Are you one of those guys who face regular problems with his Tv Antenna? Well, Tv Antennas have been around humans for quite a while, and yet most of its users have not figured out its technicalities.
It is a very precise device and should be placed at the perfect spot and in a precise manner to attain its maximum performance. By maximum performance, we mean it should catch enough signal so that you can watch your television without buffering.
However, sometimes due to some manual or technical error you might face signal issues. So, in this guide, we will explain how to boost outdoor tv antenna signals.
Table of Contents
How to boost outdoor tv antenna signal?
1. Check Station Availability
If you are facing a signal problem in some selected channels then there is a great possibility that those channels don’t have stations for your area.
It is pointless to run behind signals for those channels as you are never going to gain it until they provide a signal to your area from their station. What you can do is check for the availability of the particular channel in your area.
2. The Antenna Must Be Checked Properly
For a TV antenna to receive the strongest signal, it needs to be pointed in the direction of the signal source. Having your antenna pointed in the wrong direction will reduce the strength of your signal and may cause reception problems.
In such a case, which way do you point your antenna? There are several different methods to do so.
Check Other Antennas: For the strongest signal, you should point your antenna toward the direction in which the strongest signal will be received. Observe which direction other antennas are facing in your local area. This will then allow you to make a guess about which direction you should be pointing your antenna.
Use a Signal Meter: You need someone helping you and it can take a while for the information to update on some TVs. Your TV settings will show you where your signal strength is, and you will need to adjust the antenna direction until you get the best signal.
Locate Local Transmitter: It is better to know in which direction the local transmitter is from your house. Many online tools are available for this purpose.
Which Is The Front End Of The Antenna?
Most of us always get it wrong that the biggest end is the front end of an Antenna. But, actually, it’s vice versa. Most antennas have their front end at the smallest end of their body.
1. Raise Your Antenna’s Height
Now you should know that a good “line of sight” to the connection towers is necessary for proper reception. In other words, it should point directly at the tower with nothing blocking its way.
If there is any hurdle in between such as trees, mountains, etc. then the RF signals can get bounced on those surfaces and it will lead to scattered signals reaching your antenna instead of complete unscattered signals.
For most homes, having a clear view of the nearest TV station is impractical, that’s why antennas should be installed outside and at the highest point.
A hilltop house’s antenna will, on balance, have better reception than one situated in a valley. Your roof is generally the highest point in your house. For best results, place your antenna at the top.
2. Check The Components
A rainy day, windy day, or even a hot day can damage and wear down outdoor components.
While an antenna may be made of durable and waterproof material, it will not be durable if the individual parts, such as screws and connectors are of poor quality.
Once a year, you should inspect any cables and other devices connected to your outdoor TV antenna. A rusty or eroded part can be noted and replaced before it becomes a problem.
Weatherproof Cables: Coaxial cables and equipment connections should especially be checked, and if necessary, waterproofed. The process is actually quite simple. Clean and dry a coaxial cable once it has been unplugged.
You can wrap a water-resistant sealing tape around the connector after plugging it back in.
Waterproofing Grease can also be used instead to weatherproof cable connections. After unplugging the cable and applying the grease to its core and connector, you can plug it back in. Signals won’t be disrupted by it.
Replace Old Cable: Often, old cables with frayed or worn outer sheaths will allow moisture in. You should use a modern cable, which is shielded with three or four layers to prevent interference from electromagnetic fields.
Properly Mount Antenna: Last but not least, if your outdoor antenna suddenly fails to receive your TV signal during strong wind gusts, ensure it is properly mounted.
In other words, it is firmly fixed to its place. The antenna pole can be secured with galvanized steel wires.
3. Install A Booster
Installing a television signal booster is one of the ways you can enhance the signal from your outdoor tv antenna. As opposed to the old days where these would screw into your television, this is a little bit better.
Several modern televisions now come with USB ports so you can connect one of the latest models to one of them. In this way, you will be able to get the maximum range that your antenna is capable of.
Weak signals affect the reception because the signal is unable to reach the antenna, which affects the quality of audio and video.
4. Add More Cables
Additionally, you can improve the quality of your TV signal by connecting it to a more coaxial cable. It will be easier to place the antenna where you want it since you’ll have more cable.
Despite getting an antenna cable in the package, it’s never a bad idea to have more than you need. There will be a significant impact in this area. You can check this by looking at the reception in the basement versus the upper floors. When it comes to more, there is no doubt that more is better.
Another possibility is that you might be using the wrong antenna. There are some models that are more affordable than some that are much better. Most of the time, buying a cheaper antenna will result in a product that will work in the end.
5. Still Not Solved
The above methods were some of the most obvious and easy methods to solve your issue. However, if your problem is still not solved then instead of losing hope, you can rather try some more methods.
6. Check For Electronic Interference
There are not only interferences from the physical objects but your antenna can face interference even from electronic devices.
Various wireless devices may cause interference, including Wi-Fi routers. You can test to see if any devices are causing interference by unplugging them and checking the reception of your antenna.
Any device that could interfere with your TV and antenna should be moved away from it.
7. Install A Second Antenna
Installing a second antenna may make sense when your antenna is working properly but is unable to pick up a tower that is in a completely different direction.
It may also be a good idea to get a second antenna if you have a UHF or VHF frequency, but you want to receive some channels in the other band.
8. Try Resetting Digital Tuner
Your television screen displays digitally converted TV signals received from a digital tuner.
You can usually find it either inside or outside your TV. Channel information is also stored in the tuner, so you can switch channels easily.
If this channel information doesn’t appear right, you may need to clear the tuner’s memory cache. This is a concern because broadcasters sometimes alter their channel’s meta-information frequently.
Final Words
These methods about how to boost outdoor tv antenna signals will most probably work in your case. We have covered solutions for most types of problems that you can face with your Antenna.
However, there are still many technical problems that may arise in your Antenna so in that case consider calling a professional as the situation can get worse if a non-technical person handles it.