Weak television signal

This is the type of picture you will receive if you are far away from the TV station or if there is a building or hill between you and the TV station, blocking the signal. The same effect may be caused if you live in a valley where you are shielded from the signal.

Each TV station has a defined service area where the strength of the TV signal is adequate to give you good reception. Just beyond the boundary of the service area is a fringe area where the TV signal will be weaker and reception quality will be poor. Your local dealer will tell you whether you live in a good or weak signal area.

The sound from your TV will not usually be affected unless the signal is extremely weak.

Once you have checked that your weak signal is not due to a defective or badly pointed aerial, or a poor condition, broken or disconnected lead, you can improve the strength of the signal by:

1. installing a better or higher aerial (see Fig. 1) (The erection of television aerials may require planning permission.)
2. if necessary. installing a masthead amplifier (see Fig.2)

to boost the signal. Your dealer will advise if a masthead amplifier is necessary.

If you live in an area where the signal is consistently weak you should take up the matter with the BBC and the IBA. Their addresses are given in Appendix 9.

For small communities it may be necessary to form a self-financing. self-help group to arrange boosting of the TV signals to the community. The BBC and IBA will be able to advise.