Will an aerial booster improve my freeview reception?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV No, an amplifier won't normally help with a Freeview signal. Can I suggest the following:
1. If you can raise the aerial up by an extra metre or so;
2. Check the direction of the aerial and that the it is either "vertical" or "horizontal" as required.
3. Check that all the connectors and cables are in good condition, look especially for stray wires from the outer shielding on the cable being loose;
All questions
In this section
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
steve: My initial reaction here is surprise that the current pre-switchover digital signals from Blue Bell can be picked up in Clacton!
It then occured to me that the new Public Service relay of Sudbury, Rouncefall, is in roughly the same direction from Clacton as Blue Bell is.
Blue Bell's pre-DSO services are also co-channel with other transmitters; I have noticed that the Clacton relay uses channel 42 which is also used by Blue Bell Mux C (albeit with a negative offset).
As Rouncefall does not carry the Commercial multiplexes, I wonder if your receivers keep tuning to it. It will probably be stronger, particularly as it's on full post switchover power.
It's best to check which UHF channels the services are coming in on; see if they match those of Rouncefall or Blue Bell or a mismatch of both.
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Thursday, 29 March 2012
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steve9:49 AM
Colchester
steve: thanks for that dave. you lost me a bit there though. Just confused why one tv can pick up more channels even if I use a sagecom box on the older one. A bit dumb with all this so can you keep it simple please. thanks again.
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steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
steve: There are two main reasons that different or missing channels may occur with different pieces of equipment connected to the same aerial:
a. Different receivers have differing sensitivities: Put simply, some may "hear" weak (borderline) signals whilst others may not.
b. Having completed the automatic tuning scan, different receivers have different methods of deciding which channels to store: Some just go with the first ones they find, others are a bit smarter and go with the stronger ones and others allow the user to choose the "Region" which is effectively asking the user to select the transmitter to use.
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If a. is the reason that some channels aren't being picked up, then there is probably little you can do (barring perhaps changing the aerial, which may work sufficiently after switchover [three months' time] and thus may be deemed a waste of money). It could be, of course, that you have a bit of both.
However, if the issue is exclusively b., then there may be a solution. I wonder if your Samsung and your Sagemcom have tuned exclusively to the Rouncefall transmitter. I think this because it does not provide the full range of Freeview channels. It would be useful to know which channels you are missing.
Some newer receivers allow the user to select the "Network" or "Region" from a list. This is essentially a list of transmitters, each being identified by the principal area which they serve.
I wonder what Region Blue Bell Hill identifies itself as. Looking at the map, perhaps it could be "West Kent". Similarly, Rouncefall (which operates along with Sudbury) could perhaps be "Essex & Suffolk". If you are presented with such a choice, then you need to select the one which sounds most applicable to Blue Bell Hill and not which fits where you are. Such options could either be presented to you during tuning, or you may have to go through the menu to find it (or they may not be present at all).
This is by far the most straightforward thing to try which is why I suggest it to you first. However, depending on the design of the Samsung and Sagemcom, it is not forced to be available to you.
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If these options are not available to you, then I can suggest other things to try.
In particular, it would be useful to know which of these services you have and which you don't on each device (the Samsung and the Sagemcom):
- BBC One
- ITV1
- BBC Four
- ITV3
- Pick TV
- Yesterday
Don't be concerned about missing other services as they are transmitted in groups (known as multiplexes or simply "muxes"). So, for example, if you are missing BBC One, then you will also be missing BBC Two, BBC News and some others as they are all in the same group. Those I have listed above all come from different groups.
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steve1:25 PM
Colchester
steve: I get fairly equal channels on both its just that a few less well known ones are missing on the samsung. the truth is i am having a bit of a battle with cuurys at the moment over the 'expensive' sagecom box which I was assured would pick up those 'extra' channels on the samsung that the toshiba recieves on its own. Your tech help is very welcome and I thank you once again for being patient with a digital novice like myself. cheers my friend.
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steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
steve: Never assume that a receiver has tuned to the transmitter to which the aerial faces.
The short answer is that I would be looking to work out what transmitter(s) the Toshiba has tuned to for each of the signals (multiplexes). I would then see what the Sagemcom and Samsung have tuned in and whether they are the same. I would them try the manual tuning option on those devices to see if I can add the missing multiplexes.
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I was surprised to learn that you are receiving from Blue Bell Hill at your location. Sudbury would seem to be the most likely in your part of the world.
The situation with Sudbury is that the Commercial channels are on low power until 27th June. In particular, ArqB group (Yesterday, Film4 etc) is severly restricted in your direction and is proving impossible to pick up as reports on this website have shown.
If you are on Sudbury (north west), then either the Toshiba is more sensitive to Sudbury's weaker signals, or it has opted to go with Sudbury for the signals it can receive and tuned to another transmitter for those it can't pick up from Sudbury.
If you are on Blue Bell (south west), then it is on pre-switchover power which is much lower than its current analogue. It is also the case that due to the shortage of spare frequencies, the frequencies that are used are those which are reused by other transmitters in some areas. So it may be that it is unusable not because its signals aren't receivable, but because they are interfered with by another transmitter. Some receivers are more tolerable of this than others.
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steve7:15 PM
Colchester
steve:thanks dave. Digital stuff seems more complex than what we (the un-technical public) are led to believe. Why can't there be just one standard on equipment? All this was not explained to me at the point of sale in curry's and I am pretty peeved to be palmed off with something that is not just 'plug and play'. once again your tech help is invaluable and I am very grateful for your time in this. Keep up the good work. cheers mate.
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steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
steve: No problem. I hope you get it sorted. You know where we are if you need any more help.
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Tuesday, 3 April 2012
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tasha c12:23 AM
Newport
I have 2x tvs with built in freeview. Just moved house but cannot get signal at all on either. I have tried using the cabel attached to the ariel dish from outside on the roof and I have also tried using a set top ariel thing on both tvs but signal strength says 0 and no signal or channels found! I have checked my postcode np20 5hl and it saays I receive freeview in my area?! Please Help using easy to understand small and non technical terms lol!
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tasha's: ...
Friday, 6 April 2012
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Graham Winsor9:44 PM
Cambridge
steve: We have TV's in each room and just over 2 weeks ago we had a new sky HD box fitted, within a few days we lost our freeview channels except for the BBCF stations. 3 o0f the TV's have are HD ready and do not have a separate Freeview box and one has a separate Freeview box. The sky dish is fitted on the gable but the TV aerial is in then loft. the no signal message comes up on all the FV channels. Is the Freeview effected by the sky new box ? The postcode is CB23 7NT but is was CB3 7NT until the whole village was changed a few years ago. ASny advice appreciated.
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Graham's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 15 April 2012
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Andrew5:36 PM
I have a digital tv, which I've reset the receiver. I can receive some radio stations, but no tv channels. Would an aerial booster allow me to get the signal?
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