TV pixelating using own aerial

[LisaH2892]

Just had EE tv and broadband fitting to escape rip off sky. Think I will be ok with the tv despite not having as many channels and the menus being vastly different. I’ve plugged my own aerial in to receive terrestrial channels rather than choosing internet but the tv keeps pixelating and the sound slips, if that makes sense. I only chose my own aerial to get local channels. What would the issue be and if I changed to internet for these channels would it be better?

[XRaySpeX]

It surely must be down just to the TV & its aerial.

[LisaH2892]

maybe I don’t word my post properly. I plugged my terrestrial aerial into the back of the EE tv box. When setting up it gives a choice; watch via aerial or internet, if by internet local channels won’t be available; I presume local BBC and ITV so chose aerial only for this. So the terrestrial aerial is comi by through the EE box. If I can’t solve it will try and change to internet channels, just don’t have the know how to figure out why it would so this. Have a tv upstairs plugged into the same aerial and all is fine 

[XRaySpeX]

Is the TV upstairs plugged straight into the aerial?

I would've thought that a TV connecting to an aerial via a TV box is straight passthrough, just like when you have a Personal Video Recorder.

[Andy_65 · Accepted solution]

Hi @LisaH2892 

The EE box is susceptible to strong aerial signals, the tuners are poor to be honest. The suggested solution is to buy an adjustable attenuator and limit the aerial signal strength to 90%.

To switch to internet mode you need to go into maintenance mode on the EE box by following the relevant options here. 

There are drawbacks with internet mode though, you'll lose a lot of channels such as Yesterday and Drama. If you record any ITV programmes you cannot fast forward though the ads when you watch the recording. BBC are 'recorded' but when you play them back they play through iPlayer, so if the BBC removes that programme you can no longer watch it even though you think you have recorded it.

The simple truth is that you get what you pay for.

[Andy_65]

@LisaH2892 

You could plug the aerial straight into your TV, if there's no pixelating then the problem is as I've suggested. If you don't want to mess about with an attenuator then you could leave the aerial connected to the TV and switch the EE Box to internet mode. That way you can record what's available on the box and watch the additional channels such as Drama live on the TV.

[LisaH2892]

Thanks Andy, really useful answers. Appreciate it

[zulu17]

Hi  @LisaH2892

you mention that your decision to opt for aerial mode  was a belief that you would need to do so for local BBC/ITV programmes 

When in Ip mode you receive the regional BBC 1 and ITV 1 HD channel so the regional news broadcasts for those channels would be received. What you will not get is the Local TV channels that are typically on Freeview channel 7 or 8.

[LisaH2892]

Andy. What can I say. I’ve bought a £5.79 attenuator (which I’ve never heard of or knew existed) until your post. Plugged it in and not even turned the red dial and it’s solved my problem! You are amazing! Thanks, really appreciate it 

 

[LisaH2892]

Thanks Zulu, see my reply to Andy above. All sorted 😄