Archive for category advice
Digital television and analogue broadcasting
The advent of digital broadcasting is fairly recent in the UK. Free-to-air digital broadcasts have long been seen as an alternative to other television viewing methods such as Sky or Freesat. These both have their own advantages with Sky having many channels and Freesat offering HD (high definition) television. Freeview broadcasting has been very popular in the UK and the channel choice will increase. Digital free-to-air television offers a transition from analogue broadcasting using the existing technology you have in your house. A set-top-box is required to decrypt digital signals that are received through your aerial equipment.
Freeview signal strength
Posted by chappus in Weak signal, advice on September 2, 2009
If you find that you receive a low Freeview signal strength through your digital aerial then there are several things that you can do to help. The first question is about your aerial. To receive the best possible Freeview television signal then your aerial must be aimed in the right direction. It may have moved for many reasons, if it is in your loft then it may have been dislodged and if the aerial is on your roof then weather may have affected.
One of the most ovbious ways you can tell if your digital aerial has moved is if your television picture is distorted and suffers from interferance. The quality may also be similar to your old analogue television before the advent of Freeview.
If you believe that your aerial has moved, the best option maybe to consult a reputable local Freeview installer for advice.
Buying a Freeview set-top-box
When choosing a Freeview set-top-box there are a lot of factors that may influence your choice. The main ones are price, features and the technology brand. Freeview boxes start in the UK now at around £10 to £15 and go up to anywhere over £100 for a box that has advanced features such as recording.
You can get hard-drive and DVD based digital terrestrial Freeview set-top-boxes. The advantage of the hard drive system is that you can record much more television at a higher quality than the traditional technology you might be used to. On the other hand, a DVD based Freeview box may prove beneficial due to the ease of switching from television set to set.
Freeview aerial choice
A big factor in your Freeview signal strength is the condition and size of your aerial.
If you live in a low signal strength area, you may need to install a new aerial in order to recieve some if not all digital Freeview channels.
If in doubt, your local television equipment retailer will be able to help.
New Freeview channels
A good tip is to regularly – maybe every week – retune your Freeview box to receive the latest channel listings. New radio and television channels are regularly added.