Free-to-air broadcasting has become an attractive idea to many people which is why most of those people decided to have their cable cord cut. Why should people pay for low-quality channels when they can get those same channels at a higher quality and for no cost at all, right?
Yes, believe it or not, but many of your favorite channels are actually broadcasted through the air all the time while cable companies are trying to make profits from those same channels.
However, without the right knowledge surrounding TV antennas, there is some chance that you won’t be able to get the best possible signal because of different factors. Assuming that you are the type of person that likes to watch their movies and TV series in high-quality, you will probably want to know how to properly set up your antenna. If you do not want to go through all the research regarding this subject, here are the top X ways you can boost the signal of your TV antenna.
1. Get a new Antenna
The reality is, if you want the best possible signal out of your antenna, you will need to invest in something a bit more expensive. Of course, spending unreasonable amounts of money is not the best idea, but going a bit over your budget will ensure that you will achieve a stronger signal.
When it comes to choosing an antenna, you have the option of two different types. Indoor or outdoor one. Of course, the outdoor ones will always have a much better reception, but these last couple of years we have seen a lot of improvement in indoor ones too.
If you do not feel like installing an antenna outside on your roof then you are probably thinking of an indoor one. Keep in mind, if the broadcasting tower is more than 25 miles away, you will need an amplified version otherwise, you can do with an unamplified too.
For a broadcasting tower that is further than 35 miles, you will need something appropriate to intercept the signal. An outdoor TV antenna will probably do the job.
2. Placement
It is not just about purchasing the most expensive receiver you can find. Without the right position and placement, you will not get a better signal than before. You have to think of the right place the receiver can intercept a signal from the broadcasting towers.
For example, if you get an outdoor receiver then you will probably need to place it on the roof of your home and then point it in the right direction. For those that do not have the equipment to access their own roof, they can place it inside their attic. Keep in mind, these can be quite larger than indoor receivers which means they can be a bit of an eyesore.
The same thing about placement applies to the receiver that will be on the inside of your home. We recommend that you put it as close to your window and pointed towards the general direction of the broadcasting tower.
Ideally, you should remove any large wooden or metal constructions that might block the connection between the signal and the receiver. If you want to achieve the best possible signal, you should consider hiring professional services. Companies such as www.tv-aerials-uk.co.uk will ensure that your antenna is placed in the right position and direction.
3. Find the location of the nearest broadcasting tower
Before you start looking for the perfect location to place your brand new receiver, you will need to do a bit of research on where the broadcasting towers are located in your area. Some areas might have several dozen towers in just a few mile radius while others might have none in a 50-mile radius.
So, before you do anything, try searching online and try to find which tower is the closest to you. Once you find this information, you could also do some research on which channels it is broadcasting. Because if one tower broadcasts more channels than another, you should your antenna facing the former one.
Fortunately, to help you speed up the researching process, we should inform you that there are dozens of websites that you can find on Google which will provide you with this kind of information.
4. Install a preamplifier
Sometimes, if the cable from the antenna to the television is too long, the signal can get a bit weak while it is traveling from point A to point B. This is especially true for outdoor receivers because the cable needs to be very long to reach the TV.
To prevent the loss of quality while the signal is traveling inside of the cable, there are many devices out there that can actually amplify it. This device is called a preamplifier and it attaches directly onto the antenna. The cable passes through these devices and the signal gets boosted several times over, ensuring that the image quality you get on your TV is much higher.
5. Invest in a coax cable
Believe it or not, but the quality of the cable between the antenna and the TV can actually have a huge impact on what kind of image you will be getting on your television. There are many companies out there that use cheap materials to create several feet long cables. So, by investing in something a bit more high-quality, there is a very high chance that your overall over-the-air TV watching experienced might improve by a lot.
6. Get another antenna
Unfortunately, not everyone fulfills all of the requirements regarding this type of TV broadcasting. If you are unlucky enough to be too far away from a tower, it won’t matter where or how you place the receiver.
However, there is still something you can do to boost the signal. You can actually purchase another receiver that will be exactly the same as the first one you purchased. Combining these two will amplify their range and the ability to intercept a signal.
By following all of these steps we mentioned above, you will definitely get a much clearer image on your television.
