An independent reference about home TV reception. We don't sell equipment or install antennas, and we're not connected with the former site on this domain.
Safety
A TV seems like the most harmless thing in the house, but there are real risks around getting a signal. Some have to do with heights and weather, others with electricity and everyday carelessness, and still others with people who take advantage of what you don't know. We've rounded them up below, briefly and without fearmongering.
No missed show is worth climbing onto a wet roof for.
How this section works: we describe risks in general terms and don't give instructions for mounting at height or working with wiring. Anything involving the roof, the outside wall or the electrical panel is a job for professionals.
Situations worth keeping in mind for anyone with an antenna and a receiver at home.
Mounting an antenna on a roof, balcony or outside wall comes with a risk of falling. This work is done by professionals using fall protection. Mounting on the outside of an apartment building usually needs approval from building management.
Dish setup (in Russian)
During a thunderstorm, don't touch the outdoor antenna or its cable, and don't try to adjust anything. Lightning protection and grounding are a job for a professional.
A cable running across a walkway is easy to catch with your foot. You can trip and fall, and pull a heavy TV off its stand. Run cables along the walls.
Don't cover the box with a cloth, put it right up against a radiator or set it directly on top of a running TV. It needs open air around it.
Sometimes people go door to door claiming your equipment has to be replaced right away by law. Don't rush: check with your provider and with official information from your broadcast network (in Russia, RTRS).
Losing the signal is frustrating, especially when your favorite show is about to start. In moments like that, it's easy to do something rash: climb a ladder, tug at a wire by the electrical panel or let in the first person who promises a quick fix.
It's much smarter to put off watching. Indoors, you can calmly check the input, the cables and the power. Anything outside or up high can wait for a professional, and any urgent demand to replace your equipment is worth double-checking against official sources.
If you have older relatives, tell them ahead of time that legitimate services never demand that equipment be handed over on the spot and don't show up with strangers unannounced.
What to do when there's no signal, the picture breaks into blocks, channels disappear, there's no sound, the remote won't respond or nothing works after a storm.
Step-by-step guides: scanning for digital channels, finding a spot for the antenna, hooking up a set-top box and taming the cables. Plus our article catalogue.
What to keep handy: a digital TV coverage map, your TV's manual, the signal menu on your set-top box, the right cable, labels and a flashlight.
Answers to common questions about over-the-air digital TV, satellite reception and home equipment: what your TV needs to show channels.
Key terms in plain English: multiplex, UHF band, coverage area, LNB, receiver, auto scan, and signal strength versus signal quality.
This information is given in general terms as of the date it was prepared. Channel lineups, TV menus and contract terms change over time, so when in doubt, go by your device's manual and the official information from your broadcast network.