What Causes Bad TV Antenna Reception?
The antenna may have difficulty picking up your favorite stations over the air for several reasons. The causes mostly come down to the basic idea that the signals reaching the device aren’t strong enough. You may be too far from the broadcast location, or something physically blocks the signals. The antenna could be in a less-than-ideal place or facing the wrong direction. Or, in some cases, the antenna might not be strong enough.
How to Fix Bad TV Antenna Reception
Follow these potential fixes in the order presented to troubleshoot the problem: Moving the antenna a few feet away from the converter box may not make a big difference, but give it a try. If it doesn’t work, relocate the antenna. Before relocating the antenna, go to Antenna Web to get an idea of where the TV transmission towers are in relation to your address. Then, point the antenna out a window that faces those towers. This increases the odds of capturing a good digital TV signal. Moving an antenna presents a few logistical issues. You might need to increase the length of the antenna’s coaxial cable to move it by a window. To make this happen, buy more coaxial cable and a coaxial extender. These items are sold at most hardware and electronics stores. Once you relocate the antenna, perform the double-rescan process again. If an outdoor antenna isn’t feasible, try a different type of indoor antenna, one specifically for digital. The new digitally-enhanced antennas are flatter by design, which helps capture the TV signal. Mike Mountford, the former CEO of All American Direct, explains it best by comparing amplifying a digital TV signal to water barely falling out of a hose. Antenna amplification is like attaching a nozzle to the end of the hose to increase its spraying power. Amplifying isn’t a guaranteed fix for every poor TV reception scenario, but it’s an option.
