TV aerial for Freeview

esuhl

Our Freeview reception has never been perfect: channels come and go, and even the ones we get a watchable signal on break up occasionally.

We've just bought a new TV with a built-in receiver and the reception is even worse! Our neighbours seem to have much more impressive aerials, so we're going to get an engineer to install a better one.

The only thing is... I know nothing about what kind of aerial we would need, what's available, etc., and I'd feel like I was giving the engineer a blank cheque - like I do when I've had my car serviced ("Oh, the left-flange crank jack needs felting... of course")!

Does anyone know what I ought to be looking out for, or have any good websites that explain what we might need?

sleep2much

You can buy a normal "high gain" aerial, if your in a dodgy area, I got mine from B&Q, about £20, if it's still poor a booster might do the job, you could try a booster from Argos first, if it doesn't do the job take it back.

Inactive

The best guide is to look at your neighbours aerial's, then look for similar on the web.

DigitalSpy is a good site to ask questions.;)

esuhl

Thanks to you both. I've signed up to the DigitalSpy forums (can't believe you have to wait ~24hrs to post!)

I've found some TV aerials (so at least I know if I'm quoted £100 for one that they're taking the p...roverbial).
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Aerials_Index/AerialsTv/

Oh, and in case anyone else is looking to upgrade their aerial, Wolfbane.com was quite handy for looking up technical info relating to the particular transmitters near me...

Moneymaker

Check out Sam's site for information about Freeview etc. He's also a frequent poster on "digitalspy".