How To Install Digital Terrestrial TV
These Simple Instructions are for D.I.Y
Which Antenna to Buy
If you live within a few kilometers of the transmitter and have a clear line of sight to the transmitter, you don't need to spend a lot of money on the antenna. With digital terrestrial TV you either have a picture on your screen or you don't. If the signal is marginal it will pixilate and then disappear. With the old analogue system the better the signal the clearer the picture. In Spain Televes make the best antennas although they cost more. They don't necessarily have the ability to pick up the signal better than the medium to lower priced antennas but they will have a very long life (from weather conditions) compared to cheaper antennas.
If you live a long way from the transmitter you will need a more expensive antenna with more gain. However a medium priced antenna with a mast amplifier and power supply will produce better results than a high gain antenna without the mast amplifier and power supply.
If you live on the fringe of the possible transmission you will need a high gain antenna plus a mast amplifier and power supply
Fixing the antenna to the Roof or wall
You need to put the antenna where you have line of site to the transmitter. Provided you have line of sight you don't need to put it on top of a long pole. You will only need a long pole to raise the antenna above objects between the antenna and the transmitter.
A simple bracket for satellite dishes, as illustrated on the left, screwed to the wall or the chimney will do the job nicely.
If you need to install a pole, then visit your nearest satellite shop to purchase the materials.
Attaching the coaxial Cable
Attach the coaxial cable to the antenna with an f-connector (illustrated on the left). It is important that you attach the f-connectors properly, please go to this page for instructions
On the other end you will require a TV plug (illustrated on the left). There are numerous types available. I prefer the type that screw into an f-connector. These are available in satellite shops. Once again it is critical that the shield of the coaxial cable doesn't touch the inner core of the cable. This plug is plugged into your digital Tv (most flat screens are digital with a tuner for digital terrestrial tv) or if its an older TV it is plugged into your digital terrestrial set-top box.
Tuning in your antenna
Aim the antenna at the Transmitter and also adjust the inclination. All antennas have this adjustment and its very important to adjust the antenna vertically and horizontally. Switch on your TV and or set top box and scan for channels. If you can't see the transmitter but have a rough idea where it is you will have to adjust the antenna. To do this scan for channels and then select a channel that is pixilating (breaking up) go back to the antenna and move it left to right and up and down with someone watching the screen and informing you by mobile phone as to the quality of the picture.
If you live very close to the transmitter the strong signals will mask the weak signals. To solve this scan your TV and then select a channel that is pixilating (breaking up) and move the antenna away from the transmitter until the picture is perfect. If you want to be technical, install an inline attenuator
Tuning the antenna with a laptop computer
If you want to get technical, or have an uncooperative wife(!), then buy a USB TV stick (Google for "USB TV stick") for €20 . After installing this device on your laptop go on the roof with your lap top and plug in the cable to the usb stick. Remember that if you are using a mast amplifier then the cable connection is: antenna ⇒ mast amplifier ⇒ power supply ⇒ USB stick. This means you have to make a short test cable and plug in the power supply powered with an extension cable on the roof
Adding a Mast Amplifier
If you do not live close to the transmitter and/or have some trees in the way, then you will have to amplify the signal by buying a mast amplifier kit. There are hundreds of makes and models on the market. Generally you need an amplifier with one UHF input and one output. If you have two antennas (each one pointing at a different transmitter) then you would need to buy a mast amplifier with two UHF inputs and one output.
Place the mast amplifier as close to the antenna as possible. Run a coaxial cable from the antenna to the input on the amplifier marked UHF.
Run another cable from the output on the mast amplifier to the power supply. This power supply can be placed anywhere that is convenient (and in a dry place) with a 220 volt power point. Note, the power supply has to be connected before any junctions or devices. Where you have only one TV point in the house with a cable from the mast amplifier directly to your TV, then the simplest solution is to put the power supply on the wall at the back of the TV. The power supply has to be permanently plugged into a 220 volt wall socket.
Please note if you install a mast amplifier and there is no power to the unit (i.e. the power supply is unplugged or defective) you will not receive any signal from the antenna. Some people install a power supply without a mast amplifier and this achieves nothing.
From the power supply run another coaxial cable to the TV or digital terrestrial set top box. On the power supply there is usually one input from the mast amplifier to the power supply, this can be confusing it is usually marked as 24 DCV out. On the power supply there are usually two outputs for separate TVs - choose either one.
Updating or Using Existing Systems
If the existing Antenna has a mast amplifier attached to the pole it means that the house has or had a power supply - check this with your meter. If there is 24 volts at the output of the mast amplifier then there is a power supply installed.
If the existing antenna has a mast amplifier but there is no power its important you locate and replace it
Spanish houses are normally cabled for terrestrial TV. The cable from the antenna (mast amplifier) goes to a wall box in a room close to where the cable exits the wall. The power supply is usually installed in this box and is permanently wired to the mains circuit. From this power supply they split the cable to various rooms.
If the house has a power supply and it's working then there's no point in changing it, however I would replace the mast amplifier if it's old.