Installing digital television

Generally viewers will have good reception of free-to-air digital TV from an existing antenna if:

• it is relatively new
  
  
• it is in good condition
  
  
• it is connected with good quality coaxial antenna cabling.

If the viewer currently receives good analog TV reception there should be no reason to buy a new antenna unless and until it proves to be inadequate.

If your digital television reception is not adequate, you may need to replace your existing antenna and possibly the cables from the antenna to the wall socket.

Installation guides

The following documents offer more specific installation information with reference to the differing needs of house dwellers and those in apartments, offices or hotels:

• Installing digital television: houses (File size: 41Kb)
• Installing digital television: houses (File format: RTF, size: 92Kb)
• Installing digital television: apartments and offices (File size: 46Kb)
• Installing digital television: apartments and offices (File format: RTF, size: 116Kb)

Current antenna installation anomalies

A number of problems arise from inappropriate antenna installations in existing domestic and commercial premises, as the result of:

• the use of poor quality cabling, connectors and associated components
  
  
• the inappropriate use of filtersstopping distribution of additional channels while attempting to reduce interference to analog services
  
  
• failing to reduce band I (channel 2) and other channel levels causing overloading in amplifiers and TV tuners
  
  
• failing to reduce FM (band II) signals causing interference to analog channels in band III
  
  
• the use of distribution amplifiers in lieu of masthead amplifiers
  
  
• the use of masthead amplifiers in lieu of distribution amplifiers
  
  
• overloading of amplifiers due to inadequate derating of output level and gain
  
  
• in general, carrying out installations without consideration for the requirements set out in Australian standards (AS 1367) for analog TV.
  

With these anomalies in mind, it is important that installers:

• are equipped with good quality digital terrestrial field strength meters
  
  
• base quotations and installations on surveyed field strengths
  
  
• test and take appropriate measurements of work as completed on site
  
  
• leave consumers with a written record of the reception characteristics of the site
  
  
• use good quality materials and correct installation methods at all times.
  

Frequency bands for antennas

Analog and digital television services use the following frequency bands:

• Band 1 VHF channels 02 (analog only)
  
  
• Band 3 VHF channels 612
  
  
• Band 4 UHF channels 2838
  
  
• Band 5 UHF channels 3969

However, not all bands will be used in each area. Likewise, not all antennas receive all bands or channels. 

A typical VHF antenna configuration is:

• VHF band 1 and 3 (providing channels 2 and 612)

The typical UHF antenna configurations are:

• UHF band 4 and 5 (providing channels 2869)
  
  
• UHF band 4 only (providing channels 2838)
  
  
• UHF band 4 and lower band 5 (providing channels 2850)
  
  
• UHF band 5 only (providing channels 3969)

The typical combined UHF/VHF antenna configurations are:

• VHF band 1 & 3 and UHF band 4 (providing channels 2, 612 and 2838)
  
  
• VHF band 3 and UHF band 4 (providing channels 612 and 2838)

The bands usedand therefore the antenna requireddepend on the transmitters that service your area. The Australian Communications and Media Authority lists the digital TV channels available in different areas.

• Document ID: 80904 |
• Last modified: 7 November 2008, 12:01pm