Andrew was thinking very hard :
I didn't know there was an 'omni-directional' freeview aerial.

You can get them, but they don't work very well.


read the thread and look at the photos.

Yep, it's an omni - it relies on an amp to boost the much smaller
signal, to an acceptable level for the TV. The problem being that in
boosting the signal, they also boost all signals and all the noise and
interference along with it. A proper antenna maximises the signal, just
the wanted one, to a level which is normally enough for a downlead and
the TV.

Omnis were popular on the roof of caravans, like a flat saucer shape,
with again an amp. They were almost useless except in a strong signal
area - most caravans are used in the countryside, which tend to be poor
signal areas.

The neighbours issue is probably just coincidental, maybe damage to the
download admitting water and rotting it from the inside - happens a
lot.