Fault finding
TV signal problems and reception fault finding
Pixelation is a symptom, not a diagnosis. We work backwards from the screen with a spectrum meter — TV, lead, wall plate, distribution, cable, aerial — and find the one weak link instead of throwing new hardware at it.
- Spectrum analysis, not guesswork
- Interference tracing
- Fix explained in plain English
6 mux
All checked, every visit
North & North West London
Why North London pictures break up — and how we prove the cause
Digital reception either works or falls off a cliff. Below a certain quality threshold the picture freezes and stutters even though the signal strength still looks respectable, which is exactly why strength-only readings on a cheap meter mislead so many installers.
Round here the usual culprits are impedance mismatches at old wall plates, unpowered splitters feeding three or four rooms, summer tree growth on the transmitter path, and 4G and 5G masts sitting close to the old UHF band. Blocks of flats add another layer: a single failed communal amplifier can take out an entire stack of pictures at once.
We measure strength, quality and error rate on every multiplex, at the aerial and again at each outlet. That tells us where the loss happens, and it means the fix is usually cheaper and smaller than replacing the aerial.
What the job includes
Common causes we track down
Evening drop-outs
Pictures that fail at the same time each night usually point to impulse interference or a marginal signal with no headroom.
Some channels missing
Losing one multiplex while the rest hold up is a classic sign of a mistuned aerial or an amplifier being overdriven.
Weather-related loss
Rain and wind exposing a cracked connector, a water-filled cable end or a loose clamp on the pole.
4G / 5G interference
Mobile signal breaking into old cabling and amplifiers — cured with proper filtering rather than more gain.
Too many splits
Passive splitters bleeding signal across four rooms, replaced with a correctly specified distribution amplifier.
Communal system faults
Failed amplifiers, corroded riser connections and outlet plates in flats and mansion blocks.
How it works
TV signal problems: from your first message to a finished job
- 01
Symptoms first
When it happens, on which TVs, and which channels — that narrows the field before we arrive.
- 02
Measure indoors
Readings at each outlet prove whether the loss is inside the house or up on the roof.
- 03
Measure at the aerial
Strength, quality and error rate per multiplex to see what's actually arriving.
- 04
Fix and re-measure
We repair the weak link, then show you the improved figures before we leave.
Questions we get asked
TV signal problems — the details
Do I need a new aerial to stop pixelation?
Often not. A large share of the faults we fix are indoor: a bad wall plate, an old lead, or a splitter starving the signal. We check those before recommending roof work.
Why does it only happen in the evening?
Evening drop-outs usually come from impulse interference — a thermostat, motor or LED driver switching on nearby — or from a marginal signal with no margin left. Both are traceable with the right meter.
Could my neighbour's work be affecting me?
Yes. Scaffolding, a new loft conversion, a fresh dish or a re-sited aerial next door can all change your signal path. It's worth mentioning if anything has changed nearby.
Can you fix reception in a rented flat?
We can test and fix anything inside the flat with your permission, and we'll produce a clear report for a landlord or managing agent where the fault sits in the communal system.
What if you can't improve the signal?
It happens rarely, but if reception is genuinely unfixable at your address we'll say so and talk you through satellite or internet-delivered alternatives instead of taking money for guesswork.
Related work
Aerial repairs
Storm damage, snapped elements, sagging poles and corroded connections put right.
TV aerial installation
New wideband or high-gain aerials sited for a clean Crystal Palace signal.
Satellite repairs
No signal, rain fade and failed LNBs traced and repaired on the first visit.
Local pages
- Hampstead
- Belsize Park
- Highgate
- Camden Town
- Primrose Hill
- Kentish Town
- Swiss Cottage
- St John's Wood
- Golders Green
- West Hampstead
- Kilburn
- Finchley
- Muswell Hill
- Crouch End
- Archway
- Islington
- Hendon
- Mill Hill
- Willesden
- Queen's Park
Free advice, no obligation
Tell us about the tv signal problems you need.
Speak to an engineer on WhatsApp — Mon–Sat 8am–8pm, Sun 9am–5pm. We cover North & North West London and most jobs are finished in a single visit.