How to Boost Your TV Antenna Signal

From October 14, 2021, analogue broadcasting will end. Only digital TV transmitters of the DVB-T2 standard remain. The essence of the problem is that the operating frequencies of the new generally accepted UHF television broadcasting standard are 400 - 800 megahertz, depending on the region.

What is your signal from the antenna?

Stable

16.67%

disappears

How to boost your digital TV antenna signal

Digital signal amplification is possible using the following methods:

Raise the indoor antenna as high as possible;
Remove the HF cable as far as possible from electrical wiring and other household appliances that degrade the signal;
Replace the indoor antenna, like in an apartment, with an outdoor one, designed for difficult reception conditions;
Try to turn the street antenna to another repeater, perhaps in the other direction with a more favorable terrain. You can find out the location of the towers on the digital television coverage map;
Raise the antenna system higher.

The design and principle of operation of a television antenna signal amplifier

TV signal amplifiers for a cottage or apartment have a fairly simple design. These are two boards that are connected to each other through a special circuit used to reduce the amount of noise that can be generated during operation. To adjust the frequency range, the oscillating circuit is equipped with a capacitor, and the input circuit plays the role of a high-frequency filter.

It has a range of operating frequencies. In the first range, the generated frequency characteristics are close to 48.5 MHz, in the second they are equal to 160 MHz. The presence of resistors in the circuit diagram provides the ability to set the desired modes. The board has a set of capacitors and resistors necessary to achieve the desired characteristics. By changing the resistance, you can achieve a voltage of 5 V and a current of 5 A. This provides a maximum delta gain of 4.7 dB at a frequency of 400 MHz.

Many of the presented antenna amplifiers for TV, which can be bought in electronics stores, require a 12 V source for power. This makes it possible to connect them to a car battery. To achieve correct operation, you can use a stabilizer in the form of a diode bridge and an electrolyte.

If you have several TVs, they are connected to the amplifier through a special splitter. It is possible to connect the amplifier for a television antenna for a summer residence directly to the source via a coaxial cable, but in this case you will need to use a choke. The television receiver is directly connected through a capacitor. The satellite signal amplifier operates according to the following principle:

the signal coming from the antenna passes through a matching transformer;
then it goes to the first transistor, which is connected to a common emitter;
in the latter, the signal is amplified with parallel stabilization of the operating point;
then the linear signal goes to the second stage of transistors, where frequency correction is carried out;
At the output, the amplified signal is sent to the TV.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION! To avoid losses during amplification, one of the resistors is connected to a small-capacity capacitor of the same current, which helps to adjust the AMP of the device.

The mast mount allows for open access to the signal from the repeater, as it makes it possible to minimize the influence of interference

Where to point the antenna to receive a digital signal

The most accurate information about operating frequencies and the location of television transmitters is on the website of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network and on our page.

To get the information you need, go to the map page, then check the “Digital Broadcasting” box, as well as o. Next, look for your locality. Markers of the location of the towers, as well as broadcast frequencies by zone, will appear on the map in front of you.

Example coverage map: tower locations and frequency ranges.

Types of antennas for amplifying digital TV

If you are faced with a problem with TV signal quality, you will need basic information on the types of antenna equipment to make an informed choice.

The following types of antennas are used in subscriber equipment for television reception:

Telescopic
Patch antennas
Wave channel
Zigzag

Educational program on the main types of ready-made television antennas for terrestrial television

A telescopic antenna, also known as a rod antenna, has a low gain. Easy to manufacture and therefore cheap. Used at distances up to 5 kilometers from the repeater. Polarization type: circular. That is, the antenna “sees” all radio waves. Usually indoor. To increase signal stability, they are sometimes equipped with a built-in amplifier.

Patch antenna. It consists of several, usually rectangular, elements, which are protected by a plastic case. Polarization - vertical and horizontal. That is, the antenna can be placed in the position in which television and radio waves propagate from a repeater in your region. The main advantage over other options is the high gain and at the same time the ability to receive a reflected signal. There are products with a built-in amplifier.

Wave channel or Yagi. The most common type of television antenna. It looks like several elements (directors, reflectors and vibrators) located on a traverse. A subtype of wave channel includes products with periodically repeating element lengths—log-periodic antennas. Usually it is an outdoor antenna. However, there are also indoor options on a stand. The most powerful ones are equipped with side reflectors (reflectors). Often equipped with built-in amplifiers and filters.

The rating of the best antennas for digital television is presented here.

What to do

If the signal on the TV set-top box suddenly disappears, do not rush to call a technician or take the equipment to a service center. With a few steps, the problem can be resolved.

Make sure you choose the right antenna for your TV

People, as a rule, take the first antenna they come across, and then wonder why the digital image disappears. To get a high-quality picture on your TV, it is important to choose the right receiving device. Consider the following factors:

Product type. If the distance to the tower does not exceed seven kilometers, an indoor option is suitable. When placing a TV antenna at a greater distance, it is better to use an outdoor antenna.
Floor. The higher you live, the simpler the receiving device can be.
Operating principle: passive or active. In the second case, an individual transmitter is provided, which improves the signal quality.

Pay attention to a number of other points - the terrain, the power of the television transmitter, the possibility of rotation, and more. When choosing an antenna, it is better to contact specialists who will help you make a purchase and tell you why the image disappears.

Make sure the base frequency is set correctly

One of the reasons why the signal quality from a digital set-top box is unstable is incorrect equipment configuration. Your task is to find the nearest transmitter and tune in to it. This requires an individual approach and the use of a frequency zone map. The general algorithm is:

Enter the settings of the digital set-top box for your TV.
Enter the desired parameter in the Frequency channel section.
Wait until the signal is shown in the Quality field (it should be filled to the maximum).
Confirm the details and wait for the channels to be searched.

The instructions may differ depending on the model, but the general principle does not change. If the TV set-top box still does not pick up the signal well, and the image on the TV disappears, the reason may be different.

By the way, if you managed to solve the problem, but the image on the TV has no color, the problem may be in the connection itself.

Make sure the receiver and TV are compatible

There are many known cases of incompatibility between TV and digital set-top box. As a result, the signal disappears, is interrupted, or does not exist at all. When purchasing equipment, pay attention to the TV’s ability to operate according to the standard of interest, for example, DVB-T. If the TV has such an option, there is no need to connect a digital set-top box, because it is better to connect the equipment directly.

Turn on the anti-interference filter

A common reason why a digital set-top box does not pick up a signal well is the presence of interference in the path. In big cities there are GSM and LTE towers on almost every corner. In such conditions one cannot count on high quality. If the signal on your TV often disappears, you need to buy a special filter and connect it to the antenna. The device is installed between the antenna connector and the TV. If everything is done correctly, the interference is suppressed to a minimum level. The average cost of such equipment is about 700-800 rubles.

Check your contacts

In a situation where the signal level jumps on a digital set-top box, the cause may be oxidized contacts of the amplifier. As a result, the quality of reception and amplification deteriorates, and the picture on the TV disappears or deteriorates. There are two ways here - make repairs or replace the board. If water has recently entered, unplug the equipment, wipe and dry it.

Increase your power

An unstable digital television signal through a set-top box can be corrected by adding power in the settings. Take these steps:

Press the INFO button on the tuner's control panel to look at the signal level.
If the value is less than 80% and the image disappears frequently, make more precise adjustments to the antenna or increase its power.

During operation, make sure that the antenna is pointed at the repeater. After that, check whether the image on the TV disappears or not.

Check the equipment for serviceability

The worst thing is when some equipment fails. In this case, there is no signal quality on the digital set-top box, or the picture disappears from time to time. Malfunctions may affect the following equipment:

Digital set-top box. The failure can be easily diagnosed by the operation of the power indicator. If there is a malfunction, it will not light up at all, or the light will be very dim. The cause may be a breakdown of the power supply or a breakdown in the circuit itself.
Antenna malfunction. If the device is located outdoors, there is always a risk of mechanical damage or moisture ingress.
Cable damage. Sometimes the digital signal disappears on the set-top box due to problems with the cable (from the antenna to the TV). If you find damage, the best solution is replacement.

If you have no experience, you can call the technician and explain the situation, saying that the equipment is losing the signal and the image is constantly disappearing. A specialist will give advice over the phone or visit the address for setup.

Adjustment work

Knowing how to find the signal quality on a digital set-top box and check the power, you can quickly understand the cause and fix the problem. But remember about one more situation - repair and adjustment work. In this case, the image on the TV disappears, or there is no image at all. The only solution is to wait a certain period until the problem is resolved.

DIY digital TV signal amplifier

Additionally, we can distinguish a zigzag type of antenna, which is better known under the name of the Soviet engineer-inventor - Kharchenko. The main advantage is the ease of calculation and repetition at home. There is no need for direct visibility to the transmitter.

Read in detail about how to make an antenna for digital TV with your own hands.

The Kharchenko antenna can receive “reflective” signals, which means it can be used in difficult conditions. There are numerous online calculators on the web for calculating elements for any wavelength. The gain depends on the number of “squares” of the antenna. A home-made zigzag “double square” will help improve the signal of a digital set-top box yourself with minimal effort and time.

Antenna Kharchenko

How to avoid interference with digital television

If there is a constant source of electromagnetic radiation in the area of the transmitter that affects the quality of the received signal, in order to enhance the reception of the digital signal, you should choose the most powerful Yagi-type antenna.

Preferably without an antenna amplifier. This equipment has a very narrow radiation pattern. This will allow you to accurately “hit” the repeater, as well as avoid interference from other transmitters at approximately the same frequencies - for example, from mobile communication base stations. If there is no way to avoid interference, then a high or low pass filter is installed behind the antenna and before the TV or receiver. You will lose some signal, but you will get rid of failures in TV broadcasting.