Digital aerial cable
Broadcast from more than 1, 000 transmitters and available to virtually all UK homes, Freeview offers a wide range of free digital TV and radio services through an aerial. To ensure the best Freeview reception it's important to make sure your TV equipment is tuned correctly and that you have a suitable, properly aligned (and preferably bird-free) aerial with cabling in good condition.
Top tips
1. You can check the coverage prediction for your area and the channels available at your address by using our coverage checker (right)
2. Always check that both the cabling for your aerial and the interconnects between your TV, recorder or other devices are secure and in good condition.
3. As a rule, we recommend removing any unnecessary aerial amplifiers or splitters, which can lead to equipment being overloaded or receiving too little signal. Old amplifiers previously needed to receive analogue signals or low-power Freeview services before switchover are a common cause of reception problems today.
All about aerials
To watch Freeview you need a suitable aerial, correctly aligned and in good condition. Aerials are designed to work either with a specific group of broadcast frequencies (grouped), or across all airwaves that can be used for TV transmission (wideband). A coloured stopper or 'bung' on the end of an aerial identifies which group of frequencies it is designed to work with.
| UHF Channel | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Aerial group | Group A | Group C/D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group K | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A black stopper indicates a wideband aerial. Most aerials sold today are wideband as these are best suited to dealing with any changes to TV signals. Some Freeview signals are set to change around 2020 to make space for more mobile broadband services (see box below).
If you can't see a coloured bung on your aerial - this can be difficult from the street - you may be able to tell if it's grouped or wideband by the size and distance of the elements or fins along the body. On a grouped aerial these will generally be a consistent size and evenly spaced. A wideband aerial will have different lengths and spacing.
Why are some aerials flat and others on their side?
Aerials need to be either horizontally or vertically polarised, depending on the transmitter you are receiving your signal from. In most cases, viewers receiving their TV signals from a main transmitter will need a horizontally polarised aerial. Homes served by smaller relays generally require vertical polarisation.
What type of aerial do I need?
A good local aerial installer can advise on the type of aerial you need for your area. We recommend consulting an installer who is a member of a recognised trade body, such as the Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) or the RDI. Information about this is also available on the detailed view of our coverage checker and from the Freeview advice line on 50. The example below shows that a horizontally polarised group A aerial (A H) is suggested to receive services from Crystal Palace.
Digital UK recommends using a rooftop aerial for best results. Our predictive coverage checker is modelled on homes using a rooftop aerial at 10 metres above ground level. Loft aerials (rooftop aerials installed inside a home) or portable indoor aerials may work in areas where there is good reception but can be subject to electrical interference from other domestic appliances.
Communal aerials
If you live in a block of flats or a shared household you may have a communal TV system, designed to provide a signal to several homes from a single aerial. These may also be used in areas where planning constraints restrict the use and number of rooftop aerials and satellite dishes. Some communal systems need to be retuned following changes in broadcast frequencies or the launch of new channels. If you have questions about a communal aerial system, contact your landlord or managing agent.
When might I need a new aerial?
Aerials generally last for a long time but rooftop installations can be affected by weather over time. If your current picture quality is poor and you are happy that your TV equipment is correctly tuned and in good working order, you might have a damaged aerial or cable that needs attention from a professional installer. Loft aerials and portable set-top aerials can work in areas where there is good reception but can be subject to electrical interference from other domestic appliances. Where this is the case, you may need to consider moving to a rooftop aerial if you cannot identify and resolve the issue.