Digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) is to cover the whole Europe. These several examples of DVB-T antenna systems will help anyone who wants to build a new antenna system or upgrade the existing one. The antenna installations presented below are a set of options that can be selected depending on the power of the transmitter and its distance to the reception point, as well as specific requirements of the user(s).

In particular, the solutions may be interesting for those who plan to:

Antenna system for areas with high signal intensity (up to 20 km from high and medium power DVB-T transmitters)

Antenna system for areas within a 20-40 km distance from the transmitter, with signal distribution to 4 televisions

Antenna system for areas over 40 km away from the transmitter, with signal distribution to 4 televisions

Antenna system for receiving DVB-T broadcasts from two transmitters

Antenna system combining satellite and DVB-T signals, with distribution to 4 outlets

In this example the DVB-T signal is provided to two TVs, one of them capable of receiving digital channels (with built-in MPEG-2/MPEG-4 tuner) and the second an analog one, requiring an external DVB-T receiver. The good choice is the most functional and best selling on the market Signal HD-527 receiver A99252.

Both antennas shown in the diagram, i.e. A6040 and A0315 can be mounted on a mast, but created for residents of urban areas and due small size they may be easily placed on balconies etc. The A0315 antenna can be successfully applied in open areas with direct visibility of the transmitter. In the case of obstacles, buildings etc. and receiving reflected signals, we recommend to use the Signal HDA-5000 A6040 antenna equipped with amplifier and having a wider reception angle.

When installing an antenna with amplifier, the user has to provide supplying voltage. The power supply is usually placed by one of the TVs. Such an installation requires the use of the appropriate type of splitter passing the voltage to the antenna, in the case above it is inductive splitter E2094 providing the DVB-T signal to the two receivers. It is possible to use a larger number of TVs/receivers by employing one of the splitters with a larger number of outputs.

The installation uses the directional Yagi antenna A1911 and the amplifier Terra HA-024 R82292 compensating the loss of signal connected with its splitting to several receivers. In the case of low power transmitters or a place on the fringes of the coverage area, a preamplifier should be installed instead of the balun in the antenna box. In this situation the R82292 amplifier should be replaced by Terra HS-013 R82010 with power supply for the preamplifier.

Everyone should keep in mind that antenna preamplifiers in such systems must be chosen very carefully, not to overdrive the amplifier. Usually the optimum ones are models with low or medium gain (e.g. LNA series, B4007 and B4008 respectively). The high-gain preamplifier LNA-177 B4009 should be used only in exceptional cases, when the signal level is very low. Generally, application of preamplifiers and/or amplifiers with excessive gain can lead to signal distortion and big problems with reception of any channels.

The DVB-T signal is split by Signal R60104 and distributed to four TV outlets. When a larger number of outlets is needed, there is a whole range of Signal splitters.

The both receivers offer the same functionality - beside the reception of DVB-T (MPEG-2/MPEG-4) channels they can record the programs onto external storage devices (flash drive, hard disk - PVR-ready function) and play a wide range of media: pictures, music and movies. The A99250 model is ideal for users having little space for anything else other than the TV, or wishing to hide the receiver behind the TV (the receiver can be inserted directly to the TV SCART socket). The A99252 item is a typical set-top-box equipped with display, for users who prefer more traditional solutions.

Just as in the earlier example, the DVB-T signal is to be distributed to four outlets. Long distance to the transmitter is the reason for using UHF Tri Digit A2670 antenna with 18 dBi gain. Its version with preamplifier, A2675, gives opportunity to receive digital broadcasts from extremely distant transmitters, even over 100 km.

The Terra HS-013 R82010 amplifier compensates for signal loss in the distribution network as well as can be employed to power supply an antenna preamplifier.

Televisions that do not have suitable DVB-T tuners will receive any available digital TV signals after connecting external Signal DVB-T receivers, HD-507 A99250 and HD-527 A99252.

Until the analog switch-off, some transmitters can transmit certain multiplexes with reduced power in relation to the final project. Therefore, users in many areas may need to receive some packages (multiplexes) from another transmitter. Similarly, residents of border regions can expand their antenna systems to receive programs from abroad.

If the angular distance between the transmitters is smaller than 45 degrees, usually the single antenna A2670 can be adjusted so that both multiplexes will be received. When the distance is larger, the signals have to be received by two directional antennas connected to the UHF inputs of the C0315 multiplexer. The antennas employed in the diagram above are A1911 and A2670. Any other set of UHF antennas can be used instead.

The C0315 device allows for injection of power supply indispensable for preamplifiers and is also equipped with FM/DAB radio inputs.

Thanks to the application of A98257 quatro LNB and Terra MSR-504 R70604 multiswitch, the combined SAT and DVB-T signals can be provided to each of the four Signal TV/SAT outlets R694100.

The receivers that can be used:

In the case of a larger house/apartment or application of dual tuner PVR receivers the number of outlets can be increased by using multiswitches with a larger number of outputs.

Other installation diagrams