TV Aerial & Signal Fault Finder
Enter your UK postcode to check live Freeview transmitter engineering status and aerial compass alignment, then step through five quick questions to narrow down likely causes of TV signal loss, picture breakup, or missing channels.
Check if your nearest Freeview main transmitter or local relay has planned engineering works today, see which compass direction your aerial should point, and check live local wind/rain conditions.
Likely causes and safe next steps
These are possibilities based on your answers, not a confirmed diagnosis. Several physical causes can produce the same symptoms.
Only check accessible indoor connections. Do not climb onto a roof, work near overhead power lines, open electrical equipment or handle outdoor wiring in unsafe conditions.
Common TV aerial and coax faults
A TV reception problem may be caused by the television input, receiver, aerial, coaxial cable, connectors, wall outlet, splitter, amplifier, power supply, interference or local reception conditions. Comparing one working outlet with an affected one can help narrow down where to investigate.
Should I add a signal booster?
Not automatically. An amplifier can help in a suitable installation, but excessive amplification can overload a receiver and make reception worse. Signal strength and quality should be checked before adding or replacing amplification.
When is an engineer needed?
If reception keeps failing, several rooms are affected, outdoor cabling may be damaged, or an amplifier/distribution fault is suspected, an engineer can inspect the installation and measure signal levels and quality with appropriate equipment.
How to Use This Calculator (Step-by-Step)
Select your symptom (No Signal on All Channels, Pixelation / Picture Freezing on Certain Multiplexes, Missing BBC / ITV HD, or Audio Dropouts).
Identify your aerial location (Loft Space, Roof Chimney Stack, Gable End, or Indoor Aerial).
Specify local transmitter proximity and whether 4G/5G mobile mast interference is present.
Review prioritized hardware diagnoses (4G LTE filter required, rusted balun, water-ingress in coax, or masthead amplifier power supply fault).
Gary's Physical Trade Advice
Over 60% of Freeview pixelation in urban Yorkshire and Lancashire is caused by 700MHz/800MHz 4G/5G mobile mast overload overloading older wideband aerials. Fitting a CAI-certified 5G in-line filter resolves it instantly.
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