The best TV Aerial to use in the United Kindom we would say is the Unix 52 or the periodic Loga. These are the best 2 by far as they are fantastic for domestic and commercial systems like IRS tv systems.

Best Aerials

First things first, I recommend finding your optimum local transmitter using the postcode checker on this site.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/industry/About_DTT/The_postcode_coverage_checker. This can’t be relied upon 100% but will tell you everything you need to know about the transmitters in your area with most likely selection, such as Frequencies, future frequencies and amount of channels that this transmitter broadcasts. For example, the transmitter may only broadcast Freeview Lite which is about half the channels. In this case, it may be beneficial to use another transmitter that maybe be a bit further away or weaker in your area.

High Gain Aerials

High Gain TV Aerials are for use in areas where there is a poor TV signal, i.e. in the remote countryside areas or where there is something blocking your path to the transmitter e.g. a hill or buildings. The aerials are much bigger in construction so as to catch more of the signal available and concentrate it down. Some, such as the Televes DAT HD TV Aerial even contain a built-in amplifier to boost weak signals so that you get the best possible signal available to you. If you can’t get a signal with one of these high gain TV aerials, odds are you’re not likely to be able to get one!

If you live in a very remote or bad signal area we would advise you to get your signal from a satellite instead. All the channels that are available on Freeview are readily available on Freesat and reception is almost guaranteed anywhere! As long as you have the right equipment, a satellite dish and a receiver you can pick up channels all over the UK and Europe. Alternatively, browse our Freesat self-install kits which come complete with all equipment needed to set up your Freesat TV.

Freeview Aerials

In the loft or the roof? My existing old aerial is in the loft. The roof tiles and any metal in the roof construction will attenuate (reduce) the signal it receives by at least half. There is also some loss of signal due to the fact the higher you can mount the aerial the better the signal it will receive. So, despite it costing more to have an aerial on the roof (primarily due to the fact I won’t install it on the roof, but I would in the loft!) I’m ideally going for the roof for the best signal I can get.

Aerial Type

Is there such a thing as a digital aerial? Well, the contentious question with some. An aerial that will give you the best chance of receiving a good digital tv signal is a Group W or wideband aerial (picks up channels 21-68) ideally one with a high gain and possibly with a masthead (i.e. at the aerial) mounted amplifier.

Installation

As I said my first choice is a roof-mounted aerial. I don’t possess any ladders and whilst I’m OK with heights I don’t fancy falling off my roof for the cause of a HTPC build. So, I phoned around for parts and labour costs for ‘Freeview’ aerial installs. Whilst I’m not a cheapskate my initial reaction to the pricing was “you’re joking!”.

The prices varied from £100-190 for parts and installation plus VAT from a sample poll of 8 companies in my area. The aerial to be installed was anything from a basic 15 element wideband aerial up to a 52 element high gain wideband aerial. Although looking at aerial pricing it shouldn’t make much more than £20 difference whether you get a basic or high gain aerial. I asked how long a typical aerial install takes and was told 1 hour. This means that an aerial installer is charging up to £80 an hour. Not quite up there with a lawyer, but close!