There are many factors that can effect TV reception and some are controllable while some are not. To get better digital TV reception or to improve your current digital reception/signal may be a simple task or it may require a complete antenna system overhaul.
There are a few things that should be understood.
There are no magic antennas using breakthrough technology.
Better digital TV reception starts with the antenna but it's the entire antenna
system that creates outstanding digital TV reception.
As I said it does start with the antenna. If the antenna is not receiving an acceptable digital signal then no amount of signal amplification will improve the reception. You can't amplify a signal into existence that the antenna is not receiving. On the other hand the antenna may be getting a good signal but because of improper signal amplification the signal never reaches the TV. Or the antenna and amplification are correct but the coax cable wiring configuration is incorrect. In some areas you can connect a coat hanger to the TV and get reasonably good reception but if you are in one of those areas you probably wouldn't be reading this page.
Using the proper TV antenna for better digital TV reception.
The antenna must be capable of receiving the digital signal at a sufficient level of strength and quality to maintain consistent adequate signal strength. No amount of signal amplification can change this fact.
The antenna must be installed at a location that allows the signal to reach the antenna. If the antenna is mounted in the attic you may have to relocate it outside. If it is installed low to the ground you may have to relocate it higher in the air. Be safe seek professional help if necessary. In weak signal areas TV antennas perform best mounted outside above the roof line of your home.
You must have the proper TV antenna to receive the channel frequencies in your area. TV signals are divided into two main categories VHF channels 2-13 and UHF channels 14-69. Leading up to the analog shutdown date of June 12, 09 nearly all digital signals were broadcast on the UHF band. UHF antenna design can be much smaller and still perform as well as VHF capable antennas of a much larger size. Some antenna dealers/manufacturers took advantage of the consumers desire for a smaller antenna and sold smaller UHF only antennas as HDTV antennas to areas that will have VHF channels after June 12, 09.
If you have lost some of the digital TV channels that you received prior to June 12, 09 the cause may be one of two things. Try rescanning your TV tuner for digital signals. Some channels will relocate their channel number beginning June 12, 09 and you may have to rescan to allow your tuner to find these stations again.
I lost some of my TV channels after the analog shutdown. If you are one of the thousands of people who unknowingly bought a UHF antenna you may have to install a VHF/UHF antenna to improve the digital signal on some of your channels. Some of the TV stations in your area may have moved their digital signal from UHF to VHF at the time of the analog shutdown on June 12, 09 and if you have a UHF antenna it may not be capable of receiving the new VHF signal. View UHF antennas.
What type of TV antenna do I need? VHF? UHF? To determine what channels are UHF and what channels are VHF visit the Digital TV Antenna Selector. The stations in your area will be listed as Lo-V (2-6) Hi-V (7-13) and UHF (14-51). Unlike in the old analog days the actual tuner display number that appears on the TV screen may not be the same as the broadcast channel the station is using to broadcast the signal. For an example channel 2.1 may now actual broadcast their digital signal on a UHF channel. While channel 63.1 may broadcast on channel 26. The channel number referred to as the RF channel is the broadcast frequency. As of June 12, 09 no TV station in the U.S. broadcasts a signal above RF channel 51. Channels 52 - 69 are no longer in use for TV broadcasting. Your TV tuner may display a channel number above 51 but the actual RF broadcast frequency will be 51 or lower. The channel number the tuner displays reflects the old analog number and is not necessarily the channel used to broadcast the signal. Visit the antenna selector link above to determine the channel frequencies in use in your area. Most antenna manufacturers have not fine tuned their antennas to accommodate the new frequencies in use. Fine tuning the antenna to meet today's frequencies will improve performance. Both the EZ HD and the HD Stacker antennas are up to date.
Better digital TV reception through signal amplification.
The antenna you have may be receiving a sufficient digital signal but the signal from the antenna is not getting to the TV with sufficient strength to produce satisfactory reception.
This is caused by one of the following:
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Insufficient or no signal amplification
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Improper location of the signal amplifier within the system
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Inferior or damaged coax cable and or connector fittings
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Improper cabling configuration (applies mainly to multiple TV systems)
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Improper use or location of signal splitters installed within the system.
For each foot of coax cable a signal must travel a little signal quality is lost. Notice I used signal quality and not signal strength. The quality of a signal is just as important as its strength. The minute the signal leaves the antenna it begins to degrade. The solution to this is a quality preamplifier installed on the mast pipe near the antenna. This installation location allows you to keep the cable leading from the antenna to the preamplifier as short as possible minimizing the signal loss. The amount of amplification required is determine by the signal strength of the incoming signals and the system configuration itself. Our Digital TV Antenna Selector will suggest the proper amplification based on your particular needs. Proper signal amplification may be the key to improve your digital reception.
Signal amplifier's have two important specifications. The amount of signal amplification provided by the unit and the signal to noise ratio. Both of these are measured in dB. Noise is any signal interference (man made or natural) that is not related to the TV signal. If the level of the noise over shadows the TV signal from the broadcaster the digital signal will drop out no matter how strong the TV signal is. Some noise cannot be avoided but that doesn't mean you have to add more noise then necessary with the amplifier. You can get better/improved digital TV reception using amplifiers with lower signal to noise ratings.
Coax cable can help obtain better digital TV reception
The TV signal will travel miles to reach your antenna don't let the last 100 feet ruin your TV reception and that's just what coax cable can do. The coax cable transfers the TV signal from the antenna to your TV. RG 6 cable is better then RG 59. Solid copper is better then copper clad. Don't coil the cable, excess cable is unnecessary signal loss. Replacing inferior or damaged coax cable can improve digital reception.
Configure your antenna system for better digital TV reception.
If the antenna supplies 1 TV run a single coax cable line from the antenna to the TV and remove all if any signal splitters. This will reduce the amount of signal amplification needed. A signal splitter divides the signal reducing the signal strength. Each time it is divided more signal is lost.
A signal splitter is not a bad thing neither are long coax cable runs. Yes, both of these cause signal loss but this loss can be counteracted with the proper signal amplification. Signal amplification must take place within the system prior to the signal loss occurring. If you have a long cable run from the antenna to the TV a pre-amplifier is installed at the antenna before the signal loss of the longer cable occurs. In this position the pre-amplifier will be ahead of the signal loss boosting the signal before the signal loss occurs counteracting the effects of the long cable run.
Distributing the signal to multiple TV's and getting better digital TV reception.
To supply signal to multiple television usingthe same antenna a signal splitter must be installed. The more times the signal is divided the weaker it becomes. Many times a pre-amplifier can be selected that provides the amplification needed to drive the signal through the coax cable and the signal splitter and onto the TV's. Sometimes a distribution amplifier is all that is needed installed on the antenna side of the signal splitter. In some cases a combination of a pre-amplifier and distribution amplifier will yield the best results.
Balance the antenna system for better digital TV reception.
When supplying multiple TV's don't daisy chain signal splitters. In other words, don't go from one signal splitter to the next and so on. One properly sized signal splitter installed with home run lines leading to each TV location is the most efficient method. If you must install multiple signal splitter keep it reasonably balanced. Don't have one cable line dividing the signal 6 times while another only divides it once. A good example is one 2 way signal splitter with each output of the splitter leading to a 3 way signal splitter. This configuration provides a balanced system for 6 TV locations.
I hope this page can help you get better digital TV reception and improve your digital signal. I invite you to visit our Digital TV Antenna Selector. The selector will choose the appropriate antenna and amplification requirements according to your location and system configuration. Compare the selector results to what you currently use for TV reception and make your changes accordingly.
Good luck and I truly hope you do get better digital TV reception.
Antennas and Digital Television Offered by the FCC offering some good advice on how to improve your digital reception and signal.
