How to choose a good indoor antenna for your TV. Which antenna is best for your TV?

Which antenna to choose for digital television? How are antennas different? How to supply power to an active antenna? Which antenna is better? These and other questions on the site

Hi all! Due to my line of work, I have to deal very closely with connecting and setting up antennas for digital terrestrial television.

Therefore, based on the experience gained, I have the opportunity to share how to choose an antenna for digital television and set up dvb-t2 - free 20 channels.

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Which antenna is suitable for DVB-T2 digital television

With the advent of digital terrestrial television, many people have questions related to the choice of antenna for DVB-T2. For example!

• Can I use my old antenna, if I had one?
• Is an antenna of the “Lattice” type, also known as “Polish”, suitable for this?
• Do I need an antenna with or without an amplifier?
• if there is a question about purchasing a new one?
• Is the advertised “Key to Free TV” antenna necessary?

Let's first figure out what kind of antennas there are.

Antennas of the meter (MV) and decimeter (UHF) ranges are used to receive television signals. There are broadband antennas, this is a “hybrid” when elements of the MV and UHF bands are used in the antenna design.

These antennas are easy to distinguish from each other by size.

The MV range has longer elements. Everything is according to the name.

So in MV antennas the elements are approximately half a meter to one and a half meters in length.

And the elements of the UHF antenna are only about 15 to 40 cm long.

It is the UHF antenna that is needed for digital terrestrial television.

VHF Antenna
Example of a UHF antenna
Broadband antenna, MV and UHF ranges.
Array antenna
Broadband antenna "Hummingbird"

So - To receive digital terrestrial television you need a UHF antenna, i.e. antenna with short elements. Or broadband.

Now you can evaluate whether your old antenna is suitable for receiving television in the DVB -T2 format. The only question that remains open is its serviceability and effectiveness in your area.

In addition to dividing by received ranges, antennas are also divided into...

Indoor and outdoor (External) - I think everything is clear with the application here.

And also active and passive - more on that a little later.

Well, a brief excursion into the difficult topic of terrestrial antennas has been carried out. Let's continue...

Features of television signal propagation

The distance over which the signal is transmitted in the UHF range does not have a large coverage area. It is much less than in the meter range.

For example:

If you have used a radio, you may have noticed that you cannot catch distant foreign radio stations in the FM or VHF bands, but only those nearby, local ones.
But on the other hand, you can catch a whole bunch of foreign ones in the CB or HF bands.

This is because medium and short waves, like meter ones, propagate over long distances, and ultrashort waves, like UHF, over short distances.

This disadvantage of the UHF range for digital TV is compensated by the location and number of television transmitters - by analogy with cell towers, there are many of them.

Also keep in mind that the television signal is perfectly reflected from objects encountered along the way.

This allows you to receive broadcasts when it is not possible to point the antenna towards the TV tower. Or there are obstacles to the direct passage of the signal.

Look around! Is it possible to receive a reflected signal?

So if you choose the right antenna and install it correctly, you will surely achieve success.

What else should you consider when choosing an antenna?

Conditions for receiving a television signal vary greatly in different places and these conditions must be taken into account when choosing an antenna.

Here are some factors that will determine which antenna you need to purchase and how to install it.

1. TV transmitter power and
2. Terrain - mountains, lowlands, plains.
3. Standing nearby and blocking the antenna in the direction of the tower are tall, dense trees.
4. The presence of high-rise buildings and your location in relation to these buildings and the tower.
5. The floor you live on - the higher you are, the simpler the antenna you will need.
6. Possibility or impossibility of turning the antenna towards the transmitting tower.

Active and passive antennas - what is the difference?

Antennas of any type can be either active or passive.

Passive antennas are those that amplify the signal only due to their design, without the use of electronic amplifiers; such antennas are used in areas with a strong signal.

Active antenna - has an amplifier in its design; such an antenna needs to be connected to a power source.
The amplifier helps to increase the level of the received signal in areas of poor reception.

How to connect power to an active antenna amplifier, several ways

Antenna amplifiers are powered by 12 or 5 volts. But recently, more and more, manufacturers are focused on producing antennas with five-volt power supply.

And there is a reason for this! Such antennas are easier to connect for those who use a DVB-T2 set-top box.

Three connection methods

A) Use a special power supply with a separator that produces a voltage corresponding to your amplifier.

The purpose of a separator is to separate. It passes voltage to the antenna, but does not pass it to the TV socket. However, this does not interfere with the signal from the antenna amplifier entering the TV.

B) If a DVB-T2 set-top box is used. A voltage of 5 volts can be supplied directly from the set-top box. Moreover, for any amplifiers, both 5 and 12 volts.

This does not require any additional wire, power supply, etc. The voltage is 5 volts, from the antenna socket of the set-top box, directly through the antenna cable, it will go to the amplifier.

You just need to turn on this power directly from the set-top box menu. Go to the settings section and find the item “Antenna power ON-OFF”, select ON, and exit the menu (the names of these items may differ in different models of set-top boxes)

B) If you have an LCD TV with a built-in DVB-T2 tuner, then in addition to the method under letter A) you can do the following.

You will have to purchase a special adapter to power the amplifier from any USB port; first of all, consider the USB port of the LCD TV itself. But you can connect to any charger with a USB output

Which antenna to choose - let's look at examples

As you understand from all of the above, when choosing an antenna for yourself, you need to evaluate various factors.

A few examples:

Distance to the tower 5-15 km

You live in a city where there is a DVB-T2 signal transmitter. Or in a populated area, not far from the transmitter, 5-15 km.

Most likely, an indoor antenna, even the simplest one, will be suitable for you. Especially if you live above the first floor.

And being not far from the tower, even a simple piece of wire instead of an antenna may be enough.

Considering the prevalence of towers and a fairly large number of places with a reliable signal, scammers take advantage of this, offering various, essentially

Under the conditions described above, they will work well.

But keep in mind that the number of channels will be no more than that broadcast by the TV tower in your area! But not 100 or 200 as the advertisement promises.
Therefore, the question arises: is it necessary to shell out several hundred, or even thousands, for a regular indoor antenna from an advertisement?!

Here are several inexpensive, compact antenna options for conditions where there is a good signal.

Indoor antenna for places close to the tower.
Indoor antenna for places close to the tower. Another option
This option may work in slightly more difficult conditions than the previous two, especially the amplified version.

Indoor antenna - application features

The right place for an indoor antenna is not where it will look good and stand comfortably, this is where it will receive the signal well. And these two circumstances - “look” and “accept” - do not always coincide.

Because often the best, and sometimes the only place where you can catch a signal is a place at the window facing the TV tower. Take this into account!

To solve this problem, you can add a cable of the required length, and for some antennas (for example, those in the photo above) this is not difficult.

But there are indoor antennas that have a built-in power supply in their housing. They also have a power cord for connecting to an outlet. And of course a cable for connecting to a TV.

This may seem convenient, but unfortunately this is not always the case.
Often, the place where the antenna is capable of receiving a TV signal is not at all near the TV and outlet, but, for example, near a window.

And in this case, a short power cord will become an obstacle to placing the antenna in the right place. In addition to the cable, you will also have to pull an extension cord. Basically a lot of wires.

You live at a distance of about 25-30 km or more from the TV tower.

Of course, a lot depends on the power of the transmitter.

But in general, at a distance of 25 km, a small outdoor antenna is sufficient. Like, for example, those depicted at the very beginning of this post, we mean the UHF antenna or the broadband “Hummingbird”.

In my area, from a distance of 25 km in line of sight, a passive UHF antenna with an arm length of approximately 80 cm provides reliable reception without the need to raise the antenna above two meters from the ground.

You can also receive reception using a good active indoor antenna.

In some houses, even from the first floor, if there is a window towards the tower or the ability to receive a reflected signal from neighboring buildings.
A floor above the second significantly increases the likelihood of success.

There is a simple principle on how to determine the power of an antenna - the longer the antenna arm, the greater the coefficient of its own gain, and not due to the amplifier.

Antenna for difficult signal reception conditions

For example, the active antenna in the photo below, in our area, pulls out a signal from a distance of 60 km or more. It is successfully used in the most difficult places, in houses located in deep lowlands, its length is approximately 1.7 meters, but there are antennas up to 4 meters in length.

In addition to the length, in difficult conditions or at a great distance from the TV tower, the presence of an amplifier plays an important role, i.e. the antenna must be active.

There are options for powerful antennas, where instead of one boom, three are used at once, so the ability of the antenna to amplify the signal due to the design alone is greatly increased.

And in tandem with an amplifier, this antenna becomes a very powerful trap for a television signal.

But once you’re impressed with this antenna, don’t rush to run after it. It is only needed under really, really difficult reception conditions.

In most cases, other, much cheaper options are sufficient. In addition, if the signal in your area is already strong, then the amplifier in the antenna will only interfere.

This is exactly the case when porridge can be ruined with butter. An example of this is described below.

Polish antenna array for digital television

In some cases, the “Grid” antenna can work quite successfully when receiving digital television. Especially if you are not very close to the transmitting tower.

More than once, however, I came across a situation where, using their old antenna - Polyachka (Grid), people could not get a digital broadcast signal from it.

Either at all, or the signal periodically “fell off”; the picture crumbled into cubes, and there was freezing of the image and sound. One of the digital television packages could disappear, while the other was working normally.

The problem with these phenomena is over-amplification of the signal.

There is a way out, let's consider the options...

1) Sometimes it’s just enough to unplug the antenna’s power supply from the outlet and that’s it. But this does not always help and then more serious measures are needed.

2) Reduce the amplifier supply voltage using an adjustable power supply. Or supply power directly from the set-top box, bypassing the separator of the standard antenna power supply, by installing a regular plug.

3) Get to the amplifier board, the board that is on the antenna itself, and connect everything without an amplifier.

4) Throw away this old dilapidated antenna and buy a normal UHF antenna.

P.S. New type grille.

I hope this article will be useful to someone, leave your reviews, comments, and share your experience.

P.S. If you are purchasing a new antenna, but are not sure whether it will suit you, ask your local antenna dealers.

Sometimes they are quite knowledgeable about which antenna is best to take based on your place of residence.

And agree on the possibility, if it suddenly doesn’t work, to change it to a different type of antenna. At least in my store this is possible.

The all-wave television antenna receives channels that are transmitted in the meter and decimeter ranges. It can be indoor type, for installation on moving objects (car) or outdoor. In cities with high building density and in settlements remote from television towers, an uncertain signal may be observed. In such cases, it is recommended to install external all-wave antennas.

Selecting an antenna depending on the installation location

You can buy an all-wave antenna to receive DVB-T and DVB-T2 television standards. When choosing an all-wave antenna for your dacha, you must take into account that reception in the installation area may be uncertain due to a weakened signal. Therefore, think in advance about ensuring that the antenna is installed at the required height. In this case, the all-wave outdoor antenna is installed on a high mast or bracket and is provided with sufficient fixation. In places farthest from transmitters (more than 50 km), an all-wave television antenna with an amplifier should be installed. It has an increased load capacity and serves to obtain a reliable signal. It is not recommended to use it near a telecentre.

If there is a lot of interference in the form of power lines, high-rise buildings and obstacles, which are a source of signal distortion, you should use an over-the-air all-wave antenna with a good protective factor. In the area of ​​​​a reliable signal from one all-wave TV antenna, using apartment amplifiers, you can connect up to 10 subscribers. If a larger number is required, it is advisable to install a system of 3 antennas. After reviewing the detailed characteristics of each model on the website, you are sure to find the antenna that is suitable for you.

It is extremely difficult for a person to live without many electronic devices in the twenty-first century. Such devices include washing machines, computers and, of course, televisions. At the same time, the latest electrical device is in great demand and popularity. After all, it is thanks to TV that everyone can enjoy their favorite films, as well as receive information about events taking place in our country and the whole world. Thus, in the modern world there is simply no escape without a good TV. But the presented device does not always work properly. Very often, additional devices are required to use it. This can be called an antenna. This device is created so that at least some pictures appear on the TV screen. The modern electronics market is filled with various types of receiving devices. But in order to choose the best quality, you should know the criteria that you need to pay attention to. Only in this case will it be possible to purchase a truly good product. In this article we will analyze the main points of operation and explain how to choose a good antenna for your TV under various signal reception conditions.

Television antenna concept

It should be noted that many people do not understand why a television antenna exists at all. In this case, it should be noted that this device is a device that is capable of receiving special television signals emanating from towers or a satellite. The received signal is converted into a picture, which is subsequently visible on the TV screen. Thus, through the presented algorithm, every person on the planet has the opportunity to watch high-quality video broadcasts right at home. The information transmitted in them can be completely different. For some audiences, TV channels present animated films, for others – news TV programs, etc. Today there are many models of completely different designs. Therefore, their choice must be made as thoughtfully and competently as possible. In addition, an antenna is not at all a mandatory attribute of a TV, as it was several years ago. In the 21st century, everyone can watch their favorite TV shows via cable TV or the Internet. However, many people still use these devices as their main source of TV reception.

What criteria need to be taken into account?

There are many aspects to consider when choosing television equipment. All of them play a significant role in the process of organizing signal reception and transmission. The first factor that simply needs to be taken into account in the process of choosing an antenna is the territorial location of the house or apartment where the equipment needs to be installed. The problem is that today in the vastness of our country there are still areas where TV signals are transmitted quite poorly. To overcome this negative factor, you need to purchase powerful equipment with high sensitivity and a very low level of noise perception. In urban environments, this problem is almost invisible. In such conditions, the power of the device does not matter, because the signal arrives quickly and efficiently. This allows you to calmly and comfortably enjoy watching your favorite TV shows. It is also necessary to pay attention to the type of device, because a large number of various aspects of the signal reception and transmission process also depend on this factor.

Choosing the right antenna type

There are only three types of antennas that are most popular in our state, namely:

Satellite dishes

The first type is the most advanced, powerful and high quality. Satellite antennas have the highest price compared to other equipment. In this case, the device transmits a digital quality signal. That is, the picture on the TV will have a really high level of aesthetics. In addition, satellite devices receive not only signals from national channels, but also foreign ones. There should be no problems with choosing television programs, because there is simply a huge range of channels. But for all their advantages, satellite models also have some negative aspects. The main thing is the price of the presented device. As a rule, it is quite high even for used devices. However, the signal strength and quality of the displayed picture more than compensates for the funds spent on the purchase of equipment.

Outdoor antennas

Another fairly popular device is outdoor antennas. Just a few years ago these were the main and extremely popular devices for watching television channels. However, there are many important points to consider before choosing an outdoor device. Firstly, the broadcasting tower must be located no more than 50 kilometers from the device’s location. Secondly, there should be no obstacles in the path of signal transmission, that is, between the antenna and the tower, for example, tall buildings. If the presented factors are not taken into account, then watching TV using this equipment is extremely inconvenient. Because all kinds of interference constantly arise. Of course, if there is a distance of more than 50 kilometers to the tower, the outdoor model can be used, however, it should be additionally equipped with a signal amplifier. With this device it will be possible to receive signals over long distances.

Indoor antennas

The lowest quality and cheapest antennas are indoor ones. This type of device has the lowest signal power level, which causes the absence of any quality when displaying a television picture. However, it is quite possible to watch some programs at a tolerable viewing level using this model. In addition, indoor equipment is portable due to its compact design. To receive a good signal, you must have a distance to the tower of no more than 30 kilometers. At the same time, there can be no talk of any obstacles. Therefore, indoor receiving devices are very often used in villages and private country houses, because in these conditions, practically nothing interferes with signal transmission. In city conditions, the equipment behaves extremely capriciously and does not provide a good picture. However, frame-type indoor models can be used even in large populated areas. But in this case, they will provide viewing of only a few television channels.

Conclusion

So, we have looked at the main criteria that make it clear how to choose a good antenna for your TV from those available on the modern market. The issue of choosing this device must be approached as seriously as possible in order to purchase the highest quality device. It is imperative to take into account the distance of the TV from the transmitting antenna. Definitely, it is better to have an outdoor model that has a high-quality signal reception level. And yet, having looked at the device in a store or on an online resource, it would be a good idea to look at specialized online forums, where you can find reviews about it from real owners.

A television antenna is a device capable of catching a signal coming from a satellite or television center and transmitting it to the TV. Few people have the opportunity to connect to cable television or a community antenna. Therefore, some users need to buy this device themselves. The choice of these devices on the modern market is very large, but the consumer is always faced with the question of which is the best antenna to buy for a TV. It is very difficult to answer this question clearly.

Antenna types

In our country, TV viewers live in different areas with different signal levels. Some need an antenna with high sensitivity, others with low sensitivity, etc.

Another feature of our state is the transmission of meter bands by powerful transmitters, and decimeter bands by weak devices. Therefore, in order to ensure comfortable viewing of your favorite programs, it is necessary to install a decimeter antenna with a complex design.

In general, the following main types of devices described are distinguished:

• indoor;
• external;
• satellite.

Indoor antennas

This type of catching device is excellent for cases when the house is located in an area of ​​good signal reception from a television center. In terms of quality and reception capabilities, many indoor antennas are better than outdoor ones.

Their main advantages are more favorable cost, compactness, and transportability. They can be easily carried and fit any type of TV. It is quite difficult to achieve a clean image without interference. The process itself involves careful setup.

All indoor receivers are divided into two large groups: rod and frame. Rod analogues work with meter waves, frame ones - with decimeter waves.

Rod devices are considered more common. Their design is represented by two straight telescopic antennae mounted on a stand. Their total length is about a meter, and their connection to the TV is carried out via a coaxial cable. A special device located in the stand is directly responsible for high-quality signal transmission.

Structurally, loop antennas for a TV are an open ring frame made of metal. A special connecting cable is connected to the frame.

The design of a satellite antenna includes a receiving device and a receiver (for decoding). Since the antenna picks up a television signal from a satellite, the quality and strength of the signal is determined by the location of the device relative to the satellite itself. This must be taken into account when installing the receiver.

Only heavy precipitation (hail, snowfall, rain) can disrupt the reception of such an antenna. In addition, after installing a satellite dish, the owner can increase the number of TV channels received by connecting paid packages.

Therefore, if a person has enough money to install a satellite dish, it is better for him to opt for it.

Equipment for digital television is what you can buy in our store. Our company has been operating in the market of broadcast and satellite equipment since 2003 and we already know most of our clients by sight.
For regular customers of our online store there is a system of discounts, which are calculated automatically according to the coupon number assigned to you personally.
All equipment undergoes pre-sale preparation, namely, the latest version of software is installed on satellite and terrestrial set-top boxes. All receivers are tested for functionality.
Our company delivers equipment both in Moscow and throughout Russia. Most courier delivery companies have agreements on preferential delivery prices.
In our online store you can find almost any equipment that you may need to receive satellite and terrestrial television. We have tried to make the ordering process convenient for anyone. If you plan to order not one item, but several, then you can use the store search and pay attention to the accompanying equipment. If you want to pick up equipment for receiving satellite TV, then you should go to the tab menu “Satellite TV”, if to receive terrestrial or cable TV, then “Terrestrial TV”, etc. If you have questions during the ordering process, you can use the online chat, which is located on each page of the online store, or request a call back.
We hope that in the online digital TV store you can spend a minimum amount of time ordering the required equipment.