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TV antennas
TV antennas
High-quality TV picture enabled by a powerful UHF antenna
From the product range of home antennas, we offer powerful and easily installed Fagor and Triax UHF antennas, which can receive DVB-T/T2 and UHF signals.
When acquiring a TV antenna, it is good to first find out the location of the nearest TV transmitter and the distance from the antenna. Check the base station information from the mast map. Based on the location and distance, the most suitable antenna and other necessary equipment for successful installation can be selected.
Read below for tips on choosing the optimal TV antenna.
Choosing a TV antenna
We recommend choosing a large antenna when the mast is far away and the installation site is challenging, for example, due to tall trees. When the mast is close and the terrain towards the mast is open, a smaller antenna can also be used. Below are instructions for selecting an antenna and our recommendations for antennas for challenging conditions and easier locations.
| 1. | How far away and in what direction is the nearest TV mast located? |
| 2. | Is it a main transmitter or a fill transmitter? The range of the main transmitters is sometimes up to 100 km and signals are well received from fill transmitters within about a 10 km radius. |
| 3. | What is the shape of the terrain towards the base station? Are there high buildings, rocks or dense forests in the immediate vicinity of the installation site? |
| 4. | How many TV viewing points are there in the location? |
| 5. | Choose an antenna based on how far away the TV mast is, whether it's a main or fill transmitter, whether there are many terrain obstacles towards the mast, how extensive the internal network is, and whether an amplifier is also needed at the site. Read more below about recommendations for choosing a TV antenna. |
TV antennas for easy placement (mast under 40 km, open terrain)
In some cases, a standalone antenna may suffice if a support mast is located nearby (<10 km) and the reception location is otherwise optimal (little to no terrain obstacles, elevated installation position, and a short distance).
If there are multiple antenna points in the internal network or the need for amplification is minimal, it is advisable to use a distribution amplifier with the antenna.
Suitable antennas for easy placement:
Triax DIGI 343 UHF antenna (LTE 700) is designed to receive terrestrial digital television broadcasts in the frequency range of 470 ... 694 MHz (channels 21–48). The Triax DIGI 343 antenna offers excellent amplification and LTE attenuation performance. It attenuates frequencies above 700 MHz using Triax's Antenna Low Pass System, suppressing 4G/LTE signals. The enclosed dipole housing features an F-connector for optimal TV signal reception. The antenna is suitable for use up to 50 kilometers from the TV transmitter. No additional tools are required for installation.
Fagor Eva 48 UHF antenna is UV-protected, moisture-sealed, and its dipole is made using Split Ring Resonator (SRR) technology, which ensures maximum filtering of 4G and 5G signals. The built-in low-pass filter reduces interference caused by LTE technology (4G), allowing the frequency range of 470 ... 694 MHz used by TV channels to operate without disturbances. The optimal operating distance of the Fagor Eva 48 antenna from the TV transmitter is when the distance is less than 50 kilometers.
TV antennas for challenging installation locations (mast over 40 km, high terrain obstacles)
Suitable antennas for challenging conditions:
Triax UNIX 52 antenna is designed to receive terrestrial digital television broadcasts in the frequency range of 470-694 MHz (channels 21-48). The Triax UNIX 52 antenna provides excellent amplification and attenuation performance.
Fagor Rhombus 48 UHF antenna is a mechanically robust TV antenna that is also suitable for arctic conditions. Despite its small size, the antenna has a high amplification power and a low wind load. It is UV-protected, moisture-sealed, and its dipole is made using Split Ring Resonator (SRR) technology, which ensures maximum filtering of 4G and 5G signals. The built-in low-pass filter reduces interference caused by LTE technology (4G), allowing the frequency range of 470 ... 694 MHz used by TV channels to operate without disturbances.
Antenna Amplifier Recommended for Challenging Installation Location
In an installation location where there are many terrain obstacles in the vicinity of the antenna, the use of an antenna amplifier is recommended to enable high-quality TV reception. These locations are preferred for the use of two types of antenna amplifiers.
A mast amplifier is the most effective choice for signal amplification and is used together with a power supply device in poor reception conditions. The mast amplifier (Fagor AML 910, Triax MFA 657) is installed on the antenna mast tube near the antenna to amplify the TV signal, and the power supply device is connected to an indoor power outlet to provide power. The power supply device (Fagor FA 242, Triax ALF 202) has one input and two outputs.
The role of the power supply device is to supply power through the antenna cable to the amplifier located on the mast. The same cable also carries the signal from the mast to the power supply device. The cable is connected to the devices using F-connectors. Alternatively, both devices can be installed inside a central unit/electrical cabinet.
However, the optimal location for the mast amplifier is near the antenna, approximately one meter below the antenna on the mast. This allows for signal amplification right at the beginning of the house's antenna network and ensures good power and quality on the television as well.
In place of the mast amplifier, a distribution amplifier can also be used, which is installed indoors. The combination of the antenna and distribution amplifier is especially suitable in situations where additional TV viewing points are desired or when the indoor network is extensive due to long cable runs, for example.
You can find mast amplifiers and distribution amplifiers here.
Considerations for Antenna Installation:
| 1. | Find out the location and distance of the nearest TV transmitter from mast map. Signals can be received up to 100 km away from the TV transmitter. |
| 2. | The best signal reception is achieved when the antenna has a direct line of sight to the TV transmitter. The signal can be received best with a clear line of sight, even over long distances (up to 70 km), but sometimes this is not possible. In such cases, one of the most effective ways to achieve good signal reception is to install the antenna as high as possible at the installation site. When utilizing height, it is important to consider the strength requirements to maintain safety, for which suitable mounting accessories used by antenna professionals are recommended. |
| 3. | Choosing a TV antenna is easy when the location of the TV transmitter and the distance to the antenna are known. |
| 4. | The antenna should be aimed at the TV transmitter to obtain the best signal. The self-determination of the direction can be aided by the signal level display on the television. The antenna should be moved in height and sideways so that the signal level shown on the receiver is as high as possible for all channel bundles. Even a movement of about 20-30 cm can have a significant impact on the signal level. |
| 5. | Whenever possible, the antenna should be placed far away from trees. The installation location can be, for example, the gable end of a house. However, sometimes the best signal can be found under trees, for example. The attenuation caused by trees depends on their density and moisture. A spruce tree soaked by rain can be a considerable obstacle to the signal, and often antenna issues occur in early summer when the leaves are fully grown. |
| 6. | With a mast tube and other mounting accessories, it is possible to install the antenna at a considerable height. Usually, the antenna should be installed as high as possible, but in challenging installation locations, it may even be necessary to ensure high-quality TV reception. The antenna mast should be grounded to protect against lightning strikes. The antenna mast is grounded with at least a 16 mm² copper cable, which is connected to the main grounding bar of the property. |
| 7. | All channel bundles should have a signal level of at least 80% to ensure that variations in signal level due to different weather conditions or seasons do not affect the signal quality. You can check the signal level on the television's signal level display. The reading is indicative because the signal level displays of receivers are not directly comparable to each other. |
| 8. | Sometimes it is necessary to amplify the signal to ensure sufficient signal level for all antenna outlets (49-74 dBuV). The best placement for the amplifier depends on the reception conditions. In weak signal conditions, a significantly better signal can be achieved by placing the amplifier on the antenna mast near the antenna. A mast amplifier is used with a power supply device that provides power to the amplifier. The power supply device is connected to an indoor power outlet and may already be present in the existing home antenna system. Alternatively, a similar antenna accessory can be a distribution amplifier, which is a different solution for signal amplification. |
| 9. | The purpose of a distribution amplifier is to compensate for losses in the antenna network when the signal is otherwise of good quality, but there are multiple antenna outlets and long cable runs. The distribution amplifier boosts the signal strength to ensure that each antenna outlet receives an adequate signal level, compensating for the signal losses caused by splitting the signal and long cable lengths. This helps maintain signal quality and ensure reliable reception across all connected devices. |
| 10. | When using an amplifier, it is important to consider that external interferences can cause pixelation in the image. LTE signals, in particular, can pose significant challenges to TV signal reception. These issues are most commonly observed when amplifiers are used and the installation location is in close proximity to LTE transmitters. To mitigate these problems, it is recommended to use LTE-protected TV antennas and amplifiers. Kotiantenni offers a product range of TV antennas and amplifiers that are designed to mitigate the impact of LTE interference and ensure reliable signal reception. |
TV Antenna for Recreational Vehicle Use
The Triax UFO 170 antenna is the best compact antenna on the market for boat and recreational vehicle use. With 360° reception capability, the antenna can receive signals from all directions. The integrated 28 dB amplifier requires a power supply of 5-24 V. The antenna can be powered by the TV, a set-top box (5 V), a battery (12-24 V), or a separate power source. The Triax UFO antenna is suitable for FM/UHF DVB-T/T2 signal reception and is LTE 700 protected. It features a weatherproof and corrosion-resistant design, making it resistant to water and saltwater corrosion.
