Can anyone help?

[micmak]

My TV in the kitchen is digital with freeview. ITV 1 Kept breaking up so badly that it was unwatchable so I decided to retune. Now the channel has disappeared altogether. I realise this is probably because it cannot pick up a decent signal. What I don't understand is the TV in the bedroom, also digital and freeview is fine. No break up at all. I must add they both run off the same ariel. Can anyone help?

[Buenchico]

Different makes and models of TV sets have different 'sensitivities'. (i.e. their ability to handle weak signals). The TV in your bedroom would seem to have a better selectivity.

It's also possible that the longer lead, going to the kitchen, might be relevant. There are inevitable signal losses along any length of coaxial cable. Further, signal break-up can also be due to a TV set struggling to separate the weak signal that it wants from electrical interference in the area. Your fridge, freezer or microwave oven (among other appliances) might be adding to the problem in the kitchen.

Ideally you need to upgrade the aerial but, if the existing splitter in the aerial cable doesn't incorporate an amplifier, it might be worth investing in one. (They're under £20).

Chris

PS: The signal strength at your aerial doesn't remain constant. It's affected by the 11-year sunspot cycle, individual solar flares, high atmospheric pressure, leaves on deciduous trees between the transmitter and your aerial, local electrical interference and much else. So you might get a decent signal one day but, if your aerial isn't up to the job, an inadequate one the next day.

[carolegif]

My little tvin the kitchen is fine! The expensive one in the living room us rubbish - only BBC for 2 days!

[Buenchico]

Oops!
I wrote 'selectivity' when I meant 'sensitivity' I must be suffering from alcohol deficit!

Carolegif:
It's often the case that the cheaper sets have better sensitivities!

[seadogg]

Splitters can be lossy. We had to rig a second aerial.

[micmak]

Thanks for your answers.

Chris, all 3 TV sets come from the sky dish. But only the front room has sky. Does that make it any different?

[Buenchico]

Aaagh!

Nobody mentioned Sky!

The signal that comes from a satellite dish uses a completely different set of frequencies to those for terrestrial TV, so it should be totally useless for feeding to a TV without a satellite box. (It doesn't matter whether that box is for Sky, Freesat or a generic box for Free to Air satellite TV. You simply need to have one for each TV set). The only exception would be where a TV has built-in Freesat.

So I'm confused as to exactly what type set-up you've got. Unless you've got TV sets that have Freesat built into them, you shouldn't be able to get any reception at all by using a satellite dish without a suitable digibox. Are you sure that you haven't got a normal TV aerial somewhere?

[Hopkirk]

Chris is right.

Micmak needs to follow the aerial lead from the kitchen TV and see where it goes.

It won't go to the Sky dish if it really is a Freeview TV.

[Hopkirk]

Well?