Freeview Help

anandc84

I am in a university halls of residence (City University in London) and I have big problems in getting any good signals on analogue let alone freeview (in which my set top box: Sagem ITD58 Set Top Box cannot find any channels). So, what is the best thing I can do to improve my chances of finding any channels. I read that a booster might help but there are so many about so I'm not sure which is best. When I scan for channels using the freeview box:

Indoor:

signal strength 55%
signal quality 2%

External:

signal strength 35%
signal quality 3%

Can someone please help? Thanks

Joe_Bloggs

My guess is that there are numerous tall buildings in the line of sight between your aerial and the Crystal Palace transmitter. Your options are to move the aerial above the obstructions or move South of the river Thames where you can get line of sight at quite modest elevation.
Good look in you exams.
J_B.

gabriel

A booster does help, its the only way I can get freeview with an indoor antenna (this is Newcastle, Pontop Pike transmitter) on my ground floor flat.

I got one from Tesco, its integrated with the indoor antenna but can also take an external one. It comes with an amplication adjuster which I found helps me get better reception (it seems sometimes too much amplification has the opposite effect!)

I found it at Maplins now, for cheaper than what I paid too! http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=44188&doy=29m5

Maplins also has a few other ones specific for digital tv but i don't know how much better they acutally are.

rachelo83

gabriel wrote:

A booster does help, its the only way I can get freeview with an indoor antenna (this is Newcastle, Pontop Pike transmitter) on my ground floor flat.

I got one from Tesco, its integrated with the indoor antenna but can also take an external one. It comes with an amplication adjuster which I found helps me get better reception (it seems sometimes too much amplification has the opposite effect!)

I found it at Maplins now, for cheaper than what I paid too! http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=44188&doy=29m5

Maplins also has a few other ones specific for digital tv but i don't know how much better they acutally are.

Cool, thanks I'll give it a try

anandc84

Incidentally, what sort of thing do you look for in a good signal booster? All the tech-speak means nothing to me

Joe_Bloggs

@anand84. Did you also read of situations where signal boosters were of no use ? If you can obtain a signal booster then do it on a money back basis if it is of no use.
Digital signal power is at 10% or less when compared to analogue transmissions. These signals have trouble going through buildings. Is line of sight an issue ? Transmitters are placed on hills so they are easier 'to see' by the aerials which are often on masts to provide a clearer path to the transmitter.
As a licence payer you should complain to the hall authorities ! You do have a licence don't you ? If not your equipment should be battery powered. These rules are the rules however silly they seem. I remember the recent BBC led student terror campaign with the £1000 fine that your parents would have to pay if you did not have a licence.
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/students.jsp
J_B.