Improving TV aerial reception

JSmithy45AD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049663#Comment_82049663

Tesla's don't need spark plugs though.

JohnSwift10

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049555#Comment_82049555

I've had an aeriall in my loft for the past 35 years and it's picture is still as good as the day it was installed for analogue TV

PHK

The thing to remember about a loft aerial is that it experiences more drastic changes in temperature and humidity. Normally the cables go first, then the insulators and then corrosion of the aerial and connections.

There are always people who will say that they have had an aerial work for much longer, but that isn't the case for most aerials and goes against the advice by aerial manufacturers and installers.

JSmithy45AD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82051252#Comment_82051252

Also, a gradual drop off in signal quality is impossible to quantify over many years. We have a loft aerial that was already there so lord knows how old it is, but as we have had Sky for many years we have never used it in anger. I did attach it as a possible fall back but when I've looked at the picture it seems to be working fine but the actual picture quality is horrible. I have no idea if a new cable and aerial would improve that.

LeafGreen

OP here back with an update…

So I have now tried a few things out… firstly, I did a scan on the TV with both recorder boxes turned on, and this did have some success - BBC1, BBC2 and a few other channels (but not ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5 and no HD channels) came up!

I then plugged the aerial from the wall straight into the TV and this had the best result - all channels came up including the HD ones - however when I reverted the cables to their original configuration going via the recorder boxes, they were no longer visible.

Finally I went back to retuning the TV again back in original configuration with both boxes on and this was more successful than the first time I tried that - still no HD channels but everything we want non-HD is there. Maybe having just one box instead of 2 in line would help but I haven't tried that as we do find it convenient having the 2 boxes.

We are happy with this, so a big thanks to everyone for taking the time out to comment and offer suggestions - lots of great responses, this forum is such a gem.

Grey_Critic

At this time of year there can in some areas be a problem with reception due to the foliage on Trees getting in the way of the signal. I can see Emley Moor - Holme Moss and Pole Moor masts and before I switched to Satellite I had problems with the signal in Summer.

When I was courting my wife she lived on a farm and if I parked in a particular spot in the yard they could not get a TV signal as it in its waveform my car blocked it.