It's one of the most frustrating things isn't it - you're trying to watch a show on TV and the channel keeps dropping, you hear strange squeaky noises and there are lines running across the screen.
Don't worry - this can be fixed.
Can You Help Me Fix My Bad TV Signal?
If you'd like to cut to the chase, don't need to know how the technology works and and simply want a solution - Contact Us today to get your poor TV signal sorted.
We have trained, experienced technicians available to get your TV signal fixed. We have helped businesses, retirement villages, nursing homes and home owners fix their TV reception and are able to locate and fix problems quickly and efficiently.
To learn about the factors that affect TV reception, read on.
What Are the Signs Of A Poor TV Signal?
A bad tv signal is characterized by the following:
- Flaky image on screen
- Pixelation
- Color distortion
- Audio (sound) distortion
- Image dropping in and out
- Strange noises and sounds
- Error messages on TV screen, such as "NO SIGNAL"
- Some channels work and others don't
Good TV Reception Starts With The Correct Antenna
In order to receive a good tv signal, you'll need a high quality digital antenna suited to your area. This TV antenna needs to be correctly installed, secured and aligned by a professional in order to ensure a picture-perfect image and crisp, clear sound even in adverse weather conditions.
If you have an older antenna, never had it checked, or you're unsure whether your antenna is even correctly installed and aligned - this is where you'll need the help of an experienced installer, who can ensure the signal received by your antenna is at it's very best. This needs to be done with a basic field strength meter, or for best results, with a digital terrestrial TV signal analyzer, which can often be an expensive piece of test equipment.
A Good Antenna Still Needs To Be Pointed To The Correct Transmitter
TV Signals are transmitted across the Australian landscape by many transmitters or "TV towers" as some folks call them. These transmitters are scattered across the country and are located in spots where their reach is optimal and free from obstruction.
Your TV aerial needs to be pointed to the transmitter that delivers the strongest signal to your location. Most users in cities are in range of 2 or more TV transmitters, and selecting the correct transmitter to align your antenna with isn't always straight forward.
Without proper test equipment, there is no guarantee that your antenna is pointed at the correct transmitter, and even if it is, that it is properly aligned.
Small Antenna Alignment Errors Can Cause Major Problems
Without proving through a proper test that your TV antenna is 100% correctly aligned to the best transmitter for your location, there is no guarantee that your TV signal will be good all the time.
TV antennas are precise pieces of equipment. A couple of degrees out of alignment can cause major headaches. Their design is called a Yagi antenna, and they need to be pointed to the transmitter with a high degree of accuracy.
In addition to having the antenna aligned perfectly, they also need to be secured properly. Antennas that are not secured properly are subject to movement by the wind, which once again messes with the alignment to the transmitter, causing reception issues.
Obstructions Cause Signal Loss
If your antenna is located inside your roof space, blocked by another building, large trees and/or other objects, this can cause problems with TV signal reception.
Antennas are designed to operate in an unobstructed, open area, and the proximity of metal objects and other obstructions can cause significant signal loss, leading to viewing frustration.
Your TV Cabling and TV Points Matter
The antenna is not the only component of your TV installation that can cause problems. The cables that connect your antenna to the TV are called coaxial cables. There are different types, grades and uses for coaxial cables, and it is imperative that your cabling is of the correct type and specification for the intended use.
Older houses might experience more TV signal problems than newer buildings due to the fact that the cabling and/or outlets may have degraded or corroded over time and no longer provide a solid path for the TV signal.
Rodent damage and other forms of damage, that might not be easily visible at first glance, can also be a cause for TV signal loss between the antenna and the TV.
Interference Can Be An Issue
Interference from other sources of electrical energy can sometimes be the cause of your TV reception issues. Switching power supplies, some types of lights, air conditiioners, washing machines, pumps and motors have been known to cause interference with TV signals.
Your TV cabling needs to be installed and/or positioned in such a way that the risks of interference are mitigated and that you receive a clear picture and great sound all the time.
Not all coaxial TV cables are the same at guarding against interference, and older cables are especially susceptible to interference.
The Cable That Connects The TV To the Wall Has An Impact On The Signal
The type, length and specifications of the cable that connects from the TV to the wall outlet can make a difference in the quality of the signal you receive. If this cable is poorly shielded, damaged, very long or the connectors either end are of poor design or quality, you can be sure to experience problems with your TV reception.
The best approach for this is to have a high-quality cable installed by a professional who will ensure the fit and quality is top-notch and will not contribute to poor signal issues.
Fixing TV Reception Requires A Holistic Approach
We've seen many customers haphazardly trying to fix one or more aspects of their TV reception, only to continue suffering the frustration of outages and signal break-ups.
Fixing your TV reception requires a look at all the components in the system, often with an isolation-test approach to identify the causes of signal loss.
Each component that can have an effect on the quality of your viewing experience needs to be individually assessed and fixed if necessary.
TV Tuning Is Only Half the Story
If you're experiencing TV signal problems, outages, pixelation or the sound is breaking up, often you'll be tempted to re-tune the TV. This is generally not a bad idea, but it probably won't fix your problem completely.
If problems persist after re-tuning, it's time to have your installation checked over by an experienced TV technician.
Boosters, Amplifiers and Receiver Overload
Sometimes, but not often, we've found that customers have tried installing their own amplifiers, boosters and/or other equipment marketed as being able to "improve" your TV signal. In the majority of these cases, the problems do not go away, and sometimes gets worse.
TV signal receivers are designed to work with a received signal of a specific quality and signal strength, and no amount of throwing boosters after a bad signal will fix this. If several boosters or amplifiers are installed, this can in fact cause receiver signal overload at the pre-amplifier of the TV and cause more issues.
Sometimes You're Just Unlucky Enough to Be In A Bad Area
TV Signal issues can sometimes be related to your physical location. Digital TV requires a minimum level of received signal strength and a low rate of reception errors in order to function correclty.
You might be too far away from the nearest transmitter for a good signal strength to be received, or you may be close to sources of external interference that influence the quality of the signal negatively.
This can only be assessed and identified by a trained, experienced technician using the proper test equipment.
Need Help Getting Your TV Signal Fixed?
Contact Us Today to get your TV reception issues resolved quickly and easily.
