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Getting 'No Signal' & How to Fix TV Aerial Malfunctions

25/2/2020

After a long and tiring day, you probably hope to relax on the couch, watching your favourite show on TV. But, without any previous warning, your TV decides not to work any longer, displaying that frustrating “no signal” message on the screen. So, what should have been a relaxing end of a day, turns into something annoying which adds to the stress you’ve been experiencing throughout the day.

Many factors can lead to the malfunctioning of a TV aerial. Thus, if you notice that your TV is not working, you’re probably dealing with an aerial problem, rather than having your TV broken down. The good part of all of this is that you could solve some of the issues that are messing with your TV program, without having to call a specialist (such as Digitec Aerials for Aerial Repairs) over. So, if you made it so far, take the time to read about the issues that can trigger a TV aerial malfunction and how to solve it on the spot.

What does No Signal mean?

If the TV displays the “no signal message on the screen when you turn it on, there’s something wrong. Due to the problem, the TV is incapable of emitting images on the screen. The bad part is that such a problem can emerge in a variety of scenarios. So, in order to solve the issue, you will have to find what is causing it first.

It is important to remember that the “No Signal” message is displayed in every case the TV is not working, not necessarily because it lost its signal, transmitted by the aerial. Whether some interference is scrambling the signal or the cable got water ingress, this is the same message that will appear on the screen when something is not working right.

You never know when this may happen, so it is worth getting ready for the day when you’ll see “No Signal” on the screen, instead of a TV show. In most cases, it is possible to deal with the problem without any help. Thus, here is a list of potential problems that may lead to having no picture on your TV and how to repair the situation.

Make sure the cable of the aerial is properly connected

Although nobody thinks about it, it is possible for the aerial’s cable to simply fall out of its place. When this happens, it is impossible for the TV to receive any signal from the aerial. This may seem ordinary, but it is a case that happens rather frequently and it is one of the simplest to solve.

So, when there’s no image on the TV, the first thing you need to look for is a loose cable. Look at the back of the TV and make sure the cable is in its place. If not, find the cable and put it back where it should be. Also, make sure it fits right, without appearing loosen in its spot.

Is the input or source set up correctly?

A simple press on the wrong button can mess up the input and make your TV show a black screen instead of images. Based on the TV model you own, this may be called an “input”, “source”, “AV”, or it may be represented in the menu in the form of a box featuring an arrow that is coming out of it. This is the second thing you need to check when you have image displaying issues, as it is one of the most common problems people experience.

When the TV’s input is set on the wrong option, it will be like the TV cannot see the signal coming from the aerial, as it waits for the signal to come from a different source. So, it doesn’t mean that the signal is not there. It means it is invisible due to wrong settings.

How to deal with this? Locate on the TV’s remote control the button that can switch the input. Once you find it, press on it. A list of sources will appear and you’ll have to look for the one that says “TV” or “DTV”. What if your TV displays both options? Go for the DTV option because in this case, the TV option is an analogue connection.

The unit supplying power is not turned on

It is worth mentioning that not all TVs have a power supply unit or amplifier. So, if this is not the case, you may skip this part. But if you do have a power supply unit, it is worth checking if the unit is on and working.

These units can get accidentally turned off especially when they are installed in different rooms around the house. Because people think that they don’t need to stay on, since the TV in a room is not used, they turn them off and then face the kind of problems we’re talking about.

You may need to re-tune your TV

Most certainly you tuned your TV on the first day you got it. So, you may wonder why you have to re-tune it again. Well, you will have to perform this operation in order to make sure you’re getting all the channels and services available with the aerial you use. It is not uncommon for channels to change frequencies, for some of them to disappear, and for others to appear in time. This recently occurred for all BBC channels on the Freeview platform.

Also, recently, additional room is prepared for the coming 5G network, so broadcasters are being moved closer to one another. This can impact the way you receive signals from them. Re-tuning your TV will solve this aspect. However, if it is possible, manual tuning is more recommended than the automatic version. When automatic tuning is done, the TV will look for signals coming from the closest transmitters, which may not always be the most reliable.

The aerial cable and fly-leads are faulty

Are you using a wall-jack or wall-plate TV aerial? Then you will have a lead connecting the TV or set top box with the antenna’s socket. In some cases, this particular lead is the culprit for no signal or poor images on your TV. This is due to the fact that the lead is made out of bad quality materials, which triggers a set of defects in time and makes the lead faulty. How to deal with this problem? It’s best to make your lead out of a good quality coaxial cable. This way you know that the lead will never be faulty again.

Besides the coaxial cable, you will also need coaxial plugs and a few tools to make it happen. There are tutorials and how-to videos online that will guide you throughout the process. If you don’t want to take such a DIY project, just make sure to buy a good quality lead this time. You don’t have to spend over £50 on it. You only have to pay attention to the quality and reliability of the product.

It may very well be your TV

If everything is plugged in and working, and you can’t detect any issues with the lead, input, and so on, you may begin suspecting your TV. Even a TV that is almost brand new can be faulty. To rule this possibility out, just swap your TV with another one, which is functional.

Bear in mind that you may have to re-tune it as well if it doesn’t work. Even if you have just two aerials on the property, each of them can be served by a different transmitter. Thus, when you swap TVs, they may not work on the aerial right from the start, without proper tuning first.

The socket or wall-plate of the TV aerial may be faulty

So, the TV is working and you still haven’t found the issue. If the wall-plate you use becomes faulty, it will explain why you can get a signal on your TV. As a general rule, TV aerial wall-plates don’t break down easily, requiring special conditions or shocks to get damaged to this degree.

A wall-plate can malfunction due to physical damage, like being struck by a large tree branch, if it gets waterlogged, or if a high level of current goes through it at one, like it happens when struck by lightning. Of course, there can also be a loose connection. This can be checked if you feel the wall-plate with your hand. If it feels wobbly, it may be worth tightening it a bit. If this doesn’t work, you may need a new wall-plate.

The TV antenna or aerial is not working

This is probably the worst-case scenario in case you don’t receive a signal on your TV. In case you can see your antenna or aerial appearing broken or lying on the house in an unnatural position, then it could be what is causing your signal issues. But, even if the antenna or aerial looks normal, it can still be faulty. Water ingress, lightning, or the age of the device can put an end to it.

If you know you have an old antenna, then you should seriously consider getting a new one. Technology developed a lot in the past years and you can get your hands-on exceptional models at good prices. In case it’s broken or damaged, the only option you have is to replace it. As a recommendation, when replacing the aerial or antenna, it is worth replacing the coaxial cable as well, for a good quality & problem free signal.

Can you Watch Freeview without an Aerial?

17/2/2020

Freeview is the free to air and watch (apart from requiring a TV licence), via a standard TV Aerial for digital television. It is transmitted from a terrestrial TV mast located various regions throughout the UK & Ireland. To be able to watch Freeview you will require a working and properly installed TV Aerial. With that being said, there are other ways to be able to watch many of the same channels broadcast on the Freeview platform. In this article the engineer at Digitec will explain for you other options and ways to watch TV without having to pay for a TV aerial installation.

Does Freeview Play need an aerial?

In short, the answer is yes. You can watch Freeview play using either a smart TV, a set top box or by using an app from off a mobile device. There are over 100 channels available for on demand viewing, and these can be viewed. All that is required for viewing is one of the devices mentioned and a half decent internet connection for streaming.

Can you watch live TV through Freeview Play, without an Aerial?

As of writing this article, it is not possible to watch live TV (Freeview) legally over an internet connection. For this option a good TV aerial set up is necessary.

How to Watch Live TV without an Aerial

There are a few different ways in which to be able to watch the same channels broadcast on the Freeview platform. In this article I will only be covering UK based platforms and not any foreign systems.

Satellite TV Options

For the UK there are 2 different satellite platforms from which to watch live TV. These are Sky & Freesat. Sky is probably more well known than Freesat, but all of the free to air channels can be watched on these. Sky is the subscription-based satellite TV provider. With it there is all of the free to air TV channels, plus a large range of other channels, for movies, sports etc.

Freesat has no subscription or paid channels and the platform only provides the free to air TV channels. This is a great option if living in a region where the TV signal from off the local TV transmitter is compromised.

Cable TV Options

Virgin is the only option for the UK at this present time, and it is a subscription-based service. With this service you are able to watch both Free to air and the TV channels that have been subscribed to.

Streaming TV through the Internet

Using the internet to watch television is probably one of most revolutionary aspects of peoples TV habits coming into the 2020’s.

Using Your Smart TV

Most new televisions come with the ability to be able to connect to the internet and stream certain TV channels. These TVs’ are called a ‘Smart TV’. The type of channels available are the catch up channels such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 & My5.

USB Sticks

If using an older television, there is still the option to watch these free catch up channels by purchasing a Smart TV stick. As well as having the catch up channels, these USB sticks will have a range of other channels to view. Some of these USB TV Sticks are the Kodi Stick, Amazon firestick, Chromecast by Google to name a few. Along with the free channels, with these there is the option to sign up to their subscription-based channels too.

Smart Set Top Boxes

Set Top Boxes offer a little bit more than the USB Sticks. They can often offer a recording option. Plus, with games consoles like the X-box and PlayStation you can play video games on these as well.

Screen Mirroring using a Mobile Phone

By using an ipad or other mobile phone you can mirror the program being streamed onto the television. If you have Amazon or apple TV, there is that option as long as the TV is new enough and has that you can set up the mirroring from off your device.

What about a TV Licence?

To watch any live TV from within the UK, it is at time of writing this the law to pay for a TV licence. Although more and more households are ditching the licence, it isn’t yet legal to watch live TV without the licence.

What are the benefits of using a local aerial installer?

8/2/2020

When it comes to using any tradesman, many people prefer to use someone who is local. Why is that? Well, not that I’m privy to everyone’s reasons, I can only surmise that it is because of a few logical factors. One, being that if you use an aerial company such as Digitec Aerials, who are local, the money paid to the tradesman stays local, and he or she will spend that money locally putting the money back into the local economy.

Second, I think is that if there was to be a need for the fitter to return for whatever reason, they are more likely if they’re local over someone that is from a national firm.

Pitfalls of using a nation aerial company

Not all national Aerial companies have their own accredited engineers, and rely on outsourcing the work to subcontractors. The subcontractor is expected to go to the house quote and get the job done. Quite often because of the overheads of these companies, with so many taking a cut of the profits, the prices of any repair or installation work is high. Along with that there is the inevitable VAT to be added on.

Also, as opposed to using a local firm, if there is the need to have the national company call back due to a problem, this may be difficult to tie them down to do. A local firm is much more likely to call back and fix any fault as they are reliant on keeping their reputation in high standing in the local area.

Do I have to Pay VAT on my aerial installation?

So, this all depends on the turnover of the aerial company being used. If the business turns over less than £85,000 p.a then they are not obliged to charge VAT on top of their service charges. This then is another reason for someone to use a small local firm, in order to save 20% off their bill.

Using a larger firm will almost always lead to a larger bill for the same service and equipment being fitted. This can seem a little unfair but it is what it is, and is often why National firms do charge more money for their services.

What Guarantee should I expect?

With any service provided, there ought to be some form of warranty or guarantee. Along with this there should be a guarantee provided with any equipment installed at the property. This is because each piece of equipment will have a manufacturers’ warranty that can and should be passed onto the customer. For aerial installations, a minimum of 12 months should be given, and each piece of equipment, they will have their own separate warranty.

How long does a TV aerial last?

Good question! But, the question should be ‘how long SHOULD a TV aerial last?’ In all honesty a decent quality aerial should last well over 10 years and upwards of 20 years plus. However, there is a lot of different types and quality of Television antenna out there, and it really does depend on the quality of both the aerial and the installation.

Typical Cheap TV Aerial

There are plenty of aerial fitters still using the cheapest aerials on the market. Some of these aerials are lucky if they last out the year. Although they can survive and work well if set up properly in a loft, but they fair very badly if installed outside. Eventually the British weather causes them to fail.

TV Aerial for Digital television Freeview

Quality Digital TV Aerial

However, if a decent quality antenna is fitted correctly by a qualified engineer, then you should really expect it to last a god 15 to 25 years. This also does depend on where about the property is that it is being fitted onto. Those near the seaside tend to weather worse due to the salt within the weather. But, even though it would still last over a decade.

How much does a TV Aerial Installation cost?

So, this can change a bit depending on what kind of aerial company being asked for a quote. National and larger firms will tend to charge more because they have larger overheads and charge VAT. Smaller firms and one man bands will usually not be charging Vat and have fewer overheads, hence the prices will be less. Plus, prices will vary depending on whether it is a loft aerial installation or one fitted outside.

On average the cost of an aerial installation to one room in the home costs approximately £165.00. However, it does depend on where on the property it is going, and other factors. So in reality prices will range from £130 - £200 for an aerial to be installed on the property.

Which are better, Loft Aerials or TV Aerials fitted outside?

3/2/2020

All TV Aerials in the UK get their signals from a land-based Transmitter, and because of this depending where the transmitter is in relation to the aerial will relate to how much of a signal can be received. Other factors to take into consideration is the local geography such as hills, trees and valleys which will impact on the signal. Due to this most TV antennas are situated outside, but not all.

Loft Aerials can receive a weaker signal

The make up of a roof can negatively impact on the signal getting through to a loft aerial. That being said, it is possible in many homes to have adequate signal strength from an aerial fitted in a loft. The signal strength can be reduced by over 50% in a loft, but factors such as the type of loft lining, externally fitted solar panels should be taken into consideration.

Many if not all new build properties come with a stipulation in the contract that any TV aerial required is to be fitted internally. This is for aesthetics and not because it is a better way of doing it. Plus, in many installations an additional amplifier is required because of the reduced signal being received from within the loft.

What are the Benefits to having the Aerial Fitted in the Loft?

As previously mentioned, one of the major benefits to having it fitted in the loft or attic, is that it is out of sight and looks better than having it fitted externally either on the chimney or wall. Another benefit is that if fitted correctly, the aerial should last for decades and will always outlast an externally fitted TV aerial. This is because it's not being exposed to the weather year after year.

When should the Aerial be fitted outside instead of in the loft?

It is generally when the signal strength being received is low or poor. When in a poor signal area, it is always better to maximise the amount of signal being received by fitting the aerial externally. This also gives the aerial fitter the option of using a tall mast in order to pick up more of the signal. Something that cannot be done within a loft.

This is often the case in the more rural areas where hills and the lay of the land tend to get in the way and also, generally because the transmitter is a long way away. In these kind of scenarios it can sometimes be impossible to pick up a good enough signal from within a loft, even if it was to be boosted, it wouldn’t be enough.

How to Maximise the strength of a TV signal?

To maximise a signal, for those living in a poor or weak signal area as previously mentioned, it is best to use an externally fitted aerial. But there are more ways in which to increase a weak signal, such as;

Use a high gain aerial
Increase the height of the aerial by using a tall mast
Use only high-quality copper cable
Make sure all connections are fitted correctly
Use some sort of powered amplifier such as a masthead amp, with a 25db variable gain.

By employing these methods, a decent aerial installer will be able to get a good enough signal in most locations in the country. And for the aeras' which it really is impossible, there is always the option of installing a satellite dish or either Freesat or Sky.