Advice needed - freeview from indoor aerial

iwilldoitthistime

Hi there

Ive bought a freeview box today for using with the Tv in our bedroom. Unfortunately we have a new house with no outdoor aerial (not allowed one on the lease) so we are using an indoor aerial. Our main TV is cable, but I dont really want to pay for a second box.
the picture on the freeview is okay(ish) but not fabulous. Is it worth getting a signal booster? If so, can anyone reccommend one?

thanks!

DrSmutt

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5345227.htm

iwilldoitthistime

thanks DrSmutt. Have you used this booster?

ormus

you may be better having a proper outdoor aerial inside the loft.
ive bought them from both wickes and maplins. bout the same price as a booster, and they work ok.

pompeyrich

I have used a signal booster on a freeview box and it does help, however I live high up and quite near the transmitter and can get some channels with no aerial at all !! If you are near to an Argos it would be worth buying, trying and if no good returning under their 16 day money back guarantee.

iwilldoitthistime

unfortunately its definately in the lease. We have to ask permission (which obviously costs ) to put one up, and it costs more than the aerial!

I got a booster today and tried it, but the picture is non-existant when using the booster - at least there was some picture without it!

I live on the top of a hill, but the reception seems better lower down (for some reason!)

Any more ideas?

Viz_2

I live in a new house and have had an indoor tv aerial installed in the loft. Could you not do that ?

fonzy8

Same as "Viz". I've got an external aerial in the loft too and reception is good.

Wish I'd read this earlier - as freeview is digital, buying a booster can sometimes amplify the 'noise' rather than the digital signal which is probably what's making it worse in your case.

I'd recommend buying a good quality aerial and ensure it is positioned in the best way rather than a booster. The way I got a good aerial position was to view a normal analogue channel and get the best picture possible. Once you've done that scan for the freeview channels and see if it's any better.

opportunity_cost

Have a look at:
Best indoor aerials

I'm not sure if Argos stocks all those aerials but I know Argos definitely sells the Telecam aerials mentioned in that article so you could try buying one of them and seeing what reception is like. If the aerial doesn't improve the picture, you could always return them under Argos' 14-day guarantee.

smc789

I have an old ITV digibox connected to my livingroom tv which gives good reception.How can I improve reception to the 3 other tvs in the house? I have a loft aerial and live 18 miles from the transmitter if that helps. I will need to get a tv engineer in to do the work but I want to know what I need so I don't get ripped off.
(Please reply as if talking to a 5 year old as I'm not technically minded!)

many thanks

Mrs C

born_blonde

Hi, I live in a valley in a bungalow and have very poor TV reception. The way I have got round it is to have two boosters. One on the terrestial line in, that connects to the sky box and then on to the TV and to another booster which pushes the signal for both Sky and terrestial to another signal splitter in the attic, to a aerial point in the kitchen and bedroom. I then have a freeview box in kitchen and bedroom. This means we can watch terrestial or Sky or Freeview in each room. The freeview boxes were both tuned in an area of good reception and have held the signal. The only bit the Aerial guy had to do was the signal splitter in the loft and aerial point in each room.