With technology making its way into many aspects of our homes, settling down in the evening in front of the TV, is a common way for many people to relax. And, with it being easier than ever to stream the latest shows and films, it’s no surprise that in 2018 around 27.02 million households had TVs compared to 2004 which had 24.61 million.
However, like all technology TVs can experience the odd problem here and there. As the aerial is outside, and therefore exposed to all elements, these conditions can create problems for your TVs picture, signal and overall running. To help you solve some of these, this blog will explain five of the most common aerial-related problems and what you can do to fix them.
What kind of TV aerial repairs could you encounter?
What’s better than sitting back and enjoying getting stuck in to a new TV series? Despite the popularity of doing so, your time may be cut short if you experience one of the may common aerial problems. From bad signal to fuzzy images, here we explain some common aerial issues and how you or a trained professional can solve them.
Poor signal
Probably the most common aerial problem, a weak signal causing huge interruptions to your TV. Your TV may indicate this by showing a ‘weak signal’ or ‘no signal’ message.
How to fix it:
- Move the aerial – the reason why the majority of TV aerials are installed on chimneys is that it’s the highest part of the house. However, your aerial could be obstructed by trees or other buildings which can weaken the signal. Take a look outside and see if you can see any branches wrapped around the aerial, if you can, you’ll need to hire a professional tv engineer who can remove this and reposition the aerial.
- Raise the aerial – although the chimney is usually the perfect spot for an aerial to be placed, it can, in fact, be too low. If you live in a weak signal area you may benefit from raising your outdoor TV aerial with the help of a mast.
Aerial damage
Over the years or throughout a period of bad weather, your aerial can experience a bit of wear and tear. When the protective jacket that covers your cable wears away, moisture can cause problems in the wiring and expert technicians will need to be called. If your TV aerial installation is more than 10 years old are more likely to have worn out wires.
How to fix it:
- Replace your aerial – it may be that extensive damage has caused your aerial to stop working completely, and the only way to solve this is to have it replaced. This is not a job that you can do yourself – always contact your local TV repair company who can assess the situation and recommend the best course of action.
If you’re in need of same-day aerial installation, South Wales TV Aerials can get things sorted quickly and professionally. We pride ourselves on offering brilliant customer service and honest service, making sure your repairs are completed at an affordable price for a long term solution.
Grainy images
A fuzzy picture or no picture at all can’t go unfixed. However, there are a number of things that you can try, to get things back in good working order.
How to fix it:
- Check the aerial connection – your problem may be as simple as not having your aerial properly connected. When vacuuming or tidying up around your TV, it’s easy to accidentally knock or pull out cables – tugging on the lead and disrupting the connection. This is one of the first things you should check for before calling out a professional.
- Make sure the right source is connected – you may also end up with no picture, if you select the wrong source on your TV. If you see a ‘no signal’ message this could simply mean that there is no signal from the source that’s selected, not that there is no signal whatsoever. To solve this, look for the Source, Input or AV button on your TV remote. Once you press this you should be able to use the arrow keys to select another output and return to the right setting.
- Re-tune – from time to time, your TV may need to be re-tuned in order to access the full range of services. To do this, use the remote to select the settings menu and choose ‘Auto tune’ – if you’re unsure of how to do this, consult your TV manual for more details. As your TV begins tuning, it will scan through all the services and store the right ones.
- Faulty TV – if you’ve tried all of the above and you still can’t get a picture on your TV, the TV itself could be faulty. Try swapping it with another TV in your house, and if this works then you may have solved your problem. Check if it’s still under warranty and contact the supplier who should be able to help with a replacement.
Ghosting
When a double image appears on your screen, this is called ghosting. Usually, this is caused when a TV signal travels by two paths to a receiving antenna, but with a difference in timing.
How to fix it:
- Aerial position – having your aerial repositioned will usually resolve this problem.
Electrical interference
Sometimes, other electrical appliances can interfere with the signal quality of your TV. Small appliances such as vacuum and razors can disrupt your TV when they are turned on.
How to fix it:
- Test your appliances – it may be easy to spot which appliances are causing problems and in this case, you may need to have the wiring looked at. However, some are more difficult to spot such as your thermostat or freezer.
How to keep your repair-free inside the home
As well as problems that can occur with your outdoor TV aerial, you should also be aware of how you can protect your television from inside your home.
Mount it on the wall
The best way of keeping your TV safe and damage-free is to mount it on the wall, this is relatively easy to do using high-quality brackets, but many TV repairs services will also be able to do this for you. If you have small children or pets in your home, accidents can happen. Remember, it only takes a few seconds to accidentally knock the TV off the stand, potentially hurting those around it and breaking the appliance.
Tidy cables and wires
If you TV’s cables and wires are not tucked away neatly, they can be easily tripped over. Make sure these are kept behind your TV where they can’t get tackled or cause any hazards.
South Wales TV Aerials: The experts in aerial installations and repairs
If your TV isn’t functioning as it should, you may need the experience of a TV engineer who can sort the problem. South Wales TV Aerials, have a team of experts who are on hand to fix all your aerial problems big or small. Helping those based in and around South Wales, why not arrange your call-out today and find out more about our services.