According to the latest statistics, more than 80 percent of the households in the world own at least one TV. We use the television to learn more about the latest things that are happening in the world, to distract our children and have some time on our own, or to just watch our favorite shows and forget about all the stress that happened during the day. Since we use these units to calm ourselves down, one of the worst things that could happen is a weak signal that makes us even more stressed.
If you’ve experienced pixeling or white noise, you know how bad that can be. The good thing is, you’ve found this article and we are here to help! In this 2024 guide, we are going to give you some tips on how you can improve the reception, and how you can increase the number of channels you are receiving. Know that most of these things should help, but it is always best if you consult with a professional service before you decide to do anything on your own.
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Check the aerial
We all know how stressful it is to have a weak signal, but sometimes no matter what you do, you just cannot fix the issue. So, before we give you some ideas on what you can do to see if you are receiving more channels, we are going to talk about the number one issue that most commonly happens. We tend to use the same antenna for years, and maybe even decades, without understanding that just like every other thing, these units can and will get damaged in time.
In case you are using an outdoor aerial, you should check to see if there is rust somewhere, or if some of the wires are visible. Note that if it is not grounded properly, these units will stop showing all the channels and will produce pixeling and white noise. So, if possible, check to see if everything is correctly connected. In case you are using an indoor model, then you should again check to see if there are any visible damages, inspect both the metal and the plastic parts, and maybe you will find the root of the problem here.
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Where did you position it?
If there is no visible issue with the aerial itself, then we can continue and look for ways to help you boost the signal. The most common mistake people make is they try to incorporate the antenna with the design of the home, without thinking about where the unit needs to be placed.
The rule you always have to remember is that the higher the aerial is, the better the signal is going to be. You should never put it in your basement, and you should try and keep it as close to the windows as possible. Some users suggest that placing it on the balcony helps a lot, but you should know that indoor units don’t work well when they are exposed to rain or freezing temperatures.
Because of this, you should just focus on putting it somewhere high on the wall, preferably near a window. Note that some users suggest that grounding helps a lot, so if you can, you should put one of the cables in the plant. Remember that the cords should not come in contact with water, so it is better if you use an artificial plant and put the cables in the soil.
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Turn it to the broadcast tower
Now let’s talk about not just where your device is placed, but also how it is turned. It is said that the devices work best if they are positioned to “look” over to the broadcasting tower. As you already know, the signals can be easily disrupted if there are too many things and objects in between, so you should try to find out where your provider’s tower is located.
This information should easily be found on your provider’s website, but if you cannot locate it, then you can just call them and ask them. Depending on that, you should put your aerial next to the window that’s located closest to the tower, or if you are using an outdoor device, then you should just position it manually.
Know that doing these things on your own may be risky, and TV-Aerials-UK suggests that you can always consult with a professional service if you have any trouble improving your signal, positioning the device, or maintaining them.
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Use a device with a built-in signal booster
One of the things that users swear by is the amplifier. Nowadays there are a lot of different amplifiers and you can choose them based on the model of the aerial you have, or the position. If you are using an outdoor unit, then you should buy the booster along with the antenna. When it comes to indoor units, things are much simpler. You can choose if you want it to be built-in or if you want to purchase it separately.
Note that some users suggest that the amplifier may sometimes do more damage than good. So, it is always best to test all the options before you choose if you want it to be on or off. One thing you should always remember is that you need to scan for new channels after making a change. So, if you reposition your aerial, or if you turn the booster on or off, you have to rescan and see if that helped.
Some users say that placing a metal hanger next to the aerial will help boost the reception, while others say that it does nothing. The same goes for aluminum foil, so if you are up for experimentation, you are free to see if some of these things help. Note that you should always be extremely careful, and you should never touch the wires with your bare hands. It is always better to consult with a service than to risk hurting yourself.
Check these things out, follow our tips, and you should have no problem improving your TV signal, and getting more channels than you did ever before.