Find a TV Aerial Installer you can trust in Pencader.

Freeview is only available through a TV aerial. You can’t access Freeview using the internet, so you’ll need to invest in a TV aerial if you haven’t got one already.

If you just bought a Smart TV and you’re not certain whether or not you’ll need to purchase an aerial to be able to access your favorite TV channels, then you’ve come to the right place! So many Smart TV owners also face the same issue and seek an effective solution to it. In this post, we aim to provide you with an insight on this topic to help you make the best-informed decision possible moving forward. Let’s take a look!

The short and simple answer to this question is no, you don’t have to buy a TV aerial to watch your smart TV. However, it should also be noted that you won’t be able to access Freeview or any other terrestrial broadcasts for that matter without a TV aerial. What’s more? You’ll also be restricted to the content offered by your television’s internet streaming app. To unlock Freeview channels, you can consider purchasing an affordable and portable indoor aerial for that purpose. So, what can you watch on your Smart TV without an aerial? Well, without a TV aerial, you’ll only be able to access mod boxes or media from other sources like Blu Ray players, gaming consoles, computers and more. In the event whereby your Smart TV is connected to the internet as it’s designed to be, you can also make use of a plethora of streaming apps to access plenty of media online.

If you don’t want to watch you TV with an aerial, the best option would definitely be to connect your router or broadband through an ethernet cable and make use of the featured streaming apps.

The process you need to go through to install a TV aerial depends on the type of aerial you have. If you have an indoor aerial, it’s simple. Just plug the aerial into your TV and stand it up next to it. If the signal isn’t right, then try moving your aerial closer to a window or higher up. Make sure you rescan for channels every time you move it so you know if you’ve made an improvement. It’s also fairly easy to install a loft TV aerial – just take it up into your loft and position it in a convenient place. Again, experiment with angles and positions to ensure you get the best signal. Installing an outdoor TV aerial is a little trickier. Ideally, try to fix your aerial to a wall or chimney at a gable end – this will be much easier to access than a chimney in the middle of the roof. Follow the instructions that come with your aerial for mounting it – it’s usually best to lash your aerial on rather than use screws. If you’re not used to working at height or aren’t confident doing your own aerial installation work, it’s best to get in touch with a professional.

Generally speaking, you do need an aerial if you have a smart TV. This what will enable you to watch live TV. However, if you’re not bothered about live TV, and just want to use services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Youtube, you don’t normally need a TV aerial. This is because these services use the internet instead.

If you’re looking at the possibility of installing a satellite dish on your chimney, then you’ve come to the right place! First and foremost, it should be noted that chimney mounts are mostly incorporated for individuals who desires the installation of an antenna at the highest point of their roofs without having to drill holes in the roof. This is quite popular as they’re able to ensure an easy installation and also works incredibly well for several antennas. What about satellite dish? Can it also be mounted on a chimney? Let’s take a look!

The short and simple answer to this question is yes, a satellite dish can be installed on a chimney. However, it must be said that this installation is not advisable. Unlike antennas, satellite dishes are aimed much more precisely. While antennas can be positioned as far as 15 degrees off the main aim before the reception is affected, satellite dishes, on the other hand, need to be positioned about one half of one degree in order to allow for a good operation. This is mainly because the broadcast tower you’re aiming your antenna at is, at most, 75 miles away compared to satellite dishes which are aimed at broadcast towers which are at least 22,000 miles away and that’s even if you happen to be directly under one.

Installing a satellite dish on a chimney will make it difficult for you to get it secure enough to have it properly aimed. This isn’t to say it won’t work at first, but most times, winds will probably drive the satellite dish off the target in little time.

Your TV and aerial need to be connected by coaxial cable for your TV to work. Most properties have wall mounted connection boxes – similar to electrical plugs – that you can simply plug your TV into. If you don’t have a cable, it’s easy to pick up one from most DIY shops.

If you’re installing a new outside aerial, you may be able to reuse the old cable. If you can’t, you’ll need to route a new one down from your aerial to any sockets you need. Coaxial cable can be routed down the exterior of your property, through loft spaces, under floors and along skirting boards.

LNB or Low Noise Block simply refers to the feature present at the end of a satellite dish which is attached to the coaxial cables feeding the satellite receiver. There are varying types of LNB which all works in their own special way, however a general function they all provide is to serve as the satellite broadcast signal amplifier and oscillate the signal to a lower frequency band which can be contained by the coaxial cable without too much loss of the cable and the greater the frequency the better the cable resistance and the quicker you’ll lose signal as a result of the cable strength. It should, however, be noted that most LNBs (and not all), oscillate the signal down to the satellite intermediate frequency band ranging from 950Mhz to 2150Mhz.

With the availability of a wide range of LNB types, makes and models, picking the right one for your satellite is crucial as the wrong one may imply your satellite will not work. The most common LNB types are single LNBs and Quad LNBs. The major difference between all types is the amount of output possessed by each LNB. This is what allows extra satellite receivers to be added for additional TV points as well as the inclusion of satellite PVRs which features recordable, play, pause and rewind TV services. For example, a single LNB possesses just one LNB connection for a coaxial cable to be attached. This allows you to connect a standard satellite receiver such as Freesat box or Sky. There are also dual or twin LNB, quad LNB and octo LNB which allows for two (or one satellite PVR), four (two PVRs or one PVR and two standard satellite receivers) and eight separate satellite receivers (four PVRs or combination of both) respectively. There are many other LNB types you can choose from with varying features, so it all depends on your requirements.

Not if your current aerial is in good condition and receives a good signal. If you don’t currently get a good signal, you may need to upgrade or relocate your aerial to receive HD channels or if your TV is not HD ready. You may need to upgrade your television if this is the case.