TV antennas provide people with several benefits for only a fraction of the cost. They have access to hundreds of HD channels and get to enjoy all kinds of programs. Also, TV antennas are great for households in rural areas, where cable subscription is not an option.
However, just like any other device, this one too malfunctions occasionally. Now, there may be many causes of this, and the truth is that receiving a poor signal is quite annoying. Due to this reason, in the following text, we will discuss some of the most common issues and tell you how to fix them.
Improper installation
If you have just purchased a new TV antenna and are experiencing some issues, the improper installation may be the reason. Even though installing these devices is fairly easy since you get all the hardware, it can prove to be challenging if you don’t know what you are doing. You still have to place it correctly, connect all the cables, and adjust the settings. In addition, if you also have a new TV and don’t know how everything works, this task can be even more difficult. Sure, you can still do this on your own, but you need to take some time and be patient. On the other hand, you can always leave this task to professionals, check out the tv-aerials-uk website, and learn about the services they offer.
Distance
The next thing that can cause problems is the distance between your home, that is, the antenna and the TV transmitter. If you are too far away and don’t have a device powerful enough to catch the signal, you will most certainly experience some difficulties. This is one of the most significant things you have to consider when purchasing a TV antenna. Obviously, there are numerous models available on the market, and each of them includes a specific set of properties. If you are currently facing this problem, you can install some additional parts to boost the signal, or you can just watch the low-quality program.
On the other hand, there is also an issue that can occur if you are too close to the tower. The thing is that your devices can get overloaded since each has a signal limit it can receive. We know this sounds odd, but it is a common problem that can easily be fixed. For example, you can remove the amplifier if the antenna comes with this built-in feature. Also, you can purchase a splitter and connect two or more TVs to the device. Lastly, there is also a part called the attenuator that decreases the signal before it reaches the antenna.
Number of TVs
While on the subject of splitting the signal, an issue may also occur if too many TVs are connected to the same antenna. If the signal you receive is too strong, this can be a solution. However, if this is not the case, it can be the cause of the problem. What are we talking about? Well, if the signal is fairly good, you can connect two TVs to the device. However, if you want to split it between three or four, the chances are that at least one of them will have a poor signal. In some cases, they might not work at all, but this depends on several factors.
Obstacles
This is a fairly obvious problem. Several types of obstacles can affect the quality of TV in your home, everything from hills and trees to building materials and other objects. This is one of the most important things you have to consider when deciding on the location of the antenna. In a nutshell, you have to ensure that are no obstacles between the device and the tower. It is another reason you should consider hiring professionals since they will be able to easily determine the right place where the antenna should be installed. On the other note, if the device has been working fine for some time, you should try to move it a bit and adjust it to see whether the signal will improve.
Interference
Many people don’t know this, but other electrical devices in your home can cause interference and decrease the signal reception quality. This occurs pretty often, and generally speaking, people don’t consider it, so they start investing in new parts, or they purchase a new antenna. Nevertheless, before doing this, you should investigate this issue.
If the problem is caused by an appliance that is not turned on constantly, it shouldn’t be too difficult to understand which one it is. You can conduct a simple test by powering on and off the appliances while observing the signal quality until you determine which one is causing the issue. On the contrary, it can be a bit more challenging if the problem is caused by an appliance that constantly works, such as a thermostat. Whatever the case is, you should turn to experts and ask them for help on how to solve this issue.
Broken antenna
Just like any other device, this one also naturally deteriorates over time. If you have crossed off the previously discussed issues from your list, it is time to inspect the device itself. Firstly, you should look for physical damage that can occur due to harsh weather conditions or natural wear and tear. If everything looks okay, cables should be the next point on your list. Once again, there may be some damage, or maybe they are just not connected properly.
Finally, you should also inspect the TV itself. This will enable you to understand whether the issue is with the antenna or if the TV isn’t set correctly. You can start by plugging the cables into another input to see if the antenna or the TV is the problem. What’s more, don’t forget to check the TV’s settings. Maybe you accidentally changed or chose the wrong input. Clearly, this problem is easy to fix, since all you have to do is find the right input and click on it.