Really fed up with Freeview

sarahs999

I live not far from the Crystal Palace transmitter and have the most appalling Freeview reception. Does anyone know why? My husband keeps muttering that it's to do with the weather but I think that's a red herring, because it seems to be all different kinds of weather nad pressure systems and we still get the clicky, stuck jarring picture, mostly on any kind of Channel 4 (E4, film 4 etc) which is infuriating as it's the channel we watch most. Also we've never been able to get channel 5 digitally.

We can't get Virgin in our area as they haven't laid cables (so remote, southeast London). I don't really want to have to sign up to sky as we don't even watch TV that much, it's just that when we do want to sit down adn relax it's impossible.

We have an external aerial that was checked a couple of years ago when we bought the TV. We have regularly rescanned our freeview settings. I'm at a loss as to what to do next - is there anything that might help?

Blackjack_Davy

Whats the signal strength? It should tell you somewhere or other. It's 65% strength, 100% quality on the loft aerial I put in myself here and the reception is great.

If it's low then you definately should be looking at upgrading the aerial. Alternatively take a look at Freesat, costs about £150 for installation, box is extra if you don't have freesat reception built into the TV. There are many more channels than Freeview (we have both)

sarahs999

Thanks, how can I find the signal strength? Will it be somewhere on the TV settings?

sarahs999

Bumping up

cajef

Has the TV got a digital tuner or are you using a separate freeview box, in either case you should be able to go into the tuning menu and there will be somewhere you can check your signal strength and quality.

Matt_Nixon

The signal strength is usually in the "Settings" menu of either the TV if you have in-built freeview or the box if not.

sarahs999

Thanks - it;s not a separate box, it's built into the TV. I'll have a look tonight.

before_hollywood

are you sure the transmitter isnt undergoing maintenence?

sarahs999

Not unless its been undergoing maintenance for the past year....

macman

Something like an office block gone up nearby that is messing up reception? Are your neighbours suffering the same problem? If not then I would get the aerial checked out, poor connection, maybe the clamp is loose and it has moved around a bit?

tfspark

How close to the Crystal Palace transmitter do you live.

It could be that your signal is too strong. Too strong a signal is as bad as a weak signal as far as freeview is concerned.
If that is the case then you can buy a little plug in attenuator. It just goes between your tv and aerial connection. They come in different values.

Sorry I'm really not sure how you could check this or what value of attenuator you may need.
I think a proffesional (registered) aerial installer should be your next port of call.