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Indoor aerials

What do you do if you can't use an external aerial for Freeview?

What do you do if you can't use an external aerial for Freeview
published on UK Free TV

We have tested a number of indoor aerials, to investigate how well they work for Freeview reception.

Simple stick



The first is a small 20cm high simple stick aerial, costing a few pounds. This was found to give adequate reception of (16QAM-mode) Freeview channels in strong signal areas, especially outside.

However, unless it can be placed in direct sight of the transmitter an only unsatisfactory signal can be received.

Indoor Yagi

The second form of aerial is of the Yagi design of around 30cm length, costing around 10.

This aerial was slightly better than the simple stick design, largely because it can be directed to point at the transmitter and be positioned horizontally or vertically as required.

However, in poor signal areas the 64QAM channels were not received, and the aerial required good placement to get an uninterrupted Freeview signal.

Indoor Panel aerial

This was found to have around the same reception quality as the Indoor Yagi type, and cost around the same.

Indoor digital aerial with booster



Costing 25-30, the improvement of the signal provided by a modern internal TV aerial. Typically able to boost the signal by 36dB, this type of aerial when well positioned provided stable, uninterrupted Freeview reception on all channels.

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Comments
Saturday, 17 March 2012
P
Paul
9:00 PM

Thanks both for your advice.

Am in a village called Wellesbourne in CV35 9, Warwickshire. Have had many comments saying that this is a bad reception area.
Ball park figure for a decent outside aerial which would do the job?

Paul

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Paul's 2 posts GB flag
KB Aerials
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

9:05 PM

Don't know the area at all but I install an aerial betweern £120 - £200 -

A free sat install if it realy is a terrible area might do you better - about £170-£200

Keith kb aerials sheffield
07946481125
Aerialsinsheffield.co.uk

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KB Aerials's 274 posts GB flag
Friday, 30 March 2012
S
Soxs
11:33 AM
Sittingbourne

My postcode is ME9 0SA I have sky tv and no external aerial, what would be the best indoor aerial for my spare bedroom to receive freeview?

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Soxs's 1 post GB flag
Soxs's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
G
Guest
12:01 PM
Bournemouth

Near the window is usually a good place, but I am not in your area.

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Guest's 1 post GB flag
Guest's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:08 PM

Soxs: Indoor aerials, by their nature, are hit and miss. The best location for an aerial is on the roof due to as few a obstructions as possible and conversely, the lower you go, generally the more obstructions you get. I say this so you don't expect too much. Whilst design of aerial is important, so too is its location and you will have to try it in various places to see which is best. You may also have to try different transmitters to see which is best.

Personally, I have one of these that I use where there is no fixed aerial:

Set Top Aerial Labgear | eBay

You will probably prefer to receive Meridian TV and your best bet is probably Blue Bell Hill, but this may only be available to you after switchover on 27th June. As it is west from your location, bear in mind that reception will probably be best on that side of the house as on the opposite side, the signal must go through more walls.

You have analogue from Blue Bell until digital switchover and you might connect up your analogue TV and move the aerial to find the best spot. Remember where that is and that may be the best spot for digital reception after switchover.

In the mean time, Rouncefall (Anglia) transmitter which is to your north may be your best bet. This only carries Public Service channels (BBC, ITV1, ITV2, Channel 4, E4, More 4, Channel 5, HD and a few others).

Whilst you are in a rural area with few houses, there are a few trees that could reduce your chances which you may have to be mindful of.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Saturday, 7 April 2012
E
Emma
2:42 PM
Leeds

hi my postcode is ls20 9bh which would be the best indoor aerial for me to use to recieve freeview on my tv in my kitchen.

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Emma's 1 post GB flag
Emma's: mapE's Freeview map terrainE's terrain plot wavesE's frequency data E's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Mazbar
sentiment_satisfiedGold

3:09 PM

Emma with things like microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers kitchens are not the best place for an indoor aerial you could buy the best indoor aerial and very poor reception and have wasted your money your best solution is an outdoor aerial.

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Mazbar's 384 posts GB flag
Sunday, 22 April 2012
C
Charlie
4:25 PM
Bourne End

We're all in a valley here in Bourne End SL85XL. Can't hang a roof arial. Can't hang a sat dish.Will I ever get to see Film 4* or ITV 3* here under the "loom of Cliveden [Crystal Palace signal direction]and Flackwell Heath [blocking the other signal direction]?
The only 2 CHANNELS we've been longing for]/ patiently waiting for, to be allowed to watch since digital first began its 'take-over' are Film 4* or ITV 3*
Feeling very abandoned by new [non-panacea] technology... [sob...] and see the poor people in the Marlow Bottom valley are left living the dark side of the moon [digital reception wise].

Missing Channels in our area are :
10* [ITV3*], 11 {Pick TV], 12 {Yesterday], 15* [FILM 4*] 16 [QVC], 17 [Gold].

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Charlie's 2 posts GB flag
Charlie's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:35 PM

Charlie: Based on the results of the Digital UK Tradeview predictor, it's not very likely that you might receive these channels from any transmitter. Indoor aerials are less sensitive and in environments where the signals aren't as strong, so I think that it's a fair summing up to say that you would have to have a roof aerial to receive the additional channels, if indeed you could ever pick them up.

It's profit driven companies I'm afraid. They operate on a profit basis and not as a Public Service which is what you get now.

See here for an explanation:

Will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Monday, 23 April 2012
C
Charlie
1:35 PM
Bourne End

Thanks Dave Lindsay : )

Wonder if the licence fee wil ever reflect the channels receiveable to the licenced television/domicile? Someone told me today that it cost the BBC two million sterling, to move the BBC licencing dept to one centralised part of the country. Great to hear my everincreasing 'compulsory' licence fee [tax] is put to such vaulable and sensible use.
Community tax [govt tax] for a 3 bedroom house, is by % less than a 1 bedroom house.
Were Dog Licences REALLY 'phased out' in UK or just ignored by the dog owners?
Maybe those of us left out of the full spec of digital TV service could more fairly democratically benefit 'somewhere' down the broken line.

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Charlie's 2 posts GB flag
Charlie's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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