Through an aerial

This can be the cheapest way to get digital TV. Assuming you live in an area where it’s an option, all you need to do is buy is a set top box [Read an explaination of "set top box" on the jargon buster] (from £25) to plug into an existing TV, and maybe pay for a new aerial. You will then receive free terrestrial digital TV, provided by Freeview. For Freeview see our list of digital providers.

You might be able to use your existing rooftop or loft aerial – or even your indoor one. If you have an analogue TV that works well, and you get a good picture, you may well get good digital TV reception from the same aerial.

If you are a tenant, your landlord should take responsibility for upgrading an existing rooftop aerial so you can get digital reception.

For rooftop and loft aerials, a local aerial installer should be able to advise. Go for a Registered Digital Installer displaying the digital switchover logo [Read an explaination of "digital switchover logo" on the jargon buster]. Otherwise try the CAI (Confederation of Aerial Industries) or the IDSC (Independent Digital Standards Commission).

For indoor aerials, see Indoor aerials for how models have performed in our tests.

In December 2006 BT launched a new digital TV service - BT Vision. This includes digital TV channels through your aerial, with subscription 'view on demand' channels via a broadband connection on your BT telephone line. See BT Vision for our test report on its digital TV recorder.

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