Do you need a working areal (i.e. from the wall) in order to get a freeview box?

Question

I have an areal port and wore in my room, bu the signal is pretty crap- does this need to work well in order to hook up a freeview box?

Thanks!

Jillian

Interesting, thanks everyone! Status update- went ahead and bought a box and one of those 'one for all' antennaes (that just sit on top of your tv, no battery-power) and have absolutely brilliant signal, which I think must be really really lucky as my signal was appalling before! Guess it's just different for everyone!
xoxo

Answer 1

You need a reasonably good signal to get freeview. If the signal is not strong enough you may not pick up all the channels and the ones you do get may keep pausing or the picture and sound will be corrupted.
You don't need to have a rooftop aerial, you can usually get a good enough signal from an indoor aerial unless you are in a weak signal area.

Answer 2

Yes, you need to plug the freeview box into the aerial and the TV into the freeview box, an inside aerial is not good enough for a digital signal.

Answer 3

Not necessarily. I have a DVD player with built in Freeview and a small stand alone arial and it works fine. I think it depends on the actual Freeview box as to whether u get a good signal or not.

Answer 4

For a start, you can ignore that bit about Channel five's signal strength - that only applies to "Top-Up TV". HOWEVER, for proper reception of all channels you DO need a decent aeriel unless you're actually living under a transmitter, so if you're just in an average signal-strength area, the better the aeriel, the better the reception. That person who says he gets good reception with a set-top aerial is either very VERY lucky or doesn't mind shitty pictures and sound. (Sorry!). ALSO: don't think that an aeriel amplifier will help solve the problem: If you've got a 'snowy' picture to start with, the amplifier will only give you a better quality of snow! It's GOT to be a good aeriel. You won't regret it, I promise you.

Answer 5

no you dont have to. But whn i got a freeview box i had to have my areal replaced because it couldnt recieve a good signal for the strength of the freeview box costing around £100. It's best to try someone elses round your house bofre you get one just incase you have to splash all the cash ! lol

Answer 6

if all you have is a length of cable not made off to an ariel on your roof then this will work as an ariel but not a very good one, you might be better plugging a portable ariel into the back of the freeview box and trying that, this will just depend on the signal strength in your area.

Answer 7

Yeah you can use it from a loop ariel built in to your tv or from a plug into the wall one, but the signal you receive has to be strong or it won't work very well. My parents have a free view box connected to their loft ariel but the signal isn't good at all so they can hardly use it.

Answer 8

Yes you do.I bought a free view box last week but without an aerial it doesn't pick any signals.

Answer 9

A new aerial will cost around £150 unless you are a monkey.
Try a signal amplifier. Argos have them.
It works for me.

Answer 10

the freeview box will act as an ariel for you to receive the signal, your analouge ariel signal is needed but it will not affect the picture quality.