UHF Aerials
What you should know about UHF aerials?
In order for you to receive digital signals from all TV stations, it’s vital your TV antenna is capable of receiving both UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) channels. There are some antennas which are good at providing either UHF or VHF reception, but not both at the same time.
Although you use a set-top-box to convert analogue signals to digital, you will still require a separate antenna to receive digital television. Most manufacturers selling HDTV Antennas are doing so by promising increased receptivity of UHF signals, though many are not all that equipped for it.
When you are searching for such antennas, make sure they aide reception of all UHF and VHF channels. If you use an indoor antenna for VHF channels, you may require amplification.
You can use the following guide to understand your requirements better:
- Locations with strong TV signals need a simple indoor antenna
- Moderate TV signal areas need a high-quality indoor or outdoor antenna
- If you reside in an area with weak TV signals, go for outdoor antennas
There are a number of online resources for you to check your local stations’ signal strength and also guide you towards the right type of antenna depending on where you live and your area’s digital broadcasting coverage.
Also keep in mind that your antenna needs will depend on your geographic location, proximity to buildings and structures, other local factors like wind and excess vegetation and the antenna’s elevation.
Before changing your current antenna system, check if it’s able to receive the digital signals available for your broadcast area. You can do this by starting a channel scan: press the “menu” button on your remote control and follow the instructions.
Perform the scanning procedure periodically to see what new channels are being added and whether your antenna can receive them; it doesn’t matter whether you have analogue or digital TV.
