How to boost your digital TV signals

Although in most respects, digital TV is much superior to analogue, you do need a good signal in order to enjoy it. In the old days of analogue TV, if you had a poor reception then the image would appear grainy but it was often still watchable. However, with digital TV, if the signal isn’t strong enough then you’ll experience the picture and sound breaking up – making it very difficult to enjoy.

The way to avoid this problem is by ensuring that the signal reaching your antenna is strong enough to provide uninterrupted viewing with a crisp, clear picture. 

 

Below are some top tips to boost your digital TV signal to give you the best viewing experience possible.

• Invest in a good aerial – The aerial you’re using will make a big difference to the picture and sound quality you get. Wherever possible, you should use an outdoor digital aerial since the quality of signal will be much higher. When you don’t have access to an outdoor aerial you should invest in a high quality indoor aerial.
• Move the aerial to an optimum position – Another vital part of getting a good digital TV signal is to have your aerial in the best possible location. If you have an outdoor aerial then this usually isn’t an issue but for indoor aerials, you want to make sure that the aerial is placed as high up as possible. Also placing it close to a window is usually a good idea.
• Make sure nothing is blocking the aerial – It’s a very common problem with outdoor aerials that trees or other large objects block the signal from reaching them. This issue can be addressed either by repointing the aerial or cutting down the trees that are blocking it. You should never attempt to do this yourself however since climbing on a roof is extremely hazardous and could result in serious injury or death. It’s always better to hire a professional to do this for you.
• Install a signal booster – Using a signal booster is a very good way to improve the signal that reaches your aerial. If you have placed your aerial in a good position and you’re still having problems then a signal booster could well be the answer.

Digital TV aerial installation

If you don’t already have an outdoor digital TV aerial installed then you should certainly consider getting one. The reception you get from using an outdoor aerial is vastly superior and will provide you with excellent picture and sound quality.

You can get a digital TV aerial installed by any aerial installation company. Simply do a Google search for aerial installation services in your local area and you should have plenty of companies to choose from.

It’s usually not too expensive to have an aerial installed and once it’s there you’ll be able to benefit from it for years to come. In fact, by purchasing a Freeview box, you’ll be able to access many digital TV and radio channels completely free of charge!

Author bio
 

Peter has a keen interest in audio and video. His articles cover subjects such as how to fix digital reception problems.

The Pros and Cons of Television Licensing

There are a whole new generation of people who are moving out from their parents’ house for the first time and discovering that they have to pay for a TV licence in order to watch and record live TV.

With so many young people of this generation now consuming media through YouTube and streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, paying to watch TV can seem like an odd concept.

Although referred to as a ‘TV licence’, the money you actually pay is towards the BBC. The BBC are the only non-commercial terrestrial channel available on British TV and therefore to get access to their services, you’re obliged to pay a fee.

Whilst it’s true that it’s no longer necessary to have a TV licence in order to get access to some of the most popular programmes on television, the idea of paying for a TV licence isn’t completely obsolete. If you’re not convinced that having a TV licence is important then below are the biggest pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Pros

• Not profit driven – One of the big benefits of paying the BBC a licence fee is that they’re not driven by commercial revenue in the same way that channels such as ITV and Channel 4 are. This means that their programming provides a mix of education, news and entertainment.
• Educational – Because the BBC is publically funded, they’re obliged to air a good mix of programmes, including those that are educational to people of all ages. Few could argue that the BBC produces nature programmes that are any less than stellar. This helps to educate people and ensure that there is something available to the public that isn’t just based on cheap entertainment and has real value.

Cons

• Expensive – A TV licence currently costs £145.50 per year for a full colour TV and £49.00 for a black and white TV. With the vast majority of televisions in the UK being full colour, it’s certainly not cheap to obtain a TV licence and for many people who don’t watch a lot of TV, they might feel it’s an unreasonable amount of money to pay.
• Not for everybody – Just because the BBC has an obligation to broadcast a wide spectrum of programming doesn’t mean it’s going to be for everybody. In fact many people are not a fan of the BBC’s output and for these people paying for a TV licence will hardly be something they relish doing.

Do I have to get a TV licence?

The short answer is – probably yes. Even if you don’t watch much TV but just happen to have one in your home, you’re still obligated to pay for a TV licence if you watch any live television at all, not matter how little

This might seem unfair but the same rule applies to everyone. In fact, you don’t just need a TV licence if you watch live programming from your TV, but any type of device, whether it’s a laptop, smartphone or tablet. 

Author bio

Peter has a keen interest in digital television installation. His articles cover subjects such as the pros and cons of TV licensing.

How to Spot a Cowboy Aerial Installer

If you’re looking to have an aerial installed at your property then you want to make sure that the person you hire to do it is qualified and reliable. Unfortunately, there are some rogue traders out there who will take your money and do a less-than-professional job of installing the aerial.

Often they will be people who have little, or in some cases no experience of installing aerials but see an opportunity to make some quick money. It goes without saying that you want to avoid such people at all costs since having someone like this install your aerial could result in a lot of extra work and expense when you need to correct their mistakes. 

Warning signs

To help you avoid hiring a cowboy aerial installer, below are some of the biggest warning signs to look out for.

Cold calling – If you have been cold called, whether by phone or at your front door, you have to ask yourself why a reputable installer would need to do this. Most good aerial installation companies have a good supply of work thanks to recommendations and advertising so they don’t need to cold call in order to drum up business. Always be wary when you’re contacted out of the blue by someone offering to install an aerial.

Pushing upgrades – If you’re having an aerial installed, there’s usually no reason why you’d need to get any upgrades. Whether you want the aerial so you can access Freeview, or a paid service such as Sky or Virgin – the person installing the aerial should never try to convince to get upgrades that you don’t really need.

Lack of credentials – If a person does show up at your front door offering to install your aerial, the first thing you should do is ask to see some ID. Any credible aerial installer will be able to produce this without any arguments or excuses. Look for RDI symbol on their ID – this shows that they’re fully qualified and safety checked.

How to find reputable aerial installers

Now that you know how to avoid cowboy aerial installers, let’s look at how to make sure you hire someone reputable. One of the best ways to hire an aerial installer is to go by a recommendation by a friend or family member. Personal recommendations are invaluable since you know that the person making the recommendation was happy with the work they had done.

Personal recommendations aren’t always possible of course, so the alternative is to look for aerial installers in your local area by doing a Google search. When hiring someone to install an aerial, you should always agree on a price upfront and never pay anything before the work is done. You should also find out how long the job will take to complete. A simple domestic aerial installation if normally a quick job but for communal aerial installation, such as you’d find in a hospital or hotel, it can take a considerable amount of time so it’s always worth finding this out up front.

About the Author:

Peter has an interest in aerial installation and associated with Aerial Services Ltd. His articles cover topics such as how to avoid cowboy aerial installers.