Digital TV signals offer better picture quality but can be weaker and affected by weather and obstacles. A digital TV signal booster can help improve reception, but it won’t extend the range of the antenna. Boosters can be found online if not available locally.
Television stations that broadcast with an analog or digital signal. Many countries have switched from traditional analogue to digital broadcasting due to the various benefits offered by digital broadcasting. While this change provides better picture quality for many viewers, some people using antennas have difficulty with reception from certain stations. A digital TV signal booster, also called a pre-amplifier, can sometimes solve this problem. A signal booster consists of an amplifier mounted on the antenna or antenna mast and an in-building power supply.
While a digital signal generally provides a clearer TV picture than an analog signal, the digital signal is significantly weaker and doesn’t travel as far. If the individual uses an outdoor antenna and lives a great distance from where the station’s signal is broadcast, there may be problems with reception that have not previously occurred. Also, digital reception is more affected by weather conditions and the type of antenna, as well as objects in its path, such as buildings and even trees. Viewers who live in a low-lying area may have more problems with digital TV reception than their neighbors who live on a hill.
If reception is poor, options to fix the problem include changing the direction of the antenna or moving the antenna. Adding a digital TV signal booster is another possible solution. These boosters come in various brands and wattages. Too strong a signal amplifier can cause just as bad signal loss as a weak signal.
A digital TV signal booster will only work if the antenna is actually receiving a signal, because the booster does not extend the range of the antenna. The signal booster amplifies the signal between the antenna and the digital tuner, where the signal can weaken. A viewer may be able to determine if the antenna is receiving a station’s signal by setting the TV to that station, clicking “menu” on the remote, and choosing “check signal strength” or a similar option on screen of the television. Even if the signal is weak, a signal booster can often fix the problem.
It may be easier said than done to find a digital TV signal booster locally, with so many viewers having switched to cable or satellite systems. If no local store that sells televisions or electronic equipment has signal boosters, the equipment can be found at online outlets. These websites also commonly provide information on the size of booster needed in relation to the type of antenna being used.
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