Like most aerials, the bottom line really depends on the coverage in your area. Cord Busters' Best Indoor Aerials Editor's Choice. Our Rating. Excellent range and performance at a higher price point. Unique double-sided design, comes with a detachable signal amplifier.
Good reception and a unique design. Periodic one direction aerial with a variable amplification dial. Built-in signal amplification and 4G filtering, at a higher cost. Table of Contents. Also need a Freeview Set-Top Box? Read our guide — and our best YouView boxes review. Best Overall. Great reception Flat — mount on the wall or place on your TV cabinet Excellent price Detachable signal amplifier included. Build quality a bit flimsy Doesn't come with a stand.
Excellent performance but slightly higher priced. Excellent reception 4G Filter Flat and easy to mount Excellent cable length 4. A bit pricey Not very pretty. RGTech Monarch 50 Review. Flat, unique double-sided design with a detachable signal amplifier. Good reception Mid-range price Detachable amplifier included Unique design with two colours. Here are our top recommendations for the best indoor antenna. If you're fed up with the high cost of subscription TV -- whether you're getting it via a live TV streaming service , from a satellite dish or over a coaxial cable -- it may be time to cut the cord and look into an antenna.
That's right, TV antennas still exist and they are now much less finicky than the "rabbit ears" that people had to fiddle with in years past.
If you are in an area with a decent signal, you can watch some of the most popular TV shows, specials and sports for free with an antenna and some antennas can even bring in HD channels. For the purposes of this article, we'll be discussing over-the-air, or OTA, antennas.
This type of antenna feed is great for events you want to watch live, such as sports and the evening news. And if you're really serious about cutting the cord, check out our Streaming TV Insider for even more tips. The downside is that in some places, the TV signal of some channels is spotty or nonexistent due to either your proximity, or lack thereof, to a broadcast tower or obstructions that break up the signal. The best TV antennas were able to pull in more channels than the others and delivered stronger, clearer TV signals, even on "problem" channels.
We tested in two different locations: urban Manhattan and suburban New Jersey. We'll keep this updated as we review new products. Here are the seven TV antennas we originally looked at:. The Flatenna 35 has been upgraded with a removable antenna since our original test.
It seems that signal performance has also improved -- it's now the best of our seven models at pulling in channels, beating our previous recommendation, the Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse. It's called either the Flatenna 35 or Duo depending on where you buy it from. Best TV channels reception and low price? We have a winner. Read our Channel Master Flatenna 35 review.
Maybe you've tried the Flatenna with so-so results and want to give it another shot. If you don't do this, you could still see a fuzzy, distorted picture.
Some aerials are 'omnidirectional', meaning they don't need to be angled, but most will need to be polarised either horizontally or vertically. This is often just a simple process of rotating the aerial. The majority of transmitters in the UK are horizontally polarised, but the best thing to do is take a look at the rooftop aerials in your neighbourhood to see how they're aligned.
That way you'll know what type of polarisation you'll need. You can also get aerials that come with built-in amplifiers. An aerial with an amplifier — or signal booster — can marginally increase the likelihood of picking up medium or low signal strengths. However, it's not a guarantee for success.
The internal amplifier of the TV will usually do a better job, and we've found that boosters on poorly performing indoor aerials can actually cause picture interference.
This is particularly the case if the aerial is placed too close to the television or set-top box. Sign up to reveal.
This aerial may be unique in design but it's performance is just as worthy as our other Best Buys. It's also one of our most affordable models on test. Our full review reveals why it deserves our recommendation. Ticking all the boxes from signal reception to its 4G filter and HD compatibility, this aerial was a winner in our tests. To find out which aerial it is, read our full review. Looking for an aerial that's good at picking up strong and weak signals?
This one could be the one for you. It might be a bit pricey but its performance proved to be worth it in our tests. Even Best Buy indoor aerials sometimes can't get good TV reception in your home.
This can be down to a number of external factors, such as the position of your home in relation to other buildings. The most common FM radio aerial on a portable radio is a telescopic one. To get the best reception extend the aerial fully and move the aerial and radio around until you get the best reception. If using a hi-fi with a wire aerial, again extend as much as possible to get the best signal. External aerials are also available for FM radio and will significantly improve reception.
The aerial and cables need to be well maintained and you will need a radio that has an option to connect an external aerial. A radio which can tune to medium and long wave services usually has an aerial built in, which you cannot see.
As the aerial is directional, by simply turning the radio you will be able to get the best reception. AM does not use the telescopic aerial. This needs to be rotated to find the best signal. External aerials are also available for DAB and will significantly improve reception. The aerial and cables need to be well maintained and you need a radio with the option to connect an external aerial.
Unlike the other services, all the predictions of DAB coverage are for indoor coverage. Fading and Hissing. If you normally can receive a service, but you are now finding it is fading, or you can hear hissing, this could be down to one of three things. The first is a fault with the local FM transmitter. If not, then you will need to check the radio and aerial to confirm they are both working properly.
However, if you are using a frequency you have preset and there is no radio service on that frequency in your location, then the RDS may not work. At that point you will need to tune your radio until you find a signal. If you are having continuous reception problems check your car aerial for damage.
If you have an extendable aerial make sure it is fully extended to give the best possible reception. Local Radio Travel News. The RDS system is set up to detect local radio travel news.
The way to turn traffic announcements on and off on varies between radios. Check you car manual for yours. Electrical Interference. Interference to MW or LW reception in a car can sometimes happen when the engine is running. This can be due to various things including poor earth connectors, faulty or corroded HT leads and uncompressed spark plugs. This can cause whining on the radio, which rises and falls with engine speed. It has also been known for the engine management system EMS to cause problems.
The simplest test is to turn off your engine and see whether it goes away. The buzzing and clicking lasts from a few seconds to a minute at a time. Switch off heating systems and see whether the problem goes away. If the problem persists when you turn the heating system back on, the problem could be with the thermostat, which may need to be repaired or replaced.
To find out if a particular switch is causing the problem, try turning the lights off one at a time. Many people are now using low power LED lights instead of the more traditional varieties. However, if the original light used a transformer rather than directly running off the mains, it is possible the transformer is causing the interference. This is because the transformer would have been designed to operate at the higher power and not the lower power the LED lights use.
This has the potential to cause electrical interference. Street lamps. Street lamps can sometimes cause buzzing and crackling sounds on your FM radio.
Keeping a note of when each lamp comes on and goes off will help to identify whether this is the cause of your interference. If it is, contact your local council. Passing traffic. A faulty or uncompressed engine can cause a distinct buzzing 'whine' which varies with engine speed - motorcycles tend to be the worst. Try to move your radio away from the street or use an external aerial. Electric motor. An electric motor is used in many appliances such as electric lawnmowers, washing machines, drills and hairdryers etc.
A faulty motor can cause electrical interference. Check any appliance with an electric motor by moving your radio away from it to see whether the sound improves. If you have several appliances with electric motors you may need to turn them all off and try the above one at a time.
With all of these potential causes, it is worth keeping a log for at least two weeks to determine whether there are any patterns or trends to the interference. This can be due to:. Reduced transmitter power. Use our transmitter tool to see whether your local transmitter is currently affected by maintenance work. Stereo Signal.
Try moving the radio to another position, such as near a window, higher up, or another room. If you get hiss when listening to a stereo signal try switching to mono.
Stereo reception needs a stronger signal than mono. If you have a portable radio you will be able to pick up more of the receivable signal if your telescopic aerial is fully extended. If you have an external or loft aerial check they are functioning correctly. Tuning to the wrong transmitter. Use our transmitter tool to check you are tuned to the best frequency for your area, as you can often pick up more than one signal.
Very occasionally, the weather, usually high pressure, can result in a weakened signal. There is nothing anyone can do about this and the only answer is to wait for the weather to change. For more information see our guide on how weather can affect radio reception. Help receiving TV and radio. Reception and interference main navigation Menu. Television aerials There are three main factors to consider when discussing television aerials - polarity, group and location.
Polarity This is not as complex as it sounds. Aerial types Horizontal and Vertical Aerial Group To help boost reception, an aerial can be manufactured to receive a specific range of frequencies. Location The best place for an aerial is at a height of ten metres, mounted outside without anything between the aerial and the transmitter. Indoor Indoor portable aerials tend to come in two varieties, mini replicas of external aerials and wire loops. Check out our tools Use our problem assistant to help you diagnose problems with reception and interference View tool.
Check the status of the transmitter you are using and find out TV and radio channels and frequencies View tool. My DAB reception has started to drop out, is this due to poor reception? How can weather affect DAB reception? Tuning Most DAB radios can be tuned easily at the touch of a button. Telescopic aerials Telescopic aerials on portable radios should be fully extended to receive a good signal. Outdoor aerials An externally mounted aerial can be attached to many types of DAB portable radio and hi-fi systems.
Cables and Connectors If you have an external aerial, a radio signal will always lose some of its strength as it passes along the cable and through the connectors. Works and Warnings Check whether there are any known works or warnings that might be causing the problem.
Tuning DAB uses multiplexes to group services together. External aerials It is important to check the cables and the aerial for damage and that they are operating correctly. Damaged Cables Water can get into external cables and can cause reception problems. Car Radios Radio reception can drop out when on the move due to changes in topography. Weather Radio signals can be affected by fine weather including high pressure. Lost reception of one or more station within a multiplex If all other stations are working ok and you have just lost one station.
If your car radio is showing no signal or no service for a station you usually receive, this could be down to one of the following things: DAB Transmitter Fault If you know your location, you can use our transmitter checker to see whether there is a problem.
Interference Poor DAB reception can also be caused by equipment used in the vehicle. Topography When travelling in the car, your signal can be affected by natural features of the land, for example, hills, valleys, rivers, etc. How to find these services It is best to re-tune your radio when they are broadcasting, so it will store the station in its memory. Checking for problems Check cables and leads within your property to ensure the problem is not a simple installation fault.
Electrical interference There are differences between a reception problem and one caused by electrical interference. Why is this? My Television reception is usually good in the day, so why does my television reception sometimes deteriorate in the evenings? Why are subtitles sometimes delayed or out of sync? Why am I receiving a voice commentary over my picture. What is this, and how can I turn this off? Freeview Help Guides What is a good Freeview installation?
Aerials There are all kinds of aerials available on the market and some which are specific to certain frequencies. Height Your aerial should be as high as possible pointing towards the transmitter with the best signal. Loft and indoor aerials If you live close to a transmitter or can get a strong TV signal, then it could be possible to use an aerial in your loft or an indoor portable aerial. Cable and connectors A television signal will always lose some of its strength as it passes along the cable and through the connectors.
Amplifier These are not recommended unless absolutely required as they can introduce unexpected reception problems. Polarisation Depending on the transmitter you are using, your aerial elements will need to be mounted flat horizontal or on its side vertical.
Qualified Installer We cannot recommend individual installers. Troubleshooting your Freeview Television reception Basic Installation It is important to check that your installation is intact. Works and Warnings Check our Works and Warnings section to see whether there are any known problems.
Transmitter faults Using our Transmitter Checker , check your transmitter is not undergoing any work. Weather Television signals can be affected by fine weather including high pressure atmospherics and the only solution is to wait for the weather to change, you should not retune during this time.
Trees During wet weather, when covered in moisture, all trees can have an appreciable effect on signals. Manual Retune A manual retune is more effective than an auto-retune as it only tunes your television to the transmitter your aerial is pointing towards. Interference If you are still having problems, it is possible an unwanted signal is the cause. Qualified Installer We cannot recommend individual Installers. How to check your cables for water damage If possible, check the external cable for any signs of damage, such as cracking and tears.
Damaged cables can cause reception problems and can allow water into your installation. Find the cable that goes from your aerial or satellite dish into your television, radio or set top box and unplug it. This may be from a socket on the wall or a direct cable through the wall. If you are using a satellite dish to receive your television, you will also need to check the LNB and cap for any signs of water damage. You may need to instruct a qualified installer to assist you with this. If it is a direct cable, check for any obvious signs of water or a green build-up on the connector.
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