mart360

Been messing around with freeview tonight (new plasma)

try as we might, we couldnt get the signal strength to improve very much.

from an initial 2 (quality of signal) the best we could get was 3-5 with a new

high gain Ariel

A quick look on one of the freeview location sites, shows me to be getting my

signal from Rowridge on the IOW some 35 miles away !

and according to the site i need an extra high gain ariel & a booster.

the only other transmitter was Midhurst some 15 miles away, but this had

me down as on the extreme fringes of signal reception

so a quick web search later, turns up this puppy

Digital TV Signal Booster > Maplin

£16

a quick B&Q search turns up the same unit (almost)

SLX Aerial Amplifier Booster, 27828HS/04

again £16, but on checking, its only a single output, no worrys really, as i

only need one output.

As B&q was closer and i was passing i shot out and purchased it.

on the way back from dropping my son off to his mums, i realised i,d need

a couple more coax plugs, so knowing tesco's would be open, i shot in

there.

As i,m picking up the plugs, i happened to see this puppy.

Technika 2 way signal booster - Tesco.Direct

Its the exact same item as Maplin & B&Q (to the point that the case has

the supplier name on it (select)) and its the double unit, and less than £9!!!

So its back to B&q tommorow for a refund

When i tried it out, i now get signal strength & quality 10 for all channels



Mart

GC8

By the time youve added delivery, is it worth dicking about? The delivery charge is almost as much as the item itself...

corradoboy

I think he posted the link for reference, but bought the unit in store

Thanks to the OP, we have a slightly weak signal so I'll try one of these

GC8

Ahaaa. I had presumed that it was delivered to store (for which the thieving dogs charge just as much as they do to deliver to your house).....

mart360

mart360

run your details through here, it will give some recommendations

UK digital TV reception predictor

bear in mind its not gospel, and the advice is not cast iron, its what i used,

it identified we needed a booster



Mart

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

we used a booster it made no difference at all. did you know you can buy a sky package which is iirc £120 installed and it gives you all the freeview channels and more and the signal is perfect. I guess they do it cheap as they expect you will want to upgrade to the full sky package at a later date.

j4ckos mate

its dead easy all you need to do is move

Jamescsti

I tried a signal booster when I moved house and made no difference what so ever, picture was still terrible and hardly got any channels.
Ended up getting Virgin TV

corradoboy

Our signal strength and quality hovers around the 60% level with a DIY loft mounted aerial. The picture is superb when viewed, but the TV's built-in signal meter says it could be better.

BooSH

If you have poor signal and use an amplifyer it has to be placed as close to the aeiral as possible for it to really work, ive been told. I've got an awful signal at work and no matter how much i boost the signal at the tv it doesn't work i've had 3 boosters connected and still cannot pick up any freeview

mart360

Yes supposedly the "best way" is a masthead amplfier, unfortunatly i,d bought

and fitted the ariel before i found out this nugget

However i have placed the booster in the loft about 6' away from where the

masthead would be. Still get all 10's for picture quality etc. (As i did by

having it downstairs as well )


Now all i have to do is post the piccys in the relevant thread


mart

SunnySideUp

This puppy seems very good, what is his/her name?

GC8

fail

Ant

you need a decentish signal before putting a mast head on, as you can amplify the noise in the signal which is not good.the post code half the time is waste of time. I've been to places where they say they can't get it and they can and vica versa. Get a aerial company out to do a signal test on the roof to know exctly wheter you can get it. Also BBC are doing freesat now £60 for box and £75 I'd give you our company number but don't cover your area