Aerial Booster Question.

[flobadob]

The freeview signal has been poor this last couple of days due to weather. I'm told that I should put the aerial onto the roof, as currently it is in the roofspace. However, does anyone know if a booster would help by boosting the signal. Or is the problem to to with the transmitter rather than the aerial and therefore a booster would not help? Asked yesterday but didn't really get an answer to the booster query.

[redman41]

It is not the Transmitter flobadob, it is a combination of Position and quality of Aerial and cabling, plus location in relation to the Transmitter. A good quality Aerial on the Roof should be your first priority plus a mast head Amplifier to go with it.

[ChuckFickens]

The reason nobody gave a good answer is because it's an impossible question to answer on a web site.

The only way to find out if it will help or not really is to try it.

[flobadob]

Yeah redman, I know what you are saying. However, what I am wondering is, if I am getting 53-56% signal quality now, will a booster, fitted beside my aerial in the roofspace, improve the signal quality?

[redman41]

As chuck has just stated flobadob, purchase a decent Booster and try it. They are not expensive to buy and you have everything to gain.

[flobadob]

I usually find my questions answered 100%. I just thought someone would know. I assumed it would be either yes, the signal will be boosted by x%, or no as the weather issues will negate any booster effects. But okay, I'll get one today and see the craic. I think it will rightify itself over the next few days anyway, right enough.

[Marie]

I have boosters on my aerials and without them the signal is much weaker. I would recommend especially as the signal was ok before. They're only a tenner from Argos!!

[flobadob]

Got it. It didn't make any difference.

[jomifl]

It will say on the box how many decibells of gain you will get from a booster (these techical people don't use percentages for that sort of thing) more decibells = more gain. UHF radio waves get a bit confused finding their way through wet roof tiles. A high gain outside aerial with a booster will mean that you will get channels you didn't know existed, they won't change your life tho.

[jomifl]

Is your non functioning booster powered from the mains? is it connected the right way round? it should make a noticeable difference.

[flobadob]

Yeah it was connected correctly. I've checked out a few different freeview signals in different houses and they are all acting the same way, so it is an issue with the signal from the transmitter.

[Hopkirk]

How soon does your area go all digital?

As I understand it once the analogue signal is turned off they boost the digital signal tenfold, which should cure your problem.

[flobadob]

I think the analogue signal got very poor recently but I wouldn't notice so much as we only watch digital. Maybe they are working on it.

[flobadob]

It's all back to normal now, hope I can find receipt for that useless little item.