The decline of TV aerials have been brought about by the invention of satellite TV and the development of the internet. For a long time, aerials struggled to gain a competitive edge over these technologies. They did not have as many channels to offer and the services they had were limited. In fact, plenty of buildings across the United Kingdom house abandoned aerials and antennas, only removing and replacing them when they became damaged or too much of a nuisance.
But even if you have already subscribed to other services or use Freesat instead, having a TV aerial is worth it . This is because you have an affordable fall-back plan in case you have issues with your main source of entertainment. You may run into troubles with your satellite dish or have poor internet in your area.
Another strong argument for having a TV aerial is that satellite TV is sensitive to heavy rain and thunderstorms. This is because the signals need to pass through satellites that are all the way out in space. Even if it does manage to reach your TV, you may have to put up with heavy pixelation.
TV aerials use lower frequencies and land-based transmitters. Since the signals do not need to travel as far, then they are less likely to fail in heavy rain. As a result, we still strongly recommend investing in an aerial! Look for reliable contractors in your area who know how to accurately install one for your home so that you can get the entertainment you need at a competitive price.
Different Locations For Your TV Aerial
Indoor
Indoor aerials are installed next to your television set. The advantage to having one is that it can be plugged in and used at any time. You do not need to go all the way to the roof of your home to adjust it. However, most indoor aerials struggle with reception because there is little to no signal indoors.
If you are interested in getting one installed, make sure that you get a booster aerial to augment its reach. It is also highly recommended that you install an indoor aerial near the window and in a high location, so that you can make the most out of the situation.
Outdoor
Outdoor aerials are the most common models available. Theses are usually mounted in high locations so that they can easily pick up channel waves. A service professional will be the one to set it up and position it so that it can receive optimal reception, which may differ based on where it is located.
In-Loft
As the name suggests, this kind of aerial is installed inside the loft of a home. This options is best for areas that are prone to bad weather, where an aerial may fall apart in bad weather or get waterlogged.
Since there is a signal loss when aerials are installed indoors, it is best to install a higher fain aerial to make up for it. The most common setup involves a log periodic aerial with a built in pre-amplifier, which can be disconnected if it is not needed.
Other Types of TV Aerials
Yagi TV Aerials
This is probably the TV aerial that you are most familiar with if you live in the UK. A Yagi is equipped with a rod running the length of the aerial, called the boom, and several “elements” along the side of the boom that are responsible for picking up the radio waves. Behind the aerial, a back reflector blocks off signals that come from the rear end. To connect the two pieces of equipment, there is a folded dipole leading to the coaxial cable.
Log Periodic Aerials
If you want to access digital TV, get a log periodic aerial. They have become one of the most popular options since the switch to digital. This is because they do a good job of rejecting impulse noise, which is what makes your signal start breaking up and pixelating. In addition, they can also deliver a very stable flat frequency response, which is ideal for getting balanced signals.
This model is a long rod that has elements connected to it in right angles. The size and spacing between each individual element determines the frequency that it is designed to pick up. Since it does not need a back reflector to function, this tool is omitted from the overall design.
High Gain Aerials
Are you struggling to receive signal in your area? In this case, you may need to invest in a high gain TV aerial. These are aerials that are specially designed to strengthen the signals received from a transmitter. While they are typically recommended for areas that do not have a good reception, they can also be used in good signal areas as accompaniment for aerials that deliver to multiple televisions.
Do I need to make sure my TV aerial faces a certain direction?
Yes, your TV aerial should be facing the nearest television transmitter in order to get the clearest picture and best performance possible. Installing an aerial may look simple, but the truth is that alignment is a tough job that involves plenty of trial and error.
There are multiple ways you can try aligning the antenna. There’s the visual way, where you just point it in the direction of the television transmitter mast. However, the transmitter may not always be visible and you may have to take reflections into consideration. In this case, you could try searching for apps. There are plenty of smartphone apps that can assist with orienting the antenna. These apps use position location and your phone’s GPS capabilities to figure out the best possible orientation.
You can also look into signal strength meters. Luckily, there are affordable alignment meters on the market. This will help you find out the best direction your antenna should face. These meters are capable of giving you a general idea of where the strongest signal is, but they may also give you a false reading. This is because they are wideband and their metrics can be affected by other signals as well.
