Test methods

We put each aerial through a series of technical tests and tried them in homes in different areas.

In the lab
We carried out a series of technical measurements in a special radio-frequency test chamber. These told us:

• How sensitive each aerial was, for picking up a weak signal.
• How well it covered all the frequencies used by digital TV broadcasters.
• How ‘directional’ the aerial was – ie whether it works best pointing in just one precise direction.

We also assessed each aerial for how likely it was to topple over or come apart. We checked the lengths of cable included. And, for amplified models, how much power it took to provide that amplification.

At home
We wanted to see how well an aerial might work, once you actually got it home. We tried each one in 11 different places, covering different signal strengths and a wide selection of transmitted frequencies.

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