Types of TV Aerial

Not sure of which of the types of TV aerial to get? Here’s a quick rundown of the different antennas available in the market today.

A new TV aerial might just be what you need to improve your home entertainment. With the switch over from analogue to digital broadcasting in the UK, most homeowners are required to purchase a new one. A new antenna may also be the answer to that blurry picture or horrible sound when you are watching your favourite show. But there are lots of TV aerials in the market today. Which one should you spend your money on? Below is a quick guide on the different types of TV aerial.

Types of TV Aerial

Here are the types of TV aerials you can choose from.

• Yagi TV Aerial – This is the standard type of TV aerial that you can find in the UK. They are usually mounted to a pole that is located on the roof of a building. It is composed on a large, thick rod and a reflector at the back close to the pole. Its elements, which are several thinner, smaller rods, are attached to the central rod at right angles. They are distanced from each other equally. The more elements an aerial has, the better the reception will be, as long as they are aligned with the direction of the transmitter. A Yagi TV aerial will be best suited for you if your location has good to moderate signal. It can pick up most of the digital channels available, but not all of them due to its directionality. If your area has poor coverage, a Yagi TV aerial will not be the best option for you.
• High Gain TV Aerial – This type of TV aerials is suited to work well in areas with poor reception and signal coverage. It has two large reflectors, instead of one (in a Yagi aerial). This helps improve the signal quality. It can hold as much as 100 elements to help it perform well in areas with bad reception. If you live in an area where signal is extremely poor, you can mount the high gain TV aerial on a higher mast to access unobstructed reception. However, if you have good signal in your location, a high gain TV aerial may cause interference because of its double reflectors.
• Grid TV Aerial – This type of aerial is used in addition to a Yagi TV aerial to help improve the reception. It is not suited for locations with moderate or poor coverage. It is composed of a medium sized square reflector and several dipoles in front of it. A grid aerial does not pick up all digital channels. However, when paired with an existing aerial, a grid aerial can pick up some digital channels.
• Indoor TV Aerial – This the traditional type of aerial placed on top of the TV set. It is not suited to pick up digital signal because of its indoor location, the signal and reception is reduced. Newer models of indoor TV aerials may be able to pick up digital channels if you are located in an area with good reception. However, the number of channels picked up vary depending on your location, as well as directionality and interference of other electronic devices inside the home. Position your indoor TV aerial as high as possible, facing the transmitter and close to a window. You can also use a signal booster to pick up more channels.
• Loft- Mounted TV Aerial – This type of TV aerial is best for you if you have high signal coverage. You can add a high quality satellite grade cable and a signal booster to improve the quality of reception.

Were you able to choose an aerial that will best suit your needs? If you’re still confused and need help, call Mediacoms and we’ll be happy to help you in choosing one of the different types of TV aerial as well as aerial installation.