Imagine being all pumped up and ready to watch the newest episode of your favorite show, or the game that’s coming up on TV. You’ve got an entire spread of snacks ready on the coffee table, and you’re already comfortable on the couch. You’ve been waiting for this moment for so long! So, you grab the remote to turn the TV on. But, alas, you can’t make out anything that’s happening or being said on screen because the TV signal is poor. Or in worst cases, you’re not seeing or hearing anything at all!
Frustrating, right? Well, you’re not alone. Everybody hates poor tv reception. And nothing’s worse than your tv aerials acting up just exactly when you need it.
Thankfully, getting it up and working again isn’t as difficult as you may imagine. So, here are some ways you can fix your tv reception issues:
Restart your Set Top Box
Sometimes, people think they’re having reception issues when they’re actually not. Restarting your device is always the first step in troubleshooting. Like all electronic equipment, your set top box’s system will encounter some hardware limitations that will cause it to act out (i.e. freeze, show no video, show no audio, compromise signal quality, etc.). Most of the time, in cases like these, all you need to do is turn off your device for a few seconds before powering it back on.
If this does not work, give checking your TV a try. Make sure all the plugs and cords on your device and your TV are all connected snugly and properly. Can you see and hear everything on your TV clearly yet? If not, move on to the second step.
Find out if it’s an isolated or an area-wide issue
Don’t get too frustrated, mate! If restarting your set top box doesn’t work, then maybe try to figure out if the problem isn’t on your service provider’s end. They could just be doing some maintenance work. Service interruptions aren’t very uncommon, after all.
Now, if someone in your area using the same service provider is encountering the same issues with Freeview, Freesat, Virgin Media, Sky, or whatever service provider they’re using, then there’s nothing else you can do but wait for the signal to resume or to improve. However, if you find that your problem is isolated to you, then there could be something wrong with your digital receiver.
Speaking of isolated issues, also make sure the problem isn’t isolated to the specific channel you’re watching. Just like your service provider, they could also be doing some maintenance work of their own.
Reposition your digital receiver
Whether you’re using a digital tv aerial receiver or a satellite dish, its positioning directly affects the signal strength that is being received from your TV transmitter. Positioning problems may possibly have been caused by factors like weather conditions (i.e knocked off position by the wind) or local and geographical interferences (infrastructures, trees, etc) that can weaken the signal that gets you. Sometimes, it could also be a frequency interruption, which means something is intercepting the radio waves coming from the TV transmitter. Either way, this can be solved with moving, repositioning,or modifying the elevation of your digital receiver in order to keep it aligned with the tv transmitter or transmission tower.
Accessing your digital aerial receiver, however, will usually require you to hire a professional or climb up the roof yourself, so if you are planning on doing the latter, be sure to follow all the safety measures before taking on this task yourself.
Based on the Health and Safety Executive’s book on Health and safety in roof work, here are some safety measures you should consider:
- Use any equipment that could help you prevent any kinds of falls
- Make sure your roof is stable enough to carry your weight
- Find a way to access your roof safely (i.e ladders, scaffolds, stair towers, roof access hatches)
- Do not attempt to work alone and get someone to help you in getting on and getting off the roof
- Consider the time and current weather conditions before climbing the roof
- Look out for any kind of electrical wiring or electrical equipment and any loose objects that may cause you to trip or fall
- Make sure any kind of distractions are out of the way
If repositioning your tv aerial or satellite dish does not improve your signal strength and signal quality, you may have to consider the possibility of having to replace your digital aerial receiver or satellite dish.
Replace your digital receiver
Now, you’re probably considering replacing the receiver yourself in order to save yourself a few pounds. However, replacing your tv aerial is much more complicated than repositioning it slightly. This will require you to move about the roof, and it will involve a lot more tools and a lot more equipment.
It is, then, much more advisable to hire a professional to verify the need to replace your receiver, and to do the job itself. What you need is someone who is adequately trained to conduct any kind of work on the roof. They will also have all the necessary equipment needed to fix your tv reception issues.
Additionally, learning the basics of installing a digital aerial receiver or a satellite dish will take some time. This means if you’re eager to get your TV up and running immediately, then it’s very much ideal for you to hire a professional instead.
Look, you don’t need to pressure yourself into doing a job that other people are professionally capable of doing. You simply have to find an aerial expert you can trust, and soon you’ll be ready to hang out and relax on your couch like this whole thing never happened.
Meanwhile, for those who have indoor antennas, here are some tips you can follow to improve your digital tv reception:
Quite similarly to a digital aerial or satellite dish, you will have to position your indoor antenna on or near a window that is facing the direction of the nearest TV transmitter. This helps you ensure a clearer line of sight to your TV transmitter, given that there are no obstructions between it and your antenna. Otherwise, keep your antenna as elevated as possible.