television reception

[MrsN]

Can anyone tell me please how to get better reception on my TV. Every summer the reception becomes terrible when the trees come into leaf! Our local reception (which is the best we can get) is just up the road and has tall trees around it (which can't be cut down of course) and it seems that they are to blame.

[LotusEater]

I presume, Mrs N, that you're on 'normal' terrestrial TV, (ie, not satellite). Would you be able to re-direct your antenna/aerial to receive a signal from another broadcasting area? Currently, the leaves are scattering the signal before it reaches your aerial.

[mandele-lcc]

get sky digikal.

[JudgeJ]

I also had similar problems. My terrestrial reception has worsened considerably over the past two or three years, for no apparent reason and I have heard of a number of other people who have suffered similarly.

Being the cynical so-and-so that I am I am beginning to think that it is part of a government plot to get people to �go digital�. The fewer people that are forced to do so when their area cuts over from analogue, the greater success they can claim (�most people have already chosen to take advantage of the exciting new opportunities that digital TV presents etc etc�).

My reception became so bad that I have finally admitted defeat and opted for Sky. The rubbish churned out by most of the subscription channels is of no interest to me (all I wanted was to be able to continue watching what I already had) so I went for Sky�s �Freesat�. It costs �150 and for that you get a dish, a box and a viewing card, all installed, and nothing else to pay. You will be able to receive all the Freeview channels plus some other free Sky channels.

[chasbo]

Assuming you are on terrestial T/V, you could try an electrical aerial booster. It plugs in to your aerial lead and boosts the signal. I bought one from Focus, around �10, and it improved my picture 50%.

[MrsN]

Thank you all very much for taking the time to answer me. I just had no idea what to do. Regarding LotusEater, your answer, it isnt actually possible to redirect the aerial to a better broadcasting area apparently, but I am glad you confirmed that you think the leaves scatter the signal as I was wondering if that was true or not. mandele-lcc's sky digital idea - thanks I think that is what I will do, and following JudgeJ's explanation and similar experience to mine, I think I will do exactly as JudgeJ did and go for the �150 Sky Freesat. Thanks, I didnt know that you could do a one-off payment to Sky, I thought they had you on monthly payments! Then also Chasbo thanks to you too for the booster aerial idea which would probably work if my reception was better than it is, but today it is really bad. It is a much cheaper option than the Sky one and will probably help others. Anyway, brilliant to get all those answers. Thanks.

[LotusEater]

Despite its seeming perfection, satellite TV does have a drawback. Heavy rain 'on the dish', ie between the dish and the satellite, can 'knock out' the signal. We were trying to watch the Arsenal game last night and the picture was a little 'jumpy.' It can cut off altogether, but it does come back, eventually.

Glad to help. Good viewing!