I have just moved house to Reading and previously was able to view freeview tv using my old indoor aerial in my 2nd floor flat in london. This indoor aerial didn't pick up any signals, not even analogue, so I went and bought the best philex digital indoor aerial. Still I can get no signal, not even analogue - it is able to pick up 1 analogue snowy channel in the room upstairs. Help???!!

This could be too much signal thanks to the Freeview retunes going on. Your aerial is more sensitive at some frequencies, so there's more signal power higher up the frequency range.

A simple and inexpensive diagnosis tool is a variable attenuator. The MA1620 on this page is perfect for that job:
Splitters amplified splitters and attenuators

It will give you a way to reduce the signal level at one TV without affecting the other TVs in the house.

Freeview has nothing to do with satellite. FreeSAT is the one that uses a satellite dish for reception. FreeVIEW is received through the aerial.

Also, don't fall for the "digital aerial" scam. I install aerials as part of my business. I've been to homes with aerials 20 years old, covered in soot from the chimney and they still pick up Freeview perfectly well. Equally, I've been to homes where the owner has bought some gold plated multi-finned "digital high gain" monstrosity that has awful reception characteristics.

If your TV aerial is okay, then just plug it in to your Freeview receiving TV and do the tuning.

If you do want Freesat then you will need a satellite dish along with a Freesat receiver.

hi you will need an aerial, you could use a indoor one for the time being

regards
shaun

Hi there,

You don't necessarily need anything else, but you may not have a strong enough signal to pick up the digital/freeview channels using an indoor aerial. It could also be that the indoor aerial is not correctly aligned.

If the signal strength is lower than approx. 50%, the TV may detect them during the automatic channel scan but it wont store them. When the signal strength for any digital channel is 50% or lower it's more or less unwatchable - the picture would be constantly breaking-up or freezing and the audio drops out continually. Trying to scan for channels using an indoor aerial is rather hit and miss. Numerous attempts may be necessary before you get any channels.

Assuming you have a roof aerial, it is far easier to temporarily connect the TV to a fixed aerial point while you run the automatic channel scan. The TV will store all the channels and you can then move it to it's permanent location and connect the indoor aerial. You can then adjust the indoor aerial with the channels already stored until you find a location for the aerial where you have a good signal.

Doing it this way also eliminates the possibility of a fault with the TV and confirms that you are performing the channel scan correctly. If the TV is connected to a fixed aerial point and you are still unable to receive or store any channels, then it's likely that you are performing the channel scan incorrectly or there is a fault with the TV.

Please try scanning your channels using a known working fixed aerial point. If you are still unable
to receive any channels - or you don't have any fixed aerial points - please post back for further assistance.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
BElectric

• Have you plugged in the arial?
• Is it in the right socket?
• Are you using an aerial cable extender/splitter?
• Are you using a portable indoor aerial?
• Does it have built in Freeview?
• Have you plugged in an external Freeview box if necessary?
• Have you scanned for channels through the Freeview box?
• Are you in an area where the analogue signal has been turned off?
• Have you subscribed to a cable or satellite provider?
• Are you on the right TV source?

1. check the back of the tv to see if the aerial is plugged in.
2. check the back of the tv to see if the aerial is plugged in correctly.
3. If you are using an aerial cable extender or splitter, make sure all parts are connected all the way up to the aerial.
4. If you're using a portable indoor aerial you might not be able to get enough signal to produce a picture. Also the aerial might need to be switched on, plugged in or need batteries.
5. If the TV has Freeview built-in then you will need to scan for channels before you will get a picture. refur to you're TV's manual.
6. Make sure, if you have got an external Freeview box that it is plugged in and switched on at the wall. Also make sure that it is connected to the TV either by a scart lead or by HDMI cable.
7. Typically there will be a button on the remote called menu. From the menu screen choose setup. Then choose auto scan. Follow any on-screen instructions. Always refur to the TV's manual to avoid confusion and frustration.
8. If you are in an area where they have switched off the analogue signal you will need to buy a Freeview box or subscribe to a cable or satellite provider. Freeview is cheep and is a one off payment ( best for people who will only really watch channels 1-5)
9. Ring up your providers tech support.
10. To change what input you are viewing, there will normally be a button called source on the remote. If you have connected a Freeview or cable/satalite box to the tv with a scart lead then select scart. If you used a HDMI lead then select HDMI. (There may be more than one of theses sockets so check behind the TV first. They usually have names or numbers by the side) refur to you're TV manual for help.

That is every problem i can think of. If it still doesnt work, take it back to the shop.
Hope this helps.

you need any type of aerial which ever one you have recieved channels off in the past and on the remote it should have a button like and AV button which switches from normal tv to freeview

Just because your'e in a Freeview area doesnt necessarily mean you can recieve Freeview signals successfully without having to make other changes.

The most common other change you need to make is to install a different or higher performance aerial, or it needs to be re-located somewhere where it can get a better "view" of the transmitter, e.g. if it is currently mounted in the loft space then this may well give a good enough signal for the old analogue TV but wont be good enough for digital. It will need to be relocated outside, as high up as possible, and accurately pointed towards the transmitter.

Unfortunately without being able to examine your particular installation, it's impossible to say whether your current aerial is good enough for digital, but hopefully this gives you some ideas where to start, and if nothing else, help you discuss your problems if you engage the services of an aerial/TV engineer.

If your aerial is

I rang the Alba helpline, whose cs lady told me I should have an outside aerial with this product anyway, and advised me to move my indoor aerial to the window-sill. Worked. Happy.

Hi I am Vortash .. usually the problem is aerial the digital aerial is diffrent to the old UHF aerial and you will need to change it should you still be using it .. from what you say the set is working fine and you didnt do anything wrong .. it is just like unlike the old annalouge signal where you would get a picture even if it was poor .. digital systems are less forgiving of low signal and just blank the low signal channels out .. to check for sure if your not already , use a set top aerial.. and move it about to find the best signal if you get more channels problem found so update your aerial ( Or stand the kids in the corner holding the aerial ?LOL ) I hope this helps and that you will be on freeview soon .. oh and check with the ITA that your area has full Freeview transmissions .. there is a 24 hour call line .. on 0800-40 85 902 and they will give you all the information you will require hope this helps Regards Vortash

Hi.

The cable & wireless system is not capable of picking up the digital freeview frequencies.
Idealy you need to put a new aerial on the roof,
If this is not possible try an indoor aerial that you to plug in to the mains electrical supply.

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Chris..