When buying a new TV, you may find yourself in a dilemma whether your TV needs an antenna? The fact is that there are a few things you need to pay attention to. After careful consideration, you should be able to come to the right conclusion and resolve the dilemma about aerial for your TV.
No doubt, you know that there are indoor and outdoor antennas. In addition, there are loft antennas that have been quite popular in recent years because they will not spoil the interior (which may be the case with indoor TV aerials), but also the exterior of your house. In addition to the type of aerial, the need for an amplifier and rotator is often considered.
Also, it is very important to consider the polarity as well as the general location where the TV aerial will be placed. So, if you take all these things into consideration, it can be quite difficult to determine what kind of TV aerial you need for your digital TV. It is good to have help in such situations, and today we are here to provide some tips. Below, we will try to clarify some things about TV antennas and point out some facts. So, if you’re ready, let’s get started.
Do you even need an aerial for your digital TV?
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Well, you bought a new digital TV. You are preparing to connect everything and settle comfortably on your sofa. However, the question arises whether digital TV needs an aerial at all? The answer to this problem is very simple. If you have subscribed to one of the TV services, cable TV service, satellite TV service, etc. then it is very likely that you do not need aerial at all.
Why? Simply, if, for example, you have subscribed to a satellite TV service, then it is the obligation of the provider, with whom you have a contract, to install a satellite dish. Usually, a satellite TV dish is installed outside, on one of the outer walls of your house in order to achieve the best possible signal quality. So, all you have to do is connect the coaxial cable that comes from the mentioned satellite dish to your satellite receiver, as well as the HDMI (or some other supported video cable) at both ends (TV and receiver). Keep in mind that with digital TV and all this tech you should install an alarm in your home to keep everything safe – sound advice from alarm-cctv.co.uk
A similar thing is with cable TV service if you have subscribed to something like that. So, quite often, the process comes down to connecting the set-top box device that you get from your cable TV provider to your digital TV. This is also done using a coaxial or hybrid fiber-coaxial cable. In fact, you do not need an antenna in this case either, because you get all the necessary equipment from your service provider.
Also, in the case of subscription TV services, you do not need an aerial. Just follow the instructions provided, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
When is Aerial for Digital TV Needed?
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As you probably know, all major broadcast stations around the world have completely switched to digital signal transmission in previous years or even decades. So now it is very difficult to find somewhere that there is still broadcasting of the analog signal.
However, what exists, and is likely to exist in the future, is over-the-air (OTA) television. The best thing about this way of broadcasting is that OTA television is completely free. Also, OTA television brings you a television program in HD (high-definition) resolution. It’s a great way to watch all the local and free TV channels available. We must add that this mode of broadcasting is represented around the world so that a large number of countries have over-the-air television service.
All you need to watch the TV channels available this way is digital TV, but also aerial so that you can receive the incoming signal. So, the answer to the question of when you need to get a TV aerial is the case where you use OTA television.
Choosing the Right TV Antenna and Installation
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Choosing the right TV antenna is as difficult as choosing the right TV aerial installer. In case you have already acquired the appropriate TV aerial, our recommendation is to look for the installer at tayloraerials.co.uk.
However, when it comes to choosing the right TV antenna, you have several choices. First of all, you need to focus on the type of antenna, which we talked about a little earlier. You can choose between indoor aerial, outdoor as well as loft antenna. In essence, the first thing, regardless of the type of antenna, is the frequency at which the signal is transmitted. VHF or UHF signals are most commonly used by broadcasters. VHF stands for very high frequency, while UHF stands for ultra-high-frequency signals.
Now, back to the choice of antenna type for your digital TV. The most budget-friendly solution is to buy an indoor antenna. These aerials are quite easy to find in stores, and the installation process is easy. However, if you are not very skilled with the technique, then it is best to call the professionals. Also, it is important to note that these antennas are easily portable.
When it comes to outdoor antennas, they are usually mounted on the roof of a house or apartment building, from where a coax cable is brought to the port on a TV or STB device. This type of antenna is advantageous if we look at the range (25 to 50 km), compared to indoor aerials (up to 25 km).
As for loft aerials, they are mounted in the attic, as their name suggests. They are a great solution if you do not want to spoil the exterior of the house or the look of the interior as it is with indoor aerials.
However, the common thing for all three types of antenna, whichever you choose, is that you need to direct it as well as possible in direction to the TV transmitter tower. Also, pay attention to the distance from the tower because, in case of a weak signal, you will need an antenna with an amplifier.
Conclusion
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Paying for satellite or cable TV can sometimes be an extra expense for your budget. If you want to cancel these services and watch local channels via OTA television, the solution is to get the appropriate TV aerial. You can choose between indoor, outdoor or loft aerial, depending on the location and distance from the TV transmitter tower.
