Best indoor aerial for Freeview

Tinuel

Due to silly reasons, outdoor aerials are not allowed in my building. I have bought a Freeview Philips box and an indoor aerial but the reception isn't that great! If it picks up the BBCs, it doesn't pick the E4, FIlm4, More4, etc. Sometimes the picture freezes or does not pick the ITVs. Basically, I am not getting full satisfaction or access to the complete list of channels.
I live in London, close enough to the Crystal Palace transmitter, so distance isn't a problem.

Could someone recommend a good indoor aerial to pick the Freeview channels or something to boost the signal? From experience which one is good? Any tips to improve reception with the indoor aerial I have at the moment?

Many thanks

Cat695

can you not put an ariel in the loft??

trust me signal boosters DO NOT WORK!!! they will actually degrade the signal

If you can get into the loft then put one up in there!!! take it you don't have any sockets in the block already then??

Tinuel

Hi Cats,
Not access to loft allowed by landlord,need to ask for permission. No sockets as it's a very old building.

Help....

Cat695

now this may sound abit daft

but do you have room in a spare room to put an outdoor ariel up?? i don't mean bolting it to the wall.....they are very cheap nowadays

unsightly i know but is really the only option.....what about a tree outside?? even from a roof of next door etc....asking people in your block what they have done

do you live in a city you can check what your area signal strength by going on the freeview website

please please don't waste your time with boosters as they do not work

deklan99

This site has done some comparisons http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/test-reports/indoor-aerials/recommendations/best-indoor-aerials.htm

I got the Telecam TCE 2000, £9.99 from Argos and it certainly got better results than other types. If you get any signal at all it may help and at a tenner you've not much to lose.

Fifer

Cat695 wrote: »

trust me signal boosters DO NOT WORK!!! they will actually degrade the signal

That's a common misconception. The digital reception from our loft aerial was very poor so, before paying for an external aerial installation, I chucked a £10 Asda signal booster in the loft, as close as possible to the aerial. Problem solved, perfect signal.

A signal booster will not recover a badly degraded signal, but if you can boost a reasonable one, particularly before a long cable run, it often does help. It might not work in this case, but it cannot be ruled out.

superscaper

Fifer wrote: »

That's a common misconception. The digital reception from our loft aerial was very poor so, before paying for an external aerial installation, I chucked a £10 Asda signal booster in the loft, as close as possible to the aerial. Problem solved, perfect signal.

A signal booster will not recover a badly degraded signal, but if you can boost a reasonable one, particularly before a long cable run, it often does help. It might not work in this case, but it cannot be ruled out.

Agree with this. In my experience signal boosters increase the signal clarity and power. They won't "create" more signal from nothing or a badly degraded signal (they don't invent the missing information for you) but with a relatively low signal power they certainly can help.

AndysDad

deklan99 wrote: »

This site has done some comparisons http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/test-reports/indoor-aerials/recommendations/best-indoor-aerials.htm

I got the Telecam TCE 2000, £9.99 from Argos and it certainly got better results than other types. If you get any signal at all it may help and at a tenner you've not much to lose.

NOTE: It does say its for use in 'strong signal' areas.

Tinuel

Thanks all.
Are there any indoor aerials or signal boosters that you would recommend besides the Telecam TCE 2000?
By the way, I live 3.5 miles away from Crystal Palace transmitter (nearest one), not sure if my flat qualifies as weak signal or not.
I also saw a One for all booster at Argos, not sure how good it is.

Fifer

If you can try one from a place with a no-quibbles return policy (Asda are pretty good, so I suspect are Argos), try it and see then return it if it doesn't help.

mdbarber

try the antiference silver sensor, i have one and its excellent, usually under a tenner but maplins have them in stock at a bit more, try that first then add a booster if needed