Please help!! TV/Aerial problems

Inactive

It is probably because you are downstairs, an aerial needs to be mounted as high as possible for good results, I am sorry that doesn't help you, but it is fact.

lumar

I know that it says it only works in high signal areas but it is so good that after I bought it, I bought another!
You could always ask Argos if they will take it back if it doesn't work for you.

savemoney

I know that, I offered advice most portable aerials are useless to picking up digital reception properly, I know because I have tried them and I live 1 .5 miles on a hill near the transmitter and even I get some bad channels on freeview

I had that aerial below and whilst I got some channels I didnt get all of them on a portable tv, you often have to mess about all time with portable aerials

Its up to you if you take that advice or not or waste money as you clearly did buying two aerials that dont work.

The only solution open to you is either

1. Pay for a aerial and have fitted or DIY
2. Get LL to do it
3. Do without and suffer from bad reception

Sorry you dont like my advice but its the correct one, perhaps I will you tell you in future what you want to hear and be done with it but it wont help you either way

top_drawer wrote: »

its a LL house and i'm a girl ... I cant see myself doing much DIY, I'm struggling with doing this set up bit!!

Jen

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewhelp.html

[FONT=Verdana, Arial] If you get a strong enough TV signal where you live, receiving Freeview on an internal indoor aerial is perfectly possible, but for better results, an external aerial pointing in the direction of your local Digital TV transmitter is a much better bet. Indoor aerials are less able to pull in signals, and more susceptible to interference from domestic equipment (computers, washing machines, etc). [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial]It's often hit and miss with indoor aerials, and as the transmitters for digital TV operate on a lower power than normal analogue TV transmissions (so as not to interfere with analogue), you're less likely to get a good digital TV signal from an indoor aerial. As a general rule of thumb, if you get a poor analogue TV signal from an indoor aerial, you don't stand much of a chance with digital. Entering your postcode into [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial] Wolfbane's coverage predictor [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial]gives you an aerial recommendation that can help to give an idea of the effectiveness of an indoor aerial.

A proper external aerial, or a even a loft aerial, is your best bet for good reception, but if your only option is an internal portable aerial, go for a good quality indoor aerial. Look for a powered one[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial], and aim it at the appropriate transmitter. Try to keep it close to a window, with as few walls and as little metal as possible between the aerial and the transmitter - keeping the aerial high, away from other electrical equipment, and close to a window, can all help too.

Try Maplin Electronics or Argos for a range of indoor aerials - We've had recommendations that Maplin's Indoor aerial with booster (Cat: L29BB) performs well. There's also the 'Total Control Freeview Indoor Aerial' available from Argos (Cat: 534/4857) which claims to be designed for Freeview, but we've no feedback on how well it performs.

If you have a roof aerial, but not in the required room, consider running a cabled extension. Aerial extension kits are easy to do, and are available for a low price at Maplin Electronics.[/FONT]

amdavies

This may sound stupid, but have you somewhere that you can put an external aerial inside your flat ?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=36354

If you can borrow one to try it out first, you can get an idea of size as well as seeing if it works. If it does and you don't like it inside, it might be possible to mount it on a pole or something similar just outside ?

I have http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47022 sitting on a first floor filing cabinet point at Crystal Palace 17 miles away (Thames Valley so it's almost a straight line-of-sight though) and I'm getting a signal that's easily good enough for Freeview.

http://www.ukfree.tv/starthere.php

savemoney

A loft aerial would be better than a portable one but as she says "i'm a girl ... I cant see myself doing much DIY" well maybe they cant do it or doesn't no anyone who can.

My next door neighbour has a aerial just mounted above bay window so its fairly easy job to do yourself if you can do some basic DIY

scheming_gypsy

top_drawer wrote: »

Its strange that I seem to be the only one having problems.... people have mentioned on here and others ive spoken to that they have lived near by and never had problems .... I'm at PR1 and it doesnt seem to be far from Winter Hill even!

Jen

depends which part of PR1 you are.. Penwortham way. there's the big B&Q near Sainsbury's and the Walton Fox, Ashton way you're pretty much in the town centre.
Other places depend which Argos, Leyland, Deepdale or Town Centre?

top_drawer_2

amdavies wrote: »

This may sound stupid, but have you somewhere that you can put an external aerial inside your flat ?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=36354

If you can borrow one to try it out first, you can get an idea of size as well as seeing if it works. If it does and you don't like it inside, it might be possible to mount it on a pole or something similar just outside ?

I have http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47022 sitting on a first floor filing cabinet point at Crystal Palace 17 miles away (Thames Valley so it's almost a straight line-of-sight though) and I'm getting a signal that's easily good enough for Freeview.

http://www.ukfree.tv/starthere.php

I may well give this a go!! its actually a shared house and we are short on space, also any drilling etc that would need to be done is beyond me and I doubt the LL would want it... But I could erect this sort of thing on some furniture or something ....

I wish I knew someone who would be willing to do it or even knew enough to have been able to tell me all this information months ago - It may seem like I only want certain answers (of course I do, everyone does!!) but its only because I have pushed and pushed several times that I have managed to find out what I have... maplins attempted to fob me off several times.

I'm near Hartington road by the way... I have been to the Capitol centre several times to go to Maplins using the Park and Ride.

Jen

Just_landed

Jen is it possible for you to borrow an external digital ariel and here's one of the hard bits wire it up (sounds harder than it is) then plug it in. and point it in the right direction to the mast in your room, I know it's not nice looking but would do until you can come up with a better solution. After saying this I take it you have at least got a digi box. just trying to help.:male:

Inactive

top_drawer wrote: »

I wish I knew someone who would be willing to do it or even knew enough to have been able to tell me all this information months ago - It may seem like I only want certain answers (of course I do, everyone does!!)

Jen

Jen, by all means try anything, everything suggested on here, however be realistic, I honestly don't think that in your situation/location anything other than a roof or possibly loft mounted aerial is going to give the results that you require.


Sorry, I know that isn't what you want to hear, but you sadly cannot escape from reality, I hope that I'm wrong.

I wish you every success.;)

scheming_gypsy

do you get on well with the neighbours?

could get an aerial splitter, hoik a cable through the window and share their signal.