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Freeview reception - all about aerials

Your ability to receive all the Freeview transmissions depends on the suitability of aerial: the design style, "group" and its physical location.

Your ability to receive all the Freeview transmissions depends
published on UK Free TV

Updated 8th January 2014.

Your ability of receive all the Freeview transmissions depends on the suitability of aerial

  • the design style,
  • the "group", and
  • its physical location.

Standard type - Yagi aerial



The standard type of TV aerial is known as the Yagi aerial. It is mounted on a pole, and consists of a rod with a reflector (shown green) at the back and many spiky elements (in grey) at the front. The connecting cable connects to the element nearest the reflector, known as the driver (shown in blue).

These Yagi aerials are directional and so pick up signals best from a transmitter that the rod points towards. The more elements the aerial has, the better it picks up a signal and becomes more directional.

A standard-type aerial is all that is required for digital TV reception in most places. These antennae have between 10 and 18 elements and a single reflector. These are recommended for new installations for good digital television reception, but will more often than not function perfectly in good reception areas.

Typically these aerials are designed to receive only some transmission frequencies - see "groups" below.

High Gain aerials



These aerials are designed for poor digital reception areas, and have two reflectors. For maximum signal strength, some digital high gain aerials have up to 100 elements. Since the switchover to digital-only transmissions back in October 2012, most UK households now have good quality digital TV signals.

A more expensive aerial is only required where the signal strength is low, but can often provide the whole Freeview reception where it might otherwise be impossible.

The CAI (that represents aerial installers) has four standards for digital TV aerials. The highest standard "1" is for homes on the fringes of coverage areas, intermediate standard "2" is suitable for use within the coverage area; minimum standard "3" is for good coverage conditions.

These aerials can be either wideband, or receive only selected frequencies - see "groups" below.

Grid



You may haved used a 'Grid aerial' for analogue reception, but as they are generally unsuitable for Freeview reception, they have now generally been replaced by the Yagi type. However in some places a Grid aerial installation may work for Freeview: otherwise replace with a standard Yagi aerial.

Indoor

Indoor aerials are generally not suitable for Freeview reception. In areas of good signal strength it is often possible to receive some transmissions. Even where an aerial works, people often find that may get interruptions to their viewing (or recording).

Loft mounted

Loft mounted arrivals are not generally recommended for Freeview reception, as the roof tiles and plumbing will degrade the signal. Some compensation for this loss of signal can be made by using satellite-grade cable to connect the set top box to the aerial.

Positioning

The best position for a TV aerial is mounted outdoors, as high from the ground as possible, pointing directly at the transmitter. The signal can be blocked by hills and tall buildings. It should be positioned away from any other aerials.

Horizontal or vertical?

The transmitter will either use vertical mode which requires the elements of your aerial to be up-down, or horizontal mode which requires them to be level with the ground.

Groups

Both analogue and digital television is transmitted the same group of transmission frequencies (known as channel 21 through to 60). A coloured marking on the aerial shows the group.



To create the best possible analogue picture, TV transmissions from adjacent transmitters have been designated to several different groups of frequencies. By using an aerial that receives only the channels in the correct group, the analogue picture can be kept free from interference.

To receive Freeview transmissions from the same transmitter it has been sometimes necessary to use frequencies that are not part of the transmitter's normal group. When this has occurred, the aerial will need to be replaced with a "wideband" aerial (also known as group W) - one that covers every group.

As Ofcom is planning to move the TV frequencies again - perhaps as soon as 2018 - it may be wise to use a wideband aerial if you can to ensure you can keep viewing Freeview for many years to come.

Help with Television sets?
Why are all TVs on sale not digital?1
Do I still have to pay for a TV licence?2
I had perfect channel 5 reception - until I got a digital TV box!3
I Have a Pocket Tv For taking out so I can keep up with news and sport. Will thi4
The pictures from my digital box are all green!5
In this section
Loft aerials1
Do I need to buy a booster?2
How to receive Freeview on your PC3
Indoor aerials4
Whole house digital TV5
Connecting it all up6

Comments
Friday, 29 June 2012
S
Sandie
2:46 PM
Faversham

I have retuned the TV, picture is perfect. I can't get sound. It is behind background noise. Post code ME13 7PD.

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Sandie's 1 post GB flag
Sandie's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

3:01 PM

Sandie: If you are using a separate set-top box, the issue could be because it has its own volume control.

From what you describe, it sounds as if you have the volume set to high or maximum on the TV whilst having the volume of the box very low.

The volume control on the box's remote (if there is one) operates the volume for the box and the volume on the TV's remote operates the volume on the TV. They are independent of one another.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Saturday, 30 June 2012
J
Jan Gibson
12:41 PM
Chelmsford

We have not been able to get ITV4 since the digital changeover in NOvember although we used to get it with a digi box before the switch. We have just bought a new Panasonic TV with HD and hoped we would be able to get ITV4 on this set as Freeview is incorporated in the set. Is it an aerial problem do you think - we have the same aerial as we've had for 40 years? (!) We have tried re-tuning but no luck.

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Jan Gibson's 2 posts GB flag
Jan's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:26 PM

Jan Gibson: It is a possibility that your aerial needs replacing in order to pick up some or all of the Commercial (COM) multiplexes.

Refer to this page for the six multiplexes which are groups of services, each carried on a single signal:
DMOL Post-DSO Multiplex Channel Allocations

ITV4 is carried on COM6 multiplex (known as "ArqB") which is on UHF channel (equivalent to frequency) 56 from Sudbury. Aerials fitted during the days of four-channel analogue (or even three-channel analogue !) will probably be less sensitive at frequencies used by the COMs. This may or may not prove to be an issue.

Assess which of the multiplexes are missing and which you have by referring to the above page and checking to see if the services on each are present.

If your receiver has manual tuning, then it is worth attempting to manually tune them. Depending on the design of the device, it may indicate whether there is a signal there, but just not strong enough.

For Sudbury:

COM4 (SDN) | ITV3 etc | C58
COM5 (ArqA) | Pick TV etc | C60
COM6 (ArqB) | Yesterday, ITV4 etc | C56

The "C" numbers are UHF channel numbers that you need to input whilst on the manual tuning screen.

------

Your aerial will probably be a Group B one which means that it is most sensitive on the middle third of the band of frequencies used for TV. Sensitivity drops off outside this; it doesn't stop totally, but may be noticeably lower.

Whilst the Public Service channels (BBC, ITV1, C4 etc) are within Group B, the COMs are above it (top third known as Group C/D).

For this reason you may need your aerial replacing with a wideband one which is suitable for the whole band, or a Group E one which is the top two thirds of the band (which are Groups B and C/D combined).

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Sunday, 1 July 2012
D
Derek
9:01 PM
Stanford-le-hope

I am in SS17 and have lost all signal since last weekend any reason?

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Derek's 1 post GB flag
Derek's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 2 July 2012
B
Bryan
9:55 AM

Im in newcastle NE5 area, had no problems until today when all itv channels stopped working.Tried reseting bt box but no joy,also no signal with aerial direct into tv.
Do i need a new aerial?
Thanks

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Bryan's 1 post GB flag
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
M
Mark Fletcher
sentiment_satisfiedGold

12:06 AM
Halifax

Jan Gibson,Chelmsford.If your aerial is 40 years old dating back from 1971/2 and is coloured yellow at its tips,denoting a group B aerial then yes the aerial plus the co-ax cable and co-ax plug all need replacing.
A replacement group E Yagi 18E semi-wideband aerial coloured brown at its tips,plus new superior copper-copper black coloured co-ax cable and new brass co-ax aerial plug will vastly improve both your reception and viewing as such.

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Mark Fletcher's 673 posts GB flag
Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
C
cjh
9:27 PM

I get 30 channels where people nearby(1 mile away) get upto 100. I am told that i need to point to a different transmitter and get a new horizontal aerial. How can I check if this will work before spending money on a new aerial and fitting. I live in CT17 - currently point to Buckland transmitter - told to point to Hougham Transmitter. Question...If hougham is better why was it not pointing there in the first place? Any help would be appreciated.

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cjh's 1 post GB flag
M
Mark Fletcher
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:23 PM
Halifax

CJH.A full postcode preferably not a partial one is required to ascertain the reception likelyhoods in your locality as such.
Unless you do we cannot be of much help to you !

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Mark Fletcher's 673 posts GB flag
Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:25 AM

cjh: It may be the case that Buckland (known as "Dover Town") is a better signal for you, which is why the aerial is directed to it.

In the days of four-channel analogue, all transmitters carried the same four channels. Main high power transmitters like those at Hougham (known as "Dover") cover large areas. Unfortunately their signals don't get everywhere, primarily owing to the terrain.

Because the ground slopes downwards towards the sea, reception from Dover is difficult to impossible, which is why the small "filler-in" relay transmitter at Buckland was installed. This is sited in a location where it can receive from Dover and where it can be "seen" by the area that has difficulty receiving from that main station and this is so that the area can receive from it.

It carried all four analogue channels and was therefore not inferior to the service offered by Dover.

Post switchover there is a two-tier terrestrial transmitter network. There are two types of broadcaster: Public Service ("PSB") and Commercial ("COM").

The four analogue channels had and still have a "Public Service" obligation (as does Channel 5) and they are now carried from all transmitters that carried four-channel analogue in the past, as this includes Dover Town.

However, the COMs don't have a "Public Service" obligation. They operate solely for their own benefit; i.e. to turn a profit. They transmit from 81 of the largest transmitters (largest by viewer population) and this includes Dover. This gives them coverage of 90% of the population.

They were asked if they wished to increase their coverage and they declined. For them to transmit from the 1,000 or so small relays like Dover Town would roughly double their cost of transmission whilst only adding 8.5% of the population to their potential viewer-bases.

When their objective is to get as many viewers as possible at lowest possible cost to show them advertising (which they sell), it's not hard to see why they don't wish to invest in the relays.

As Mark Fletcher says, a more specific location is necessary. Looking at the contour lines in the CT17 area, likelihood/difficulty of reception from the main Dover transmitter is likely to vary greatly owing to the slope.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
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