Indoor aerial reviews: Features explained
Boosters offer limited help
Signal booster
This can marginally increase the likelihood of picking up weak signals. But the internal amplifier of the TV will usually do a better job and boosters on inferior indoor aerials can cause picture interference.
12v adaptor
Most aerial signal boosters are powered by the mains but some models can run on a 12v adaptor, making them ideal for use on a boat or caravan.
Make sure your cables are long enough
Cable length
For the best reception the aerial may be some distance from your TV, so if you don't want to buy extension cables, it's important to have power and aerial leads long enough.
Gain control
This lets you adjust the power of the signal booster. Lots of indoor aerials boast this feature but our experts consider it superfluous.
Aerial designs
Indoor aerials come in a variety of weird shapes and sizes. Whatever the design it’s important for aerials to be angled horizontally or vertically to match your local TV transmitter (see FAQ).
A traditional directional aerial
Directional
These indoor models look the most like roof-top aerials and tend to fair well in our tests. The design means they can usually be adjusted vertically or horizontally with ease.
Loop
Usually consisting of a circular loop, this design does not require any specific horizontal or vertical angling and will work with both types of transmitter.
Dipole and monopole aerials often have a loop design
Monopole and dipole
These are 1 (mono) or 2 (di) antennas, often built onto loop designs to increase bandwidth coverage.
Panel
Flat panel aerials can sometimes be mounted on walls or easily hidden away. They even come in the guise of picture frames. Flat panels are often loops and antennas folded into a panel. Hence, horizontal or vertical angling shouldn't be a worry.
However, some models work according to different principles and do require angling. Simply turning to a 90° angle usually does the trick.
Rod antennas
A rod design limits your options
Vertical rod designs limit your options and can only pick up signals from vertically polarised relay transmitters. Most transmitters are horizontally polarised.