Even if your TV antenna has access to free HD channels, it’s not an assurance that you can watch your favorite flick in crystal clear viewing. That will also have to depend on how your antenna can receive the signal. And how many channels it would be able to pull in.
Sometimes, even with the most high-end antennas, you might still not get a clear signal for your HD channels. And it can be frustrating. But do not worry. Because today, we are going to show you how to improve poor HD antenna reception.
Hover through our article on how you can boost your HD antenna reception.
9 Simple Ways to Improve your HD Signal
Use an antenna rotator
What is an antenna rotator?
It’s a device that can change the orientation of your antennas. Thus, it can change the direction where our antenna is pointing to.
An antenna roar consists of two parts- a controller and a rotator unit. The rotator is mounted on the mast of the antenna, which is located below the antenna. And the controller is situated near the device where the antenna is connected to.
Antenna rotators help your antenna get the best signal. Since they can change the orientation of your antenna, you can maximize your antenna’s prowess.
Repositioning your antenna
A slight change in degrees can have a great impact already. Repositioning your antenna might do the trick. Sometimes, a big gush of wind may check your antenna’s position. And this can affect how it can receive incoming signals, especially if it was veered away from the line of sight of transmission towers.
There are several websites that you can use to be able to find the exact location of the transmission towers in your area. Among them are cell mapper, opensignal.com, and antenna search.com.
This method involves trial and error. But once you hit the spot, you can expect clear HD signals.
Also, you might want to try elevating your antenna. There might be an instruction that blocks the path of the signal. If your neighbor has a higher roof or there are buildings around you, these can block the line of sight to the transmission towers.
Raising the antenna will prevent the signal from bouncing off to another building. This is often a struggle if you’re located in urban areas and surrounded by high-rise buildings. That’s why you have to install your antenna 10-20 feet from the ground. This will give it a more unobstructed view.
Reset your digital tuner
Digital tuners can convert your incoming signal to digital format. But sometimes, broadcasters will change their metadata. So your tuner might not be able to recognize the new signal. One way to remedy this is by resetting your tuner.
And here’s how to.
- First, disconnect your coax cable from your television set.
- Run channel scan on your TV.
- Unplug the TV unit. And also unplug your converter box if you’re using one.
- Reconnect the TV and the converter box
- Run another channel scan. And you’re all set!
Get a better tuner
If resetting your tuner didn’t do anything, it might be time to upgrade to a better tuner. Not all TV tuners are the same. The more efficient ones will be able to pull in more HD channels.
Install a booster or an amplifier
If you are located in a remote area, the above methods might still not suffice. So a booster or an amplifier will help. These devices enhance the ability of your antenna to receive clear HD signals.
But keep in mind that this will entail proper setup and installation. Otherwise, the effort will be in vain. And worse, incorrect installation of boosters and amplifiers may interfere with your mobile phone signal.
That’s why it’s better to commission a professional to do the installation. You’ll surely be saving yourself from additional signal issues.
Manage cell phone tower interference
Sometimes, the weakened signal is due to interference by signals from your cell phone. This can be addressed by using an amplifier with filtering.
This device also comes in handy when you’re splitting your antenna into multiple televisions. It will help eliminate cell phone interference and at the same time, it can increase the gain of your antennas.
Get a better coaxial cable
A substandard coaxial cable can also be the culprit. Do you remember those complementary coaxial cables that come with your purchase of the antenna? If you have them, ditch them. It may be causing the weak signal.
Go for more efficient coaxial cables such as the RG6. It will help enhance your antenna’s prowess. It can help yo antenna pull in more channels and get a clearer signal.
RG56 cables are better shielded. Thus it has more protection against signal interferences.
Get a second antenna
If your first HD TV antenna might not seem to be working, a second one might do the trick. You can combine two HD antennas and use a coupler. The coupler allows you to focus the two antennas into one signal. So this might be able to enhance your HD TV signal.
Get a better antenna
If you don’t want to combine two HDTV antennas, it might be time to get a better efficient antenna. Sometimes your antenna might not be large enough to pull up more channels. And it can also be that you’re using the wrong type of antenna for your area. Especially if you’re living in remote rural areas, some antennas will not work if you’re surrounded by trees and hills.
Final Say
The above-mentioned steps are DIY ways on how to improve poor HD antenna reception. Some may involve trial and error. But once you hit the spot, you can enjoy crystal clear viewing. Otherwise, you may commission a professional to make a thorough check on what is really causing the signal interference.