free view box - signal problem

bar_1

Hi,

I have just purchased a free view box (behind the times a bit I know). Seems like a bog standard one, costing £25.00. I have connected it up as per the manual but it seems to struggle getting passed 50% signal on most channels, and it is not connecting to a lot of the channel, including the regular tv channels.

We have a digital area and was told we have good reception in our area. Is the problem the digital box or our signal? is it worth exchanging it for a more expenses one? they vary in price by £20-£25 but i don't know why...

Thanks

fwor

How recent is your aerial and cabling? If more than a few years old, it may not be "wideband" enough, as the freeview signals are higher frequency.

bar_1

I couldn't say how old it is for sure, at least 1-11/2 years old. would this mean I need a new Ariel?

Browntoa

a cheaper option may be a aerial signal booster

if the aerial is in the loft should be easy to do a straight swap for a digital aerial

espresso

bar_1 wrote: »

I couldn't say how old it is for sure, at least 1-11/2 years old. would this mean I need a new Ariel?

Get your Ariel here half price.

bar_1

Browntoa - Thanks for the tip. I will give that a go.

Inactive

Can we clear up a few things;

It is an aerial, not ariel, that is washing powder.;)

There is no so thing as a " Digital Aerial ", whetever it says on the box etc.

A " booster " will not very often improve matters, it can make them worse.

A Mast Head Amplifier may help in weak reception area's.

If the OP is in a good digital reception area and getting weak reception, then it may just be possible that the existing aerial is focused on the wrong transmitter.

Put your post code in to this checker to establish which transmitter is correct for the location;

http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe?DX=L&HT=10&OS=

Check your aerial direction against your neighbours, it may just need re-aligning.

bar_1

Hi Inactive
Just to clarify, I mean/meant aerial
I assume an aerial is digitally compatible then (if not digital itself)?
I will have a look at my aerial direction when I get home.
I had a look on the link but I am afraid I do not understand it!
These are the results for my postcode, if you have a few minutes to explain them I would be very grateful...
Transmitter
1: BBC
2: Digital 3 & 4
A: SDN
B: BBC
C: NG Wireless
NG Wireless
Gp
Pol
OS grid ref.
OD
m
Field
dBµV/m
Distance
miles
Bearing
degrees
Antenna
(suggestion)
UHF
ERP
W
AOD
m
UHF
ERP
W
AOD
m
UHF
ERP
W
AOD
m
UHF
ERP
W
AOD
m
UHF
ERP
W
AOD
m
UHF
ERP
W
AOD
m
Sudbury B
56
1k1
184
E
H
TL913377
69
36
18
260
Amplified extra hi-gain
Sudbury
49
7k
176
68
8k1
164
48
5k
184
39
7k5
176
54
1k5
184
50
1k1
184
E
H
TL913377
69
35
18
260
Amplified extra hi-gain


Thanks

bar_1

Sorry, that doesn't make any sense at all. If you could let me know which parts of the table on the link are important for me to know.

Inactive

bar_1 wrote: »

Hi Inactive

Amplified extra hi-gain[/

Wow that came out as a huge mess..

The only real part of it that should concern you is the part that I have quoted.

This is saying in effect that you are in a very weak signal area and that you will need an amplified extra gain wide band aerial, which in reality means the biggest and best aerial available, together with a mast head amplifier, to get a decent reception.

Shambler

It is recommending they use an amplified extra high gain antenna.

It would be much cheaper to get FreeSat which costs <£70 than to replace the aerial which I was quoted £250+ to have changed.