I have an aerial on my roof but can't receive TV through the points in my house, why is this?

Question

We have just moved into our new home, the previous owners had cable, however we had only just joined sky so we had a dish installed and can receive TV through a sky box, but this is only to one room, we have an aerial on the roof but for some reason we can't receive TV through the points in another room, we have been to the loft and switched the wires around, any idea what is going on?

Answer 1

Depending on how far you've moved you may need to retune your telly. Different broadcasting aerials use different frequencies for the channels.

Answer 2

Could be any number of reasons.

Pointing in wrong direction

loose cable in the junction box on the aerial (look to see if there is a little red or black box attached to the aerial shaft) - sometimes the wires corrode or rot or simply come loose.

Are the connectors clean - unscrew the wall box and see if the wires have come loose or have broken or are touching one another - the centre core and the wirey wispy outer core should never touch.

Other than that there is not a lot that can go wrong with them - it may simply be a case of re-wiring the aerial with new cable.

Also - look to see if the cables have been joined - the cowboy job - cut and wrap the wires is common. If you join the cables you should always use a proper cable splitter/joiner

You also may have to consider the fact that - the reception from your old home is different from the new home - you may simply have to retune your TV

Answer 3

Firstly, re-tune your telly.  if you're still getting nothing check that the aerial is:-

(a)  pointing in the right direction

(b) is actually connected to the wall sockets

(c) the the co-axial cable 'tween aerial and socket is in good nick.  

Loose outdoor cables are frequently blown against the brickwork causing abrasions to the insulation.  If a hole develops the cable can fill with rainwater and then it is useless and must be replaced.

Answer 4

Best by far, -if I may suggest it, is to buy instead (Radioshack, Curry's, etc) one of these digital "senders" that will plug into your remote room set, and receive your Sky box signal just like your main one does now.

If you use your roof aerial, you'll only get terrestrial, and that's going to cease fairly soon. (unless you go Freeview too, -in which case your SKy subscription is wasted, isn't it...)