General Discussion

Since January our tv reception has deteriorated. We don't have satellite - we have freeview.

I put it down to the aerial maybe having been moved by the high winds we had earlier this year so couldn't see any point in getting it sorted out only for another high wind to move it out of position again. Course it may not be the aerial at all.

The type of problem we are experiencing is this;

One day or at some times during the day the tv reception is okay - but then on other days or sometimes during other days it isn't.

What channels we can get on any one day and at any given time can vary from the tv in the front room to the tv in the back room to the tvs upstairs. For example, was just watching BBC2 on the tv in the back room when all of a sudden it went funny (as in bad reception, pictures 'freezing') but could get BBC2 okay on the tv in the front room.

Can anyone throw any light on what this problem is please and how it can be sorted out?

Many thanks.

I've had similar problems recently, the picture becomes pixilated.  I've re-tuned twice, once it fixed it, once it didn't. Am currently without Sky News for some reason

I'm no expert but I think the are two transmitters feeding Dawlish - Stockland Hill and Dawlish (which relays from Stockland Hill), which is why you see aerials pointing in two directions.  Is your aerial in line with your neighbours?   

Freeview here is very limited. Do yourself  a  favour and go for freesat. 

No problems at all for me with Freeview. Pixelation might be caused by interference from other nearby electronic equipment - including mobile phones. If not, then either retune or re-align your aerial. 

That's why your view of everything in narrow.

So.......can anyone recommend anyone who knows about television aeriels and (re)tuning and that type of thing who I can contact to get it sorted out? 

https://www.facebook.com/1ststopjas very good Lynne I can recomend them, fixed problems for myself and several friends

You can buy  a freesat box and dish for about £40 . Job jobbed.

@roberta - many thanks. i'll contact them tomorrow., 

I use an aerial booster, which solved my problem

Elvis Presley isn't a keyboard warrior. 

Elvis, just wondering why you felt the need to make a catty remark about Mrs C when you were sitting on the moral highground not that long ago.  Bit lonely up there? 

Mcjrc - he's just being humorous...

@Lynne. we had similar problems with one of our sets recently and found the problem to be the ariel connection at the back of the set. also if you are feeding three sets from one ariel you may be in need of a signal booster. free sat is another option but the reception is greatly affected by rain, and we have had a lot of that recently. 

I have never lost  any reception due to rain, with my freesat. plus you get more channels than you can shake a stick at.

Lynne, you can re-tune your TV yourself - got to the menu using your remote control.  If that doesn't get your channels back you might need to get your aerial checked.

If you want to feed more than one TV try this signal booster.  http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/slx-4-way-aerial-booster-rt70m   You would need to plug it on to an electrical socket and run the cable FROM the aerial to it and the cable TO your TV from it.    You can also buy a single booster for one TV. 

Thanks Mcjrpc. We have already re-tuned the tv(s)more than once since this all started in January and we are still getting problems so I think it is the aerial. I can't talk technical stuff (the technical/practical fairy passed me by when those gifts were handed out!) but I'm pretty certain we do have booster(s).

Will contact the people Roberta recommended and ask them to come when my other half is around. He will know what they are talking about. All I know about tvs is how to switch them on and watch programmes (or not, as has been the case for some months now).      

@Lynne.

Or get SKY. I  have had no problems in rain here.

This incident at Paignton today probably hasn't helped improve things either

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DU7wiwGbrIc

Should be ok.  This wasn't the satellite for Dawlish TV transmission

£175 one off payment for freesat with Sky.  We started having problems with reception and switched over quite a while ago.  Freeview is unwatchable for us.  Never had a problem with rain either.

I had realy bad reception when using a Blaupunkt tv i have recently purchased a cheapo Celcus 32" from Sainsburys and perfect reception same arial same place in the house so is it that some makes recieve better than others just a thought maybe a expert would know.