My high gain aerial can't get all the Freeview channels I expected
You need a "wideband" aerial rather than a high gain one (see all about aerials). Also, if you use a signal booster in the setup, this can cause problems with digital signals.
Can I suggest that you try the following:
1. Check that all the connectors are OK, in particular that there are no stray wires and that both the outer shield and inner wire are connected;
2. If you are using any signal boosters, turn them off;
3. Check to see if you have anything like a VCR connected via a UHF fly lead - sometimes these can changed to use channels such as 68.
4. If you have a wideband aerial, if you can try raising it up an additional metre;
See also all about aerials.
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LouiseFriday 3 December 2010 5:53PM
Oban
our postcode is pa34 4jfL
LouiseFriday 3 December 2010 6:19PM
ObanP
PiersSunday 12 December 2010 10:34PM
Loughborough
Analogue channels are a weak and fuzzy mess and always have been.
What could I do next to try to get a decent signal?Piers: I would get your aerial installer back to fix the system. You can't really expect to get a decent Freeview service if "analogue channels are a weak and fuzzy mess". M
Michael GrosvenorSaturday 1 January 2011 6:46AM
Cheers
Michael
P
PiersSunday 2 January 2011 2:06PM
Loughborough
Happy New Year,
PiersM
michael"tricky tree"Sunday 2 January 2011 2:18PM
Buckingham
i have brought 2 new lcd tv's for christmas.the tv downstairs is working perfectly.but as for the other tv,i am not getting all the channels.bbc1,2,central,ch4,ch5.....and quiet a few more are missing.
i have done auto tuning on numerous times,on average only getting 36 channels not including the 8 radio stations.
would i need a booster set?if so....do i have to install the booster in the attic.i can see the reason why people do this,but im not very happy about installing one in the area.i live near the bicester/buckingham area.J
jb38Monday 3 January 2011 9:57PM
Stamford
If all is OK then reinstall upstairs again and carry out another reception check, should it have gone downhill again then it has to be an aerial feed problem to the set.
You haven't mentioned the method you are using to feed the sets, but they should really be fed from a powered booster / splitter, this preferably located as near to the aerial as possible although if you are in a good signal area then its not just so important.
A final point to note is that different brands of TV sets do not necessarily have the same reception sensitivity, this making it whereby if the signal strength received is a good bit less than perfect the less sensitive sets may not respond properly due to the signal being underneath their reception threshold level.Piers: The digital services still require a line-of-sight to the transmitter from the aerial and to be free of interference. There's not much you can do about that, due to the physics of transmission. P
PiersFriday 7 January 2011 2:23PM
LoughboroughPiers: I'm glad to hear you have found a number of problems, so you are on your way to having the problems sorted out. P
PiersWednesday 12 January 2011 12:17PM
Loughborough
The installer made an interesting comment. He said that when our local transmitter (Waltham) gets a power upgrade at the end of August, it may lead to reception loss again. Apparently you can have too much power! He told me that the amplifier would need adjusting to manage the new power levels. He also said that the government hasn't said who will pay the contractors for adjusting amplifiers. He hinted that we (the customers) would end up paying for it!
This is all news to me. Can anyone tell me if this is true? What's happened in places that have already had a power upgrade?J
jb38Wednesday 12 January 2011 3:05PM
That said though, it is possible for transmission patterns to change to the detriment of a particular reception area when power is increased, but I really dont think that was what he was referring to, as unless the trees across from you are of the evergreen type then they presently wont have that terribly much of a block on your signal, but however this could well change when they grow leaves again. P
PiersThursday 13 January 2011 7:38AM
LoughboroughJ
jb38Thursday 13 January 2011 5:03PM
The other point is, and without wishing to appear as a prophet of doom! but even when Waltham or any other station does go on high power an occasional glitch is something that can be expected when receiving digital terrestrial TV, albeit of course these being absolutely minimal compared to what is presently experienced. (hopefully!)
Satellite TV signals are about the only ones that have a reasonably high immunity to interference, with about the only thing that ever does being very heavy rain clouds such as experienced during a thunderstorm, although even that effect can be made somewhat less severe simply by using a slightly larger dish such as the types fitted by Sky etc in Scottish installations.
The channels you mentioned are on MUX1 & 2 and out of interest I would be interested to know what the signal strength / quality is on both of them, these being Ch49 (698Mhz) and Ch23 (490Mhz) P
PiersFriday 14 January 2011 12:37PM
LoughboroughJ
jb38Friday 14 January 2011 9:43PM
However that said, the aerial supplier should really have given you two readings for each Mux (D1-6 on your list) as the ones they supplied are only signal levels and there is always a quality indication attached to a signal level, the quality really being of prime importance as its the aspect of the signal that can really determine just how free of glitches your viewing will be, the quality indication always preferably being about the same or higher than the signal reading, for example on my own set up the signal is 65% with a 95% quality indication on three of the four Mux's I can receive, one of (3 on your list) hovering at reception threshold level and with virtually no signal from Mux's 5&6 on your list, this due to a combination of their low transmitting power coupled and my screened location.
Anyway I feel that come switchover your set up should be fine, but just for your own record you should carry out a signal level check on each of the six Mux's, as the signal strength shown usually always has a quality bar running parallel to it, this facility generally being accessed from your set up menu in the tune section, although you do not require to actually tune to see the scale.
Mux channels concerned being 49 -23 -26 - 33 - 45 - 42 (before switchover).P
PiersWednesday 19 January 2011 12:20PM
LoughboroughJ
jb38Wednesday 19 January 2011 4:53PM
It should be emphasised that although this signal strength / quality facility is associated with the tuning menu you do NOT actually require to tune anything to view it so you wont upset any settings that might have been made, but once on the scale some TV's allow you to notch up the channels one at a time whilst observing the changes whereas on other sets you have to back out, change the channel, then go onto the tuning menu again, i.e:- different brands have different procedures.
I only really suggested you do this for "before and after" switchover reference purposes, as its almost guaranteed that the difference in reception will be quite significant for most people, although when you already receive 6 MUX's it rather indicates that are in a reasonably favourable area for Waltham so the difference you notice wont be just so dramatic as it will for others presently suffering from less fortunate levels of reception.
Have a look at your TV's user manuals as the procedure will (or should!) be mentioned there.N
NikkiThursday 20 January 2011 2:11PM
Haywards Heath
I wonder if you can help me - I've just had a guy round (sent via BT Vision) to check why I am only receiving 14 channels when up to a few months ago I had 33.
He had a look and said he thinks the booster isn't working (it has a crack in the box) and that I should get a new one.
He unplugged the aerial from the booster and showed it at about 23% signal and then he plugged it in and said it was now around 60% but it should be more like 100%.
I just want to make sure that I am buying the right thing and whether it's worth it, or should I just wait for the switchover?
I was told on the phone that it isnt happening until Dec 2011 & that the signal will massively improve then. I'm currently getting a signal from the Heathfield transmitter (my postcode is RH16 3JH).
Any advice on exactly what I should or shouldn't buy to improve the situation would be greatly appreciated,
many thanks
NikkiB
BernieThursday 20 January 2011 3:57PM
Bernie: Probably yes, but I can't say for sure without a postcode. B
BernieThursday 20 January 2011 6:03PM
HuntingdonJ
jb38Thursday 20 January 2011 6:16PM
Don't worry about the crack on its side, that is unless its of a magnitude that the internals are seen then it could possibly pose a danger, but the crack will not have affected its operation.
Regarding reception, this always varies as the seasons change and will no doubt increase again in the near future, but I wouldn't make any alterations to your system as it will prove to have been an unnecessary expense once the power is increased and these problems that you (and very many others!) are presently experiencing will to the greater extent vanish. J
jb38Thursday 20 January 2011 9:10PM
I would have a check at your set up, although I wouldn't advise spending too much money if you require to purchase anything as come switchover you "might" possibly find that you are getting blasted from the second most powerful set of Mux transmitters in the UK. Bernie: You are predicted to receive all the services with full quality at the moment, so you might be well advised to have your aerial installation checked.
However, I would shop around as you don't need anything special and £300 is very much at the high end of what you should consider paying. B
Brenda WilliamsSunday 23 January 2011 8:00PM
K
KMJ,DerbySunday 23 January 2011 9:20PM
M
MichelleWednesday 9 February 2011 1:24PM
London
Thanks all
MichelleM
Mike DimmickWednesday 9 February 2011 4:12PM
Reading
If there is already an aerial on the roof, or in the loft, or there is an aerial socket provided in the room if this is a block of flats, connect the TV to that - whatever the old TV was connected to. Then, if there are still problems, please ask again.P
P ThompsonThursday 10 February 2011 9:22PM
RotherhamH
H AkinTuesday 15 February 2011 11:10PM
RedhillM
Mike DimmickTuesday 15 February 2011 11:29PM
Reading
You need a wideband aerial to get the BBC and ITV/C4/C5 multiplexes before switchover. After switchover, the public-service channels will be within the former analogue aerial group, but the commercial channels will be below it and you probably still need a wideband or semi-wideband (group E) to receive them reliably. You will need a fairly high-gain aerial at present, but you have a very high probability of reliable reception after switchover with your existing aerial. If your current analogue reception is very good, you may not need to change it.
Amplifiers usually do nothing useful. They amplify the noise as much as the signal, and add extra noise of their own. If the level is marginal at the aerial's terminals, a low-gain amplifier offsetting the losses in the cable can help. Always go for an aerial with higher gain before adding amplifiers, though.M
martinMonday 28 February 2011 8:37PM
Maybole
Would appreciate if you can advise on what best method of getting a good digital signal from KA19 8JZ Postcode(Maidens, Ayrshire). Analogue picture was through booster. Would a high gain or wideband digital ariel be best suited.
Many Thanks in advance.
MartinP
PaulSunday 13 March 2011 10:45PM
West BromwichT
Tom FletcherMonday 14 March 2011 10:57AM
Digital reception is no good from a loft aerial the aerial must be out side on the highest part of your house. Tom Fletcher Alpha Aerials Sheffield. P
Paul Monday 14 March 2011 8:44PM
PaulT
Tom FletcherTuesday 15 March 2011 11:24AM
As long as its outside and pointing in the direction of the mast it should be OK, try not to make any joints or connections to the cable if you can, its always best to have one length of cable from the aerial straight to the TV. M
MaggieFriday 18 March 2011 12:19PM
My arial is in the loft will this make a difference?
I believe I should be able to get digital tv in Olney BucksT
Tom FletcherFriday 18 March 2011 11:41PM
The aerial must be out side on the highest part of the house, loft aerials are no good for digital reception.
Tom Fletcher Alpha Aerials sheffield.C
Chris HughesSunday 3 April 2011 7:46PM
LeicesterChris Hughes: It is most likely to indicate a problem with the set-top box you are using. M
Mike RoweMonday 18 April 2011 9:30AM
WisbechF
FrinnieFriday 29 April 2011 9:25PM
AberdeenF
FrinnieFriday 29 April 2011 9:25PM
Aberdeen
03:20
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