Weak OTA Signal? Aim Your Antenna

Picture pixelating or dropping out is caused by interference or a weak TV antenna signal

Not every over-the-air station comes in crystal clear 100% of the time. But the fix is often as simple as pointing your TV antenna in the direction of the weak station you wish to receive.

Metal roofs or metal siding can cause a TV signal to degrade. Other things that can cause problems are LED lights, tall buildings, trees, cell towers, and even computers which can emit radio frequency noise.

Here's What You Can Do To Make Your Antenna Signal Stronger

Proper TV antenna installation and aiming are two things that can make your TV antenna perform better. Be sure to double-check all connections on your antenna to make ensure they are tight.

Also, use a quad-shielded RG6 cable for your antenna drop to your TV. Proper cable connectors and a compression tool are a must for installing F connectors to the end of the antenna cable.

If you suspect interference from a nearby cell tower, adding a filter, or filtered in-line amplifier can also help with this. There are some more helpful installation tips in our Digital Antenna Guide, that can help you get picture-perfect reception from an OTA antenna.

While all these will help your TV reception improve on weak signals, this next tip is probably the most important thing you can do to pull in those hard-to-get distant television channels.

Properly Aim Your Antenna

Aiming an antenna is probably the most critical step you can do in any antenna installation. Hopefully, you did not miss this step when installing your antenna. Otherwise, it means another trip up to the roof or attic to aim your antenna.

But before you can actually aim for your antenna, you need to have a target in mind. If one channel you love best is causing the dropouts or pixelation then this is the one we want to improve the signal for.

You will need a decent compass, (Silva makes good ones) to find the direction of the station transmitter for the channel your aiming at. Antennas Direct has a nice TV signal transmitter mapping page where you can enter your Zip code and it will show you where your stations are located in your local area.

Once you enter your Zip, scroll down below the map for individual channel information. There you will see the true heading from true North shown in degrees. To aim your antenna, point your antenna and compass toward true North. Then from the chart move your antenna by the degrees shown.

For example, if the TV station you want to aim for says it's 55 Degrees on the chart, you'll need to move your antenna so it corresponds to 55 degrees from true North on your compass.

Once your antenna is aimed have someone else inside your house check the picture quality. If it's better hoorah you are done. But before climbing back down, be sure to double-check check all your antenna connections are nice and snug.

WARNING: Climbing up on a roof or into an attic can be life altering if you were to fall. Falling from a roof could cause a serious injury or even death. If you are not feeling confident that this is something you can do safely, it's best to call in a Pro, or someone who can help.

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