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Understanding How Tv Antenna Works: A Comprehensive Guide

Curious about how TV antennas work? Well, it’s quite simple. TV antennas pick up signals from broadcast towers and send them straight to your television, allowing you to enjoy all your favorite shows and movies without any subscription fees. But have you ever wondered about the science behind this magical process? In this article, we will dive into the fascinating world of TV antennas and explore how they work their magic to bring entertainment right into your living room. So let’s get started!

How TV Antennas Work

Introduction.

Television antennas have been around for decades and are still an essential component for receiving over-the-air TV signals. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of how TV antennas work and the science behind them. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how this simple device allows you to enjoy your favorite TV shows without a cable or satellite subscription.

Understanding TV Signals

To comprehend how TV antennas work, it’s crucial to first understand how TV signals are transmitted and received. Television signals, both digital and analog, are broadcasted over-the-air using radio frequencies. These signals carry audio and video information, which is then decoded by your TV or digital converter box to display the content on your screen.

Analog vs. Digital Signals

In the past, TV signals were predominantly transmitted in analog format. These signals were subject to interference, resulting in fuzzy or distorted reception. However, with the digital transition that took place in many countries worldwide, TV signals are now primarily broadcasted in digital format. Digital signals provide better picture and sound quality, allowing for high-definition (HD) and even ultra-high-definition (UHD) broadcasts.

Transmission Towers

TV signals are sent from transmission towers located at broadcast stations. These stations are responsible for producing and transmitting the TV signals to reach a specific geographic area. The transmission towers are strategically placed to ensure coverage over a wide radius.

How TV Antennas Receive Signals

Now that we have a basic understanding of TV signals, let’s dive into how TV antennas receive these signals. TV antennas, also known as aerials, are designed to pick up radiofrequency signals sent from the transmission tower. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

Antenna Design

TV antennas consist of a series of metal elements, typically made from aluminum or steel, that are carefully arranged to optimize signal reception. These elements are strategically placed in specific shapes and lengths to correspond to the frequencies of the broadcasted signals.

Antenna Orientation

The orientation of the TV antenna plays a vital role in ensuring optimal signal reception. Proper alignment is crucial to receive clear signals consistently. Factors such as the distance from the broadcast station, terrain, surrounding buildings, and nearby obstacles can influence the antenna’s positioning. By aligning the antenna correctly, you increase your chances of receiving stronger and more reliable signals.

Signal Amplification

In certain situations where the received TV signals are weak, signal amplification becomes necessary. TV antennas can be equipped with built-in or external signal amplifiers. These amplifiers boost the received signals, enhancing their strength and improving reception. They are especially useful in areas far from transmission towers or locations with obstacles that obstruct the signals.

Tuning Channels

TV antennas are designed to receive signals within a specific frequency range. When setting up your TV antenna, you may need to tune it to the desired channels. This involves adjusting the antenna’s length or repositioning its elements to optimize signal reception for a particular frequency. Modern antennas often come with built-in technology that simplifies the tuning process.

Choosing the Right TV Antenna

When selecting a TV antenna, there are several factors to consider to ensure optimal performance and reception. Here are some key aspects to keep in mind:

Antenna Type

There are several types of TV antennas available, including indoor and outdoor models. Indoor antennas are typically smaller and more compact, suitable for use near transmission towers or in areas with strong signals. Outdoor antennas, on the other hand, are larger and more powerful, designed to pick up weaker signals from a greater distance.

Channel Availability

Research the channels available in your area and their corresponding frequencies. This information will help you determine the type of TV antenna you need, ensuring you can receive all the desired channels.

Signal Strength

Consider the signal strength in your location, which largely depends on the proximity to transmission towers and any potential obstructions. You can use online signal strength maps or consult with professionals to ascertain the signal conditions in your area.

Installation and Maintenance

Pay attention to the installation and maintenance requirements of the TV antenna you choose. Some antennas may require professional installation, while others can be easily set up by following the provided instructions. Additionally, consider the long-term maintenance needs, such as weatherproofing for outdoor antennas.

TV antennas may seem like simple devices, but their ability to receive and decode TV signals is impressive. By understanding how TV antennas work, you can make informed decisions when choosing and installing one. Whether you opt for an indoor or outdoor antenna, align it properly, and tune it to the desired channels, you’ll be able to enjoy a wide range of TV programs without relying on cable or satellite subscriptions.

Remember, the world of TV antennas is constantly evolving, with advancements in technology bringing even better reception and more features. Stay tuned to future developments that may enhance your TV viewing experience.

How Does An Antenna Work? | weBoost

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a tv antenna work.

A TV antenna works by capturing television signals that are broadcasted over the airwaves by television stations. It consists of a metal rod or wire that is designed to receive electromagnetic waves, which carry the audio and video signals of TV broadcasts.

Do I need an antenna to watch TV?

If you want to watch over-the-air television broadcasts, you will need an antenna. Cable and satellite TV providers may also require the use of an antenna to receive certain channels. However, if you stream TV shows or movies online, you may not need an antenna.

How do I choose the right TV antenna?

When selecting a TV antenna, consider factors such as your location, the distance to the broadcast towers, and the type of signals available in your area. Outdoor antennas generally provide better reception, especially in areas with weak signals, while indoor antennas are suitable for locations near broadcast towers.

Can I use an old antenna for digital TV?

Older antennas can still work for digital TV reception, especially if they were designed to receive both UHF and VHF signals. However, newer digital television signals often require antennas optimized for specific frequencies. It is recommended to check the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure compatibility.

Do antennas amplify signals?

While some TV antennas have built-in amplifiers to enhance weak signals, not all antennas have this feature. Amplified antennas can help improve reception in areas with low signal strength or interference, but they may also amplify unwanted noise. Consider your location and the distance to the broadcast towers when deciding whether an amplified antenna is necessary.

How can I improve my TV antenna reception?

To improve TV antenna reception, try repositioning the antenna to a higher location, away from obstructions such as buildings or trees. Ensure that the antenna is properly aligned towards the broadcast towers. Additionally, using a signal booster or a larger, more powerful antenna may help overcome signal issues in areas with weak reception.

Final Thoughts

TV antennas work by receiving over-the-air signals, which are broadcasted by television stations. These signals contain audio and video data, which are then converted into electronic signals that can be understood by your TV. The process starts with the antenna capturing the signals from the air and sending them to the tuner inside your TV. The tuner decodes the signals and transmits them to the TV’s display, allowing you to enjoy your favorite TV shows and channels. With a TV antenna, you can access free, high-quality programming without the need for expensive cable or satellite subscriptions. So, if you’re looking to cut the cord and enjoy cost-effective entertainment, consider getting a TV antenna and experience the wonders of how TV antenna works firsthand.

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Real World Signal Propagation - What You Need to Know

Getting tv signals from point a to point b.

In our last article, we discussed the channels and frequencies used for broadcast television. Now, let's take a closer look at how those signals depart the transmitter tower and ultimately wind up at your TV antenna.

The term "broadcast" sums up the process nicely. Each TV station connects a powerful transmitter to an antenna mounted atop a tower, building, or on a hilltop and attempts to send out signals over a broad coverage area, reaching as many homes as possible. In the older days of analog television, engineers would determine the required power level and signal gain of the antenna to draw their "A" signal coverage area (strong signal with little noise) and "B" coverage area (not as strong a signal and noisy, but still usable).

In some areas, 'broad' signal coverage meant a lot of signal would be sent out to areas with little to no viewership, such as over oceans, into remote mountains, and over deserts. In these cases, the transmitting antennas were ultimately modified to focus the TV signal (or pattern) over specific geographic areas while minimizing it over other, unwanted areas. After all, how many coyotes and fish watch TV?

With simple antennas, the photons radiate from the antenna equally in all directions. If you could inject a magical photon ink into the cable and see the radiated signal pattern, it would resemble a sphere. All well and good, but there aren't many viewers situated above the TV tower, so the antenna (actually, a combination of separate antenna elements) is designed to focus most of its energy in one geometric plane.

For television broadcasting, the most commonly-used antennas send out signals that are horizontally polarized. That is; the plane of the TV signal is parallel to the earth's surface. That's why outdoor TV antennas are positioned horizontally and not vertically. Ideally, over a line-of-sight path from your home to the TV station, the horizontally-polarized signal stays that way.

The transition to digital TV broadcasting in 2009 didn't change things all that much, except there are no "A" and "B" signal contours anymore. Now, the digital TV signal is perfect right up to the point where it falls below the minimum signal-to-noise threshold, where it drops out suddenly (also known as the cliff effect). But some new wrinkles have been added: The newest version of digital TV, known as ATSC 3.0, will enable reception by mobile devices like your phone, or a TV in your car.

These devices generally do better when receiving a signal that is both vertically and horizontally polarized, especially in moving vehicles. To serve this new audience plus those traditional viewers at home, TV stations can install antennas that create a circular polarization pattern with both vertical and horizontal components, although it will require more transmitter power. (Circular polarization is also used to communicate with orbiting satellites.)

We mentioned the ideal signal path a moment ago. In the real world, there are often obstructions between your TV and the transmitter tower. Not only that, signals can bounce off other objects before arriving at your antenna. The resulting secondary, reflected signals, known as multipath signals, take different paths to your antenna and can either provide you with reception in otherwise inaccessible areas, such as in a cluster of tall buildings, or more likely cause all kinds of maddening interference when a reflection of the TV signal arrives at your antenna out of phase just a few microseconds after the original signal, causing reception to break up or drop out.

This multipath interference problem bedeviled the digital TV system when it first started testing in the mid-1990s. It took a lot of research, mathematical calculations, and chip development over a decade to come up with circuits to handle interference and dropout from multipath signals. Today, these adaptive equalizers provide reliable digital TV reception even in dense urban environments, ensuring you're not driven crazy by your favorite programs freezing up or abruptly disappearing.

Signals from VHF and UHF TV and radio stations behave in a largely predictable fashion. They launch from the antenna at the correct polarization angle and mostly stay that way, growing weaker as they travel farther from the transmitter. But if they collide with an object along the way and are reflected, all bets are off – the initial polarization can change drastically from horizontal to vertical, or more likely something in-between. At UHF TV frequencies, the difference between horizontally and vertically-polarized signals can be as great as 10 dB, or ten times the signal level!

If the signal from the TV station is strong enough at your home, a slight shift in polarization caused by these reflections shouldn't cause you any serious reception issues. Remember that, in the early days of TV broadcasting 60 years ago, the average homeowner had to deal with a pair of collapsing vertical whip antennas (a/k/a rabbit ears) to watch horizontally-polarized TV signals, frequently moving the antennas through different angles to get the strongest and cleanest picture and sound and eliminate pesky "ghost" images caused by multipath.

Other 'tricks' of signal propagation can come into play. If you live near a lake or other large body of water, you may find that signals from distant TV stations become noticeably stronger at night, thanks to a weather phenomenon known as "tropospheric ducting." A layer of cold air becomes trapped between layers of warm air, forming a virtual "duct" in which VHF and UHF TV signal can travel hundreds of miles to some very surprised viewers. "Ducting" is not unusual in late summer and early fall along the Great Lakes, the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and across the Gulf of Mexico.

Another even stranger phenomenon is known as knife edge refraction, where TV and radio signals actually refract or bend down as they pass over mountains. Depending on the bend angle, you may be able to get perfect TV reception miles away from the station, even though a tall hill or mountain sits smack between you and the TV transmitter. You may also discover that the optimal position of your TV antenna for this type of reception is closer to the ground, and not up on your roof.

Your TV antenna may well wind up in an unusual location like the one in the picture below that's in the middle of a rose bed below a deck, overlooking a fish pond. This is the "magic" spot for both VHF and UHF TV reception at a location in southwestern Vermont, up a remote valley and blocked in the direction of the Albany, New York TV transmitters by a hill 300' taller and half a mile away. And those transmitters are 50 miles distant – yet, they come in reliably every day, rain or shine. (And the rose bushes keep people from walking into and breaking the antenna!)

The key to receiving digital TV signals over-the-air is to have a high enough signal-to-noise ratio to lock up that clean digital picture and audio. Choosing the right antenna for the job and positioning it correctly goes a long way to making that happen! Stay tuned for more tips…

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How Far Can A TV Antenna Reach

Technology & Innovation
IoT & Smart Devices

Introduction

A TV antenna is a device that receives and captures TV signals from broadcast towers to provide free over-the-air channels. With the rise of cable and satellite TV, some may think that TV antennas are obsolete. However, they still play a role in many households, especially for those who want to cut the cord and enjoy local channels without monthly fees.

Whether you’re considering purchasing a TV antenna or already have one, understanding its range is crucial. How far can a TV antenna reach? The answer to this question depends on numerous factors, including the antenna type, location, terrain, and external factors that can affect signal strength.

In this article, we will explore how TV antennas work and the various factors that determine their range. We will also discuss the different types of TV antennas and whether indoor or outdoor options offer a longer reach. Additionally, we will examine ways to enhance the range of your TV antenna and if your geographic location can impact its effectiveness. Finally, we will provide some tips to improve TV reception and signal strength for optimal viewing experience.

How does a TV antenna work?

To understand how a TV antenna works, we need to first grasp the concept of over-the-air TV signals. These signals are transmitted by TV stations from broadcast towers and travel through the air to reach homes with a TV antenna.

A TV antenna is designed to receive these signals, which are electromagnetic waves carrying audio and video data. The antenna consists of conductive elements that pick up the waves and convert them into electrical signals. These signals are then passed through a coaxial cable to the TV tuner, which processes and decodes the audio and video information.

The range of a TV antenna depends on its design and the frequency range it can capture. Most TV stations transmit signals in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) bands. Therefore, a TV antenna needs to be capable of receiving both UHF and VHF signals.

The size and shape of the antenna elements determine the wavelengths it can pick up. Longer elements are more suited for lower-frequency VHF signals, while shorter elements are better for higher-frequency UHF signals. Modern TV antennas often incorporate a combination of elements optimized for both VHF and UHF frequency ranges.

It’s worth noting that TV signals are affected by obstacles such as buildings, trees, and even the curvature of the Earth. Therefore, the placement and orientation of the TV antenna can significantly impact signal reception. Experimenting with different positions and angles may be necessary to achieve optimal signal strength and quality.

In summary, a TV antenna receives over-the-air TV signals by capturing electromagnetic waves and converting them into electrical signals. The antenna’s design and frequency capabilities determine its range, while signal reception can be affected by obstacles and the antenna’s placement.

Factors that affect the range of TV antennas

The range of a TV antenna can be affected by several factors. Understanding these factors can help you optimize your antenna setup for better reception. Here are some key factors to consider:

Transmitter Power: The power output of TV stations can vary, and higher-powered stations have a greater reach. If you live closer to a transmitter with higher power, you’re more likely to receive a stronger signal.
Antenna Gain: Antenna gain refers to how effectively the antenna can capture signals. Antennas with higher gain can receive weaker signals and provide better reception. Different antenna designs and sizes can affect gain.
Frequency Range: As mentioned earlier, TV stations transmit signals in the UHF and VHF bands. Some antennas are designed to receive both frequency ranges, while others may focus on one. Make sure your antenna matches the frequency range of the stations you want to receive.
Obstacles and Interference: Buildings, trees, mountains, and other physical obstacles can block or weaken TV signals. Similarly, electronic devices such as appliances, routers, or nearby transmitters can cause interference. Clear line-of-sight to the broadcast towers is ideal for optimal reception.
Antenna Placement and Orientation: The position and direction of your TV antenna can significantly impact signal reception. It is recommended to position your antenna as high as possible and point it towards the broadcast towers for better signal capture.
Cable Quality: The quality and length of the coaxial cable between your antenna and TV can also affect signal loss. It is essential to use good quality cables and keep the cable runs as short as possible.

It’s important to note that the range of a TV antenna can vary greatly depending on these factors. While some locations may have excellent signal strength and a long reach, others may require additional measures such as amplifiers or outdoor antennas to improve reception.

By considering these factors and optimizing your antenna setup accordingly, you can ensure better signal reception and a more enjoyable TV viewing experience.

Types of TV antennas and their maximum range

TV antennas come in various types, each with its own design and maximum range capabilities. Here are some common types of TV antennas and their respective ranges:

Indoor TV Antennas: Indoor antennas are designed for placement inside your home, typically near a window or on a wall. These antennas are compact and easy to install but generally have a shorter range compared to outdoor antennas. The maximum range of an indoor antenna can vary, but it’s typically around 30 to 50 miles.
Outdoor TV Antennas: Outdoor antennas are larger and more robust, making them suitable for mounting on rooftops or in attics. Due to their size and elevated positions, outdoor antennas can receive signals from greater distances and overcome obstructions better. The maximum range of an outdoor antenna can range from 60 to 100 miles or more, depending on the model and the terrain.
Directional Antennas: Directional antennas are designed to receive signals from a specific direction. They have a focused beam that allows for better reception in one direction but poorer reception from other directions. These antennas are beneficial if the majority of your desired TV stations are located in a specific direction from your home. The range of directional antennas can vary but is generally longer than that of omnidirectional antennas.
Omnidirectional Antennas: Omnidirectional antennas can receive signals from multiple directions without the need for manual adjustment. These antennas are suitable if your desired TV stations are spread out over different directions. However, omnidirectional antennas tend to have a shorter range compared to directional antennas.

It’s important to consider your location, the distance to the broadcast towers, and the terrain around your home when selecting a TV antenna type. If you live in a suburban or rural area with broadcast towers far away, an outdoor antenna with a longer range may be more suitable. In urban areas with shorter distances to the towers, an indoor antenna or a shorter-range outdoor antenna may suffice.

Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and the actual range of a TV antenna can vary based on the factors discussed earlier. It’s recommended to consult with professionals or conduct thorough research to find the best TV antenna type and model for your specific location and needs.

Indoor vs. outdoor TV antennas: Which has a longer reach?

One common question when it comes to TV antennas is whether indoor or outdoor antennas have a longer reach. The answer depends on various factors, including your location, the distance to the broadcast towers, and the surrounding terrain.

Outdoor TV antennas generally have a longer reach compared to indoor antennas. This is because outdoor antennas are larger and positioned higher, which allows them to receive signals from greater distances and overcome obstacles more effectively. Outdoor antennas also have the advantage of being able to capture signals coming from different directions by adjusting the antenna’s direction.

On the other hand, indoor TV antennas have a more limited range. They are designed for placement inside your home and are often smaller and less powerful than outdoor antennas. Indoor antennas rely on capturing stronger nearby signals and may struggle to pick up weaker signals from a distance, especially if there are obstructions such as buildings or trees in the way.

However, it’s important to note that some indoor antennas boast longer ranges than others. High-performance indoor antennas with advanced designs, such as those with built-in amplifiers or extended reach capabilities, can provide better reception and potentially reach TV stations that are farther away.

When deciding between an indoor or outdoor antenna, consider your specific location and the signal conditions in your area. If you are relatively close to the broadcast towers and have a clear line of sight, an indoor antenna might suffice. However, if you are located further away or have obstructions in the way, an outdoor antenna with a longer reach may be more suitable.

Another factor to consider is the ease of installation. Indoor antennas are typically easier to set up, while outdoor antennas may require more effort, such as mounting on rooftops or in attics. It’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option based on your specific circumstances.

Ultimately, the choice between an indoor and outdoor TV antenna depends on your individual needs and preferences. Whether you prioritize convenience, range, or signal quality, selecting the right antenna type can help ensure optimal TV reception and an enjoyable viewing experience.

Enhancing the range of your TV antenna

If you’re looking to improve the range and reception of your TV antenna, there are several steps you can take to enhance its performance. Here are some tips to enhance the range of your TV antenna:

Optimize antenna placement: Experiment with different locations and positions to find the best placement for your antenna. Sometimes moving the antenna just a few feet in a specific direction can make a significant difference in signal strength and quality. Try placing the antenna near a window or in the attic for better reception.
Consider an outdoor antenna: If possible, installing an outdoor antenna can extend the range and improve signal reception. Outdoor antennas are generally more powerful and better equipped to overcome obstructions such as buildings or trees.
Use a signal amplifier: Signal amplifiers, also known as pre-amplifiers or distribution amplifiers, can boost the signal strength received by your antenna. These devices help overcome signal loss caused by long cable runs or weak signal conditions, resulting in improved overall range and reception.
Use high-quality cables: Ensure that you use good quality coaxial cables to minimize signal loss. Cheap or old cables can introduce interference and limit the range of your antenna. Consider using thicker and shielded cables for better transmission of the TV signals from the antenna to your TV.
Remove signal interference: Identify and eliminate any sources of interference that may impact your antenna’s range. Electronic devices such as routers, cordless phones, or other wireless devices can interfere with TV signals. Keep these devices away from your antenna or try using shielded cables to minimize interference.
Consider a multi-directional antenna: If you receive signals from multiple directions, a multi-directional antenna can be beneficial. These antennas are designed to capture signals from various directions simultaneously, increasing the chances of receiving a wider range of channels.
Keep antenna away from obstacles: Physical obstructions can affect the range of your antenna. Try to keep your antenna away from large obstructions like buildings, hills, or trees. Clear line-of-sight to the broadcast towers is ideal for optimal signal reception.

Remember to always rescan for channels on your TV after making any changes to your antenna setup. This allows your TV to detect and add any newly available channels.

By following these tips, you can enhance the range of your TV antenna and improve your overall TV viewing experience. However, it’s important to note that the range of your antenna will ultimately be limited by factors such as the transmitter power, frequency range, and obstacles in your specific area.

Can geographic location impact TV antenna range?

Yes, your geographic location can have a significant impact on the range and effectiveness of your TV antenna. Several geographical factors can affect the reception of TV signals. Let’s explore how your location plays a role:

Distance to broadcast towers: The proximity of your home to the broadcast towers is a crucial factor in determining the range of your TV antenna. The closer you are to the towers, the stronger the signal you will receive, resulting in a longer range for your antenna.
Terrain and elevation: The terrain and elevation surrounding your location can either improve or hinder TV signal reception. For instance, living in a flat terrain with minimal obstructions can allow for stronger signal reception and increase the range of your antenna. On the other hand, being in a hilly or mountainous area may hinder signal reception due to signal blockage or interference.
Urban vs. rural areas: The type of area you live in can impact the availability and strength of TV signals. Urban areas often have multiple TV stations located nearby, resulting in stronger signals and a wider range. In contrast, rural areas may have fewer stations and longer distances to broadcast towers, which can limit the range of your antenna.
Local broadcasting stations: The availability and strength of local broadcasting stations can vary depending on your location. Some areas may have a higher concentration of stations, increasing the range of your antenna and offering a broader selection of channels. In areas with limited stations, the range of your antenna may be more restricted.

It’s important to research the broadcast towers in your area and their estimated distances from your location. This information can help determine which type of antenna and its range are suitable for your geographic location.

Additionally, online tools such as signal mapping websites can provide detailed information about the available TV stations in your area, their frequencies, and signal strengths. These tools can assist in selecting the right antenna and optimizing its placement for reliable reception.

Keep in mind that even within the same city or region, the range and quality of TV signals can vary. Factors such as building density, foliage, and electromagnetic interference can influence the effectiveness of your TV antenna. Therefore, it’s important to consider not only your general geographic location but also the specific conditions around your home.

Understanding the impact of geographic location on TV antenna range allows you to make informed decisions when selecting and installing your antenna, ensuring optimal signal reception and maximizing the range of your antenna.

Tips for improving TV reception and signal strength

If you’re experiencing poor TV reception or weak signal strength, there are several steps you can take to improve your TV antenna’s performance. Here are some tips to enhance TV reception and signal strength:

Rescan for channels: Perform a channel scan on your TV to ensure that you are receiving all available channels. This is especially important if you have recently installed or repositioned your antenna.
Adjust antenna placement: Experiment with different antenna positions to find the best placement for optimal signal reception. Try placing your antenna near a window or in the attic to improve the line-of-sight to the broadcast towers.
Use an antenna amplifier: Consider using a signal amplifier or booster to strengthen the TV signal captured by your antenna. Amplifiers help overcome signal loss caused by long cable runs or weak signal conditions.
Check cable connections: Ensure that all cable connections between your antenna, TV, and other equipment are secure and undamaged. Loose or faulty connections can lead to signal loss and reduced reception.
Upgrade your coaxial cable: Replace old or low-quality coaxial cables with high-quality cables to minimize signal loss. Thicker, shielded cables are more effective at transmitting TV signals and can enhance reception and signal quality.
Install a mast or antenna rotator: If you have an outdoor antenna, consider installing a mast or an antenna rotator to easily adjust the antenna’s direction. This allows you to fine-tune the antenna’s position for optimal signal reception from different broadcast towers.
Reduce signal interference: Identify and eliminate sources of interference that may affect your TV signal. Keep electronic devices such as routers, cordless phones, or other wireless devices away from your antenna. Use shielded cables to minimize interference.
Perform regular antenna maintenance: Keep your antenna clean and free from debris, such as dust, leaves, or bird droppings. A dirty antenna can hinder signal reception and reduce the range of your TV antenna.
Consider upgrading your antenna: If all else fails, you may need to upgrade your antenna to a higher-gain or more powerful model. Research antennas that are specifically designed for your geographic location and signal conditions.

Remember, every location and antenna setup is unique, so it’s essential to experiment and find the best combination of tips that work for you. If you’re still experiencing issues with reception or signal strength, it may be helpful to consult with a professional antenna installer who can assess your specific situation and recommend the best solution.

By implementing these tips, you can improve TV reception, enhance signal strength, and ensure a more consistent and enjoyable TV viewing experience.

Understanding the range and factors that influence TV antenna reception is crucial for optimizing your TV viewing experience. By grasping how TV antennas work and the factors that affect their range, you can make informed decisions when selecting and positioning your antenna.

We learned that TV antennas capture over-the-air TV signals and convert them into electrical signals for your TV tuner to process. Factors such as transmitter power, antenna gain, frequency range, obstacles, and antenna placement all play a role in determining the range and effectiveness of your TV antenna.

Indoor antennas are convenient but typically have a shorter range compared to outdoor antennas, which are better suited for overcoming obstacles and capturing signals from greater distances. Directional antennas focus on receiving signals from a specific direction, while omnidirectional antennas capture signals from multiple directions.

To enhance the range of your TV antenna, optimize its placement, consider an outdoor antenna, use signal amplifiers, use high-quality cables, remove interference, and possibly upgrade your antenna or perform maintenance on your existing setup.

Note that your geographic location can impact TV antenna range due to variables such as distance to broadcast towers, terrain, urban versus rural areas, and the availability of local broadcasting stations. Researching your area, signal mapping tools, and professional consultation can help you select the appropriate antenna for your location.

Improving TV reception and signal strength also involves adjusting antenna placement, upgrading cables, reducing interference, and considering antenna amplifiers or rotators. Regular maintenance and cleanliness of the antenna are also essential for optimal performance.

By considering these factors and implementing the tips and techniques discussed, you can maximize the range and effectiveness of your TV antenna, ensuring a better TV viewing experience with reliable signal reception and access to your favorite channels.

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How to Estimate TV Reception in Your Area

by Brian Shim | Last updated Oct 15, 2022

Readers often ask me are “how many channels will I be able to receive?”, and “what kind of antenna should I get?”

I wanted to take a moment to explain some of the factors affecting your TV reception so you can make some better estimates of how many channels you’ll be able to get with an antenna, and how you can improve your reception.

How TV Signals Propagate

In an ideal flat world, TV signals would radiate in a perfect circle outward from the source, like ripples of water in a still pond. The strength of the signal would just depend on how far you were from the transmitter.

But, the real world can be bumpy with all kinds of hills, mountains, and valleys. I did some analysis using an online tool at the TVFool.com website to determine how much effect these terrain features have on your TV signal. The answer is that they have a huge effect!

First, let’s take a look at a super flat area like Houston, TX which is the ideal case:

The colors indicate how strong the TV signal is, from white to red to green to blue and purple. Note how the signal radiates in an almost perfect circular “target” pattern when the land is flat.

How Terrain Affects TV Signals

Okay, Houston is an ideal case. Let’s take a look at some whacky terrain and see what effect it has on the signals. Check out Boston, MA:

Boston has some mild hills, and you can already see that the perfect circular pattern is very distorted, and that there are little valleys where the TV signal is weak. If you happen to live in one of these valleys, your reception will be poor.

Next, let’s take a look at my home town of Los Angeles, CA, which lies in the basin between some fairly large mountains and a really crazy pattern:

You can clearly see that the signal is pretty much stopped in its tracks to the north, where the mountains are. Also, you can see purple “shadows” where the smaller mountains are blocking the signal. Interestingly, there is a “shadow” just to the south of the transmitter where the mountain itself blocking the signal. In that area, the people live only a few miles from the transmitter, but are getting a very weak signal!

Let’s take a look at San Francisco now:

This shows another crazy pattern. The transmitter is located on the famous Sutro Tower on Twin Peaks. If you have a line of sight to the tower, you’re in good shape, even if you’re way across the bay in Oakland or even Berkeley. But, if you live in South San Francisco, you’re screwed because mountains are blocking the signal.

These maps show how much terrain affects TV signals. Even if you’re really close to a transmitter, if you are in the “shadow” of a mountain or hill, your signal might be weak.

On the other hand, if you live in a flat area with nothing blocking the signals (like across a span of water), you might be able to get good TV reception even from very far away.

As informative as these maps are, however, they are limited because they do not take into account buildings, trees, and other features that might block your signals. New York City looks great “on paper”, but if a skyscraper is between you and the TV tower, you could be in bad shape.

This is why it’s so hard to predict how many channels you’ll be able to get. Someone who is 70 miles away might get better reception than someone who is 10 miles away, due to the terrain or objects blocking the signal.

How to Check Your Location

You can use this tool to check any station in your area. Find the call letters of the station you want to check. If you don’t know them off hand, go to the Station Finder , or Antennas Direct’s Transmitter Locator and enter your location to see a list of stations and their call letters.

Next, go to TV Fool’s Online Coverage Map Browser Tool and enter the call letters of the station. Click “Search”, and a colored “heat map” will appear showing signal strength. You can zoom in to find your exact location.

What Kind of Antenna to Get

The colors in the map will tell you what kind of antenna you need. White is the strongest, then red, then, orange, then yellow, then green, then blue, then purple.

If you are in a green or stronger area, you should be able to receive that channel with a good indoor antenna like the Mohu Leaf .

If you are in a blue area, you should be able to receive that channel with an attic or roof antenna.

Anything further out – you might be able to get with a roof antenna, but no promises!

One caveat is that VHF signals are more difficult to receive (by most HD TV antennas) than UHF signals. So, even if a VHF station is “green”, you might not be able to receive it with an indoor antenna.

Another factor you’ll have to consider is whether the TV signals in your area are all coming from the same direction or from different directions. In Los Angeles, all of the TV signals come from Mt. Wilson, so I can use a unidirectional antenna pointed in that direction. If the signals are coming from different directions in your area, you’ll want to use an antenna that is more omnidirectional. I’ll talk more about this in a future article. For now, the Mohu Leaf does a pretty good job of receiving signals from different directions, although most antennas are somewhat directional, including the Leaf.

How to Improve Your Reception

These maps show how important it is to have a direct line of sight to the transmitter. Any objects in the way will literally cast a shadow where the TV signals are weak.

The way to somewhat improve this situation is to put your antenna up as high as possible. The second floor is better than the first. The attic is even better. The roof, even better. Of course, if you have a 10,000-foot mountain in the way, putting your antenna on the roof probably won’t help, but you can make the call based on the coverage map and the obstacles in your immediate area, whether it’s worth the effort or not.

Another super important thing you can do based on these maps is to point your antenna towards the transmitter tower. Figure out the compass direction and point your antenna accordingly. If you need to run a longer cable in order to do that, it can be well worth it. You want to have the antenna on the side of your house that faces the signals.

An amplified antenna might help if all of your signals are far away. If some are close and some are far, it can actually hurt your overall reception, because the stronger signals will swamp your amplifier and drown out the weak signals.

I hope these maps have helped you understand how much of an effect terrain and other obstacles can have on your TV reception. Here is the full list of cities that I looked at:

Please feel free to post the map of YOUR area below, and let us know how many channels you are getting! – Brian

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I'm an electrical engineer (BSEE Caltech ) with twenty years of experience designing industrial and consumer products, and now a web developer who loves to share ways to save money on TV content, Internet access, and cell phone plans! Read more about me here .

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Hi. Looking to get an antenna for my mother in Tampa, FL 33647. Not sure if she would need a 25′, 35′ or 50′ radius, but most likely will get her the 50′ one. When I put in her info to test the range of channels available, it’s only showing the local channels. Do any of these antennas ever pick up any other channels, like basic cable channels? There’s a “best value” one on Amazon that has a 50′ radius, comes with a 20′ co-axle cable and a 10′ USB cord. She has a flat screen mounted on her living room wall and a tablet. Would she be able to use it for both or would she need two?

Hi LBCandyGirl,

I checked that zip code and there are lots of local channels there. Basic cable channels are not available on broadcast TV unfortunately.

The radius ratings are somewhat arbitrary and by no means guaranteed. If you want an indoor antenna, I’d suggest either the Mohu Leaf or Cable Cutter Aerowave, both non-amplified. If you get the Leaf, get some good RG6 coax cable to go with it: https://www.disablemycable.com/antennas/

In your mother’s area where signals are strong, an amplifier might actually hurt her reception.

Best, Brian

how accurate is tvfool? we’re about 62 miles or so from the LA towers, but unfortunately directly behind a large hill right across the street. signal at the top of the hill is great, where we are at the bottom obviously not so much, according to tvfool.

i’m thinking about getting the largest deepest fringe antenna i can find and testing it before putting it up, but i don’t want to even bother if there’s no point. plus, i’m going to have to pay someone to put the damn thing up on the roof, so i’d be testing from the ground or from a room upstairs pointed through a window…which isn’t necessarily going to help things.

Hi Crackers8199,

Here’s my advice: before buying anything, talk to your neighbors, local friends on Facebook, and folks on Nextdoor to see how many channels and what kinds of antennas your neighbors are using.

nobody in the neighborhood seems to be doing anything but paying for cable/satellite. we do have locast available here (so i guess some people are using that, including me at the moment), but i’ve been looking for ways to improve my picture quality.

the FCC site does seem to show weak signal (but signal nonetheless) at my location. all of our locals are in brown on that result set.

Yeah, I bet no one is able to get broadcast TV then. 62 miles and behind a hill does not bode well. You could try an outdoor antenna mounted as high as possible; just make sure you can return it.

i think it’s more that people don’t realize the HOA can’t prevent them from putting an antenna up. people here despise our HOA.

according to the topographical maps of the area, ground level where my house sits is about 70 feet or so below the very top of the hill.

one reason i thought i might have a chance is because my roof line is already 30+ feet off the ground. add another 10-15 feet to that if i can get the antenna up that high above the roof line, and i’m at least within an eyelash of the top of the hill across the street. hopefully at least enough to get me out of the shadow. like i said, the signal at the top of the hill is in the yellow on tvfool, so it’s somewhat strong in the area in general.

If the station finder lists the channels as moderate, will the Mohu Leaf 30 work for me. I live in a rural area with trees. The zip code is 37334.

Hello. Hopefully, you can educate me on this subject. I dropped my 15 year Directv subscription over 3 years ago. The dish was mounted on the facia board of my house. I purchased a Lava HD-2605 antenna and mounted it on the same dish J-pole. Hoo-ray, I got 3 of 5 the local stations all the time, and 1 other intermittenly. As time passed, I lost the CBS station, but the fox station remained strong. All the channel guides show these stations as weak signals, but my FOX was 4 of 5 bars on the meter. Last November, my FOX station disappeared as well. Now I find a new channel, A Christian Network is at full strength… Here’s where I become lost, the Christian channel is transmitted from the same point as both my FOX, NBC and ABC stations come from. Researching, Wiki shows the Christian network transmits at 1000 kw power, while the others are at 650 kw and 725 kw or so (memory fades). Is it possible that the Christian channel is blocking the NBC and FOX channels? I have changed location and height of a new antenna, with same results (PBS and Cristian channels with 5 of 5 bars indicated reception). Any thoughts would be gladly accepted. Thanks, Jeff J.

The Christian station should not be interfering with the other channel unless they transmitting on the same frequency (i.e., they are on the same channel).

Here are some tips for antenna placement; many of these apply to indoor antennas but some can be applied to outdoor antennas: https://www.disablemycable.com/antenna-tips/

Best, Brain

I have a digital ready antenna and tv and can run a channel search and get channels just fine. My problem is, after about 10-15 minutes of watching, the signal starts to go from good to weak and eventually gone. If I shut the tv off for a few minutes and turn it back on, the reception is back to good for a while but then starts to dip off again. Then I turn the tv off and back on. Good signal again for a while. Then I end up repeating this process over and over. Any ideas of my issue? The tv is a 2006-2007 ish dynex model.

It sounds like your TV’s tuner is going bad in a way such that when it heats up, it can no longer function. The best bet would be to experiment with another TV, external tuner, or broadcast TV DVR.

Thanks for your reply Brian. I will look into one of those options and let you know what I discover.

Brian, hello. We reside outside Washington DC in zip code 20878. We have a 2nd floor condo in s garden style building located in a shallow valley surrounded by woods. We purchased the GE UnltraPro Stealth HD Antenna that has 60-miles range. Inside we have better reception than anticipated with most of the TV station in the DC area but not all and none from Baltimore. However, we would like to discreetly locate the antenna outside on our balcony, which faces south, southwest at 215 degrees but are able to point the antenna in any direction needed to maximize the signal. The exterior construction is wood with aluminum studying used for interior walls. Eventually, once we have this antenna working, we would like to have the antenna work for whole condo but for now focusing on obtaining the best possible signal on one TV.

Cool, thanks for sharing! Let us know how it turns out! If you want to drive the whole condo you might need an amplifier.

Gene Sky , Date 07-07-2016

Go to http://www.tvfool.com , Help With Reception , Digital Broadcast Tv Reception.

Also you can go to , http://www.ftalist.com . FTA = Free To Air Satellite Tv. Many Networks can be received for Free. All of the PBS Networks and more networks.

Thank you for your informative article! I’ve been cord free for 3 years using a Radio Shack amplified antenna. At the moment, I use it with my new smart TV in my living room. I also have a small 8 year old TV that can also be used as a computer monitor. I want to put it in my bedroom so I connected it to my amplified antenna to see if I would get any channels in my bedroom. To my surprise I got zero channels! This is shocking because my bedroom is directly next to my living room and their windows both face the same directions. I get 26 stations on my smart TV in my living room. I had the antenna next to the window, facing the same way in my bedroom as is faces in my living room. I have to assume that there’s something going on with the old TV because the problem isn’t the antenna. Can you tell me why I get no channels on the 8 year old small flat screen TV/monitor in my bedroom and how to remedy that problem?

Hi Dusteyrose,

That is somewhat surprising. If your old TV definitely has a digital broadcast tuner, then it might not be as high quality as your smart TV. Also, make sure you went through the digital channel scan process properly.

Hi Brian, Thank you for your speedy reply. I just realized I stated my problem incorrectly, so sorry! That’s one of the problems of being electronically illiterate. Your reply jolted some sense into my brain. Apparently the TV/monitor is lacking a digital broadcast tuner because there are only two channel input options which are TV and Cable, there is none for antenna. I guess my only use for the old TV/monitor is watching DVD’s if I can find an RCA cable because it has no HDMI. Either that or use it as a huge paperweight! Thanks again!

OK, glad you figured it out!

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TV Going The Distance: Propagation

It has to be hard to be a kid interested in radio these days. When I was a kid, there was a lot of interesting things on shortwave. There wasn’t any cable TV (at least, not where I lived) so it was easy to hack antennas and try to pull in weak TV and broadcast stations. The TV stations were especially interesting.

It was one thing for me to build a dish antenna to pick up Star Trek from a station just barely out of range. But sometimes you’d get some really distant TV station. The world’s record is the reception of a BBC TV station in Australia (a distance of 10,800 miles). That’s extreme, but even from my childhood home near New Orleans, I’ve personally picked up TV stations from as far away as New Mexico. Have you ever wondered how that’s possible?

Radio signals behave differently depending on their frequency. The TV frequencies used in the old analog signals were VHF signals (well, the channels between 2 and 13 in the United States, anyway). In general, those signals usually travel through the air, but don’t bounce off any part of the atmosphere. So if you aren’t in a line of sight with the transmitter, you can’t see the broadcast. The other problem is that local stations tend to drown out weak distant stations. A TV DXer (ham lingo for someone trying to hear distant signals) has to wait for local stations to go silent or listen on frequencies where there are no local stations.

Basic Radio Propagation

At shortwave frequencies, distant propagation is much more common. Shortwaves travel via ground wave (short distance) and sky wave. However, parts of our atmosphere–particularly, the part about 25 to 250 miles overhead called the ionosphere–can bounce signals back to Earth (technically, the radio signals are refracted or bent; see image to the left). What makes the ionosphere special is that the air pressure is low enough that ions can travel for a long time without colliding into other atoms and turning neutral.

The ionosphere is divided into different layers and each layer has its own characteristic. The bottom layer is the D layer and tends to absorb radio signals, especially those at lower frequencies. However, the D layer also vanishes at night, which is part of why lower shortwave bands are usually dead during the day and active at night.

Above the D layer is the E layer. It also is a daytime-only layer, and at low frequencies it can absorb radio waves (although not nearly as much as the D layer). The E layer isn’t very important for shortwave frequencies, but for the TV (and FM radio) bands, it can provide E skip (see below).

If you are wondering why these layers disappear at night, it is because the lower layers are almost exclusively ionized by the energy of the sun. The E layer gets some ionization from other sources (like X-rays and meteors), but most of the ions come from the sun.

The F layer is the next part of the ionosphere, and is usually broken into the F1 and F2 layers. These layers are interesting because while the sun ionizes them, the atmospheric density is so low that ions formed during the day may not recombine all night long, so the F layer doesn’t always disappear at night–at least not all of it. The F1 layer is almost the same as the E layer and it does vanish at night. The F2 layer remains at night.

The F2 layer’s density and the frequency of the wave determines how much the radio wave is bent or refracted and this, in turn, determines how far apart the receiver and transmitter can be and still maintain contact. If the F2 layer isn’t very dense with ions, high frequency signals will not refract enough to go back to Earth and will, instead, just zoom into space. The denser the ions in the F2 layer, the higher the frequency that will refract back to Earth. People who study propagation quote the MUF (maximum usable frequency) as an indication of how dense the ionosphere is. TV signals have a pretty high frequency, so to get refraction in the F layer, the MUF must be very high.

The MUF isn’t the same everywhere on the Earth. You have to consider the MUF between two spots (say, Houston to Paris). Naturally, this changes based on the time of day and other factors like sunspots and other solar weather phenomena.

You can see a near real time map of MUF for 1800 mile paths online. You’ll probably notice that the highest numbers on the map are usually between 30 and 40 MHz–too low for TV signals. However, with enough solar activity, the MUF can rise high enough to refract even TV signals and reception over 2,000 miles is possible.

Another part of the ionosphere is the E layer and it is subject to having sporadic ionization. These ionized areas will reflect radio signals up to 1,400 miles. Sporadic ion clouds in the E layer are measured using ionosondes, and you can find maps showing where these ion clouds are .

E skip tends to come and go quickly, but can also be very strong. Sporadic E skip is thought to be responsible for the 1939 reception of an early Italian TV transmitter in England, for example. In 1957, a high-band (channel 7 to 13) signal was received via E skip in Arkansas. The transmitter was 2,300 miles away in Venezuela.

Tropospheric Ducting

Normally, TV signals don’t bounce off the atmosphere because the MUF is too low, but certain weather conditions (temperature, density, and humidity) will cause the troposphere (the lowest layer of the atmosphere) to refract it. When a temperature inversion occurs (warm air over cool air), the troposphere can form a duct that can transport signals over a thousand miles.

Ducts have a tendency to form between the same two points and in some parts of the world, they will last for months at a time. Viewers often get accustomed to watching distance stations.

Transequitorial

There is a special propagation mode that allows transmitters to hit receivers up to 5,000 miles away when the receiver is about the same distance from the equator as the transmitter (but on opposite sides of the equator). For example, television from Japan is sometimes received in Australia, thanks to transequitorial propagation.

There are actually two distinct times that this type of propagation occurs: afternoon to early evening and late evening. The earlier period usually doesn’t support very high frequencies. The later period tends to occur when there is high solar activity and low geomagnetic disturbance index.

When there is a meteor shower, hams use special software to communicate with other hams over long distances. This is often called Meteor scatter, but it actually relies on the ion clouds created in the E layer by the meteors. So from that perspective, this is the same as E skip, but generally of very short duration. The clouds generally only last for a matter of seconds.

The effect is greatest in the early morning hours, although with the right conditions, meteor-based propagation can happen at any time of day.

Although you don’t bounce signals directly against meteors, you can bounce a signal against the moon. The moon is about 239,000 miles away so path losses are around 240 dB. That means you have to have pretty good antennas and receivers to even attempt picking up signals bounced off the moon.

When there were fewer TV stations, it was slightly easier. In the mid 70’s, there were only two TV stations in the United States on UHF channel 68, for example, and [John Yurek] was able to pick them up via moonbounce using some homemade gear. The big dish in Arecibo has also picked up TV signals bounced off the moon. That dish, however, is a bit out of reach of most hackers as it is a 1,000 foot dish. However, radio hams frequently bounce signals off the moon with somewhat more modest antennas (see right).

Another space phenomenon that can cause distance TV reception is an aurora. Solar flares (as well as other solar weather events) take about a day to reach Earth and can create an aurora. Depending on the characteristics of the event, there may be an aurora and that can cause part of the atmosphere to reflect radio waves. However, signals propagated via aurora propagation tend to be distorted and flutter (that is, go up and down in volume rapidly). In addition, due to plasma particles having different velocities, there is a Doppler frequency shift, as well.

What about DTV?

Digital TV is subject to similar propagation effects. There are two problems. Today, you are more likely to have cable and less likely to have an external antenna well positioned for distance reception. The other problem is that the digital signals tend to degrade all at once. On an old analog signal you could squint and use the wet video processor between your ears to tease out a callsign from a snowy picture. With digital television, you probably are getting the signal or you aren’t. Sure, you might miss a few frames, but you don’t get the same kind of weak signals you got with the old system.

So TV DXing (and FM radio DXing) isn’t dead, but it isn’t as easy as it used to be. The video below shows [WD0AKX] doing some DTV DX during a band opening. If you get interested in trying yourself, there are a few good resources at the Worldwide TV FM DX Association (yes, that’s a thing).

If you are interested in propagation in general, a group of hams operate a world wide beacon system that can help you estimate what conditions are to different parts of the world. The beacons identify using Morse code, but since they broadcast on a known frequency and time, you don’t really need to be able to copy Morse in order to use the system.

43 thoughts on “ TV Going The Distance: Propagation ”

Nice post, thanks!

When I lived in south central Louisiana I routinely got Mexican TV broadcasts from as far away as Juarez. Only had a simple typical TV yagi,

Can you add some thoughts on ATV? I’m going to get a SDR dongle soon. I’d like to try receiving ATV. Never seen it before.

ATV or Amateur Radio Television.

Get yourself a set-top tuner, or “cable converter box” that can tune the cable channels. Hook your outside antenna to that and tune to cable channels 52-55, and you might see something, usually on Channel 54.

One summer in Amherst, MA, I picked up a TV station from Chatenooga, TN on Sporadic E.

I just connected a UHF beam in my attic to pick up the local DTV broadcast stations. In spite of what the marketing says, ANY UHF beam will work fine to receive DTV. Thus, I was able to get a brand new, older model high gain UHF antenna for very cheap. Since I had to run the signal down to my basement and the length of my house, I added a UHF preamp, at the antenna, and powered it with a coax tap in the basement. The result is rock solid reception of all the DTV stations in the area, and a happy wife.

That wasn’t sporadic E, the ionosphere won’t refract VHF or UHF back to Earth. The fact that it happened in Summer tells me the phenomenon you experienced was ducting

AM broadcast band DX’ing was my favorite when I was a kid. I had no real clue why I could pick up stations hundreds or thousands of miles away late in the evening during certain seasons until years later but it was fun.

I am ashamed to say that I know very little about this. Where is a good place to start reading?

The ARRL License Manuals. Read them in order: Technician, General, and Extra Classes.

And if your screenname is indicative of your geography, I’m sorry to say I could have mailed you my copy of the Technician Class License Manual, if I hadn’t already done so to another fellow Hoosier looking to get their ham license. I picked it up for free from my area Ham club, so maybe you can do the same. Google your nearest big town/small city (whether you’re in Indiana or not) along with “Amateur Radio” and see what clubs are active and when they meet. Go to a meeting and hob nob. If no one at all has a Technician Manual to lend of give, then I miss my guess.

Thanks, I will look into local clubs, and yes my name is indicative of my location, Elkart area.

You can get tech class practically by reading part 97 alone. I tought myself through general class using this site http://www.ac6v.com . on that dire there is a whole section (22) dedicated to propogatiob. For extra I had to get the book.

So if the E layer “…also is a daytime-only layer…”? Then why does the graphic show it at night?

According to Wikipedia (I know, teachers would kill me for using it directly as a source):

“Propagation is affected by time of day. During the daytime the solar wind presses this layer closer to the Earth, thereby limiting how far it can reflect radio waves. Conversely, on the night (lee) side of the Earth, the solar wind drags the ionosphere further away, thereby greatly increasing the range which radio waves can travel by reflection, called skywave. The extent of the effect is further influenced by the season, and the amount of sunspot activity.”

Which makes it sound like it would be better to describe it as a nighttime layer (although that wouldn’t be correct either).

I love Wikipedia, but I tend to avoid quoting articles that are flagged. If the article says “this article needs additional citations for verification”. You probably shouldn’t quote it. The Wikipedia article you quoted provides only a single citation.

Well, actually there is a residual E layer at night, but it isn’t always reflected (no pun intended) in all models. There is actually a little bit of the D layer, I think, too, but not enough to be significant. Here’s another Wikipedia quote:

At night the F layer is the only layer of significant ionization present, while the ionization in the E and D layers is extremely low. During the day, the D and E layers become much more heavily ionized, as does the F layer, which develops an additional, weaker region of ionisation known as the F1 layer. The F2 layer persists by day and night and is the region mainly responsible for the refraction of radio waves.

So yeah, I probably shouldn’t have said “daytime-only” but at night it isn’t really significant.

Ok, thanks for the additional info.

Nice summary, Al!

Thank you for mentioning the International Beacon Project. The direct link to the timing of the beacons is on the Beacon Schedule Page .

Hackaday readers might note that the hardware design and 8748 firmware that controls the beacons with GPS controlled timing is all open source and available on the site. The signals are timed accurately enough that it is possible to measure the propagation delay from transmission to reception and hence the length of the path taken.

VE3SUN, IARU International Beacon Project Coordinator

I have only done 3 states with TV but across the US with FM in the early summer openings. With DTV I only use the whole rig once a year to watch the Indy 500 from 80 mi. away defeating the blackout here. No joke; you had to get a new TV for sure, but a new antenna? Wait; yes, a very high gain model to pick up the new weak digital signals!

The DTV signal is extremely fragile in the first place, and then they went and lowered the TX power on the point that “it’s digital, the picture is better on a weak signal”.

So now a wind gust rattling the antenna will stop the picture for five second, and someone’s two-stroke outboard motor out on the lake will prevent you from watching TV at all.

Here in the US, they use the oddball 8VSB modulation which is far less robust to bad signal as compared to OFDM. Not to mention more expensive to implement.

DVB-T signal has just enough redundancy to fix single bit-errors coming in at a rate of 5% which translates to what, 10 dB signal to noise ratio?

In theory. The probability of getting more than 5% errors in a single frame is of course higher and you get dropped frames all the friggin time even when the signal is relatively good.

LOL @ comparing BER with SNR. But in any case you’re correct. 10dB SNR is lousy and so to is 5% redundancy.

Well, if the signal is so bad that 1/20th of what you pick up is random garbage, isn’t that kind of a SNR?

Anyways, I think I remember that DVB was being sold on the idea that it would pick up to some ridiculously low SNR such as 12 dB etc. which of course is a practical impossibility because the noise isn’t uniform or constant.

Well there is dB, dBV, dBP, dBM, dBW and if you read long enough dBMop.

So I will assume you are talking about about a voltage induced into an antenna (which requires power to do). In that case 5% or one in twenty is about 13 dB down or -13dB

In the analog days -20dB was good -17dB was acceptable and anything less needed to be fixed.

BER isn’t the same thing, especially when you have signal compression which is like the compression of old days perhaps.

The more you compress a signal (be it digital or analog) the more data transfer you need for error correction. There comes a point in digital error correction that the receiving end can’t make use of the error correction data as it also has errors. At some point, time becomes an issue as well because you have to correct the error correcting info and the corrected error correcting info has errors because it uses the same carrier.

Remember this is pre-emptive. It’s not a two way communication so you can’t select which data you want clarified. You have to use the built in redundancy. So you have a sharp drop off of transmission quality at a critical bit error rate BER.

Combine this with a required frame rate and then the other problem of time contributes to the issue.

You can’t just assume 10dB at 5% BER, you really need to have the EB/No vs. BER curves for your particular hardware. Also, you need to understand the performance with isolated errors vs. burst errors, they are completely different.

Apparently 8VSB is more spectrally and power-efficient, more resistant to transient noises like the forementioned two-stroke engine (the magneto is a spark gap emitter), and gives you a higher data rate, while COFDM deals better with multipath errors at the expense of lower payoad capacity, higher peak power and larger channel separation needed.

So the former is useful in rural areas and the latter is better in cities.

DSL switched to OFDM because it was more resistant to line noise. And oddly enough, Wifi, which uses OFDM, doesn’t seem to care very much about impulse noise.

I would think that DSL has to deal with reflections from impedance mismatches in the lines, which is similiar to a multipath situation where OFDM is good.

And in wifi is not similiar to television, because you can re-request packets. It isn’t disturbed much by rare random events like that, whereas television becomes annoying to watch because the loss of a single keyframe results in visible glitches for seconds, and the probability of corrupting the CC data in a stream during a program approaches 1.

Seriously. Our public broadcaster insists on using the DVB closed caption streams instead of burning subtitles in the picture, which results in every foreign film/documentary/show being unwatchable because the subtitles will fail without fail at some point during an hour-long program and dissapear for a minute or so.

As a ham radio guy, I approve of this post, although a bit simplified.

I do a lot of Sporadic E contacts on the 6m band and uses the russian anlogue TV carriers as “early warning system” for openings

I was a big fan of CB radio DX’ing (27MHz). We would send each other QSL cards on the post.

Then CB moved to the UHF band and I gave it away.

Great article! Please keep ’em coming!

Another great resource when looking for info on propagation is the WSPRnet site. They maintain a real-time map of hams and SWLs from all over the globe who are in contact via radio. The info is organized by band (frequency range), time, and location, and it can be very handy for determining propagation conditions around the globe.

http://wsprnet.org/drupal/wsprnet/map

Great post. Very few people seem to be interested in radio communication these days.

Great article! A bunch of WTFDA members (and non-members) including myself have auto-scanning digital TV tuners which upload data to my server. You can see them all on a map if interested: http://www.rabbitears.info/all_tuners It most often shows tropo but during the summer, especially, you can see e-skip on it too.

The oddest propagation I have ever experienced in when a radio station on 103.3 out of Lincoln Nebraska captured the FM receiver in my car radio preventing me from listening to the local 103.3 station for the better part of a Saturday afternoon. The Nebraska station was 200 miles away. When I tried cycling the power the local station (100,000 Watts ERP) didn’t have enough shit in its pants to capture the receiver before the Nebraska station did. The path was about the same is is for 2 Meter amateur radio when we experience Tropospheric propagation here NW SW. Interesting stuff, but annoying sometimes. Whenever analog TV channel 2 experienced interfered I’d reach over to have the scanner scan low band UHF to hear distant land mobile radio and 6M hams.

Someday there may be an option to edit comments. I meant to say Tropospheric propagation here is generally NW- NE.

RF reception breaks my heart anymore. Like really makes me sad.

I remember slowly tuning the shortwave radio that was built into a boombox I had as a kid and coming across so many interesting things – now most of them are gone or replaced by satellite coms. There are few old numbers stations out there and some time sync stations, but most of the cool stuff is long gone.

I used to love to listen to local railroad operations on my scanner, from dispatchers and trains themselves to the roadside “hotbox” and “dragging” equipment detectors that would self report in their robotic voices. – Now all the railroad tracks have been taken up in my town and the distance ones I used to be able to get have switched to either sat-coms or digital mode radios that are encrypted with at least rolling inversion.

Same thing with the local police – “to protect the innocent” and “officer safety” they have all switched to Kenwood digital radios with heavy encryption . Along with all the hospitals and EMS ambulance crews… DSD+ will show radio numbers and the like, but the voice component is encrypted for sure.

About the only thing left is AM air band and ADS-B, those bring me a little joy. Sniffing neighboring outdoor wireless weather stations was fun for about a day, now its kind of ho-hum.

Ham radio is terribly boring in and of itself, as all the local clubs are very much the 70-year old guys with “get the hell of my lawn” attitudes and they lovvvvveeee to treat newcomers with complete disdain because you haven’t spent your life savings on a “proper” ham shack and an antenna farm that would make the NSA jealous. And “how dare you pollute MY airwaves with your crappy sounding starter rig” – For a dying hobby, the guys that are left don’t seem to be helping bring in newcomers. And the guys that administer testing and are decent people, all seem to come from out of town to do so and operate primarily in modes you can’t attain with a just tech license. So you pretty much have to dive in completely to get beyond the local guys that have their little clique going.

Sigint is interesting to me, but I don’t want to be breaking laws and stuff and the rest of what’s there isn’t all that interesting in the end.

Hello WW. I just logged in to the FCC amateur radio test & got my call sign. Now I need stuff to tickle the eather. I don’t know about being boring. Maybe I will be, but if you get your hands ticket I’ll bet we can get the radio hornets out. Buzzzz. CQ trouble, CQ angry, CQ dangerous politics. AL6C K

Back in the 1980’s I had DXed Sacramento one time while living in a small town about 30 miles SE of Fresno with just rabbit ears at about 170-180 miles from the transmitters. VHF was coming in clear and the UHF channels were a little weaker but easy to see. I just happened to be flipping the channels on the knob at the right time and there they were. I believe this was an atmospheric ducting scenario as the weather conditions were just right for it. The UHF stations on some nights could be received weakly but this was totally different as I have never seen VHF come through like that. As a young teenager I was blow away at the clarity of such a distant signal. Later in the 90s I happened to be fooling around with a cheap $30 ratshack urban VHF/UHF antennae and picked up Witchita Falls Texas, channel 3 I think, which was over 1000miles away. It wasn’t stable coming in and out but would get strong enough for a clear image to catch a station ID. The phenomena was short lived and became unwatchable after about 30 mns. I tried again the next day to see if it would happen again and it did. This time on the same channel I picked up a public television station from Nebraska with similar results. Couldn’t get a station ID unforts as they appear to run a network of stations and only identified generically as Nebraska Public Television.

First of all, thank you for all the valuable information shared above.

I am not a scientific or a very knowledgeable science person but I like the topic and I do teach as a pilot Gound instructor at a flight academy in Madrid, Spain and in classes while talking about Radio Navigation, wave propagation and skywaves, a doubt arises.

Well, in aviation we use radio aids to navigate, among these radio aids we encounter, the NDB, which is an omnidirectional beacon using a frequency between 190 kHzand 1750 kHz in Europe (in the states it goes from 190 kHz to about 500 kHz).

When it comes to propagation, these Electromagnetic Waves (EW) travel as Skywaves, bouncing against the ionosphere and back to earth. These EW bounce back after a refraction with the different layers at the ionosphere.

The D layer (lowest layer of the ionosphere) is active during the day (due to solar radiation in the ionosphere’s lowest layer) absorbing MF waves. So EW reduce their range during the day.

By night the D layer vanishes and the Medium Frequency (MF) bounces back to earth from the E and F2 layers (higher layers that remain ionized during the night). So EW range increases, as we go higher to bounce EW back to earth.

BUT, my doubt is: if D layer absorbs MF EW, how come during the day we have better NDB signal than during the night? If D layer absords MF and interphere with Skywaves propagation. Why is that NDB signal better? My guess is that D layer doesn’t absorb all the MF EW but some. And the rest of the EW reflacts back to earth reducing the range but increasing the signal.

Tip: there aren’t many MF channels and signals reaching E and F layers refract and reach far, with the possibility of interphering with other NDB using the same frequency.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks a lot for any explanatory answer.

Best regards, Guillermo Gil

BUT, my doubt is: if D layer during the day absorbs MF EW, how come during the day we have better NDB signal than during the night? If D layer absords MF and interphere with Skywaves propagation. Why is that NDB signal better? My guess is that D layer doesn’t absorb all of the MF EW but some… And the rest of the EW reflacts back to earth reducing the range but increasing the signal.

Tip: there aren’t many MF channels and signals reaching E and F layers refract and reach far, with the possibility of interphering with other NDB using the same frequency. The night effect. These EW could also clash with Ground waves from other NDBs.

Years ago back during the analog age of TV, I was up and flipping through the channels and was surprised to see channel 5 had a signal (5 was one of the couple dead stations on the VHF in our area), and it was showing the movie Yellow Beard. I was surprised that it was out of Buffalo NY(station identification during commercial break), as the movie ended the signal started to lose thevsignal. We were receiving the signal about 2.5 miles west of Foxburg, PA. It was the furthest station we ever received.

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What Cord Cutters Need to Know About Distance Ratings for OTA TV Antennas

If you’ve ever shopped for an Over-the-Air TV antenna , you’ve likely noticed that most are marketed with a ‘range’ or ‘distance rating’ in miles.

These ratings are intended as a guideline for how far away from your local broadcast towers you can place the TV antenna before it becomes ineffective.

(Head over to TVFool.com to find out how far away you live from your local TV broadcast towers.)

However, it’s critical for cord cutters to understand that these TV antenna ratings or ranges are approximate. They don’t consider variables which can impact your Over-the-Air TV reception, including antenna placement , obstructions and interference , and more.

For that reason, it’s important to understand how Over-the-Air broadcast TV works, and that cord cutters may need to try a few different antennas and placement locations to find the optimal combination for their home and their location in relation to their TV broadcast towers.

TV Antenna Ranges & Styles Commercial Over-the-Air TV antennas are marketed with distance ratings between 20 to 60 miles (for most indoor models) and up to 150+ miles (for ‘extreme’ outdoor models).

But, in real-world conditions the idea reception areas for antenna TV are within about 35 miles of local broadcast towers .

Those living further afield may get TV signals up to about 70 miles away, at which point the curvature of the earth begins to impact OTA reception.

That’s why cord cutters should be wary of TV antennas with ‘extreme’ mileage ratings, because despite their claims they’re unlikely to deliver an acceptable signal quality at 100+ miles without ideal conditions, professional installation help, and a bit of luck.

How to Choose the Right TV Antenna Range Choosing the right Over-the-Air TV antenna may require a bit of trial and error. Just because your brother-in-law in another city swears that his TV antenna is ‘the best’, it may not be the best for you.

Begin by doing your own research. Find out exactly how far away you live from your local broadcast towers.

Then head out to a local store with a good return policy and pick up at least two TV antenna options whose mileage rating is a bit higher than your actual distance. For example, if you live 25 miles away, try a TV antenna rated for 30 or 40 miles.

But don’t go too crazy! If you can throw a rock at your local broadcast TV towers and buy a 70-mile range antenna, you could send TOO strong a signal to your TV, tuner device, or OTA DVR which is called ‘ overdriving ’ the tuner.

Other TV Antenna Considerations As mentioned, factors like the height of your antenna’s location, obstructions and interference, and the power and frequency of the signals coming from your local towers can all impact your ability to get OTA TV signals.

Even if you pick a TV antenna with the correct mileage rating for your needs, it still must be placed in an optimal location with the minimum amount of obstructions, and (if needed) be capable of picking up both VHF and UHF signals .

So don’t just take the antenna out of the box, stick it next to your TV and call it a day. Try a few different placement options (in a window facing local towers is best), remembering to run a new channel scan on your TV, tuner device, or OTA DVR in between each antenna switcheroo.

As you can see, choosing the right Over-the-Air TV antenna requires a bit of up-front research and effort. But once you’ve got it installed you’ll have a never-ending supply local broadcast TV, and the best part is that it’s absolutely FREE. Enjoy!

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by Chris Woodford . Last updated: January 12, 2022.

T elevision is an amazing window on the world. At the flick of a button, you can travel from the North Pole to the Serengeti, watch men walking on the Moon, see athletes breaking records, or listen to world leaders making historic speeches. Television has transformed entertainment and education; in the United States, it's been estimated that children spend more time watching TV (on average 1023 hours a year) than they do sitting in school (900 hours a year). Many people feel this is a bad thing. One of TV's inventors, Philo T Farnsworth (1906–1971), came to the conclusion that television was hopelessly dumbed down and refused to let his children watch it. Whether TV is good or bad, there's no doubting that it's an ingenious invention. But how exactly does it work? Let's take a closer look!

Photo: Virtually everyone has flatscreen TVs these days, which make their pictures using LCDs, plasma, or OLEDs (organic LEDs). But until the 1990s, TVs were much bigger and bulkier and virtually all of them were using cathode-ray tube (CRT) technology, as explained below.

Radio—with pictures

The basic idea of television is "radio with pictures." In other words, where radio transmits a sound signal (the information being broadcast) through the air, television sends a picture signal as well. You probably know that these signals are carried by radio waves, invisible patterns of electricity and magnetism that race through the air at the speed of light (300,000 km or 186,000 miles per second). Think of the radio waves carrying information like the waves on the sea carrying surfers : the waves themselves aren't the information: the information surfs on top of the waves.

Photo: As radios became more portable, people started to realize tiny TVs could be too. This early example is an Ekco TMB272 from about 1955, which could be powered either by the usual domestic electricity supply or a 12-volt battery. Although sold as a portable, it was extremely heavy; even so, it found quite a niche market with TV companies such as the BBC, who used it as a monitor for outside broadcasts.

Television is really a three-part invention: the TV camera that turns a picture and sound into a signal; the TV transmitter that sends the signal through the air; and the TV receiver (the TV set in your home) that captures the signal and turns it back into picture and sound. TV creates moving pictures by repeatedly capturing still pictures and presenting these frames to your eyes so quickly that they seem to be moving. Think of TV as an electronic flick-book. The images are flickering on the screen so fast that they fuse together in your brain to make a moving picture (really, though they're really lots of still pictures displayed one after another).

We can see things because they reflect light into our eyes. An ordinary "still" camera photographs things by capturing this light on light-sensitive film or using electronic light-detector (in the case of a digital camera ) to make a snapshot of how something appeared at a particular moment. A TV camera works in a different way: it has to capture a new snapshot over 24 times per second to create the illusion of a moving picture.

What's the best way for a TV camera to capture a picture? If you've ever tried copying a masterpiece from the wall of an art gallery into a notebook, you'll know there are lots of ways to do it. One way is to draw a grid of squares in your notebook, then copy the details systematically from each area of the original picture into the corresponding square of the grid. You could work from left to right and from top to bottom, copying each grid square in turn. An old-fashioned TV camera works exactly like this when it turns a picture into a signal for broadcasting, only it copies the picture it sees a line at a time. Light-detectors inside the camera scan across the picture line by line, just like your eyes scanning from top to bottom of the picture in an art gallery. This process, which is called raster scanning , turns the picture into 525 different "lines of colored light" (in a common TV system called NTSC, or 625 lines in a rival system known as PAL) that are beamed through the air to your home as a video (picture) signal. At the same time, microphones in the TV studio capture the sound that goes with the picture. This is transmitted alongside the picture information as a separate audio (sound) signal.

Photo: A typical video/TV camera. The camera operator stands at the back watching a small TV screen that shows exactly what the camera is filming. Note that the cameraman isn't looking through the camera lens: he's seeing a recreation of what the lens is viewing on a screen (a bit like looking at the display on a digital camera). Photo by Justin R. Blake courtesy of US Navy and Wikimedia Commons .

Artwork: TV cameras break pictures up into separate red, green, and blue signals. White light (made of all colors) coming from the object being filmed passes through the lens (1) and enters a beam splitter (2). This is usually a two-part, trichroic prism that divides the light into separate red, green, and blue beams, each of which is detected by a separate CCD or CMOS image sensor. A circuit (3) mathematically synchronizes and combines the outputs from the red, green, and blue image sensors to make a single video signal based on components called luminance and chrominance (loosely, the brightness and color of each part of the image). Another part of the circuit instantly recreates the image being filmed on a small screen in a viewfinder (4). Meanwhile, sound from a microphone (not shown) is synchronized with the video signal to produce an output signal ready for transmission (5).

TV transmitters

Photo: TV antennas don't have to look ugly: they can make a dramatic centerpiece to a building, as here, at the KJRH TV studios, a prominent landmark in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photo: Courtesy of John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972–2008), Library of Congress , Prints and Photographs Division.

The louder you shout, the easier it is to hear someone at a distance. Louder noises make bigger sound waves that have the power to travel further before they get soaked up by bushes, trees, and all the clutter around us. The same is true of radio waves. To make radio waves that are strong enough to carry radio and TV pictures many miles from a TV station to someone's home, you need a really powerful transmitter. This is effectively a giant antenna (aerial), often positioned on top of a hill so it can send signals as far as possible.

Not everyone receives TV signals transmitted through the air in this way. If you have cable television, your TV pictures are "piped" into your home down a fiber-optic cable laid beneath your street. If you have satellite television, the picture you see has been bounced into space and back to help it travel from one side of the country to the other.

With traditional television broadcasting, picture signals are sent in analog form: each signal travels as an undulating (up-and-down moving) wave. Most countries are now switching over to digital television, which works in a similar way to digital radio . Signals are transmitted in a numerically coded form. Many more programs can be sent this way and, generally speaking, picture quality is better because the signals are less susceptible to interference as they travel.

TV receivers

It doesn't really matter how the TV signal gets to your home: once it's arrived, your TV set treats it exactly the same way, whether it comes in from an antenna (aerial) on the roof, from a cable running underground, or from a satellite dish in the garden.

Remember how a TV camera turns the picture it's looking at into a series of lines that form the outgoing TV signal? A TV set must work the same process in reverse to turn the lines in the incoming signal back into a faithful image of the scene that the camera filmed. Different types of TV sets do this in different ways.

Photos: Early TV receivers. 1) A typical black and white TV from 1949. Note the tiny screen. 2) An HMV 904 combined TV and radio unit from about ten years earlier. The loudspeaker is on the left, the radio tuning dial is in the center, and the TV screen (again tiny) is on the right. Both use cathode-ray tube technology and are exhibits from Think Tank, the science museum in Birmingham, England.

Cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions

Photo: A typical old-fashioned cathode-ray-tube (CRT) television set. Virtually every TV looked like this until the 1990s, when flatscreen LCD and plasma TVs began to take over. Cathode-ray TVs are getting quite hard to find now!

Old-style, cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV sets take the incoming signal and break it into its separate audio and video components. The audio part feeds into an audio circuit, which uses a loudspeaker to recreate the original sound recorded in the TV studio. Meanwhile, the video signal is sent to a separate circuit. This fires a beam of electrons (fast-moving, negatively charged particles inside atoms ) down a long cathode-ray tube. As the beam flies down the tube, electromagnets steer it from side to side so it scans systematically back and forth across the screen, line by line, "painting" the picture over and over again like a kind of invisible electronic paintbrush. The electron beam moves so quickly that you don't see it building up the picture. It doesn't actually "paint" anything: it makes bright spots of colored light as it hits different parts of the screen. That's because the screen is coated with many tiny dots of chemicals called phosphors . As the electron beam hits the phosphor dots, they make a tiny pinpoint of red, blue, or green light. By switching the electron beam on and off as it scans past the red, blue, and green dots, the video circuit can build up an entire picture by lighting up some spots and leaving others dark.

How a cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV works

An antenna (aerial) on your roof picks up radio waves from the transmitter. With satellite TV, the signals come from a satellite dish mounted on your wall or roof. With cable TV, the signal comes to you via an underground fiber-optic cable.
The incoming signal feeds into the antenna socket on the back of the TV.
The incoming signal is carrying picture and sound for more than one station (program). An electronic circuit inside the TV selects only the station you want to watch and splits the signal for this station into separate audio (sound) and video (picture) information, passing each to a separate circuit for further processing.
The electron gun circuit splits the video part of the signal into separate red, blue, and green signals to drive the three electron guns.
The circuit fires three electron guns (one red, one blue, and one green) down a cathode-ray tube , like a fat glass bottle from which the air has been removed.
The electron beams pass through a ring of electromagnets . Electrons can be steered by magnets because they have a negative electrical charge. The electromagnets steer the electron beams so they sweep back and forth across the screen, line by line.
The electron beams pass through a grid of holes called a mask, which directs them so they hit exact places on the TV screen . Where the beams hit the phosphors (colored chemicals) on the screen, they make red, blue, or green dots. Elsewhere, the screen remains dark. The pattern of red, blue, and green dots builds up a colored picture very quickly.
Meanwhile, audio (sound) information from the incoming signal passes to a separate audio circuit .
The audio circuit drives the loudspeaker (or loudspeakers, since there are at least two in a stereo TV) so they recreate the sound exactly in time with the moving picture.

Photo: An old-style cathode-ray tube television being tested and repaired. The yellow box at the front is a meter that tests the current flowing through the TV's circuits. The opened-up TV is behind and we're looking from the back to the front (so the screen is pointing away from us). Photo by Airman Maebel Tinoko courtesy of US Navy .

The original CRT

Artwork: Zworykin's black and white CRT design from the 1920s. Inside the cathode ray tube (55, gray), there's a single electron gun, made up of an anode (56, dark blue), cathode (57, light blue), and a grid (54, yellow) in between. In the middle, there are electric plates (58, 59, red) and coils (69, 70, orange) for steering the electron beam with electromagnetic fields. The picture is formed on a fluorescent phosphor screen (60) at the end of the tube. From US Patent: 2,141,059: Television System by Vladimir Zworykin, courtesy of US Patent and Trademark Office.

Flatscreen televisions

LCD (liquid-crystal display) televisions have millions of tiny picture elements called pixels that can be switched on or off electronically to make a picture. Each pixel is made up of three smaller red, green, and blue sub-pixels. These can be individually turned on and off by liquid crystals—effectively microscopic light switches that turn the sub-pixels on or off by twisting or untwisting. Since there is no cumbersome cathode-ray tube and phosphor screen, LCDs screens are much more compact and energy efficient than older TV receivers. Read more in our article about LCDs .

A plasma screen is similar to an LCD, but each pixel is effectively a microscopic fluorescent lamp glowing with plasma. A plasma is a very hot form of gas in which the atoms have blown apart to make negatively charged electrons and positively charged ions (atoms minus their electrons). These move about freely, producing a fuzzy glow of light whenever they collide. Plasma screens can be made much bigger than ordinary cathode-ray tube televisions, but they are also much more expensive. Read more in our article about plasma TVs .

A brief history of television

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Understanding TV Signal Strength: A Guide to Optimizing Reception in Your Area

In today’s digital age, television remains a popular source of entertainment for many households. However, poor TV signal strength can often lead to frustrating viewing experiences. If you find yourself constantly struggling with pixelated images or interrupted broadcasts, understanding TV signal strength in your area is essential. In this article, we will explore what TV signal strength is and provide you with practical tips to optimize the reception in your area.

What is TV Signal Strength?

TV signal strength refers to the measure of how strong the broadcasted signals are in your location. It determines the quality and reliability of the television channels you receive. The signal strength depends on various factors such as distance from the broadcasting tower, obstacles like buildings or trees, and interference from other electronic devices.

Factors Influencing TV Signal Strength

Distance from Broadcasting Tower: The further away you are from the broadcasting tower, the weaker the signal strength will be. This is because signals gradually lose their intensity over distance.

Obstacles: Buildings, trees, and other physical obstructions between your location and the broadcasting tower can block or weaken TV signals. Tall structures or dense foliage can significantly impact your reception quality.

Interference: Electronic devices such as cordless phones, Wi-Fi routers, and microwave ovens can cause interference that affects your TV signal strength. Additionally, atmospheric conditions like heavy rain or thunderstorms may also disrupt signals temporarily.

Tips for Optimizing TV Signal Strength

Find Your Nearest Broadcasting Tower: Identifying the nearest broadcasting tower to your location is crucial for optimizing your TV signal strength. Numerous websites and smartphone apps provide this information by simply entering your zip code or address.

Adjust Your Antenna Position: If you use an antenna to receive over-the-air television broadcasts, ensure it is properly positioned towards the broadcasting tower for optimal reception. Experiment with different angles and heights to find the best signal strength.

Minimize Obstructions: If possible, relocate your antenna to an area with fewer physical obstructions like buildings or trees. Even small adjustments can make a significant difference in signal quality.

Upgrade Your Antenna: Consider upgrading to a high-performance antenna if you experience persistent issues with TV signal strength. These antennas are designed to capture signals more effectively, especially in areas with weak reception.

Eliminate Interference: Identify and eliminate potential sources of interference in your home. Keep electronic devices away from your TV and antenna setup, and ensure they are properly grounded.

Use Signal Amplifiers: Signal amplifiers can boost weak TV signals, especially if you live far from the broadcasting tower or have multiple TVs connected to one antenna. These devices enhance signal strength before it reaches your television.

Consider Cable or Satellite Providers: If all else fails and you still struggle with poor TV signal strength, consider subscribing to cable or satellite television providers that offer reliable digital signals without the need for antennas.

By understanding TV signal strength in your area and implementing these practical tips, you can significantly improve your viewing experience and enjoy uninterrupted entertainment. Remember that optimizing reception may require some trial and error, but the effort will be worth it when you can finally enjoy crystal-clear television broadcasts right in the comfort of your own home.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

TV Signal Factors

Radio Horizon
Antenna Ground Loss
Ground Clutter
Indoor Loss

There are multiple factors that influence and can reduce signal strength. Some of the factors include radio horizon, antenna height loss, terrain, and clutter (structures, trees, foliage). Indoor antennas have additional losses.

Antenna height determines the radio horizon range. The higher the antenna the greater the range. Broadcast signals go past the Radio Horizon , but not over it. The radio horizon is greater than the visual (optical) horizon. In the atmosphere radio waves bend slightly with the earth curvature increasing the range about 13%. Light waves (visible) do not bend.

The 4/3's Earth Radius model is used to estimate atmospheric radio wave bending. The model uses an earth radius that is increased by 33% to account for beam bending. The radio horizon range (R) in miles is approximately the square root of twice the antenna height (h) in feet above ground level ( AGL ). Radio horizon varies from about 4 miles for an 8 foot high antenna to 60 miles for an 1800 foot high antenna.

HORIZON Height Optical Radio

Broadcast towers are often located on the highest ground in the area, increasing horizon range. In this case the antenna height used for calculations should be the antenna height above average terrain (HAAT).

Locations outside a broadcast horizon can usually get a signal if the receive antenna is above ground clutter and high enough . The receive antenna needs to be high enough for its horizon to extend above any clutter or terrain at the tower's radio horizon.

A few times a year atmospheric conditions cause a ducting effect extending radio horizon greatly. The duct reception range can be as great as 500 miles, but over 100 or so miles is more common. The condition typically last minutes to hours, and usually occurs on cool dry clear mornings around a season change.

The higher the antenna is above ground level ( AGL ), the greater the signal density and the lower the ground loss. Antennas 30 feet or higher capture the full signal. Below 30 feet ground reflections cause multi path interference. The lower the antenna the greater the loss. Antennas in a city have more loss than in a residential area, which has more loss than a rural area. Except for rural areas UHF signals have greater loss than VHF signals.

ANTENNA Height Area LOSS UHF dB LOSS VHF dB LOSS

The L-R model (Longley-Rice propagation algorithm) is used to estimate antenna height ground loss.

Terrain Masking TV signals require a clear line-of-sight between broadcast and receive antennas. Large obstructions and terrain features like hills and valleys can completely block a signal.

Terrain Loss The free space region between the broadcast and receive antennas should be clear of obstructions. The region is shaped like an ellipsoid (a cartoon cigar shape) and depends on range and frequency. The lower the frequency and the greater the distance, the larger the radius and volume. Near an antenna the free space region's radius is a couple of wavelengths, or about 4 to 30 feet (UHF to VHF). The free space region is largest at the midpoint.

Range Frequency and Band. ------------------------------------ Mid-Range / Free Space Radius English Metric

Hills and mountains, or distances over about 20 miles, have some of much of their free space region intersecting the ground. This will introduce a terrain loss of 4 - 12 dB or more.

Any object near or above your antenna elevation can cause signal reduction. Structures and trees can measurability reduce or block signals. Loss due to trees can be roughly estimated from empirical data. Trees without foliage (in winter) may have slightly less loss (about 1 dB) at UHF frequencies.

Attic Antenna Attic antennas where the roof is 3/4 inch plywood covered with roofing paper and one layer of 3 tab asphalt shingles has a -3 dB loss or more. Metal backed insulation and metal vents and air ducts block signals.

Room Antenna Metal backed wall insulation will block a signal. Wall insulation without a metal backing has a minor loss, less than 1 dB. Air ducts and metal pipes in the wall will reduce and can block signals. Metal outside fixtures such as siding, awnings, and doors will reduce and can block signals. Even inside walls, floors, ceilings, doors, appliances, furniture, and partitions will cause some signal loss.

Loss estimates are for UHF frequencies. VHF is less lossy, by 1 dB or more.

An antenna mounted 30 feet above the ground in a flat open field with a clear line-of-sight and directly aligned to the broadcast tower could receive a signal near expected. In practice a 3 - 6 dB or more additional loss is not uncommon.

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How to Get Better Indoor TV Antenna Reception

Just like in real estate, what matters is location, location, location

Americans continue to cut the cable TV cord, a trend that has now been happening for about a decade. In fact, cable and satellite TV providers have lost over 20 million U.S. subscribers since 2014. A big reason: prices.

One solution has been to switch from pay TV to streaming alternatives, but in recent years those services have been getting more expensive themselves. That’s a big reason about 20 percent of U.S. households with internet access now use a TV antenna , according to research firm Parks Associates.

That number is likely to rise over the next 12 months, as a new over-the-air standard, called ATSC 3.0 or NextGen TV, rolls out. Right now, these signals are available in about 80 percent of the country. The technology promises greater reliability, higher-quality video with high dynamic range (HDR) , better sound, and even some new interactive features, including internet content that’s carried alongside traditional TV broadcasts.

To receive these new broadcasts you’ll need either a TV with a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner, or an external receiver, which starts at about $90. However, you can pull in NextGen TV signals using any decent indoor antenna—including one you may already own.

If you set up an antenna, you may find that the quality of the digital stations you receive is better than it was with old analog TV broadcasts—and perhaps even better than cable. If you live near a major TV market, there’s a good chance you can receive many local networks, such as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, and Telemundo. You can often get additional digital subchannels that offer everything from old shows and movies to local amateur sports.

Of course, many antenna users supplement over-the-air programming with free streaming services . People willing to pay for subscriptions can put together an even more robust package of streaming content for as little as $25 a month .

If you want to use an antenna to get your local channels you’ll need to make sure you can get decent reception. Outdoor antennas, especially those on a roof or mast, generally offer the best performance, particularly if you’re many miles from the nearest broadcast towers. But an indoor TV antenna is easier to set up, and for some people, it’s the only practical option.

And just like in real estate, indoor TV antenna reception is all about location, location, location. That goes for both where you live and where you place your antenna.

We can’t help with the geography, but we do have tips on how to get the best reception possible in your home. In some ways, using an antenna is easier than it used to be. Ever since the move to all-digital TV, over-the-air signals tend not to attenuate, or drop off, the way analog signals did. That means the days of attaching tinfoil to an antenna’s rabbit ears to improve reception on marginal stations are gone.

Getting great reception from an indoor antenna can be a mix of science and art. Here’s what you need to do.

Compare Antennas

In our tests of indoor TV antennas , reception depended mainly on how far we were from broadcast towers, plus the terrain and details of our surroundings, such as buildings, trees, and hills. Some models worked better than others, but it was hard to predict which antenna would perform best in any particular location. We conducted the tests at 10 homes spread across the New York City metropolitan area.

Some indoor antennas are directional, so they need to be oriented toward broadcast towers. Multidirectional antennas, which receive signals from all directions, could be better for urban locations, but they might not pull in the more distant stations a properly positioned directional antenna could.

One surprise was that we found little correlation between price and performance. Cheaper antennas often did as well as—or better than—more expensive models.

So here’s our advice: Try a few antennas to see which one works best. To do that, you need to buy from a retailer that offers a no-hassle return policy and a reasonable warranty.

Raise Your Antenna

We’ve found that the height of your antenna is a critical factor in getting decent reception. That’s one reason roof-mounted antennas typically outperform indoor models. It’s also why you probably won’t get good reception using an antenna placed in your basement.

If possible, place your indoor TV antenna in an attic or a second-story location, preferably by a window. Sometimes objects in the room or roofing materials will interfere with the signals, so it pays to try a few different attic locations. Of course, having the antenna in one room and the TV in another requires running a cable through your home because the antenna needs to be connected to the antenna (RF) input on your set.

In reality, most people will place the antenna in the same room as the TV. So try a few higher locations, such as along the wall near the ceiling. Some flat antennas, such as the Mohu Leaf , can be painted (using a nonmetallic paint), allowing them to blend in with the décor. And some flat models, such as the Winegard FL5500A FlatWave Amplified , are reversible, typically black on one side and white on the other.

Point the Antenna in the Right Direction

Directional, aka “unidirectional,” antennas need to be oriented toward a broadcast tower.

To find out where the local broadcast towers are in your area, go to the Federal Communications Commission’s DTV Reception Maps page , then click on the station’s call letters to see where the signals are coming from. You’ll also be able to determine how many stations you should be able to pull in and their relative signal strength. You can also get useful advice and information, including tips on outdoor antennas, from AntennaWeb .

For information about the markets where NextGen TV is available, you can go to the NextGen TV website .

If you live in the suburbs of a big city, all the major broadcast towers may lie in the same direction, but you might need to reorient the antenna for different stations. As noted above, a multidirectional antenna doesn’t need to be aimed, but it might not be as effective at picking up signals from distant towers.

When you’re trying out different antennas, be sure to scan through the channels on your TV to see which antenna location pulls in the most stations.

Strike Up the Bands

Back in the analog TV signal days, most of your major broadcast channels, say, 2 through 13, were in the lower-frequency VHF band.

But since the transition to all-digital broadcasts and the subsequent spectrum auction that saw many stations shift locations, local channels are now on both VHF and UHF (channels 14 to 51) bands. So you want an antenna that does well with both bands to make sure you’ll get all the stations you can.

Stop Interference

Anything that stands between an indoor TV antenna and the broadcast towers can degrade your reception. If possible, try placing the antenna in or near a window, provided you don’t live in an apartment building where your view consists of a neighboring building’s brick wall.

The second best choice is an external wall that faces the broadcast towers. If you live in a house, try to avoid a location that might be obscured by big trees, a shed or garage, or other large obstructions. Try a few different windows and walls to find the best spot.

When testing indoor TV antennas in my home, I found that it was handy to have an extra length of RG6 coaxial cable—and a female-to-female coax cable joiner—so that I could freely move the antenna to different locations. I also used some painter’s tape to temporarily attach the antennas to the various locations before determining the best spot.

Many of the models we tested had an amplifier, which can boost signal strength to help pull in more distant stations. An amplifier can also be helpful if you intend to split the signal from one antenna to feed two TVs.

But our tests showed that amplified antennas weren’t always more effective than nonamplified models; they can also amplify noise and distortion, and overload reception from closer stations.

If you have an amplified antenna, try it with the amplifier turned off. If reception is good, leave it off. But if that doesn’t work well, turn the amp on and rescan the channels (see below) to test whether reception improves.

Rescan for Channels

One last tip: Rescan for channels periodically. Even though the spectrum auction—and the subsequent shifting of channels to new frequencies—is now complete, it still makes sense to rescan for channels every month or so because you might get some new stations that you couldn’t pick up earlier. We have step-by-step instructions on rescanning for channels. It can seem a bit tricky, but it doesn’t take long.

James K. Willcox

James K. Willcox leads Consumer Reports’ coverage of TVs, streaming media services and devices, broadband internet service, and the digital divide. He's also a homeowner covering several home improvement categories, including power washers and decking. A veteran journalist, Willcox has written for Business Week, Cargo, Maxim, Men’s Journal, Popular Science, Rolling Stone, Sound & Vision, and others. At home, he’s often bent over his workbench building guitars or cranking out music on his 7.2-channel home theater sound system.

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Television Technology

In order to produce television you need special TV cameras and microphones which capture the video and audio signals. Three basic colors – red, blue and green can be mixed together to produce any other color.

The TV signal is carried by wire to an antenna , which is often on a high mountain or building. The signal is broadcast through the air as an electromagnetic wave . These waves can travel through the air at the speed of light but not over very long distances . A good signal can be received up to about a hundred km.

TV stations are given certain frequencies on which they transmit their broadcasts. These frequencies are very high and should not interfere with other signals that travel in the air. In some areas relay towers must amplify the signal and carry it to the next transmitter.

In the last few years digital signals have replaced analog broadcasting. They have many advantages . Picture quality is better and they can carry more data. TV images can be transmitted in a new quality called high definition (HD).

At home an aerial or satellite dish receives the signals and transforms them to create a picture.

How television programs get to the viewers.

Television programs get to viewers in three ways.

Television signals can be broadcast through a transmitter, a large structure that sends audio and video signals to people’s homes. You receive these signals through an aerial which, connected with a cable, brings that signal to your TV set and changes it into an image.
Cable television delivers hundreds of TV stations to viewer’s homes through a series of cables. Some channels specialize in certain fields like movies, others broadcast sporting events or documentaries.
Satellite television emerged in the 1980s. Viewers receive their TV signals directly from one or more satellites that are in a geostationary orbit . You need a dish-shaped antenna to receive such programs.

Television - Table of Contents

Introduction
Commercial and Public Television
History of Television
Effects of Television on our Lives
Television Sets
Major Broadcasters

Television - Online Exercises

Multiple Choice Exercise
Vocabulary Matching 1
Vocabulary Matching 2
Television Crossword
History of Television - Fill in the missing words
True or False ?
advantage = good sides
aerial = antenna ; structure that is used for sending and receiving TV signals
amplify = to make stronger
analog = using a wave in its original form
antenna = long thin bar used for receiving and sending signals
basic = main
broadcast = send a television signal
capture = get
carry = bring
certain = special
channel = TV station
digital = using a system of ones and zeros
dish-shaped = form of a bowl
distance = from one place to another
electromagnetic wave = waves caused by electricity and a magnetic field
emerge = come up , start
frequency = the number of waves that pass any point in one second
geostationary orbit = a satellite that is in a fixed position above the earth and rotates together with it
interfere = get mixed up with
receive = get
relay tower = a structure that receives a signal and sends it to another tower
replace = to exchange for something else
specialize = focus on
structure = here: tall object made of metal
transform change into
transmit = broadcast, send
viewer = a person who watches television
wire = thin, round piece of metal that can carry signals
Art and Architecture
Culture and Traditions
Current Affairs
Entertainment
Environment
Government and Politics
Health and Medicine
Mathematics
News Articles
Business and Economy
Travel and Places
People and Celebrities

How Do TV Signals Work?

As watching our favourite TV shows and keeping up with popular free-to-air sports broadcasts such as the AFL or the Australian Open has become ingrained in our culture over the years, it is hard to imagine a life without television. While for some of us it feels like TV has been around forever, the history of modern television is actually quite short. In fact, to date, just under two thirds of the Australian population have witnessed several of TV technology’s key developments within their lifetime.

TV, as we know it, began in the 1920s when not long before his 15th birthday, Philo Taylor Fransworth worked out the principle of the image director. This finding would soon be used in his invention of the all-electronic television at the age of 21. If you cast your mind back to the 80s and 90s, Fransworth’s findings gave rise to the big and bulky TVs often referred to as ‘the Tube’ – remember those? These days TVs are more compact, with most of us now watching flat screens using LCDs, Plasma or OLEDs (organic LEDs) to create an image.

Put Simply, The Modern Television is a 3-part Invention:

1. firstly, tv cameras turn images and sound into a signal.

Modern TV cameras don’t scan images anymore. Instead, their lenses focus the scene being filmed into small, image sensing microchips (either CCD or CMOS sensors), which convert the pattern of colours within an image into digital, electrical signals. More specifically, cameras capture 3 different sets of monochrome ‘images’ for each frame, in the colours: Red, Green and Blue (RBG)

2. A TV Transmitter, Also Known as a Broadcasting Tower, Will Then Send This Signal Through the Air in the Form of Electromagnetic Waves

Once the footage is received by the TV station or network, it is routed through a number of control rooms, whereby it undergoes quality control, content review, and advertising is added, before the final signal is sent to various distributors.

The broadcasted image is then often carried to a broadcast antenna or dish at the network – whereby this signal is broadcasted to your local transmitter.

While electromagnetic waves can travel extremely fast, they are unable to go over long distances. This is why different locations have their own transmitter towers. You can use this link to find the nearest TV transmitters and signal strength in your area.

3. Finally, an Antenna or Satellite Dish Will Capture These Signals and Send Them to Your TV Receiver Which Turns the Signals Back Into Sound and Moving Image

The receiver tunes to the carrier frequency and detects the signal by turning it back into a voltage and phase. If you have an LED TV for example, this signal will activate the LEDs in the TV screen that produce light according to the level of voltage of each pixel. This process happens pixel by pixel, but thankfully it is fast enough that you don’t notice the flickering and instead see a moving image!

While these TV signals are what makes the magic of sound and a moving picture on your home screen come to life, TV reception issues are a common pain point for customers – which makes sense, given these signals are the life and soul behind your TV after-all.

In reality the process of how TV signals are sent and received is a lot more complicated than this, with many factors to consider. Over the years, we have found our customers are often seeking the answers to the following questions. To build your understanding of how TV signals work & how to rectify common reception issues, check out the supporting blogs below:

Do TV Signals Travel In a Straight Line?

What is a Good TV Signal Strength and Quality?

For help with Reception Issues, Putting Up a New Antenna or Satellite or Repairing an Existing One, don’t hesitate to give Jim’s Antennas a call on 131 546, or book a free onsite no obligation quote online.

To request a quote or booking, please click the button below to fill out the form below and your local franchisee will be in touch with you shortly., vansat automatic signal finding.

Vansat is an automatic signal finding setup that sets itself up at the push of a button. In the Mackay area, Vansat systems are supplied by a locally owned business and professionally installed by Graham from Jim’s Antennas. For the job shown in the pictures here, the satellite dish was installed at a caravan park […]

DATA CABLE INSTALLATION AND NBN NTD RELOCATION FOR MEDICAL TRAINING FACILITY

Jeremy from Jim’s Antennas Mandurah recently completed a job for a client who was in the process of converting a property into a medical training facility. The client had initially called Jim’s Antennas to install data cables for their phone system and computers. However, when Jeremy arrived to provide a free quote for the job, […]

Ensuring Your Antenna Works: Installation, Repair, and Masthead Amplifier Replacement.

In today’s digital age, reliable television reception is essential for staying connected to news, entertainment, and more. However, many homeowners overlook the importance of a properly installed and maintained antenna system. Whether you’re experiencing poor signal quality or need a new antenna altogether, understanding the essentials of antenna installation and repair can make a significant […]

Storm Season on the Gold Coast: Call Jim’s Antennas

Another summer on the Gold Coast means another storm season, and if most storms comes the possibility of damaged TV antennas. If you’re left without TV following a storm, Jim’s Antennas is the ones to call. Our technicians are fully insured and extensively trained, and are able to work with insurance companies if and when […]

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Atmospheric Conditions Affecting TV Reception

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Stormy weather makes for a great time to stay indoors and watch TV. But will TV signal problems invariably crop up when you’re watching over the air (OTA) channels with an outdoor antenna?

Poor TV Reception in Bad Weather

Does rain affect tv signal, does heat affect tv reception, does cold weather affect digital tv reception, what about wind and storms.

Weather can indeed affect your reception . Heavy rain, high winds, and high pressure systems all have an impact.

However, the result you’re likely to see today is different from that of 15 years ago. Before 2009 (i.e., in the days of analog TV) weather-related interference used to be a static or unclear picture, or even ghosting.

In today’s digital world , it’s more likely the screen will go blank and there’ll be a period when you see nothing at all.

That’s because a TV receiving radio signals from towers is smart enough to inspect the signal and determine if it’s complete.

If some information is missing, it won’t display anything. This ensures a high-quality picture with no deterioration from the original broadcast.

However, the transmission can disappear entirely during less-than-optimal atmospheric conditions.

Normal precipitation has no impact, but heavy rainfall can reduce TV signal strength.

It can happen when there are enough fine raindrops that some of them absorb power from the signal. They can dissipate the signal, or, more commonly, they scatter it and cause interference.

Imagine a signal hitting a raindrop on one side and “coming out the back” in multiple places.

Each of these is a weakened signal, and some of them are moving off at angles rather than continuing toward your antenna .

Higher frequencies (i.e. shorter wavelengths) are more susceptible to scattering than lower frequencies.

Thus the phenomenon is more pronounced in UHF and the higher channels of VHF.

Rain is more likely to interfere with antennas than snow, largely because a raindrop is more dense than a snowflake. Hail is less a problem for reception than rain.

The mere fact it’s hot outside won’t have an impact. However, high pressure conditions that sometimes occur in hot weather can create a situation.

Sometimes, high-altitude conditions cause high tropospheric air to cool more quickly than air near the ground.

When that takes place, lower warm air gets trapped and there’s a border between cold and warm air layers.

Broadcast signals can skip along the cold air layer and travel much farther than they normally could.

Ham radio operators look forward to talking to people all over the world in such “skip” weather conditions, but those circumstances won’t improve the situation for television.

If there’s a station a few hundred miles away on the same direct frequency as the local channel you’re watching, there can be disruption and some pixelation from that unwanted signal trying to sneak in on the one you want.

This is especially likely on cloudless summer evenings with high pressure and little or no wind.

This is called tropospheric propagation or tropospheric ducting . The next time you want to impress your friends, tell them, “We might be in for a little tropospheric ducting tonight, folks.”

NOTE : To see if you’re affected by tropospheric ducting, take a look at the six-day worldwide forecast from the DX Info Centre.

Effect of cold temperatures on TV reception

As with hot weather, cold weather days won’t affect antennas in and of itself. However, with certain pressure situations you can have something similar to the hot weather issue.

It happens when there’s a temperature inversion : Instead of air steadily getting cooler when moving from the earth and through the troposphere, cold air gets trapped in a layer.

The cold air layer can be at the surface, or between a warm layer on the earth and another warm layer close above it.

If towers are actually inside a cold layer, or if their signals hit the bottom of a cold air layer at a gradual angle, there can be propagation.

Again, signals from outside one’s normal viewing area may reach antennas and cause interference.

If there’s a nearby lightning strike, or heavy static charge in the air, temporary disruptions of service may arise. These are often bursts of static that are over as soon as the lightning bolt has struck.

The bigger threat is to your set. If antennas aren’t properly grounded, the electricity can travel through cables and frizzle TVs. And it doesn’t have to be a direct hit; a strike in the vicinity can do its trick.

As for wind, if antennas are swaying, their ability to capture signals may be lessened. And while the wind doesn’t affect signals directly, it can do its disservice though its impact on objects in the line of sight from the broadcast tower to you.

3 ways to turn your laptop into a tv, why did i lose channels on my antenna, what is the difference between a uhf and a vhf antenna.

Is it okay to still watch TV even if there’s a thunderstorm if you have grounded your outdoor antenna?

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Do Trees Affect TV Antenna Reception? How to Enjoy Greenery Without Losing Your TV Channels

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Trees can interfere with TV antenna signals due to their physical obstruction and the water in their leaves, especially when they are tall or dense.
To mitigate signal interference, consider relocating aerials, switching between a TV aerial and satellite dish, or pruning trees rather than cutting them down.
If trees aren’t yours, seek permission for pruning from the owner, or consult a satellite expert to confirm the cause of reception issues and advise neighbors accordingly.

If trees surround your house, you are among the luckiest people in your city.

Trees are great sources of fresh, clean air. They add curb appeal to a community, and they even provide a good base for kiddie playhouses and swings.

But with all the good things they bring to every creature around them, trees do have one small drawback: signal interference.

Yes, trees, specifically the tall ones, can affect your TV antennas. Now, if you’re a lover of trees and have plenty of them surrounding your home, you’re probably always experiencing poor to non-existent TV signals.

Issues with your TV signal are a normal part of having trees nearby.

We understand you don’t want to cut down your trees, and frankly, we don’t condone cutting down trees due to the environmental repercussions it has.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to fix your TV antenna problems.

But why do trees affect your TV signal in the first place? What can you do to ensure that this problem doesn’t come up again?

Don’t worry. We’re here to talk about all of that and more. So keep on reading!

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Signals Come Straight from Space

Water affects signal too, the culprits are the moving trees, more leaves, more signal issues, move your aerials and dishes, swap to a tv aerial or a satellite dish, prune your trees, cut it down, what if it’s someone else’s tree, do trees affect tv antennas.

Yes, trees do affect TV antennas.

But why and how does that happen?

Well, there are a few reasons why trees would affect your antennas. So we created a simplified list below to help you out. Let’s get started.

The first thing you should remember about antennas is that it receives their signal from the satellite roaming around in space.

What this means is that anything obstructing this signal can and will affect your TV reception. So buildings, trees, and other tall structures that tend to loom over houses will affect your signal.

As we all learned from science class in middle school, water is a conductive element. TV antennas are also made of conductive materials.

So when it rains, the droplets that land on the leaves and the tree itself can divert the supposedly “flowing” signal towards your antenna to the earth.

And the denser the trees around your home, the worse it will be for your TV reception.

Okay, we’re not talking about the Ents in the Lord of the Rings.

Trees don’t actually walk around and mess with your TV antenna on purpose. But other forces of nature, such as strong winds, can cause trees to move and “break up” the TV signals.

Have you noticed that your TV reception is much better during the winter?

That’s because most trees shed their leaves during wintertime, allowing the signal to move freely without being halted by the leaves.

Unfortunately, hay fever is not the only thing you’ll be worrying about during warmer seasons!

How Can You Prevent Trees from Affecting Your Antennas?

While you can’t exactly blame the trees themselves for interfering with your TV’s reception, there are a few adjustments that you can make to avoid TV reception issues in the future.

Don’t worry. These are quite easy to do and won’t require you to spend too much money. Heck, most of these are even free. So take a look!

If you have an indoor aerial, you may want to switch to one that you can install on your roof. If you already have an outdoor aerial, you can try moving it to a different spot on your roof with less interference.

The same can be said for your satellite dishes. If you notice that your dish is starting to get obscured by trees, it’s time to move it somewhere more open.

Depending on which one you’re already using, you might want to switch to a TV aerial or a satellite dish.

For example, suppose trees completely surround your house, and you are experiencing bad TV reception because your satellite dish is getting covered by the leaves.

In that case, you may want to invest in a good-quality TV aerial.

And if your TV can’t get good reception with your aerial, then a satellite dish may be what you need. Just make sure to install it somewhere that is not obscured by trees.

You may want to consider pruning your trees. Unless the tree poses a lot of danger to your home or property, then there won’t be a need to cut it down.

All you will have to do is regularly prune the tree, so its branches don’t grow long enough to cause TV reception issues.

Cutting trees is not an alternative we want to encourage as they do so much for our environment. However, there are some circumstances in which this is the only choice.

For example, if the tree is riddled with termites, angled in a way that puts residents in danger, or is dead and starting to negatively affect the other plants around it, then it’s time to crank up the chainsaw.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do anything without the owner’s permission. Having a TV or a satellite doesn’t give you the right to cut down other people’s trees to boost your signal.

What you can do is politely ask your neighbor if they would allow you to prune one side of their tree that is covering your antenna or aerial.

If you are unsure if trees around your home are causing your TV’s reception issues, call up your local satellite/aerial expert. They will be able to assist you in figuring out the root cause of your TV problems.

After the satellite check-up, you can ask the expert if they can provide you with a written statement explaining the situation for you to show to your neighbors.

Trees are amazing plants to have close to your home. The air around you is purified and cooled by them. They are beautiful and the sight of them can be relaxing.

Yes, trees bring a lot of good things to every living being on Earth. The one small caveat is that they tend to block satellite signals. However, there are other alternatives to combat this without chopping down the tree.

We gave you our top tips and tricks on the best ways to deal with TV reception issues caused by trees.

For your own safety, make sure to contact a satellite expert before putting our tips to the test. Good luck!

Meet Vance. He’s a proud dad, a seasoned Electronics Engineer , and an avid tech lover. His proficiency in electronics and troubleshooting skills were instrumental in crafting Pointer Clicker. Vance is passionate about simplifying tech for those who aren’t well-versed in it.

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