CONTENT
- 1 Antenna classification, what is the difference between passive and active
- 2 Which one to choose and which selection criteria
- 3 What is free digital TV and how to connect to it
- 4 The principle of operation of the UHF-band antenna and its technical characteristics
- 5 The cost of popular models, and where they are sold
- 6 Aerial 2100 antenna - truth or divorce
- 7 Reviews of TV antennas as a key for free TV
- 8 Video. How to choose and connect an antenna for receiving digital TV
Antenna classification, what is the difference between passive and active
A television antenna is a technical device designed to receive a TV signal transmitted from a television tower located in the zone of its retransmission.
TV antennas are classified according to the following parameters:
- location: indoor and outdoor;
- operating frequency range: channel, band and all-wave;
- signal amplification type: passive and active.
Passive
Devices of this type receive and amplify the received signal due to their design, which is expressed in the geometric shape and brand of materials used in their manufacture.
Passive antennas are available for indoor and outdoor installation.
This type of device does not have any electronic components (transistors, microcircuits, etc.) that affect the received signal, which is reflected in two ways in the latter.
IMPORTANT!
Indoor passive antennas are used when placed in close proximity to repeater and in the absence of high-rise buildings (above ten meters) located in the direction TV towers.
The absence of electronics does not create interference and noise in the TV signal received by the television receiver, however, in the area of uncertain reception, devices of this type may be ineffective. This is expressed both in providing a high-quality signal and in the possibility of using it, in principle.
Active
Antennas of this type can also be indoor or outdoor. They have in their design an electronic amplifier that provides the strength of the received signal.
The operation of the amplifier is provided by applying voltage to its contacts through a power supply.
The presence of the amplifier makes it possible to use the TV in the area of uncertain reception of the TV signal, which is an undoubted advantage of this type of antennas.
If used in an area of reliable reception, there may be interference with sound broadcasting and images, which is a disadvantage of this type of device.
Similar disadvantages can be caused when using antennas equipped with an amplifier of significant power and when they are poorly manufactured.
Working frequency range classification
According to this indicator, antennas are divided into several groups:
- duct - are able to work only in a given frequency range;
- band - work in the MW or UHF bands;
- all-wave - are able to work in the UHF and MW bands at the same time.
What is a digital TV set-top box and how to choose one.In a special publication of our portal, we will tell you in detail what a digital TV set-top box is and how to choose it. You will find out the main characteristics and recommendations for choosing.
Which one to choose and which selection criteria
What kind of antenna is needed for digital TV, and how to choose it - these are the questions that arise before the user, especially when it comes to a country house or summer cottage. This is especially true if the house is located far from the repeater.
In order to choose the right receiving device, it is necessary to determine the criteria on the basis of which this choice will be made.
These can be the following indicators:
- Specifications:
- signal power amplification factor (measured in decibels) - shows how many times the signal voltage across the output of a particular device exceeds a similar signal at the output of a half-wave vibrator at a similar placement;
- efficiency - determines the loss of signal power.
- Distance to repeater.
- The presence in the nearby location of high-rise buildings and structures.
- The presence of technical objects that interfere with the received signal (power lines, high-frequency communication lines, etc.).
- The landscape of the location (mountains, gorges, etc.).
- Location in relation to tall objects and landscape.
IMPORTANT!
When you turn on the antenna for the first time, you should do this without a power amplifier, and if the image is of poor quality, then only in this case you need to connect it.
Antenna for digital TV with an amplifier is the key to successful viewing of television programs in high quality sound and image, even in places far from the broadcast source.
What is free digital TV and how to connect to it
To receive digital terrestrial broadcasting, an antenna of the UHF range is required, which allows you to receive free channels in digital format.
On the territory of Russia, free digital TV is broadcasted in the DVB T2 format via public access channels Multiplex-1 and Multiplex-2.
Each Multiplex includes 10 channels:
- Multiplex-1- Channel One and Russia 1, Match TV and NTV, Channel Five and Russia "Culture", as well as Russia 24, Karusel, OTR and TVC;
- Multiplex-2 - Ren TV and the Orthodox channel Spas, STS and Domashny, TV 3 and Sport + Friday, as well as Zvezda, Mir, TNT and Muz TV.
Multiplex-1 operates throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, where there is digital broadcasting, and Multiplex-2 - only where the corresponding equipment is installed.
The TV antenna of the UHF band is the key to free TV in the DVB T2 format on the Multiplex-1 and 2 channels.
The principle of operation of the UHF-band antenna and its technical characteristics
The principle of operation of devices of this type can be formulated as follows:
- vibrator (the active part of the device) - is under the influence of the electromagnetic field of the etheric signal and enters into resonance at its frequency, as a result of which an electromotive force (EMF) arises;
- reflector (passive part) - is also under the influence of an electromagnetic field, which also leads to the appearance of an EMF;
- secondary electromagnetic fields are re-emitted and induce additional EMF on the active element;
- all EMFs are summed up, and the signal is transmitted further along the connecting cable to the connected receiver.
When buying an antenna for the UHF range, you must pay attention to the following technical characteristics, reflected in the passport of the device and determining the possibilities of its use:
- antenna type (active / passive);
- broadcast ranges;
- gain, dB;
- coefficient of protective action, dB;
- dimensions;
- location;
- weight;
- materials used;
- supply voltage (for active models), V.
The cost of popular models, and where they are sold
On the market of technical devices for receiving digital broadcasting, there are a large number of models that differ in design, type, quality and cost.
The most popular ones are shown in the following table:
| Image | Model (country of origin) | Rating according to the editorial board Tehno.guru, points | Distinctive characteristic | Cost, rub. |
 | REMO BAS-5310USB HORIZON (Russia) | 9,7 | Best value. | 850 |
 | HARPER ADVB-2120 (China) | 9,7 | Value for money among indoor devices. | 570 |
 | REMO INTER 2.0 (Russia) | 9,5 | Best Desktop Model. | 870 |
 | REMO KOLIBRI-A-DX DELUXE (Russia) | 9,9 | Most popular among outdoor devices. | 1299 |
 | REMO "DVINA-DX" (Russia) | 9,6 | Value for money among outdoor devices. | 510 |
Aerial 2100 antenna - truth or divorce
The Aerial 2100 model was a novelty in 2017 and was presented by the manufacturer as a technical device of Japanese quality, providing reception of domestic and foreign digital broadcasting channels at any point our country.
Distinctive features were: compactness, ease of use and low cost.
Currently, in accordance with user reviews, this model is classified as not living up to the declared characteristics and is not popular.
Reviews of TV antennas as a key for free TV
At the beginning of this section there are reviews of popular models discussed in this article and posted on the Otzovik.com website:
"REMO BAS-5310USB HORIZON".
User - ivana2211, g. Cherepovets:“Confidently copes with its main functions. Advantages: inexpensive, compact, easy to use, appearance, confident reception in the depths of the room. Disadvantages: did not notice. "
In details: http://otzovik.com/review_5560558.html.
"HARPER ADVB-2120".
User - Lern, g. Moscow:“Great image! Advantages: quality. Disadvantages: the surface leaves streaks and dust. "
In details: https://otzovik.com/review_4421572.html.
"REMO INTER 2.0".
User - Resvon, g. Eagle:“A good antenna that performs all the functions that the manufacturer claims. Advantages: design, build quality, price. Disadvantages: no. "
In details: http://otzovik.com/review_2354037.html.
"REMO KOLIBRI-A-DX DELUXE".
User - AlexeyNr, g. St. Petersburg:“Performs its functions on a solid 4+. Advantages: workmanship, compactness, completeness, low price. Disadvantages: I haven't found it yet. "
In details: http://otzovik.com/review_474562.html.
About the model Aerial 2100 there are also many reviews, but they are all negative, here are some of them:
The user is i1, g. Yaroslavl:"Complete nonsense! Advantages: what can be? Disadvantages: nothing but them. "
In details: http://otzovik.com/review_4541399.html.
User - ptzrus, g. Petrozavodsk:“Divorce suckers. Advantages: no. Disadvantages: It's not good to cheat. "
In details: https://otzovik.com/review_4981467.html.
User - victor-r, g. Samara: “A common home antenna for receiving an analog signal from a television center. Advantages: no. Disadvantages: it catches only the analog signal from the nearest TV tower, the signal on the TV is noisy, there is no amplifier inside the antenna. "
In details: https://otzovik.com/review_5459009.html.
