Freeview gives you access to over 80+ free-to-air digital TV channels without requiring any monthly subscription costs. This even includes watching TV channels and radio stations – what’s not to love?
Due to Freeview channels being broadcasted over the air, you still are required to have a Freeview TV aerial to turn those broadcast signals into static images on your TV screen; especially if you have a standard TV which is not a digital/smart tv that was purchased before the 2010s.
So let’s jump in and find out what exact aerial you can use for Freeview.
What Type of Aerial Do I Need?
When it comes to aerials, there are two types of aerials which are, grouped aerials and wideband aerials. It is most recommended to use wideband aerials. They are also known as Type T aerials, which stands for ‘total’, or Type W, which stands for ‘wideband’.
These aerials cover the range of signals that function to transmit digital TV and they even still work when changes occur to your TV signals.
The Freeview company itself even recommends using wideband aerials to get the best results for your TV. Therefore, with Freeview being digitally updated due to the Digital Switchover, most aerials in the last 10 years tend to be wideband aerials.
Depending on where you live, certain areas have better reception. With the assistance of a wideband aerial, you may be able to receive even more HD channels due to the higher quality reception.
These channels include BBC Four HD, BBC News HD and many more. You can find out more about what channels you can receive in your area, by checking the Freeview channel checker.
Different Specific Aerials Used for Freeview
So if you intend to watch a variety of Freeview channels, you can find plenty of suitable indoor and outdoor Freeview TV aerials depending on your property and installation needs.
We’ve identified various indoor and outdoor suitable TV aerials that can provide good and stable reception for Freeview.
Indoor Aerials
In the past, indoor aerials had gained a bad rap when it came to delivering and guaranteeing good quality reception. However, nowadays, indoor aerials come with lots of advanced designs whilst providing great reception with a fantastic range of Freeview and HD digital channels.
In general, there are many different types of indoor TV aerials. Here’s our favourite list of indoor TV aerials.
Log Periodic Aerials
These types of aerials might look familiar as they look similar to your standard rooftop aerial. They tend to have a fan-shaped appearance and can be positioned either vertically or horizontally. These aerials are great at identifying weak signals over long distances. However, they do need to be positioned towards a transmitter with care.
At Aerialforce our favourite choice of log periodic aerials includes Midi log periodic aerials and the Philex SLx Gold.
Flat-Panel Aerials
Over time, flat-panel TV aerials have significantly proven to be the most popular amongst consumers. Flat-panel TV aerials are an excellent choice for attaching to walls or windows due to their slim and lightweight design. They are omnidirectional and don’t require being aligned, although it is important to still position them carefully to receive great results.
Flat-panel aerials such as the 1byone and One for All SV9430 are some of our preferred picks.
Outdoor Aerials
When it comes to outdoor aerials, you’ll want to find an appropriate aerial that can withstand the test of time – and weather conditions!
Here are a few of our recommended outdoor aerials.
Active TV Aerials
You can’t go wrong with active TV aerials. This aerial provides an integrated signal amplifier which enables a boost in signals over longer distances. They are great if placed where obstructions interfere with properties that are located in woodlands and lowlands.
Therefore, it is necessary to install the active TV aerial on a higher mast and a sturdy fixing in order to overcome these obstructions.
A weak signal due to obstructions can often pixelate screens, especially when watching fast-moving action scenes and can affect the digital audio.
Our highly-qualified engineers come equipped with all the necessary equipment to fix any TV signal reception problems you may encounter.
Yagi-Uda Aerials
Yagi-Uda aerials are made of multiple symmetrical vibrators that include parasitic elements and have been proven to be popular over the years.
This is due to their long-distance reaching abilities as they offer a high gain with a 10-20 dBi and can be adjusted in different positions. This means that are able to improve reception from weaker signals received and reduce interference making this an excellent option when it comes to watching your favourite Freeview channels.
Freeview Aerial Installation
After reading about our recommendations, we hope this gives you an idea of what types of specific aerials to purchase when it comes to watching Freeview TV channels.
If you’re in need of installing a Freeview TV aerial, contact Aerialforce now for a free estimate and we’ll come to your doorstep on the same day as your call!
Contact us today to book your appointment, or call us on 0330 162 7094.
