4 Key Considerations Not to Miss Before Opting for Digital TV Antenna Installation

When it comes to picking out the best digital antenna for your home, it might seem like you can’t really go wrong, as long as you purchase one that is good quality.

After all, the majority of antennas out there can pick up the digital signal just fine; in fact even old TV antennas have no problem doing so, despite the fact that the analogue signal has been turned off in Australia for a couple of years.

Image Courtesy: Pixabay

However old antennas don’t last forever and it’s not uncommon to start seeing faults in the picture and sound quality over time - wear and tear takes its toll eventually. If you’re noticing this and believe the problem is with the antenna, here’s a few things you should consider as you look to upgrade.

Don’t Skimp Out On Price

In the case of most electrical goods, good quality antennas are a far and away worth the extra money that it costs to purchase them. A good antenna can last a number of decades in most cases and give you a greater chance of picking up a good signal for longer. If you’re purchasing the antenna yourself, make sure you do your research on the particular models and speak to your retailer to get their suggestions.

Think About Your Position

The antenna you purchase needs to be appropriate to the location of your home and its proximity to your closest TV broadcast tower. There are antennas on the market that are better suited to homes that are 75+ kilometers away from the tower and others that you’ll be fine with if you’re situated any closer.

Image Courtesy: Pixabay

But the physical location where you place the antenna on your roof is also a contributing factor in determining the quality of the picture/sound that your digital TV picks up. Generally, you’ll be looking to place it in a straight line view of the tower on the side of your house.

If you live in the city however, chances are you don’t really need to worry about this. Tall buildings often reflect TV signals all over the place so unless you have the proper equipment, you won’t know where the signal is coming from. The negative approach of this is that sometimes they actually block the signal, meaning you might have to add TV antenna boosters and amplifiers. In such cases calling a professional is highly recommended.

Be Wary of DIY Dangers

The practical difficulties and potential dangers of installing an antenna on your roof should not be underestimated. For one thing, installing an outdoor antenna requires that you climb up on the roof and play with electrical wires. This is one of the leading causes of accidents in and around the home. Also keep in mind that if you’re anywhere near electrical wires, look out. Given that it is a conductor, the antenna will draw electricity and sadly there have been many fatalities around the world as a result of people not taking the necessary precautions.

Strongly Consider Going with a Professional

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when it comes to picking out and installing the proper antenna. There is no doubt that it is worth having a top-of-the-line antenna at your home, as the upside of enjoying all the wonders of digital TV is too much to miss out on! But it does take technical knowledge and practical skills that, quite frankly, very few people have both.

Image Courtesy: Pixabay

If you are going to get the job done yourself, do your research and make sure you know what you’re doing. If you don’t feel confident enough of have lack of proper equipment, here in Ipswich Local Bloke Antenna Services is always prepared to save yourself from the stress. Give us a call for any digital TV antenna, TV point installation, MATV system or home theatre set up related query. Happy to help you always!

Are You Missing Out On The World Cup Experience Because You Don’t Have SBS?

Being a non-commercial television station SBS is not watched by as many viewers that some of the bigger networks are. This being the case, it isn’t that big a deal for a lot of people if they can’t access SBS on their system. In fact, a recent change to the digital signal meant that many people in Sydney had to retune their TV’s. Melbourne went through a similar process some months ago and the same will eventually happen for all states and regions. Statistically, if a television isn’t able to screen a channel correctly, there’s a good chance it’s SBS – often this hasn’t bothered too many people but every now that then there’s something that’s simply too good to miss.

The recent 2014 World Cup, which we’re sure has caused many tired workers during the week, has certainly exposed a lot of sports fans and the fact that their system isn’t picking up SBS properly. Some that haven’t been able to access SBS have had to resort to streaming the games on the computer, which obviously isn’t nearly as rewarding an experience as it is watching on a plasma screen.

Others anticipated this and had an expert come in and sort out their system correctly prior to the tournament. Often it can be as simply as having to retune the television, which is something many people can manage themselves. Other times it’s a little trickier and the poor or non-existent reception may be due to a faulty antenna in need of a repair, poor cabling or any other number of issues. A good antenna installer can diagnose the issue quickly and provide you with the most cost effective solution.

If you’ve been missing out on the World Cup, it’s not too late! Speak to the experts at Local Bloke Antenna Services and we can get you ready for the finals.


Image Source: wallpaperseries, whathifi

Resolving Your Digital Antenna Issues

Having problems with your television reception? Not being able to pick up channels you should be receiving? If these are the kind of issues you are having with your television antenna, then not to worry, there are a host of options available to solve your issues. Narrowing down the faults in your system may seem like a headache to undertake, but with a little patience and with the aid of a professional, you will have your television up and running in no time. 

Since the big switch off of analogue signals went national late last year, many people have yet to catch up with the different technology involved with digital terrestrial television. Whilst the premise is still the same, the technology has moved on and brought with it a whole host of new problems. One of the main problems people suffer from is through loss of signal.

Common reception issues 

In the past where a poor antenna signal results in a snowy or fuzzy picture, digital television is an all or nothing service in which if your television reception is too poor you will not even see a picture. This can be especially annoying to viewers considering digital television has meant that multiple television stations reside within a frequency that took the place of a single analogue channel. This can mean a loss of multiple channels with just a simple fault.

A professional digital antenna installation engineer will be able to direct you in the right direction, with a host of problem solving options to choose from. You may need to upgrade your antenna to a digitally approved digital antenna to receive a good picture,  or you may have to upgrade old caballing around your home. If you live in an area where reception is an issue due to environmental factors, then you may need to upgrade to a wide band antenna to achieve a great signal.

A digital antenna installation professional will be able to go through your personal set up and find faults in a matter of no time at all. By ticking off all the necessary points of common issues along your television signal route, an installer will be able to point you in the right direction to get your television back up and running.

It could be more than bad equipment

Environmental factors can come into play depending on your location. Most built up cities will be able to offer great reception to all, but with all perfect reception, comes certain black spots on the reception map. These can be found behind large office buildings, near radio masts, hills and other natural features that will block your signal. In these instances, signal boosters can be applied to your existing system at a moderate cost to further improve your reception.

In some instances, you may be receiving your digital television signal from multiple broadcast locations which is a common problem for those who live on the outskirts of town. Choosing a high gain or wideband antenna may help to solve your issues, along with signal boosters to help achieve a greater overall signal. The benefits of digital terrestrial television far outweigh the analogue option of before, and with so many channels and rich content featured from your favourite broadcasters, it’s time to resolve your signal problems.

A digital antenna installation professional will be able to point you in the right location when it comes to boosting your signal, upgrading your existing antenna to a high gain version as well as giving you advice on cable routing around your home. If it is jargon-free advice, a high quality installation and a professional finish you are after from your installer, ask for a quote today and you can start to enjoy your favourite shows with a perfect signal again.

Image Source: antennabloke, righttrader, augustana, dreamstime