Getting good digital reception

Home entertainment is a big part of modern life, and technology-savvy home owners are getting used to demanding the best from their home entertainment equipment. Good television reception could be seen as fundamental to a properly functioning home entertainment system. The good news is that, in this day and age, there's no need to suffer through fuzzy faces and ghastly ghosting; today, perfect digital reception is easy.

The first step towards getting crystal-clear television reception is to replace your analog antenna with a digital one (if you live in a flat, this would be a matter for the body corporate). A digital antenna will pick up both analog and digital signals. "We don't actually sell analog antennas now, the reason being that if you have a digital TV set-top box, or a new television that has a built-in set-top box, [an analog antenna] won't pick up that digital reception," says John from Mr Antenna. "The other reason we don't sell them is because they're actually going to be switching off the analog signals in 2013, which means that everyone will require a digital antenna before that time."

Digital reception vs analog reception

Digital reception is widely considered far superior to analog reception. Not only does it provide high-quality picture and sound, it enables television users with a digital antenna and set-top box to use functions such as electronic program guides, data services and selected radio services.

Set-top boxes

Getting a digital TV set-top box (which must be used in conjunction with a digital antenna) can resolve analog-centric problems such as ghosting and static. There can be pixilation problems with digital reception (often these are caused by weather conditions), but these can be minimised by ensuring you purchase a good-quality set-top box (or good-quality TV with built-in set-top box) and by getting your digital antenna professionally installed.

Antennas for digital reception 

"Getting a professional in to install your antenna will optimise your readings," says John. "Sometimes amplifiers are required to boost the signal to the antenna. An amplifier would connect into your antenna; it has a little power box [attached to it]."

Basically, the stronger the antenna, the more expensive it is likely to be. "Sometimes you need a stronger antenna; it depends on how many points you have and so forth," says John. "That's why we always say [antenna installation] is subject to a site test."