Are You Using the Right Antenna for Free-to-air TV?

All Australians should be able to access to free-to-air TV channels given that they are using the right TV aerial and receiving equipment. There’s nothing worse than purchasing an antenna and installing it before realising it’s the wrong type or you haven’t got the necessary equipment. Unfortunately, here at Jim’s Antennas, we’ve seen this happen all too often with DIY installations. With so many different types of TV antennas out there, what factors should you be considering before going out to buy a new antenna for your home?

Location

The Australian landscape is extremely varied. You can find cities along the coast lines, as well as in isolated outback areas. What channels you can access and the strength of the signal depends on where you live. If you live along the edge of a coverage area, you will need a fully optimised antenna system.

Having a digital TV antenna installed will help you gain access to a host of digital channels via satellite. This type of antenna is also useful if your home is located outside the coverage of terrestrial television frequencies. Frequencies are location-dependant, meaning where you live will affect the channels you can receive.

For more information on how to select the right antenna for your area visit our blog ‘What’s the Best Antenna for Free TV?‘. This article explains how to select an appropriate antenna based on your geographical location.

Necessary equipment

An outdoor antenna, a fly-lead and a coaxial cable are all included in a conventional antenna system. But, installing an antenna as a novice can get technical and dangerous. Contact your Jim’s Antennas for a more convenient way of having your antenna installed. Your local technician will give you advice on the most appropriate antenna to use in your area and will assess signal strength and line of sight to determine which tower is the best to receive this signal from. Depending on the results of this assessment, you will require either a UHF, VHF or combined antenna. A professional antenna installer will also be able to assess whether additional equipment such as an attenuator or mast is required. Jim’s Antennas technicians can also help with wall mounting your new TV and connecting it to your antenna – so you can start watching your favourite shows right away!

Antennas to Avoid:

• Indoor antennas – Also referred to as rabbit ears, this type of antenna is likely unable to receive all of the channels in your area. Indoor antennas are also especially susceptible to interference.
• Antennas made for receiving FM radio signals or VHF bands 1 and 2.
• Multiple legacy antennas – When used together, these antennas can make your system more prone to receiving interference. 

Installing an antenna will often involve climbing up onto your roof – deciding to install your antenna yourself it is important to implement safety precautions such as ensuring that your ladder is steady. However, we would recommend that you call your local antenna installer to do the job for you. Using their many years of industry experience and knowledge, the team at Jim’s Antennas will not only ensure that you have the right antenna, but that it is installed correctly and safely. 

For assistance with any of your aerial needs, big or small, don’t hesitate to give local Jim’s Antennas expert a call on 131 546 or book a free online quote.