Roof Aerial / Freeview Issues - HELP PLEASE

Sophie_Lou159

Hi, Any help will be much appreciated!
I've just moved house and when trying to set our TVs up, we found that the Aerial fittings (the fittings on the end of the cable that come through the wall, assuming from the roof aerial) had been removed, so I went out and brought new connections and plugged them into the TV. We then re-tuned the TV but it couldn't find ANY channels.
I then tried to re-tune my other TV with a individual TV aerial (apposed to the roof aerial) and the same thing happened (no channels found - digital or analog). I've looked online and we are meant to get good free view reception in this area and both neighbors get great signal, so I'm not sure why it isn't working.
When we looked outside we could see a cable dangling from our roof aerial (this wasnt the case when we viewed the property) which makes me think its been unplugged (if that's possible)?
1st question - If the roof aerial is unplugged or damaged, would this affect the signal on the individual TV aerial or does the individual TV aerial work separately?
2nd Question - If the Roof Aerial is unplugged, where would the cables / connections be for me to plug in? Would I have to go on the roof to do this?

Thanks in advance!

Sophie x

Le_Kirk

Where is the end of the cable that is dangling? It is unusual for an aerial to have a cable that is plugged in at the aerial, it is normally fixed and would then go through your loft/attic/window/wall to a TV/FM plate on the wall. Of course a TV or Freeview tuner will not work without them being connected to an aerial. No idea why your systems would not work with a set-top aerial.

TonyMMM

Perhaps they had a masthead amplifier fitted and they've taken it with them ?

That would account for the disconnected cable .... a good look through binoculars should let you see what is going where.

Sounds like a job for an aerial engineer though.

A.Penny.Saved

The cheap !!! could of removed a masthead amplifier, btw they are fairly inexpensive anyway <£20. It was a pretty dirty thing to of done by the previous owner IMO. To not of even bothered to refit the cable to the aerial is inexcusable.

You say that you freeview reception in your area is pretty good so I doubt that a masthead amplifier is needed therefore if there is anyway for you or a family member with a suitable ladder to get to the aerial you could probably just refix the cable to the aerial. That might be enough to get a signal. It depends how accessible the aerial is, if it is on a chimney then I would not recommend it. If it is fixed to the side of the house then you might be able to do it. The direction of the aerial does affect the signal strength therefore any movement of the aerial could alter the signal received.

The external aerial disconnected or not will not affect a separate indoor aerial. Try putting it near to the window, hold it outside the window while you try and tune. Indoor aerials do not provide very good reception.

BTW there probably is no Analogue TV still being broadcast in your area. The Freeview transmitter power has dramatically increased since Analogue TV was switched off in most areas.