amplifier built
in. As every TV fan knows, small passive
antennae can not achieve the perfor-
mance of full size systems, like multi-el-
ement yagi antennas installed on a roof
of a building. So, we were hesitating in
what way we should test the M-1038. It
would not be fair to compare it with a
full size outdoor antenna. Finally, we de-
cided to take as our reference the sim-
plest form of an improvised antenna – a
metal rod. After all, many people use
such a solution if TV signals are strong
in their location: Just a segment of wire
connected to the inner wire of the co-
axial cable hooked up to your TV-set’s
antenna input at its other end.
Our improvised rod antenna was 170
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3. 1
mm (6.7”) long because we
wanted to keep it compara-
ble with the size of M-1038.
At our test center location
in Western Poland you need
to have a rather good an-
tenna to receive terrestrial
signals. So, to begin with
we decided to used a ter-
1. The small AntenasCastelo M-1038 restrial signal analyzer to
mounted outside on a mast.
2. The antenna can be mounted measure how strong the
horizontally (see picture) as well as signal is at the output of the
vertically
M-1038 and at the output of
our reference rod antenna.
In this way, we achieved an
objective evaluation of the
M-1038 performance.
And what was the per-
formance? We started in
the center of the terrestri-
al band – an analog chan-
nel on 417.25 MHz (channel
S21). As you can see on the
frequency spectrum scans,
2
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4. 1
the AntenasCostelo M-1038 Then we got bolder. we what weaker and it rose to vided stronger output by 3 But what is also obvious, escopic antenna for FM ra-
gave 3 decibels more than tried to go live and catch the 42.9 dBµV with MER equal decibels for 634 MHz and you can put the M-1038 an- dio (88-108 MHz) inside. So,
the rod antenna (50.1 dBµV real digital channels which to 16.2 dB. How would even by 5.5 decibels for ywhere in your room and it you can use it for double
vs. 46.9 dBµV). That’s quite in our location transmit on this result on a tv screen? 666 MHz. Naturally, MER will not harm your esthetic purpose: TV and radio re-
something. After switch- 634 MHz and 666 MHz. But We decided to connect the was also better: by about feelings, while our impro- ception. All you have to do is
ing the analyzer to meas- the signal from both anten- antenna to our DVB-T re- 1 dB and 2 dB respectively. vised rod antenna will not to pull it out and position for
urement mode, the differ- nas was too weak to meas- ceiver. The multiplex trans- Using a single rod antenna look great. The M-1038 has the best radio reception. We
ence even increased (50.0 ure it with our signal ana- mitted on 634 MHz was re- we would see none of the yet another advantage over tried, and had no problem at
dBµV vs. 46.6 dBµV). For lyzer. But then we realized: ceivable but from time to two DVB-T signals while the a rod antenna. It has a tel- all with FM radio reception.
your reference, our roof the AntenasCastelo M-1038 time our receiver notified M-1038 was good enough to
antenna produces over 62 can be mounted outside! us that there is a too weak catch at least one of them.
dBµV on that channel. Also We rushed up to our balco- signal. The other multiplex To sum it up: the M-1038
the signal-to-noise ration ny and mounted the M-1038 on 666 MHz was below the like every other small an- 2
looked significantly bet- outdoors on a small mast. reception threshold of our tenna can not replace a full
ter for M-1038: 34.5 dB vs. The improvement was no- receiver. size external antenna. How-
30.9 dB. Although, we did ticeable at once. The signal We compare those results ever, if you live relatively
not plan it initially, we con- on 634 MHz rose to 51.6 with the simple rod anten- close to the transmitter, es-
nected M-1038 to our TV- dBµV with MER equal to na. As could be expected, pecially on a high floor, such
set. The picture was noisy 26 dB. The second signal, for both transponders, the small antenna could do the
but readable. on 666 MHz, was some- M-1038 was better. It pro- job. It is very easy to install
and everybody can do that.
If only possible though, try
to mount it outdoors as this
improves its performance
significantly.
The AntenasCastelo
M-1038 proved to be visibly
better than that of a simple
improvised rod antenna in 3
the center of the terrestrial
band. However, being very
simple in design, the M-1038
could not beat the rod an-
tenna for every frequency.
Performance of such simple
designs depend on the ratio
of RF wave length-to-anten- TECHNICAL
na length. So it is obvious DATA
that for some frequencies, Manufacturer ANTENASCASTELO, Alameda 15 de Dezembro,
1487 - Penha - Bragança Paulista - SP - CEP: 12910-691
170 millimeters of rod an-
Brazil
tenna could perform better
Web www.antenascastelo.com.br
than M-1038.
Phone 55 (11) 0800-773-3601 / 4035.3601
Model M-1038
Function Terrestrial TV& FM Radio Antenna
Application Indoor or outdoor
4
UHF channels 14 through 69 (60 – 806 MHz)
VHF channels 2 through 13 (54 - 216 MHz)
FM Frequency Range 88 - 108 MHz
Impedance 75 Ω
Dimensions 23 x 14 x 5.5 cm (9 x 5.5 x 2.2”)
Weight 450 g
Expert Opinion
Exceptional design
can be used both indoors as outdoors
+ Various positioning options: horizontal, verti-
cal, on a stand, on a pole.
Good performance in the center of terrestrial
band
Jacek Pawlowski
1. M-1038 output signal. 3. Rod antenna output signal.
–
TELE-satellite
no option for an active amplifier Test Center
Poland 2. M-1038 output signal 4. Rod antenna output signal
measurement results measurement results.
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