Freeview issues

I bought a cheapy booster from Tesco that plugs into a power point socket and the ariels themselves and I got them all back again and the signal strength of all the channels went from 40% to 75%.

If no cables were changed, just moved around, and the signal strength was poor after the move, there's most likely a poor connection somewhere causing signal reflections.  The booster can disguise things like that with the gain it applies.

We always have issues with ours when it rains and so do our in-laws who live about an hour away but use the same receiver.  It always seems to affect 1-5 and then More 4. 

What a great idea, make a technology that doesn't work right in bad weather and implement it in a country that always has bad weather.

We always have issues with ours when it rains and so do our in-laws who live about an hour away but use the same receiver.

The signal is of borderline acceptable strength.  At the frequencies used for UHF TV, the damp atmosphere can result in a small but significant amount of attenuation to the signal when it rains.  If the strength is only just good enough during dry weather, that's why you'll get the poor reception when it's wet.   With analog TV, a slight reduction in signal strength just gives rise to a slightly less perfect picture, with more noise.  With digital, there's a "cliff edge" effect, where it's perfect down to a certain point, then parts of the digital signal start getting lost and it breaks up. 

Alternatively, you might even have water getting into the connections at the antenna when it rains causing attenuation.  Either way, improving your antenna system should provide a cure.

The signal is of borderline acceptable strength.  At the frequencies used for UHF TV, the damp atmosphere can result in a small but significant amount of attenuation to the signal when it rains.  If the strength is only just good enough during dry weather, that's why you'll get the poor reception when it's wet.   With analog TV, a slight reduction in signal strength just gives rise to a slightly less perfect picture, with more noise.  With digital, there's a "cliff edge" effect, where it's perfect down to a certain point, then parts of the digital signal start getting lost and it breaks up. 

Alternatively, you might even have water getting into the connections at the antenna when it rains causing attenuation.  Either way, improving your antenna system should provide a cure.

Well, we live in Cambridge and the in-laws in Suffolk and we all hve the same problems with the same channels, so I figure it is the signal.  Sadly we live in a rented house and our landlord could give a darn about our tv and my lacko f Law and Order on Friday nights.

Well, we live in Cambridge and the in-laws in Suffolk and we all hve the same problems with the same channels

Are you on the same transmitter -- Probably Sandy Heath or possibly Sudbury? 

It's possible that one multiplex is running on reduced power for maintenance work and that is the cause of signal now being borderline unacceptable.

Are you on the same transmitter -- Probably Sandy Heath or possibly Sudbury? 

It's possible that one multiplex is running on reduced power for maintenance work and that is the cause of signal now being borderline unacceptable.

Yup, same transmitter but we have always had some trouble with it.  I suppose when they up the power after the switch over things should get better.

Yup, same transmitter but we have always had some trouble with it.  I suppose when they up the power after the switch over things should get better.

Yes, from some sites one or more multiplex channels are not yet running on full power.  If you've always had problems, then it could be that the signal just isn't quite strong enough on those multiplexes in your area.   An improved antenna system might help.

At my previous house the signal was terrible. We lived in a very clumped tree area and a valley.  We ended up buying a large metal pole to place the antenna too and fix it to the side of the house.  worked a dream after that.

We have a booster and the antenna is fixed to the outside of the house.  Maybe it is my husband the TV ALWAYS seems to go out on Friday night in time for Law and Order.