Freeview is a great way to get quality programming at no monthly cost, but like any viewing system, it does come with occasional hiccups. These are best dealt with by professionals who can get the system going again with minimal disruption to viewers – and their children!

“The most common problems experienced with Freeview naturally have to do with reception,” says James Mullen, Operations Manager for Aerial and Satellite Express. “These can range from signal not being received at all to poor picture quality to missing channels. Thankfully these issues are easily solved by our local Freeview expert engineers to get you viewing again within a day.”

There are a number of steps that Freeview suggests viewers take if they are experiencing problems with their reception.

The first step is to check coverage. While postcode checking is available online, it must be remembered that signal quality can differ between houses in the same area or even between neighbours. This is because the signal can be affected by obstructions such as trees and buildings as well as the thickness of walls and the type of aerial installed.

Another issue is coverage that has gone down due to maintenance work on signal towers or faults in the local transmitters. These can often be checked online, but sometimes they may not yet be reported or an issue may be logged but it is not the issue the particular viewer is experiencing. In all of these instances, it's best to call a professional to diagnose the problem.

“If there is no transmitter fault or engineering work going on, the problem may be with the digital box, television set or its connections,” says Mullen. “In these cases, the receiver may need to be returned or rebooted and every connection and cable needs to be carefully checked. Checking connections and cables is a tough job that viewers should best leave to the experts.”

For example, a cable may be worn or damaged, which is difficult for a novice to check. The SCART connections may have a few bent pins or there may be a manufacturer's fault on a cable or connection. The manufacturer may need to be contacted if their product is faulty or could be faulty, which can mean hours of frustration on the phone.

Once all cables, connections and receivers have been checked and no issue has been identified, it may be necessary to check the aerial. “Aerials can become damaged or misaligned, either by inclement weather or normal wear and tear,” says Mullen. “Older aerials or outdoor aerials in particular may be at risk of damage.”

It is important to remember that aerials are specialised pieces of equipment and require careful handling, or the problem could be made worse and a simple repair could become the need to replace the aerial installation. If it is the aerial, a local installer will understand the technology and the specificities of the local Freeview signal and suggest the best and most cost-effective repair.

“An Aerial & Satellite Express engineer can come to your property and perform a full diagnosis of your Freeview system and repair it the same day,” says Mullen. “Our fully equipped mobile vehicles have every tool and piece of equipment needed to repair your Freeview system and get your reception to optimum viewing levels.”

About us:
Aerial and Satellite Express is an established company committed to providing the highest quality of satellite, home entertainment and TV aerial installations and services across the UK. They provide all their staff including customer advisers and installation engineers with ongoing support and training to ensure high customer service levels are maintained. Aerial and Satellite Express remains fully informed of all current and future technologies, and are on hand to provide impartial advice tailored to every need. All installation engineers have years of experience within the industry and undergo ongoing training to maximise their level of knowledge and workmanship. All mobile repair and installation engineers are local and provide the correct advice and recommendations based on the property, requirements and the signal levels in the area for any given system, whether it be Freeview, Freesat or Sky TV. For more information, please visit: http://aerialandsatelliteexpress.co.uk/.