TV aerials are a must if you want to watch digital TV for free. All you need is a TV aerial and a television receiver with a service like Freeview TV to receive quality television with no monthly bill.
Freeview TV allows you to access over 100 entertainment channels, 20 HD channels, 10 children’s channels, 6 news channels, and 5 streamed channels, all for free. You can also add 14 additional channels for a fee, but this isn’t required. It’s simply an option that Freeview TV gives its users if they want to watch a channel that isn’t part of their 100+ free channel list.
We’ve reviewed the best loft TV aerials that you can add to your loft to begin immediately receiving free television channels with no monthly cost or contract.
Model | Labgear LAB450T | Loft & Outdoor Digital TV Aerial by SLx | SLx Digidome Outdoor Aerial |
|---|---|---|---|
Category | Best Overall | Best Value Option | Best for Outdoors |
4G Filtered | Yes; 4G LTE800 Filtered | Yes; 4G Filtered | Yes; 4G Filtered |
Distance | 210 miles | 160 miles | 200 miles |
dBi Forward Gain | 14.5 | 12 | 20 |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
How We Tested and Compared These Products
We comprised our list of the 9 best loft TV aerials by looking at specific features of each TV aerial; specifically, its TV signal strength, range distance, weatherproofing, and ease of assembly.
We understand that these features rank in priority of importance with all users. What may be an important feature for one person may not be as important to another. That’s why we wanted to test and compare products that have as many features as possible related to the overall performance and assembly of the TV aerial.
We made sure that each product contained quality and relevant features that users were interested in. Additionally, some products even have a manufacturer’s warranty that is included when you purchase the product, which may be an important feature to consider when choosing the best attic antenna.
Our Pick: Labgear LAB450T Very High Gain TV Aerial – Best Overall
Features:
- 4G Filtered: Yes – 4G LTE800 Filtered
- Distance: 210 miles
- Adjustability: Tilting mast for changing directions
- Assembly: Compact folding design
- dBi Forward Gain:5
Our top pick for the best overall loft TV aerial is the Labgear LAB450T Very High Gain TV Aerial. It is our top pick for the best loft TV aerial because it is 4G LTE800 filtered to reduce the interference and channel loss that can come with using a TV transmitter in conjunction with 4G towers and mobile phones. The 4G LTE800 filter will restrict the bandwidth between 470 and 490 MHz to keep your picture clear and constant.
Another great feature that makes this TV aerial our top pick is the 14.5 dBi forward gain. It allows those who live in areas that may have otherwise weak signal reception to get the best picture quality available without any evidence that you are in a weak signal area.
Assembly is easy with clear instructions that are included with the unit. It comes with all of the hardware you’ll need to mount the indoor aerial in your loft. Once mounted, you can adjust the direction in which you want the indoor TV aerial to face. It has a compact folding design that helps reduce the overall space it takes up in your loft.
If you prefer to mount the aerial outside, it comes with a weather boot and F connectors to create a weatherproof connection.
- 4G LTE800 filtered to restrict bandwidth to create a clear picture
- 14.5 dBi forward gain will create a strong signal in weak areas
- 210-mile radius distance
- Easy to assemble with tilting mast clamp for easy directional adjustments
- Weatherproof
- Flimsy; best recommended for indoor lofts and not outside
No products found.
Best Alternatives
Loft & Outdoor Digital TV Aerial by SLx – Best Value Option
Features:
- 4G Filtered: Yes
- Distance: 160 miles
- Adjustability: 1 tilting aerial clamp
- Assembly: Easy to assemble fixing kit included
- dBi Forward Gain: 12
The Loft & Outdoor Digital TV Aerial is our pick for the best value option for the money. It’s around £24.99 and doesn’t lack any features that you get with some value options.
First, it has a 4G filter that will filter interference that is associated with 4G mobile phones. This is undoubtedly one of the most important features that a loft aerial should have, as the signal caused by 4G towers and mobile phones can cause significant interference with TV aerials.
Another great feature of this loft TV aerial is that it is Freeview TV suitable which gives you 70 TV channels, 15 HD channels, and 30+ radio stations; all of which are free!
The TV aerial includes one tilting aerial clamp, one L-cranked pole, one pole mounting bracket, one 10m digital coax cable with clips, and one coax plug. SLx has even included their 12-month warranty to cover any issues you may have within the first year of owning the aerial.
- 4G filtered to restrict bandwidth to create a clear picture
- 12 dBi forward gain will create a strong signal in weak areas
- 160-mile radius distance
- Easy to assemble kit includes all mounting hardware
- Weatherproof
- Mounting kit included is for indoor loft mounting only; will need additional reinforcements if you want to mount outdoors
- Digital Outdoor Aerial
- 4G Ready
- Medium Gain
Outdoor TV Aerial by SLx – Best for Outdoors
Features:
- 4G Filtered: Yes
- Distance: 200 miles
- Adjustability: None; 360° omnidirectional
- Assembly: Easy to assemble fixing kit included
- dBi Forward Gain: 20
This outdoor antenna is another option by SLx. It is our choice for the best outdoor TV aerial because it is waterproof with an anti-UV coating to protect it from all of the elements, especially heat and sunlight. This makes it perfect for the outdoors.
What we like the most about this TV aerial is that it has a 360° omnidirectional reception.
This means you don’t have to worry about tilting or turning the aerial in the best direction for the reception. All 4G mobile phone signals from nearby mobile phones and towers are filtered out, giving you a clear and uninterrupted reception.
Even though we’ve chosen this TV aerial as the best for outdoor use, you can absolutely mount it in your loft if you prefer. Its compact design makes it easy to mount anywhere without taking up much room. The assembly kit includes a 10m coax cable, cable clips, wall bracket and fixings, and an amplifier.
- 4G filtered to restrict bandwidth to create a clear picture
- 20 dBi forward gain will create a strong signal in weak areas
- 200-mile radius distance
- 360° Omni-directional reception allows the aerial to receive signals from all directions
- Weatherproof and anti-UV coated for optimal protection
- Channel list is sometimes fewer than comparable options
No products found.
Tristar Digital TV Aerial by SLx – Best Runner Up
Features:
- 4G Filtered: Yes
- Distance: 200 miles
- Adjustability: Yes, mounting pole and kit included
- Assembly: Easy to assemble mounting kit included
- dBi Forward Gain: medium to high gain
The Tristar Digital TV Aerial by SLx is one of the most affordable options you can choose, which is why we included it on our list. While it doesn’t have as high of a dBi gain as some of the other options on our list, it’s strong enough that you will get over 70 channels with Freeview TV, including 15 HD channels and 30+ radio channels.
The full mounting kit is included, and you can adjust the direction of the TV aerial to the direction you need with the mounting pole.
- 4G filtered to restrict bandwidth to create a clear picture
- 200-mile radius distance
- Easy to assemble and mount in the direction you need
- Weatherproof and can be placed outdoors or in a loft
- dBi forward gain is not as strong as other options
- FULL RECEPTION - Compact Tri-Fold aerial is perfect for receiving all...
- 4G FILTER - Integrated 4G filter removes interference and channel loss...
- FULL KIT - Inlcudes full mounitng kit and everything needed for...
How to Choose the Best Loft TV Aerial in 2021
You only gain channels with a clear picture by using a quality TV antenna. There are some things you’ll need to keep in mind when choosing the best loft TV aerial for your home.
4G Filter
The most important feature to consider when choosing the best loft TV aerial is how well it will filter out the 4G signal emitted from mobile phones and towers. Without 4G filtration, the reception from the TV antenna will become interrupted, and you will lose the quality of your picture, if not the entire picture altogether.
dBi Forward Gain
The dBi forward gain is measured to determine how good a TV signal you’ll receive from the antenna. It is also directly related to how many channels you’ll receive, too. This means that even if you live in an area with weak signal strength, you can use a TV aerial with a high dBi forward gain to give you access to all of the free channels that Freeview TV offers.
We recommend choosing a TV antenna with a dBi forward gain of 10 or more to access the most channels with the strongest signal strength.
Distance Range
Don’t worry if you don’t have a TV tower in your backyard. Choosing a TV antenna with a high distance range means that the antenna will receive the TV signal up to the maximum distance listed. Make sure that you look at the maximum distance range that the TV antenna allows so that you know if the antenna range is sufficient enough to give you good reception where you live.
Assembly and Mounting
The final consideration you should take when choosing the best TV antenna is how easy it is to assemble and mount. Since you’ll be mounting the aerial in your loft, you’ll need to review how much room the aerial will take up, how it can be mounted, and how easy it will be to tilt or adjust the aerial in the direction you need.
FAQ
Can I move a loft TV aerial outside if I am having issues with the space in my loft?
You can only place a TV aerial outdoors if it is properly protected against the elements. This includes being waterproof and having anti-UV coating protection on the antenna. If there is no weatherproofing for the TV aerial you’ve chosen, you should keep it indoors.
How do 4G mobile phones and broadcast towers affect a TV aerial?
We can’t see them, but there are radio waves and frequencies all around us that are sent between various electronic devices, towers, and transmitters. These frequencies are measured anywhere from 470 to 790 MHz.
When these frequencies are detected by the TV antenna, it can disrupt the reception, causing the picture to become distorted or even go out completely. That’s why a built-in 4G filter is such an important feature of the TV aerial.
Do I need to point the TV aerial in the direction of the nearest tower to receive the best reception?
If you don’t have an omnidirectional antenna (meaning, the antenna doesn’t receive the signal from all directions), you will want to point the aerial in the direction of the nearest tower to get the best reception.
Omni-directional antennas are designed to receive TV signals from all directions, no matter which direction the antenna is pointed or mounted. With these, you don’t have to point or mount them in any specific location.
Conclusion
We hope this has helped you better understand how loft TV aerials work and which options are the best to choose from.
Our top pick is the Labgear LAB450T Very High Gain TV Aerial because of how well it filters 4G frequencies. We also like how compact the design is and how easy it is to mount, and we’re confident that you’ll be happy with this option, too.
No Responses