Indoor aerials, digital TV and reception

[aceizace]

Hey there, I've just moved into my accommodation in Uni, and to my horror, found out that there's no built in aerial. After we'd gotten me a new LCD TV and a TV Licence. So we went down to curreys and got an indoor aerial, it's that One For All Amplifying thing. The guy in the shop recommended it, but then again he would because it was the most expensive.

Anyhoo, I can't get a very good picture on my TV, it's all fuzzy. I just figured that it was because I had an indoor aerial, however, my friend has an external TV card for his PC, he went and got the cheaper version of my aerial, and the picture is perfect.

I know a little bit, and so I can think of three reasons this might be, and I'm hoping that someone can tell me which one is correct, or if I'm completely wrong.

1. His TV Tuner software picked up loads of freeview channels, and I don't have a freeview box for my TV. Would feeding the aeriel through a freeview thing make it pick up a better signal?

2. Is it this new Digital TV thing I'm hearing about (rather than freeview)? I don't know if my TV is digital or not but I think not, my friend said the kind of fuzziness I'm getting isn't on digital, is there any adaptor I can get? I'm pretty sure his TV tuner thing is picking up digital things. I don't know if this and the first point are actually the same thing, does going through freeview make it digital?

3. I'm on the other side of the building to him, I'm on the west facing side, he's on the east facing side. In fact we're in different buildings that are pretty much horizontal to each other. Is it purely position and therefore nothing I can do?

Thanks very much for reading all this and (hopefully) telling me how I can fix the problem. If I could borrow his external TV Tuner thing then it would be helpful, but he left the installation CD at home :-p.

Anyway, thanks.
Andrew

[ELVIS68]

I`m not 100% sure, but...I think your aerial picks up the analogue signal...ie ...similar to a roof aerial

whereas your friend has digital signal ...hence the non fuzziness

[aceizace]

Hi Elvis, thanks for replying.

That seems pretty likely... however, the aerials both say the same on the box, and they both have the same coaxial connection, so do you think there's some way of getting a converter so that I can pick up the same digital signal? Would a freeview box do it?

Thanks
Andrew

[ELVIS68]

All I know is that unless you have a built in digital receiver, the only way to get digital tv is through sky/cable etc

[kempie]

Yes, Freeview set top boxes are digital.

You should be able to download the drivers for your friend's TV tuner which you could then borrow and check the strength of the signal supplied by your aerial. If you get clear digital pictures you could then indeed choose to buy a Freeview box safe in the knowledge that the reception from the aerial is adequate.

[kwillmott]

aceizace
This problem is nothing to do with spending loads of cash.

1. No the aerial signal is the same. If you get poor reception with the aerial then try and improve it. You need to put it as high up as possible and away from any metal structures. you may need extra cable. Talk to other people (in the same location) who have TV to find out if they have good pictures.

2. I think you are getting mixed up with Digital & High Definition (HD), You need to look at the specification in the LCD TV instuction book to find out what type of TUNERS it has. If it has built in digital tuners the a 'Freeview' box would give the same result. Unless the TV tuner is faulty.
Have you tried the TV & aerial in th other location?

3. The other thing you need to find out is the location of the Transmitter /s in your area. Another tip is to look up and see which direction most TV aerials are pointing. That is a good clue.

4. I would not go up the route of buying boosters until you have done the above.

5. If you have done all this, then go back to the place where you bought the aerial or TV and ask for their advice. They should give you some after sales support.

[kwillmott]

This site has some good info on it.
http://www.wolfbane.com/articles/tvr.htm
.

[aceizace]

Hi again,

Thanks for your answers. I managed to find drivers for my friend's TV Tuner, turns out that the problem must be reception with my aerial. I've looked up the transmitter and the best one seems to be due SW, which is not very helpful considering my room (and only window) faces north... I've tried moving the aerial around all over the place, but I can't seem to get a decent picture. Should I be trying to aim the aerial out of the window as west as possible or just SW straight through the wall? I don't know how well or if the TV signals survive through walls.

It's not that I'm getting mixed up with HD... it's more that I just have no idea what digital TV really is whatsoever. I mean it seems to be broadcasting the same way as analogue, how is it different? Of course that's not really important, all I'm really bothered about is if I can and how to get a decent picture :-p