Aerial signal strength meters

Photos left to right: Nikkai-A55HJ, Nikkai-A55JB, SLX-27867R/0, WittenbergDVB-T Finder

Summary

These portable mobile devices are promoted to consumers to help you set up and align an aerial – for both analogue and digital TV signals. But our tests of four indicate that they aren’t very effective and we can’t recommend any of them - particularly not for measuring digital TV signal strength.

You will be better off choosing one of the recommended indoor aerials and following our advice on positioning and tuning, without buying any extra kit - connecting up.

Findings

Four different devices, ranging in price from £14.99 to £43.95 were tested at the Intertek laboratory. Whilst they all worked to a degree when measuring analogue TV signals, 3 of the 4 meters gave misleading readings on the digital signal - showing very low or low readings on an 80%+ digital signal. The only one that measured a digital TV signal correctly was so difficult to use that we cannot recommend it.

Importantly two meters came without the necessary adaptors to use them with typical domestic RF co-axial aerial plugs and sockets – requiring an extra purchase. Although all four offer the option of powering the device through a connected digital box or TV that supplies a power output via the aerial socket – in reality very few boxes or TVs offer this. The meters therefore also require batteries or a DC power adaptor to plug into a mains socket. Only 2 of the devices came with the necessary batteries or DC power adaptor. Finally, only 2 allow you to view the meter alongside the TV screen to judge picture quality at the same time as signal strength (in-line viewing).

Test methods
Testing involved using the meters with an aerial and also testing with a UHF test signal generator, enabling simulation of differing reception conditions and feed signals across the full range of the UK’s UHF spectrum. A good meter will be ‘linear’ meaning it will show the same signal strength (when fed with a known, constant, strength signal) at the bottom end of the UHF television broadcast band, as at the top end.

SLx Digital TV Signal Meter 27867R/01 £14.99

• Performance
  Analogue signal: Poor (non linear)
  Digital signal: Poor
• Leads / adaptors
  Coaxial adaptor: Yes supplied
  Can easily view in line with TV: Yes
  Power: Battery (not supplied) or DC power adaptor (not supplied)

Nikkai Aerial Signal Strength Meter Code A55JB £14.99

• Performance
  Analogue signal: Satisfactory (very difficult to use)
  Digital signal: Satisfactory (very difficult to use)
• Leads / adaptors supplied
  Coaxial adaptor: Not supplied
  Can easily view in line with TV: No
  Power: Battery (supplied)

Model: Nikkai Aerial Signal Strength Meter Code A55HJ £19.99

• Performance
  Analogue signal: Satisfactory
  Digital signal: Poor
• Leads / adaptors
  Can easily view in line with TV: No
  Power: Battery (supplied)
  

Wittenberg DVB-T Finder Code 940855 £43.95

• Performance
  Analogue signal: Poor (non-linear)
  Digital signal: Poor
• Leads / adaptors
  Coaxial adaptor: Yes supplied
  Can easily view in line with TV: Yes
  Power: DC power adaptor (not supplied)