How can I find out what the tv signal strength is - updated post 9

Hootie19

My daughter and her partner have no tv currently. Her partner says that in order to receive tv now, they will need to upgrade their aerial which will cost too much money (they don't want to stay in their current property - a council flat - for too long, so don't want to spend silly money).

My husband and I are looking to buy them an indoor aerial and a freeview box (they have an old CRT tv, but I don't even know if this will work with digital tv!), but without knowing how strong their signal is, we don't know what kind of indoor aerial to get them.

Is there a way of finding out, or do we just go for the "strongest" aerial we can find and hope for the best?

They are on the top floor of their block of flats, and have access to a loft space. I must admit I've not done much research yet, but I came across this, and wondered if this would do the trick?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9356504/Trail/searchtext%3ETV+AERIAL.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

In that catalogue there are several aerials, with various "strengths", but I've no idea what I should be looking for.

Or if anyone can suggest a better alternative to the aerial I have linked to, I'd be grateful. Like I say, they're not giong to be staying in that flat much longer (having just expanded from being a couple to being a family!) so don't want to be throwing stupid money at it.

Also - I'm so out of touch with Freeview boxes etc, now - if anyone has any suggestions as to a decent one, I'd also be grateful.

aerostar

Where are they ? Once known helpers can see how far away the nearest TV transmitter is, and better advise you.

Hootie19

Thank you aerostar. Their postcode is LU5 5QP. That's Houghton Regis, in Bedfordshire.

debitcardmayhem

Look here which says nearest is Hemel Hempsted and here for sandy heath ATV is a good site but they don't have a dedicated page for HH, but it looks like it isn't too strong for Freeview yet look here

closed

Borrow a freeview box and plug it into the crt, or

Buy the freeview box or TV first and try it. If it's going to be a new TV, no point buying a freeview box as well, unless it's a pvr.

bris

Indoor aerials are useless unless you are in direct line of sight to your transmitter which is very close by. The current aerial may very well be ok as most of the rumours about upgrading come from the installers looking for business. There is no such thing as a digital aerial they are all the same, but some of the newer ones are slightly bigger giving a higher gain. If they have an existing aerial it will still be better than any indoor aerial. Take a digital telly to them and plug it in to find out.

john1

Hootie



As Closed and Bris say get hold of a freeview set top box plug it in and auto tune you may have a surprise as to the reception.
Are you sure there is not a communal aerial serving the council flats. I cannot imagine the council would want loads of aerials on top their blocks.
If so my guess is the existing aerial is pointing towards Bedford Cambridge and receives Anglia from Sandy; which is now almost on full power.
Digital switch over for Sandy was in March still a couple of retunes still to go later this year and so on, but basically you should receive a good signal

Hootie19

Thank you all. I never cease to be amazed at the helpfulness of the posters on this site!

I have decided to just donate the tv that we have in our bedroom, as we NEVER watch it! it's got freeview built in and a DVD player, so assuming the aerial that my daughter's partner used to use (before she moved in and before the digital switchover) is still useable (bris - thank you for that information. I didn't know that about "digital" aerials!) they should be ok. If not - I may be back

Hootie19

Thank you, you lovely people.

Just got back from a (now) VERY happy daughter's flat. Their existing aerial worked just fine when attached to my bedroom tv.

Her partner, was ADAMANT this morning, before he went to work, that there was no way they could get a tv to work on their existing arial. So I'm feeling rather smug now, having proved (with a little help from my friends ) that he was wrong.

There seem to be fewer channels available than when I had it in the bedroom, but to be honest, I watched it so seldomly, I could just be mis-remembering.

Of couse, the downside now is that I am £145 poorer, having bought them a TV licence :eek:

But at least when the light nights are no longer around, and her partner is at work and the baby in bed, my daughter doesn't have to watch their DVD collection ad infinitum (they have no internet - I suspect that's next on the list lol) and read her book collection until she can remember every word on the page!

Thank you all again.