Wireless Signal Boosters

If I plugged my arial into a signal booster, would it really help?

I live in an area of the UK (Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands) where the signal is pretty rubbish. I upgraded my arial (although it is still just one that I have sat on top of my telly) to one that was said to be better at picking up signal but still I'm only getting one very fuzzy channel. I've heard rumours about signal boosters and found they sell them in Argos, but how reliable are they? Do they really work?

Public Comments

1. I've got one to boost the signal from my aerial into my Freeview box. It does make the picture much better. Got mine from Argos.
2. A signal booster, or aerial preamplifier, to give it it's correct title, will increase the signal strength, as seen by the TV, but it will also boost the noise and interference aswell. It won't clean-up the signal, and it won't remove ghosting and shadowing effects. Unfortunately, the only real answer is to invest in a decent outdoor, roof-top aerial. I remember as a student in Derby, the signal was absolutely dire, and never did get satisfactory reception in all of my three years there.! Be aware, that as the analogue services are now being systematically turned off, you'll need to seriously consider both a decent aerial, and a digital freeview box. If the signal is really so poor that you only get one channel, it might even be worth considering 'Free-sat' digital satellite TV. If you're a student, there are also some portable sets that you can get for use in a motorhome or caravan, so you can take it with you as you move about from lodging to lodging over the years.
3. mine does remember to turn it on
4. A signal booster will not improve the signal strength received by your aerial. Indoor aerials are not usually good enough for digital reception, unless you are close to a transmitter.
5. you will waste you money trying to improve the reception on an indoor aerial. you need some sort of decent signal before amplification.