TV reception issue

[ehyouwhat]

In a moment of madness I agreed to install a new 32" Toshiba LCD telly for an elderly neighbour. Her 15-yr-old CRT telly had totally packed in so her daughter had bought her the new model. On tuning in the new TV (analogue only, no digital terrestrial reception here) the old lady complained that the picture was significantly worse than the picture she'd had from her old TV, and to be fair it was a pretty 'fuzzy' picture on all four channels. Retuning and fine tuning does not seem to help.

It's been a long time since I last used a traditional ariel with any of my own TV sets, so I was/am at a loss as to how the problem can be solved. Are new LCD sets poorer than older models at displaying analogue reception? Could this be a cable issue; i.e. would a new coaxial cable help? In fairness yesterday was a very windy day here and her ariel (proper rooftop one) was waving about quite violently, but I wouldn't have thought this would have had too much of an effect.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Cheers all.

[10 Pence Short]

Sadly I can just about get TV reception on 4 channels. Is there any way to prevent this?

[wmg100]

A decent signal booster should sort it out

[Simpo Two]

Pixel for pixel a 15" screen will look sharper than 32" - could that be part of the problem? Also, native PAL resolution is only 720 x 576 pixels and now you're probably stretching (interpolating) them over more.

[bigdods]

I have found that LCD is rubbish at displaying analogue pictures when compared to a CRT TV, its a bit better with freeview (but I still prefer my CRT). I dont have satellite but I have seen my mates and its crystal clear so i assume its something to do with upscaling of analogue/freeview pics that makes it fuzzy.

[MitchT]

I have only four channels currently - No Ch 5 and the picture is pretty poor, though for some reason it's much better via the video recorder than via the TV. I borrowed my Dad's digi box but all I got was pixels - I'm told this is because the main transmitter is obscured so my signal comes from a small relay transmitter that can only handle analogue. Quite whether the digital will be okay when the analogue is switched off (thus freeing up the relay transmitter's power) remains to be seen.

Edited by MitchT on Monday 10th November 13:52

[ehyouwhat]

Simpo Two said:

Pixel for pixel a 15" screen will look sharper than 32" - could that be part of the problem? Also, native PAL resolution is only 720 x 576 pixels and now you're probably stretching (interpolating) them over more.

Good call on the second point, although her old TV was a 32" model so the visible screen was very nearly the same size.

ETA: Actually I think the old TV must have been smaller, as the new one wouldn't fit in the gap she had.

Edited by ehyouwhat on Monday 10th November 13:57

[hornetrider]

bigdods said:

I have found that LCD is rubbish at displaying analogue pictures when compared to a CRT TV, its a bit better with freeview (but I still prefer my CRT). I dont have satellite but I have seen my mates and its crystal clear so i assume its something to do with upscaling of analogue/freeview pics that makes it fuzzy.

Tell the old dear she needs to throw £20 at the problem, and get her a set top box.

[ehyouwhat]

hornetrider said:

bigdods said:

I have found that LCD is rubbish at displaying analogue pictures when compared to a CRT TV, its a bit better with freeview (but I still prefer my CRT). I dont have satellite but I have seen my mates and its crystal clear so i assume its something to do with upscaling of analogue/freeview pics that makes it fuzzy.

Tell the old dear she needs to throw £20 at the problem, and get her a set top box.

Assuming that's meant for me. The new telly has a digital tuner already, but there is absolutely no reception for it here.

[hornetrider]

ehyouwhat said:

hornetrider said:

bigdods said:

I have found that LCD is rubbish at displaying analogue pictures when compared to a CRT TV, its a bit better with freeview (but I still prefer my CRT). I dont have satellite but I have seen my mates and its crystal clear so i assume its something to do with upscaling of analogue/freeview pics that makes it fuzzy.

Tell the old dear she needs to throw £20 at the problem, and get her a set top box.

Assuming that's meant for me. The new telly has a digital tuner already, but there is absolutely no reception for it here.

Ah, I missed that in your op, apologies. Sorry, apart from Sky I'd have no idea. I take it she wouldn't want to pay a sky contract, so can you maybe get a dish installed without a contract for a one off payment?

[FlossyThePig]

hornetrider said:

bigdods said:

I have found that LCD is rubbish at displaying analogue pictures when compared to a CRT TV, its a bit better with freeview (but I still prefer my CRT). I dont have satellite but I have seen my mates and its crystal clear so i assume its something to do with upscaling of analogue/freeview pics that makes it fuzzy.

Tell the old dear she needs to throw £20 at the problem, and get her a set top box.

Analogue picture poor, digital probably non existant.
Highlights the problem with installing a larger TV without upgrading the aerial. LCD will display a good picture if you have a good aerial.

[chim666]

ehyouwhat said:

Her 15-yr-old CRT telly had totally packed in so her daughter had bought her the new model.

I suggest that at 15 years old, the tube of the old set was well 'soft' and as the new LCD set is not only sharper but also double the size, that's why she's now noticing the fuzziness.

Cure: Buy a new aerial.

Edited by chim666 on Monday 10th November 15:52

[ehyouwhat]

chim666 said:

ehyouwhat said:

Her 15-yr-old CRT telly had totally packed in so her daughter had bought her the new model.

I suggest that at 15 years old, the tube of the old set was well 'soft' and as the new LCD set is not only sharper but also double the size, that's why she's now noticing the fuzziness.

Cure: Buy a new aerial.

The aerial is, by all accounts, only a year or so old - I would have thought it would be ok!? I've bought her a signal booster so will give that a whirl tonight.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[E31Shrew]

Youre really left with no option but to get her to put a dish up and Freesat. Have a look at www.freeview.co.uk and see whether its possible to get Freeview in that area with a decent aerial. Problem also if she is really old is will she be able to cope with two remotes!!!

Now you see the problems we have every day!

[FlossyThePig]

E31Shrew said:

Youre really left with no option but to get her to put a dish up and Freesat. Have a look at www.freeview.co.uk and see whether its possible to get Freeview in that area with a decent aerial. Problem also if she is really old is will she be able to cope with two remotes!!!

Now you see the problems we have every day!

If you use the postcode checker at digitaluk and check the "I am in the aerial installation trade" checkbox you get a lot more information. The freeview link said I couldn't get channels I watch.

[ehyouwhat]

wmg100 said:

A decent signal booster should sort it out

It absolutely did. Just £7.99 on a booster and £3.49 on a cable, and the picture looks miles better.

Cheers for this and all other suggestions!

[wmg100]

ehyouwhat said:

wmg100 said:

A decent signal booster should sort it out

It absolutely did. Just £7.99 on a booster and £3.49 on a cable, and the picture looks miles better.

Cheers for this and all other suggestions!

Glad it helped