There are few more frustrating things than sitting down to watch your favourite television program and to be presented with the ‘No Signal’ sign bouncing around the TV screen. However, before giving up and putting your foot through the TV. Take a look at this blog, there may be a quick fix for your telly.

The reason the TV is showing no signal is precisely that, it isn’t getting a signal for the input you are currently on. This does not mean that there is no signal being received via the cable you are using.

So, here are a few quick steps to check why you are getting No Signal on your screen.

Selected the Wrong input

This is a very simple fix. If the wrong input is selected then what will be displayed is no signal. This can be if you want to watch DTV (digital TV), but the HDMI input or other inputs have been selected. Or, if you are wanting to watch the input on HDMI 1 and have selected HDMI2 or other inputs. The signal on screen will show no signal.

Finally, there is another type of issue. If you are watching your TV via another device and that device is not switched on and has no power.

These are all simple fixes. Simple selected the correct input or turn on the power on the device you are using.

Fault with the Aerial System

If there is a fault with the aerial or device connecting to the input being watched, then the screen may say ‘No Signal’. The way to fix this is usually by using a professional Aerial engineer or by replacing the device itself.

Fault with the Televisions Tuner

Sometimes, there can be a fault with the TV itself. The fault is with the tuning device or the physical input where the coax cable or HDMI plugs in to. This requires a TV engineer to fix this fault.

Damaged input Cable

If the HDMI or Coaxial cable is damaged, then the telly will display the ‘No Signal’ on screen. Replace the cable to fix this fault

If after going through this list you are still experiencing problems, then please feel free to book in a visit from our aerial engineer.

The post Why is my TV saying No Signal appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

TV aerials can last a very long time before needing to be replaced. However, if the TV aerial is damaged, or old & no longer suitable for the frequency being transmitted, then it will require replacing.

The quick answer to do TV aerials wear out, is Yes, they do.

TV aerials wear out due to a few reasons, they are

1. Damage due to being exposed to weather and storms
2. Frequency from the transmitter changes making the old aerial redundant

TV Aerial Damaged due to the Weather

If an aerial is fitted externally on a chimney stack or a outside wall, it will become exposed to the weather. A good quality TV antenna should withstand the ravages of the UK weather for upwards of 15 years, even lasting past 30 years. Eventually though, it will succomb to the weather, get damaged & stop working, showing the no signal banner on the TV. The damage usually manifests itself as water ingress or metal fatigue. Either way the aerial is beyond repair and needs replacing.

Transmitter Frequency has Changed

Another reason why a TV aerial will no longer work is occasionally due to the Transmitter Tower changing the frequencies. This affects the frequencies on which the television channels are broadcast on. This rarely happens. It is often due to mobile phone transmissions requiring the same frequencies as the ones for TV. When this happens, the frequencies change and it is usually broadcast on lower frequencies.

This can cause problems for some aerials if they have been designed to filter out the lower frequencies in favour of higher. If this happens, the only way to fix the problem is to replace it with a new aerial designed to receive wide or full band frequencies

The post Do TV aerials wear out? appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

The scene is easy to visualize. After a long day, you come home to your favorite TV show or movie to see a message saying “No signal”. You may also have an unwatchable TV program. It worked flawlessly yesterday so you may wonder why my TV aerial isn’t working today? Is it the television that’s faulty or the aerial reception?

There are many reasons you might not be receiving  a good TV reception. We will focus on both the aerial system & any equipment used such as televisions and set top boxes. Your aerial may have been damaged by a storm, high winds or other factors. As you can clearly see the damage from below, it doesn’t mean that you have to climb up onto the roof. You’d just call an aerial installer to fix it. However, there are other reasons, and some are simple to fix.

Why Is My TV Aerial Not Working & How To Fix it

To properly troubleshoot the issue, it is important to determine what caused no TV signal to aerial. You need to determine if the problem is related to your television aerial, antenna cable, amplifier, or TV.

Check the TV Aerial for damage

Is still attached to the mast and is looking in good order. If there looks like there is any kind of damage to the aerial, it may point to that being the problem. Damage can happen, particularly after a storm or very strong winds. So, go outside and see if it is where it should be. If not, it may need a professional aerial repair or at worse a replacement.

Make sure the Aerial Cable is connected to your Television

Sometimes, the simplest solution is all that’s needed to solve your problem. You must ensure that your cable is securely inserted into the socket and the television. Although it sounds obvious, I have seen many call-outs in which the issue with the TV’s working was due to the fact the aerial had simply become disconnected. It is common for the aerial to be pulled out or the dog or cat has misbehaved and tugged at the wires.

Check for signs of corrosion

Also, inspect the aerial socket and coaxial plug for signs of corrosion. It will look either like rust, or white powder surrounding the copper braid. This is a sign of water intrusion. It is fatal and irreparable. It cannot be repaired, and must be replaced.

Faulty Aerial or Fly-lead Cable

Sometimes we will find that the fly lead, that is to say the lead connecting the aerial socket to the television is faulty. To check if it is faulty, you would need to replace it with another one and see if the signal improves. If there is no change, then it is unlikely to be the cable that is faulty.

Inspect the Aerial Cable for visible Signs of Damage

The coaxial cable that runs to the antenna and the TV on the roof should be checked. Is it loose from the fixings or flapping in the wind? Is there water infiltration through any cracks on the cable? These things will indicate that the cable needs to be repaired or replaced.

Television is on the Wrong Source or Wrong Input

You could have the wrong channel, or the tuning may be reset. Plug in another device such as a game console or DVD player. It’s more likely the problem is with your aerial if you are able to get a pictures from it.

You will need to locate the switch that controls the TV’s input. You will find it called “Source”, “Input”, or “AV”. It can also be a picture like this: A box with an arrow sticking out from it. After you locate it, click on it to bring up the list with all the inputs for your TV. There may be many of them, but the one you want is TV. You can choose DTV if your TV has both TV and DTV. This is because TV is usually an analog option that you probably won’t use these days. If you aren’t using an external device such as a set-top box or Hard drive recorder, you may need to re-tune this device too. If this is the case, you will need to locate the input for that equipment piece and choose that option.

The Amplifier/Power Supply Unit is Off or is Faulty

You may have an amplifier for your TV or booster that is installed in your TV system. These can cause problems and damage your signal. It is important that the LED light on the side of your TV is lit. The light could still indicate an amp fault, even though it is turned on. However, this can only be checked by professionals using a multimeter or a signal meter.

Television needs to be tuned in or re-tuned

You will need to tune your TV to the correct transmitter if you move address. Because transmitters in different regions use different frequencies, your TV must know which frequencies are to be tuned to. Modern TVs make it easy to fix. You just need to find the tuning menu in your TV’s settings, and then set it up for auto-tune. The TV will search for all services, and it should store them in the correct ones. Auto-tuning TVs can cause problems. The TV may choose signals from nearby transmitters that might not be reliable. Manually tuning TV’s is recommended whenever possible. However, you will need to know more about the TV transmitter that you use.

Is the TV Faulty or the Aerial?

You can check your cable or TV by two simple methods. If you don’t have a spare one, you can get another TV to test it out on the cable you think might be damaged. It could just be the TV. Don’t throw it away, though, as there may be more to the story.

How do I test my TV Aerial Socket

Testing the aerial socket is done in the same way, so by using another TV on the socket you are testing will indicate whether it has a fault of is the TV. Look for visible signs of corrosion on the input of the aerial socket. Sometimes, with new build homes the aerial sockets are wired up incorrectly. In order to find out if this is the case, you would need to check the socket by opening it up and taking a look.

Although this isn’t an exhaustive list of how to fix, it should go some way to help you check for simple easy to fix faults.

The post How to Test if a TV Aerial is Working? appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

Under normal circumstances, the way to get Freeview would be through a working TV aerial. However, there are occasions where that isn’t possible. Watching Freeview without an aerial can be difficult, since your only option is to use an indoor antenna. However, there are ways to get Freeview channels on your TV without using an aerial.

In this blog post, we’ll show you a few methods that work well and are easy to set up. If your home doesn’t have an aerial, or if the signal is weak, this blog post will show you how to get Freeview channels on your TV without an aerial. Keep reading to learn more!

The ways to watch Freeview without an aerial are;

• Via Smart TV with Freeview Play
• Via satellite
• Cable
• The Freeview Play app

These options come a second place to watching TV via an aerial. This is because the streaming services require separate log ins per channel in order to watch live content.

With Cable or satellite, you will be able to view the same channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4 etc and over 100 channels the same as Freeview, just though a different platform. These are user friendly and do not require logging into each channel. They can be skipped to as easily as Freeview via an aerial.

Watching via Satellite

This is possible only if you have a working satellite and there is a satellite feed or cable in the room. If you have this then there are a couple of options to choose from. Satellite or Cable is the only way to get Freeview on your TV without aerial or internet. This includes lack of mobile phone internet.

SKY

Sky TV is a popular TV service in the UK that offers a wide range of channels. Within the channels provided are all of the same channels that are on Freeview, plus more.

To watch SKY, a SKY subscription is needed and also a satellite dish and receiver. This is all provided at a discounted rate when you sign up to an 18-month contract. For many people, this isn’t the best option because of the monthly payments. Sky is an expensive option to watch Freeview channels.

Freesat

The other option with satellite is by using a Freesat receiver. If there is already a working satellite dish and cable into that room, then Freesat is the best option by far. It has as many if not more channels than Freeview. A simple Freesat box will set you back around £50.  There is absolutely no subscription to pay to watch Freesat. It is an easy set up too. All that is required is a TV license which is the same if you were watching Freeview.

Can you get Freeview through WIFI?

Yes, you can get Freeview though WIFI by using the Freeview Play app. All Smart TVs have this already installed. But if your TV isn’t a smart TV, then this app can be accessed and download on to a tablet, a mobile phone, a laptop or PC. By using the Freeview Play app you can access up to 135 channels. You can often use a screen mirroring function on your phone or tablet and watch what is streaming via the phone on the TV

It is not as streamlined as Freeview live, but it is a good way to access the TV channels you want to watch if there is no aerial. Go to the guide and select the channel you want to watch, then you will be redirected to the BBC iPlayer or another platform. Log in and watch that program. Admittedly, it is not as easy as Freeview live, but it is a good enough alternative.

Cable TV

If Virgin cable TV is available in your area, then this is an option. It is subscription based, and like SKY, is not a cheap alternative. With Virgin, the Phone, and internet can be provided by the same provide which is Virgin. With Virgin, you will get all of the channels available on Freeview plus more, depending on which package you sign up for.

The post How to get Freeview on TV without an Aerial appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

Firstly, all televisions bought after 2010 will have Freeview built in to them. Apart from connecting to a working TV aerial, there is no need for any other equipment in order to watch Freeview.

Why can’t I get HD channels on Freeview?

There will be 2 reasons why a television that has Freeview built in to it, won’t show HD channels. They are;

1. It isn’t a HD ready TV.
2. Reception fault with the TV aerial

It isn’t a HD ready TV

If the TV isn’t HD ready, then it will filter out the HD channels making it impossible to watch HD channels. They won’t even show up on the guide. There is no other option if you require HD other than purchasing a TV that is HD compatible

Reception fault with the TV aerial

The only other reason why you are not receiving the HD channels is that there is a problem with the signal being received by the TV. The HD channels are all grouped on one frequency, and if that particular frequency is weak, those HD channels will not show on the TV.

They may even be missing from the guide. If the TV is HD compatible (most Smart TVs these days such as Samsung, LG, Sony etc all come HD compatible) but, you are not receiving the HD channels, it maybe time to call out an aerial installer to check the TV aerial system. With an indoor aerial, this is often the case as they are generally quite poor at receiving a signal, and the HD channels are usually the first to go missing.

You maybe able to get some of the HD channels using the Freeview Play app, but internet connection is required for this.

Do TVs have Freeview built in?

Not all TVs have Freeview built into them. If they were manufactured before 2010, then they will not have the Freeview software and digital tuner in them. They will not be able to pick up the Freeview digital signal. These older televisions were equipped with an analogue tuner for the old analogue signal. The analogue signal quit being transmitted back in around 2010

What happens if your TV doesn’t have Freeview?

If you are using an older TV that doesn’t have a Freeview digital tuner in it, then there is another option. You will get Freeview by connecting the aerial to a Freeview receiver. Then connect the receiver to the TV via a HDMI or scart lead.

Do I need a Freeview Box?

Before buying a new Freeview box, check the TV to see which connection ports they have. Some older tellys do not have a HDMI port, so make sure the receiver you by is compatible with the TV you have.

The post How do I know if my TV has Freeview Built in? appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

Smart televisions have the ability to view programmes by a few different methods. This is due to a smart TV being able to use the internet to stream channels such as Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, & Roku etc. But do they need a TV aerial installed to watch standard live Freeview TV?

Well, in answer to the question, ‘do you need a TV aerial for a smart TV’? The answer is YES, a Smart TV needs a TV aerial if you want to watch Freeview live on it.

How to watch Freeview on smart TV without aerial socket?

So, there are a few options to watch Freeview on a smart TV in a room without an aerial socket. They are to stream the channels supplied via the Freeview play app on the TV. These won’t provide as many of the channels that Freeview live provides. Plus, you need to log into each platform individually. However, it is better than nothing. There are more options here.

Can a Smart TV work with an indoor Aerial?

The next possible solution would be to buy an indoor aerial, say from somewhere like Argos. If you live near enough to the TV transmitter, it may work. However, more often than not, they don’t work.

To access all the channels Freeview have to offer, then a working aerial socket is required

Do Smart TVs have a built-in antenna?

This would be a handy option if it existed, but again, just like an indoor aerial, it would only work if near to a TV transmitter and there was a strong enough signal. However, there is a problem to this and that is. Smart TVs do not come with built-in antennas. They still require a working TV aerial for them to work for live TV. You can’t watch Freeview live without an aerial socket.

Do smart TVs need Internet?

Smart TVs are designed to benefit from the internet. They can work without an internet connection, if they are connected to an aerial. Then it will only display Freeview live. Also, if they do not have an internet connection, they will not be able to access the apps such as Netflix, You Tube, Amazon etc.

How do I get free channels on a smart Television?

It is easy to get free channels on a smart TV. What is required, is a working aerial that is plugged into the antenna input in the back of the television. Tune in the TV via the settings section and by going into the installation section. Once tuned it will display the free channels available in your region for Freeview.

The post Do I need a TV Aerial for a Smart Television? appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

A rooftop aerial is always the best way to get good TV reception but sometimes it’s just not an option.  If there isn’t a working aerial socket to connect to , then an indoor TV aerial can help you get a great free view picture. We show you how to find the best one and get it set up in your home.  

Indoor aerials come in a variety of shapes and sizes some have amplifiers designed to help pick up signals more easily. However, we find that amplifiers can actually add to the picture interference. It may be best to just go for a high-quality indoor aerial and give yourself the best chance of getting a good TV picture. Then if required add an amplifier separately.

Where should a tv aerial be placed?

We typically find that indoor TV aerials work best near a window at a round head height. The higher the better. That’s why most new build homes have their aerials in the loft space or attic. If that means that you need to put the aerial quite far away from your TV then you may need to get some extension cables.

Now you’ve got your aerial home plug it into the back of your TV or set-top box. Some aerials are what’s known as omnidirectional but, most will need aligning to either horizontal or vertical polarization to match your local transmitter. The best thing to do is look out your window at the rooftop aerials in your area see which way they’re aligned. Then match that with yours.

Can I get Freeview with an indoor aerial?

Digital TV channels are delivered in six groups known as multiplexes. A good indoor TV aerial should get most if not all of these multiplexers. However, bear in mind that where you live can dictate what TV channels you can receive. To find out what you should be getting head to the Freeview Channel Checker and enter your postcode.

Indoor aerials and arn’t always the most pretty looking things. So, you might want to tuck it away on the top of a shelf or somewhere where you’re not going to see it every day. Once you’ve found the best position for your aerial, we’d advise you to secure it either maybe with blue tack adhesive Velcro pads. Some aerials can even be wall-mounted.

Why is my indoor aerial not picking up channels?

With your indoor aerial setup and running you should have crystal-clear free view reception and all of your favourite TV channels to watch. This is usually only the case where the home it is in is located very near to the TV transmitter.

If you’re still having problems then get in contact with us. It maybe that the signal being received for where the indoor aerial is just isn’t strong enough. This is why aerials are generally fitted on chimneys or in lofts within a roof.

The post How do you set up an indoor TV aerial for Freeview? appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

In order for your television to show all of the Freeview live TV channels, it will need to be connected to a working aerial. This can be done via a TV aerial Socket. In order to connect to an aerial socket, you will require a fly lead. This is a piece of coaxial cable with a coax plug joined at either end. The length of such is usually 1.5 meters. This is something you can do yourself and an aerial engineer is not required.

To connect to a TV socket for Freeview you need to plug one end of the fly lead into the socket, then plug the other end into the antenna port at the back of the television. Make sure that the coax plugs are in securely and are not loose.

What lead do I need to connect a TV to an aerial socket?

The lead required to connect a TV to an aerial socket is called a fly lead. The fly lead is a coaxial cable with a coax plug on either end. These come in lengths from 1 meter up. These can be bought from any hardware shop or online retailers. If there is no aerial socket in the room you want to watch TV, then consider buying an indoor aerial as a last resort.

The post How do you connect a TV aerial to a socket for Freeview? appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

In order to install a TV aerial socket correctly so that it works you will need access to a few tools and some level of practical skill. The equipment and tools required are listed below

Equipment

• TV Aerial Socket Face Plate
• Coaxial Cable RG6

Tools

1. Stanley Knife or coaxial cable stripper
2. Small Screw driver
3. Snips

Step by step guide

Step 1. With the Stanley knife cut the outer sheath (the PVC jacket) at about 2cm in length. Be careful not to cut through to the braiding within. This braiding is required to stay enacted.

Step 2. Twist the cable braid together making a small tail and pull back over the PVC jacket. The cable screen can be removed at this time.

Step 3. Using your Stanley knife at a 45-degree angle and cut through the dielectric insulation at about 5mm from the PVC jacket. Cut through until you reach the copper core wire. Rotate the knife around the circumference of the wire as you go so that you are cutting evenly. You can now see the copper wire in the centre of the dielectric insulation.

Step 4. Now twist or “fan” out those copper braids away from centre and gently pull the now cut dielectric insulation completely from off the copper core. You have now successfully stripped your coaxial cable!

Step 5. At this point, you can go ahead and insert your cable into the wall plate terminations and screw it down into place. Just be sure that the centre conductor is inserted into the centre of the wall plate and that the braid is clamped down by the second clamp. Also, make sure that there is no contact between the braid and centre conductor as this could cause a short circuit. 

Step 6. Finally, use your Phillips screwdriver to screw in the wall plate until it is snug against the back box or panel box. And that’s it! You have now successfully connected your coaxial cable, which is a handy skill for all aspect of DIY aerial installations. To test your connection, you can use a cable tester (although this is optional).

Conclusion

That’s all there is to it! Stripping a coaxial cable is a simple process that only requires a few tools. Be sure to follow these steps carefully so that you do not damage the internal components of the cable. With this newly acquired skill, you can now work on any project that requires a stripped coaxial cable!

The post How do you install a TV Aerial Wall Socket? appeared first on TV Aerials Manchester.

The answer to the question, ‘do TV aerials need power‘, is; TV aerials in general do not need power, and do not need to be plugged into a power socket for them to work. To qualify what type of aerial we are discussing, it is not the indoor aerials that come with a plug attached to them that you can fit yourself. It is the type of aerial fitted to chimneys, outside walls, or within lofts.

Are TV aerials connected to mains?

TV aerials are not connected directly to the mains power. They do not directly use mains power to work.

How is a TV aerial powered?

A standard TV aerial gets its power from the TV or device it’s connected to. A typical TV aerial is activated when the coax cable it is connected to is plugged into the back of a television. This then sends up the coax cable to the antenna a 5-volt charge that then activates the aerial. Once activated it is primed to receive the signal from the Transmitter Tower.

There is an exemption to this and that is when using an amplified aerial. Amplified aerials come supplied with a PSU (power supply unit). The PSU is plugged into a power socket and it is via this PSU that a mild electrical current usually 9 – 12v is sent up the coax cable to the amplified aerial. But these are not that common.

How much power does an antenna need?

Typical TV aerials are activated using 5-volts. This 5-volts come when the coax cable is plugged into the telly or other devices such as a set top box or recorder.

Amplified aerials usually need 9-12volts, & get their power from a PSU that is supplied with the aerial.

Is there electricity in an antenna?

If connected to a device there will be a miniscule amount of electrical current travelling within the cable. It is hardly noticeable.

Does an antenna amplifier need power?

For any amplifier to work, it needs electricity. This is how it is able to boost or amplify the signal being received. Most amplifiers need to be plugged into a power socket in order to work. This is why many new build homes will have a plug socket installed within the loft next to where the coax cables are placed.

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