Aerial Amplifier booster for Freeview : Worth it?

siliconbits

I am seriously considering buying either this amplifier booster (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPER-HIGH-GAIN-2-TV-AERIAL-AMPLIFIER-BOOSTER_W0QQitemZ130147384659QQihZ003QQcategoryZ73383QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) or this one (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5346130.htm) in order to boost my antenna's signal.

I would like to know if, in doing so, I may more Freeview channels as I currently have only 20 or so.

Nilrem

What sort of strength is the current signal, do you get any channels with a borderline signal and how old is your current aerial?

We replaced our existing aerial with a new wideband high gain one a couple of weeks ago, and that made a much bigger difference than using an amp (before, with the amp we got borderline quality on a handful of freeview channels, after without the amp we got good signals on loads of channels).

Little_John

If you have problems receiveing channels and the ones you get break up then an amplifier should make a difference. If your aerial is the one on the roof then I would consider replaceing that rather than adding an amp. but if your useing a portable aerial then the amp should help.

siliconbits

I am using a USB Freeview TV Tuner and quality is looks fine. I haven't experienced any borderline signal symptom. Antenna looks old and is situated outside my first floor flat. I rent the building which means tha replacing the antenna is out of question, hence the booster.

Inactive

To be honest, the only way you are going to find out if this item helps is to buy one and try it, I have my doubts, but I may be wrong.

Fifer

We have a wideband loft aerial and were suffering a lot of break-up on several multiplexes. Before going to the expense of installing an external aerial, we tried a cheap (£8) Asda booster (installed in the loft as close to the aerial as possible) and it worked perfectly. We've had a rock solid signal for almost two years now.

I'd reckon it's worth a try, but any amplification is best applied at the earliest possible point in the signal path before the signal has deteriorated even more through the downlead.

espresso

siliconbits wrote: »

I am using a USB Freeview TV Tuner and quality is looks fine. I haven't experienced any borderline signal symptom. Antenna looks old and is situated outside my first floor flat. I rent the building which means tha replacing the antenna is out of question, hence the booster.

Post the first half of your post code. It may be that your aerial is for analogue and not suitable for digital reception, which is why you are missing some channels. If this is the case, an amplifier will achieve nothing.