The introduction of Freely has done little to slow the use of good old-fashioned TV aerials. Since even Freely admits it's best when used with an aerial, even if you have splurged on one of the only exclusive TV sets which supports Freely you'll still want an aerial connection handy!
Be it a portable aerial for your camper or a more permanent fixture in your kitchen, (or even an aerial for your business!) there's a host of factors for each aerial such as size, attachment method, high gain and power requirements.
Breakdown the top UK indoor aerials to get the best aerial for you.
1) Best Indoor TV Aerial for Portability
If you're after an alternative to a permanent rooftop fixture, chances are you need something portable.
The DTA240 has been the Amazon UK #1 bestseller and Amazon's Choice for years, and is a balance of innate gain, low price and easy set-up.
| Model Number | DTA240 |
| Reception | DVB-T and DVB-T2 |
| Attachment | Magnetic Base |
| Power Required? | No |
| Gain Amount | 3.0 dBi |
| Price (£ RRP) | 14.95 |
The DTA240 is as simple as an aerial gets, with a single upright antenna which is incredible portable thanks to the light weight and small size. The antenna is even detachable for even easier transportation.
2) Best Flat Aerial for Wall Mounting
While the DTA240 is small and light, it is a traditional shape and relies on a single upright spoke for reception. Throwing a curveball, the DTA455 instead uses a large, wide, millimetre-think aerial which can be held in a freestanding mount or attached to a wall.
The television aerial is more subtle, and despite looking drastically different will still provide the same digital TV aerial reception as other aerials.
| Model Number | DTA455 |
| Reception | DVB-T and DVB-T2 |
| Attachment | Freestanding Feet or 3M Sticky Pads |
| Power Required? | No |
| Gain Amount | 5.0 dBi |
| Price (£ RRP) | 19.95 |
The increased gain from the flat antenna provides directional reception and vertical polarisation. Basically, you get better signal when you point the flat of the aerial towards your nearest TV transmitter tower / relay.
3) Best Amplified Aerial for Home and Businesses
Amplified or "boosted" aerials are different breed, requiring power to increase their effective gain. High gain can help receive reception in all sorts of hard-to-reach areas!
The DTA300 is a mains-powered amplified aerial which allows your standard reception to be boosted up to 28 dBi. Compared to the maximum 5-7 dBi of an unpowered aerial, the difference is huge.
| Model Number | DTA300 |
| Reception | DVB-T and DVB-T2 |
| Attachment | Freestanding Foot |
| Power Required? | Yes, Mains Plug Adapter |
| Gain Amount | 28 dBi |
| Price (£ RRP) | 24.95 |
For businesses and public use such as in pubs, barbers, etc, the DTA300 has an LTE filter which reduces the interference from LTE signals. This means guests and customers can all be on their phones and using 3g+ networks without it interfering with your TV.
Alternative Aerials for Wireless TV
It's 2024, surely there's other ways to access TV than a metal stick aerial? Well, actually, the alternatives are a little more niche than you'd expect. Use some of our further reading material to explore alternatives to a traditional aerial:
Can't I Just Use My Smart TV?
Not all smart TV's use an "internal aerial", and therefore they will still need connection via coaxial cable just like any other device! If you have an "internal aerial" inside your smart TV, you should be able to scan for channels as we speak.
Can't We Get Live TV over IP?
Freely is the only true Live TV over IP system in the UK, and is only accessible on specific models of TV. There are currently no other ways to access this, so it's an option not available to many of us.
Well, How About My Phone Then?
Your phone you can get Live TV on, even completely wirelessly! But you'll need a wireless Freeview receiver to actually receive the broadcast, which is then pushed via a local wireless network to your phone to watch in an app.
There is No One "Best" Aerial
While the DTA240 is renowned across the UK and hugely popular, it won't provide a business-owner the amplification and LTE filter they need. While the DTA300 will provide high gain and LTE filter, it is very directional and so must be positioned precisely, no suited for reception on-the-go...
As you can see, different aerials excel in different ways, and the best one for you might not be the best for the next person. Make sure you weigh up price, gain amount, directionality and attachment / deployment methods to get the best reception for your use case.
If you need to talk through your situation and work out what requirements you have, call our team at Daffodil who will be happy to suggest a tailored solution.
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