TV reception ?

[anneasquith]

i use an inside aerial for my tv, reception is rubbish on all channels. would a digi box? help improve the reception. TIA

[snowyball]

hi anne, mine freeview tv, also have indoor aerial has been really poor, i think its the bad weather thats efffecting (or affecting - sorry dont know the diff) it!!! :(

im having to move my aerial every so often

[anneasquith]

thanks snowy, i dont have freeview and my reception has always been rubbish

[trt]

You will never get a good picture with an inside aerial, invest in an outside one.

[snowyball]

oh anne have u checked the digital switch over in your area? do u have the normal 5 terresriol channels? if so go and invest a freeview box! make your tv licence worthwhile!

[douglas9401]

Hi Anne, I tried various antennas and boosters and in the end found the only answer was to get a good loft aerial. The digital box needs an even better signal than the analogue tuner in older TV sets so if the five terrestrial channels are poor at the moment there'll be no improvement by just adding a digital box.

[anneasquith]

i have the normal 5 channels. no sky , i wouldnt mind getting a box. but only if the reception improves.

[flobadob]

If you've got a poor signal a digi box won't improve it. In fact you probably won't even receive freeview at all. You probably need to get an outside aerial sorted or some sort of satellite dish.

[Buenchico]

If you've not already got a digibox (or a TV with built-in Freeview) you'll need to get one soon as all analogue transmitters will be switched off by 2012 at the latest. (Some areas are already 'digital only'):
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch

However all TV broadcasts (both analogue and digital) are transmitted on the basis that viewers should be able to get decent reception if they use a good quality OUTDOOR aerial. Some people are able to get good reception using an indoor aerial but that has never been the intention of broadcasters.

At present, in those areas where the switch to digital hasn't yet been completed, the digital transmitters are currently operating on REDUCED POWER (in order not to cause interference to analogue transmissions). So it's unlikely that you'd be able to get a digibox to work until the analogue transmitters have been turned off (and the digital transmitters switched to full power). Even then it's unlikely that your present aerial would be adequate. (If you can't get decent analogue reception it's unlikely that you'll get any Freeview reception at all).

You may well have to install an outdoor aerial. However it could be worth trying an indoor aerial which has a built-in signal amplifier. Some of those on offer only give a minimal increase in signal strength but this one provides excellent 'gain':
http://www.maplin.co.....aspx?ModuleNo=115127

Chris

[Halifaxmum]

Hi Chris!

My daughter's got an old-fashioned big tv in her room - it works on an old fashioned indoor tv-top aerial (turn it round a bit, stop, a bit to the right). Would the booster/amplifier work for her tv?

[Buenchico]

Hi Halifaxmum:

If your daughter has already got good analogue reception with her existing aerial, there's probably quite a good chance that (if her existing aerial couldn't do the job) the aerial/amplifier I've recommended would give good Freeview reception once the digital changeover is complete. (Until then the 'reduced power problem', I've referred to above, might make it difficult to get reliable Freeview reception, but it could still be worth a try).

Chris
(Give my love to the Piece Hall!)

[Halifaxmum]

TY Chris...think I'll give it a try

The piece hall send you much love back lol, it's hopin for a bit of cosmetic surgery in the next year or so...!

[anneasquith]

update................new digital box . excellent picture quality on tv.