Freeview TV - getting "Bad Signal" on some stations

[shelleyb]

We recently got a Freeview set top box and when they installed it along with new tv we could get all channels. However a couple of days later on a few channels we got a "Bad Signal" message so couldn't view the channel. It seems to depend as some days we can get certain channels and some we can't. But the one we can't get the most often is CBeebies which is why I bought the bloody thing in the first place ! On the Freeview site it says some retailers offer an aerial survey. Has anyone had this done or know who carries them out ?

Don't really know much about aerial surveys shelleyb, but do know that a large no. of people buying Freeview sets will not have a strong enough signal on their existing aerial to accomodate Freeview - most people will need an aerial upgrade. we looked into this quite a lot before Christmas, as we ended up buying one formy dad, but his signal is not great - the picture keeps breaking up into a sort've 'block' effect. He is going to get a new aerial.
The freeview website will allow you to key in your postcode, to see if your area willl recieve adigital signal, but no more than that - it can't obviously comment on the effectiveness of each individuals aerial!

We had to upgrade our aerial - it cost bout £60 but can be up to £200 depending on signal strength.

The thing is, regardless of your aerial you can still get picture break up if the weather is too bad (or too good for that matter!). Weather conditions actually have more of an effect on digital signals than on the terrestrial broadcasts

I've noticed that block effect too.
Snugs - who do you contact for an aerial upgrade ? Is it a TV shop or do I look in the yellow pages for an aerial man (sort of thing !)

we also have freeview set top box and it's definitely affected by the weather - some days you just can't watch certain channels and some days they are perfect. This may sound daft but have you tried switching off and on again when it does it or switching to another channel and back again - sometimes works with ours.

Am at work today so i'll give that a try tomorrow katierocket. I only bought it so I could sit my ds1 & ds2 in front of cbeebies for hours on end while i paint my nails

ditto shelleyb

I have also noticed that the signal is affected by the weather and more usually good weather.

I live in Leeds and my husband put up a new aerial when we moved house. I believe that we now watch Emley Moor as it transmits chanel 5, not all do transmit chanel 5. On most days it is fine but on some days we get the block effect as well. I suppose it actually comes down to how much you want to watch something and how much you are prepared to pay for a new aerial. I believe ours was a cheap one. Do check into these things very carefully as some will try and rip you off. Is your aerial pointing in the right direction to start with and was your picture ok before?

But you are correct when you say that weather conditions effect your telly reception. I can ask my dh for the scientific reason why if you like as he worked for the BBC. I can also find out if Snugs is correct in saying that it is worse with digital than terrestrial if you are interested?

I don't know what they mean by an aerial survey though, did you ever find out?

I just looked in Yellow Pages under aerials - the majority of companies who put them up will offer a free survey. All they do is attach their own aerial to the roof and take a meter reading - they can then advise the type of aerial you need depending on what you want to recieve.

I rang the Grundig helpline re: similar problems. they suggested re-tuning, and turning the whole system off before doing that. it seemed to work but I've had to do it a couple of times since then.