The antennas used by TV and radios function on different frequencies
But, even so, it is possible for TV aerials to get more than the frequency it was designed to capture. How can this be possible? Well, with slight adjustments, a TV aerial will be capable of getting signals beyond the purpose it was created for. More precisely, if you place a metal plate on the roof of your house, on a higher place, your TV aerial will begin to get a variety of frequencies it wasn’t capable of finding before. In this case, if there are any radio frequencies around, you may have the chance to get them with your TV aerial alone.
The aerials used for TV and radio are set in different directions most of the times
Fortunately, radio frequencies are lower than those required for TV service broadcasting, which means that they are capable of travelling on longer distances and can cover wider areas. If we are to translate this, it means that your TV aerial doesn’t have to be perfectly positioned in order to get a radio signal. Due to this, installing radio aerials is not always necessary to get FM and DAB radio signals. Instead, Omni-directional poles were used, as they are capable of getting signals from all over the place, without the need to position them in a particular direction.
Pay attention to the polarisation of the antenna
When installing your antenna, it is very important to pay attention to this aspect. A polarisation done in an incorrect manner will be translated into a poor signal from the preferred transmitter. A tip would be to avoid installing an aerial upside down, as it will turn into a pool filled with rainwater when the weather is bad. This will lead to water logging both the aerial and the coaxial cable.
What are the polarisation used by radio signals? This piece of information is needed so you’ll know how to install your aerial to enjoy radio signals as well. Thus, it is worth noting that FM radio transmitters use horizontal polarisation and DAB radio transmitters use vertical polarisation. And when it comes to terrestrial TV transmitters, they can utilise both polarisation.
It all depends on the type of transmitter, so it is possible to get both signals by using one single polarisation of your aerial. In general, the main TV transmitters will be horizontal and relay transmitters will be vertical. Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. This is why you need to get sufficient information about the transmitter you are about to use.
Using an amplifier may be of great help
A downside of this method is the risk of overloading your TV’s distribution equipment or tuner. When the equipment experiences a signal overload, the signal that will reach your TV will be of poor quality. This means that the TV will display images with visible pixels and blocks.
Radio on Freeview TV guide
The only thing you may not enjoy that much is listening to the music provided by the radio station through the speakers of your TV. No matter how modern your TV is, we all know that these speakers don’t always offer the best audio quality. But, a decent soundbar or surround system may solve this problem for you. Also, you’ll be able to use such gadgets when watching a movie, for improved experiences.
Aerials capable of getting both signals
However, it is worth mentioning that these all-in-one aerial types are not the best. There are cases in which the TV signal can be compromised, not offering the level of quality you’d hoped for. But, when you can’t install two aerials and none of the previous methods work in your case, this may be your best shot.
You can always opt for an indoor aerial if you want to enjoy the radio
But, if you want to enjoy DAB radio and not FM radio, an indoor aerial won’t do much for you. When looking for DAB radio frequencies this way, the signals you’ll get may be of poor quality or you may not be able to locate all the stations you would like to find. In this case, connecting to an outdoor aerial is the only way to solve the situation.
But, before making the connection with the aerial installed outside, try to see if you can get a better signal in a different room of your house. Maybe there are rooms where the indoor aerial works better, due to their positioning. Usually, the higher the floor is, the better the signal should get. So, if you have a house with multiple stories, try looking for a radio signal at a superior level. The results might be better than what you expect.