Do I need to connect an antenna to a digital television set-top box?

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The transition from analogue television to digital broadcasting is promised in 2019. In big cities, instead of satellite TV, residents actively use cable TV. However, the further away a settlement is from a big or small city, the weaker the signal for both analogue and cable broadcasting. At best, you will be able to configure a couple of channels, but the image will not be of the highest quality. It has been a good tradition since Soviet times to have a dacha to relax the soul.

And often at our dachas we store old things and old household appliances, including televisions. If you use an old tube TV at your dacha, then there’s no point in talking about digital format without an additional device. Modern LCD TVs and plasma panels have built-in receivers that, with a regular antenna, will pick up a digital broadcast signal.

It is watching TV and reading books that occupy the evenings of the dacha residents. And how I wish that even outside the city, TV would show without interference, cleanly and in good quality. The modern market offers, for old TVs and earlier LCD models, to purchase a receiver for a TV for the dacha.

Don't forget to choose digital broadcasting

Since living outside the city is seasonal, you should not risk installing a satellite dish. It is better to choose the option for a summer residence, an antenna without a dish. So, one hundred percent, when you arrive at any time, you will not find it missing.

In what cases is an antenna for digital television needed and in what cases is it not?

The differences between analogue and digital television are as follows:

• Analog uses a television signal consisting of components such as an audio track, a video sequence, and a color subcarrier. It is transmitted over a wide range (TV channel) due to continuous modulation.
• Digital uses a coded signal that represents data using discrete modulation values ​​(short pulses).

This is the difference - the difference in the signal. However, its transmission via radio waves remains unchanged. Therefore, an antenna is needed to receive a digital signal. The only difference is at what stage it is installed:

• In close proximity to you, and you run a coaxial cable from it to the TV.
• On the roof of an apartment building, in which there is a cable distribution with cable connections to many apartments.
• At a remote site of the provider, from which you connect “digital” to your home via cable networks.

You can clearly see the principle of operation of digital and analog television in this picture.

What about a set-top box for digital television? Does it need an antenna? It turns out that you don’t need an antenna only if your city provider provides cable TV and Internet services, and you can use these services. In other cases, it is needed. Here are the details:

The antenna must be present when:

• Setting up terrestrial digital TV on a modern TV. Connecting the plug directly to the TV.
• Setting up terrestrial digital TV via a DVB-T2 receiver. Pairing the signal between the receiving device and the receiver via cable. And the receiver connects to the old TV using tulips.

The antenna is missing when:

• Cable TV. You enter into an agreement with the provider and a set-top box is connected to your TV instead of an antenna to which the cable runs. After that, the screen shows more than 50 channels according to the standard package for the amount agreed upon with the provider.

• IPTV (SmartTV). This is the provision of television channels by a provider over a network that distributes the Internet. There are many variations of playing such media content. For example, IPTV players that play an IPTV playlist with channels provided by the provider.

How does a digital set-top box work?

Any digital set-top box consists of elements such as a housing, a receiving and processing board and a control panel. The set-top box works as follows: it receives a signal, converts it and broadcasts it to the TV either in analog format (via RCA or VGA connector, you need to switch the TV to signal mode with AV), or in digital format (via HDMI connector, you need to switch to signal from HDMI ). Using a set-top box can significantly increase the quality of television broadcasting, regardless of how modern the TV is. If desired, the set-top box can even be used to connect to a TV with a kinescope. At the same time, you need to understand that the quality of the broadcast depends, among other things, on the screen resolution.

Will the old antenna work or should I buy a new one?

Depends on what is meant by "old". The analog signal is picked up by meter range antennas. UHF devices can pick up digital signals. If you have an old all-wave one, you can use it to receive both digital and analog signals.

You can check whether your device is suitable for digital reception using the following algorithm:

1. Turn on the TV.
2. Using the remote control, access the menu by pressing the “Menu” .
3. Open the channel search window.
4. Select manual search.

5. Browse through each frequency by setting it manually, or by selecting it from a range.
6. If the signal is present, check its quality using the “Info” .
7. If the signal reading is within 40%, the antenna will not be able to work normally with the UHF range, so you need to buy a new one.

Since the range for digital television is 300-3000 MHz, decimeter or all-wave antennas are required. There are many varieties of such signal receiving devices.

The main differences between consoles in different price categories

When comparing different options for console models, you can be sure that both expensive and cheap devices have their pros and cons. What else, besides price, is the difference between digital set-top boxes for TVs? First of all, as prices increase, the list of capabilities of receivers in this price segment also expands.

Universal set-top boxes in the mid-price category are no longer just DVB signal receivers, but devices with advanced capabilities. In addition to receiving several types of signals, they can support interactive television via a LAN connector or have the function of video recording to external media.

The most highly functional are expensive Smart tuners, which allow you to turn an ordinary TV into a full-fledged home theater with the ability to create a local network for viewing media files from a computer or smartphone. Smart-TV applications will allow you to watch any movies or install the games you want for free.

Which antennas are suitable

To work with a digital signal, any UHF antenna is suitable:

• Ordinary indoor ones, if the distance to the repeater is within 5-15 km.
• Outdoor broadcast, if the distance to the repeater is within 20 km.
• Log-periodic with an amplifier, if the distance to the TV tower is more than 30 km.

The most important thing when choosing is to pay attention to:

• Work in the UHF range (UHF or all-wave);
• Power for signal reception (from home to outdoor devices with an amplifier).

Useful: Which antenna to choose for digital television

The best digital DVB-T2 broadcast tuners

We offer a rating of high-quality and inexpensive TV receivers with T2 support. They differ in the variety of additional functions and price.

1

LUMAX DV-3215HD

Rating:5.0

• DVB-C, DVB-T, DVB-T2
• 1080p mode support
• file playback
• HDMI output
• remote control

Average price: RUB 1,520

The TV set-top box is unique in its ability to access the content of the MEGOGO online cinema and the LUMAX cinema. The applications have an intuitive interface. The receiver works with digital and cable signals - it will be an excellent choice for an apartment resident. The media player function allows you to read movies, TV series, clips and music from an external USB drive. Recognizes two flash drives or portable HDDs at once. Understands more than a dozen multimedia formats (video, audio, photo). With an external 3G modem you can watch videos from Youtube and online cinemas.

Peculiarities:

• reading movies from a flash drive;
• 3G modem support;
• reading videos from Youtube, MEGOGO, LUMAX cinema;
• Dolby Digital playback;
• broadcast from the screen of a mobile device.

2

World Vision Foros Combo T2/S2

Rating:4.9

• DVB-C, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-T, DVB-T2
• 1080p mode support
• file playback
• HDMI output
• remote control

Average price: RUB 1,940

A combined receiver with miniature dimensions and DVB-T2 and C technologies is an ideal choice for a pensioner living in an apartment. Equipped with a simple remote control with large labels for the buttons. The front panel contains a control unit, represented by menu buttons, switching TV channels, and turning the device on/off. It has a “blind” search - due to a long scan, it finds all available TV channels - anyone can figure out the initial setup. Works with an external Wi-Fi module on the Mediatek 7601 chip to watch IPTV and Youtube.

Peculiarities:

• support for 3G modem and Wi-Fi module;
• firmware update from flash drive;
• control the device from a smartphone;
• video processing with resolution up to 1080p(i).

3

HARPER HDT2-5010

Rating:4.8

• DVB-T, DVB-T2
• 1080p mode support
• file playback
• HDMI output
• remote control

Average price: RUB 1,104

Compact digital TV set-top box with a bright display for decoding T2 digital TV channels. Works with external and indoor antennas. The signal is transmitted via composite (to older devices) and HDMI interfaces. The USB port serves as a source of graphics, video and audio, HDT2-5010 understands most popular multimedia formats. The device is flashed from an external drive and reads playlists.

Peculiarities:

• Full HD playback;
• reading and writing to external drives;
• timer for capturing air to a flash drive;
• electronic program guide and teletext;
• Time Shift.

4

World Vision T62A

Rating:4.7

• DVB-C, DVB-T, DVB-T2
• 1080p mode support
• file playback
• HDMI output
• remote control

Average price: 1,350 rub.

A universal TV tuner for broadcasting cable and terrestrial channels, built on a powerful processor. Understands the advanced AC3 codec. Works with an external wireless modem using Wi-Fi technology to access the Internet - expands the multimedia capabilities of the receiver. Comes with Weather, RSS applications, allows you to use Gmail, play IPTV and content from MEGOGO. The perforated metal case perfectly removes warm air from the processor. Equipped with buttons for channel switching, volume control and set-top box settings.

Peculiarities:

• built-in power supply heats the device;
• miniature remote control;
• EPG and subtitle support;
• reading content and playlists from a flash drive.

5

LUMAX DV-1111HD

Rating:4.7

• DVB-C, DVB-T2
• 1080p mode support
• file playback
• HDMI output
• remote control

Average price: 990 rub.

A good modern receiver, differing from the DV-3215HD by the presence of a second USB port, a universal remote control and a plastic case. Reads terrestrial and cable television channels, switches with all models of DND receivers. Supports parental controls to protect children from inappropriate content and digital TV viewing. Thanks to USB ports, it writes broadcasts to a flash drive and updates the firmware from it. Dolby Digital compatibility delivers three-dimensional sound. With a 3G modem you can use the network applications Weather, Youtube, Google mail, and get access to the MEGOGO and LUMAX media libraries.

Peculiarities:

• export IP playlists from a USB drive;
• writing and reading from a flash drive;
• MeeCast – broadcasting the contents of the smartphone screen to the TV;
• An external power supply reduces the heating of the case.

6

LUMAX DV-2118HD

Rating:4.6

• DVB-T, DVB-T2
• 1080p mode support
• file playback
• HDMI output
• remote control

Average price: 1,150 rub.

An analogue of the DV-1111HD for home with a stylish Stealth-style case, an enlarged remote control and no control buttons on the front panel. With a 3G modem you will have access to Youtube content, the manufacturer’s cinema and the MEGOGO cinema. With wireless Internet you can read RSS feeds, view the weather and work with the Gmail email service. Compatibility with Dolby Digital provides “surround sound”, and the function of reading from a flash drive will turn the TV into a miniature home theater. The MeeCast option will expand the multimedia functions.

Peculiarities:

• working with wireless networks;
• lack of buttons on the body;
• software update from the Internet;
• recording TV programs on digital media.

7

World Vision T65

Rating:4.5

• DVB-T, DVB-T2
• 1080p mode support
• file playback
• HDMI output
• remote control

Average price: RUB 1,140

TV set-top box for the garden, supporting the T2 standard. Receives signals from outdoor and indoor antennas. Does not support external wireless modules. The case contains a power indicator, a display for visualizing the time or number of the current channel, and an on/off button. You can't control it without a remote control.

Peculiarities:

• external power supply;
• support for EPG, teletext;
• high-quality signal reception;
• flash drive recording timer;
• parental control function.

For a summer residence in the absence of a satellite dish, it is advisable to take a model with only T2 support, without overpaying for cable channels. Expandability of functionality due to external wireless modules is relevant in any case.

Is it possible to use a common house antenna to watch digital TV?

Yes, you can connect to a collective antenna located on the roof of an apartment building. If such a structure is not installed, the residents of the house can send an application to the management company with a request to install such a TV antenna on the roof.

Typically, the antenna complex operates in the all-wave range. But, before connecting, it is recommended to clarify whether it can work in the UHF range. Next, an agreement is concluded with the management company or the provider servicing the complex (most likely with the latter) for the provision of digital television services.

After signing the contract, the TV set-top box without an antenna is paired with a coaxial cable, which is serviced by the provider. After paying the tariff package, the TV will start showing digital television.

Read more: How to connect to a shared antenna to watch digital TV

Which set-top box to choose for an old TV

If the user decides to purchase a set-top box for an old TV, the following factors must be taken into account:

• TV model and receiver model;
• integrity of the TV display and chips;
• availability of connectors for connecting a set-top box and receiving signals.

If the television transmitter meets all the requirements, you can select a suitable set-top box. The rules depend on the characteristics of the receiver and user preferences. You can choose according to the following algorithm:

• checking that the receiver matches the type of TV;
• a set of options and services at the receiver;
• the method the set-top box uses to receive the signal;
• value for money;
• range of signal transmission and search for transmissions;
• the quality of the resulting image on the screen.

You need to carefully select the device, you can consult a sales consultant. It is necessary that the equipment is correctly combined.

What to do if there is no antenna

There are two options:

• Connect to digital television through a provider that has this antenna.
• Buy an antenna, install, connect and configure the “digital” yourself.

In the first case, you pay money to the provider for the provision of services, while the accompanying equipment is provided for rent at a price of 1 ruble. In the second case, you purchase all the equipment with your own money. You can do the setup yourself or with the help of a TV wizard. The second option is most often suitable for a dacha or a house located at a distance from large network junctions and populated areas.

If you need tuners, you can look at the products of Dexp and Lumax.

Multifunctional receivers

They are used as universal Combo devices for decoding any digital signals, as well as viewing analog and interactive television. The choice of such a set-top box is often made with the expectation of getting a device that is suitable for all occasions.

Therefore, such a receiver must have:

• USB input. It is used to record and view multimedia files from an external drive, update software or connect additional devices.
• CAM module. Slot for provider card and bank card. Used to unblock paid satellite TV channels and make online purchases.
• LAN connector. At a great distance from the tower, wireless distribution may be at low speed; in this case, only wired Internet can guarantee stable interactive television without freezes.

Without these hardware capabilities, the functionality of a universal set-top box is significantly reduced, which imposes a number of unpleasant restrictions for the user. For example, without a CAM module, it is impossible to unblock satellite channels, and the lack of a LAN connector can completely deprive you of high-quality IPTV.

It is difficult to determine which set-top box you need to watch digital interactive television, because... They are all multifunctional and it is better to check the set of options with the sellers.

How to understand what cable television a subscriber has connected to?

Not all owners manage to connect the TV themselves. Sometimes this is done by relatives. And when moving into a new home, they also usually don’t know what kind of television is connected.

The easiest way to check this is with documents. They record the terms of cooperation, account number, information about the operator. If the TV connection agreement remains in hand, it will be easier to carry out renewal, payment and other operations. You can find out the type of cable television by where the cable is laid. It is usually connected to the provider box. These boxes are fixed on the walls of the entrance, and they contain basic information about the provider and the type of broadcasting.

Rating of inexpensive consoles

There are a number of inexpensive set-top boxes that contain all the necessary functions for comfortable use of digital television. They are presented in the following table.

Based on the characteristics presented above, you can choose an inexpensive and optimal set-top box for yourself.

How to set it up correctly

To set up broadcasting you need to do the following:

• Press the “Menu” key on the remote control;
• go to the settings menu;
• select your country of residence;
• select the signal standard that the user needs, that is, analogue or digital television;
• The set-top box will offer the type of setting, you need to select automatic and click on the “Ok” button.

After this, the receiver will select the channels, you will need to click on the “Save” button. After this, you can start watching.