Part 1. For the householder

Advice before you start

Nearly half of all reception problems are due to deficiencies or faults in the radio or television, the aerial lead or aerial. The following pages will help you to check whether the trouble you are having is due to one of these causes.

You may live in a place where radio or television signals are not strong enough for reliable listening or viewing. Your local TV and radio dealer, the BBC or the IBA will be able to advise you. The addresses of the BBC and the IBA engineering information services are given on page 25.

You may live in an area where you receive a good signal direct from your TV station, but your viewing is spoilt by additional signals from the same or another TV station. The following pages give simple checks and advice on what to do.

Both the BBC and the IBA have prepared leaflets advising on the most suitable type of television aerial to be used for their services and free copies are available from them; you should give the full address of your receiver site when applying.

Television

Portable television sets fitted with an inbuilt aerial or a set-top aerial are prone to a number of reception problems due to deficiencies of the aerial system. Where these reception problems are experienced the set should be titled with an aerial lead and an aerial mounted outside the house. The following pages apply only to television sets having an outside aerial.

Check List

1. Check that your mains plug is wired correctly, with the connections tight, and that it is pushed firmly into the socker
2. Check that you are able to get a good steady picture at times when the reception problem is not present.
3. Some controls on the TV set, such as tuning, are not often used and when out of adjustment sometimes produce effects which can spoil viewing. You should read the Operating Instruction booklet issued with the TV set which will tell you how to set up the controls. You should try substituting another television set borrowed from a friend or neighbour Ask your neighbours if they have the same or similar type of problem. If necessary, ask your dealer to check the performance of the set and adjust the controls.
4. Check that your aerial lead appears to be in good condition, with its plug firmly connected to the lead and making good contact when pushed into the aerial socket on the back of the TV set.
5. Your aerial should be mounted outside your house, clear of neighbouring rooftops and pointed at the TV station from which you are receiving your television signal. A glance at neighbouring aerials should show the correct direction for pointing. The erection of television aerials may require planning permission.
6. Check that you have the right aerial for your area. Most aerials are made to size to suit groups of TV channels. A TV aerial designed for one group of channels will not be suitable to receive another group of channels and so will probably not be suitable if you move home to where reception is from a different TV station. Il you are in doubt, consult your local dealer or aerial installer
7. Hotels, blocks of flats and some housing estates have communal aerial systems which you cannot check yourself. You should contact the landlord or his nominated contractor
8. When you have checked your equipment and are satisfied that all appears to be in good order check through the picture examples and advice on the following pages.