Freeview Signal

[Miss-taken]

Does anyone know whether the digital freeview signal is affected by the weather? My freeview box has AGAIN lost all the ITV, C4 and 5 channels and many more besides! I'm gutted 'cos I wanted to see that drama at 9.30 on ITV1 and Big Brother and now I can't watch either of them. The screen is either blank or it pixilates so badly its unwatchable. Can anyone help???

[CheekyChops]

Mine is always affected by the weather and it drives me mad! I think I (and you) need an arial upgrade to an arial specifically designed to receive a digital signal.

Luckily I can still watch ITV1, Channel4 and Channel 5 on analogue but ITV2, ITV3, E4, Film4 etc depend on the weather. All the BBC channels are fine, no matter what.

[Miss-taken]

Thanks CheekyChops - I thought I did have a new digital aerial but maybe I'm wrong!

[spudqueen]

Do you not still have analogue TV?

[Buenchico]

If you're in a weak signal area, you probably need a 48-element aerial
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=p t18u&source=15&SD=Y

In some areas, a 60-element aerial is necessary:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&DO Y=10m6&ModuleNo=906&criteria=

Also, if the guy who installed your 'new digital aerial' didn't both to replace the coaxial cabling, he shouldn't be doing the job. Good quality coax is essential to good Freeview reception.

Chris

PS: To answer your actual question:
Yes, Freeview reception can be affected by the weather. Both 'path obstruction' (e.g. by rain or snow) and high pressure can adversely affect reception. Additionally, if your aerial has been badly installed, reception can be affected by water ingress into the connections and by the movements of the aerial in high winds. On top of that, you need to remember that all radio & TV reception can be affected by 'sunspots' (which follow an 11-year cycle) and solar flares, on the surface of the sun.

[buildersmate]

Mine is affected by a large tree in the line of sight to the aerial, about 100 metre away. When it is very wet on the leaves, it attenuates the signal that I receive.

[thundercrack]

I can actually see the belmont transmitter from my house but my picture pixilates and the teletext on itv channels gets stuck and I have to switch the set off and start again. I have just had an enormous ariel fitted on the roof, new co-ax and an amplifier/splitter, so I am also gutted! ( have been informed that some channels are broadcast with a weak signal because of the military jets in the area? )