just got a freeview boxwith hard disk (actually our 3rd, the first 2 broke)
for some reason, the reception gets worse when recording, and the picture jumps.
I have a plug in bboster, but not sure it does anything.
Are there any booster which work well? would getting high quality leads help?

cheers

It might be interference from another source.

I had a similiar problem years ago when I bought a new video recorder. It sat on top of the TV and when I tried to recorder anything the picture was crap. I found out that it was interference from the tv making the picture crap.


What about changing your ariel?

might have to, but could do without the expense
I'll try moving it to see if it's intereference
picture is spot on when not recording

picture is spot on when not recording

It doesn't sound like theres a fault in the ariel or cabling to me then.

with the booster that you use, without sounding silly but is it a digital one? Reason I ask is there are 2 types. Asda do a decent one for about a £5 but digital aerials arent that dear, think I paid less than £20 from screwfix)

~Like Orbix says though if picture is good when not recording then the fault must be elsewhere and intereference is a likely culprit.
(If its near a plasma then they generate loads of heat which could affect the hard drive)

It could be a number of things, when recording your hdd could be causing interference, which in an already weak signal could cause picture break up.
Another option could be that when recording, if equipped your box may use a second tuner, which is halving the signal available to the tuner you are viewing (As well as the one that's recording).

Your best option is to install a decent aerial, and a decent booster as soon as your aerial enters the house. Mine is in the loft right where the cable enters the building. Also try and get one with propper threaded terminals rather than push in one's.