Picture pixelating, freezing or breaking up
Almost always a weak or unstable signal — a mis-aligned aerial after wind, water ingress in a connector, a corroded wall plate, or a failing amplifier. Worse in rain or wind is the giveaway.
What we cover
Common TV reception problems and what they usually mean
Match your symptoms to the list — there's a strong chance we've fixed exactly the same fault somewhere in Bucks or Herts this week.
"No signal" or "no service" message
Usually a snapped downlead at the eaves or chimney, a cracked wall socket, an aerial that has come off its bearing, or a dead mast-head amplifier. The signal meter pinpoints which in minutes.
Some channels work, others don't
Classic sign of a weak signal on certain multiplexes — common when an older Group A aerial is being asked to receive frequencies it was never cut for. Re-tune first; if that doesn't fix it, the aerial probably needs upgrading to wideband.
BBC HD, ITV HD or Channel 4 HD missing
The HD multiplexes sit on different frequencies and need more signal. A re-tune may bring them back; if not, a wideband aerial or a re-align to a stronger transmitter usually does.
Sound but no picture (or vice versa)
Rarely an aerial fault — usually a TV input, HDMI or scart issue. We'll diagnose it, but it's worth checking the TV is on the right input first.
Total loss after a storm
Storm damage. Aerial often visibly bent, hanging or missing elements. We re-secure or replace, repair the bracket or chimney lashings, and weatherproof every cable entry on the way down.
One TV works, another doesn't
Almost always a splitter, amplifier or wall-plate fault rather than the aerial. We trace each room back to the source and replace the faulty component.
Aerial works in summer, fails in winter
Classic water-ingress symptom — moisture gets into a connector, splitter or wall plate and shorts the signal in cold or wet weather. We replace and weatherproof properly.
Sudden loss after years of working fine
Usually a snapped downlead at a chimney exit, a rodent-chewed cable in the loft, or a power-supply unit for a mast-head amp that has finally given up.
Buzzing, interference or 4G/5G dropouts
Nearby mobile masts can swamp older aerials. A filtered amplifier or a 4G/5G-rejection filter on the downlead almost always restores a clean signal.
Plain-English guide to common TV aerial problems across Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire — pixelation, no signal, missing channels, weather-related dropouts, picture freezing, sound but no picture, and total loss of reception. Self-check steps you can try in two minutes, the most likely causes for each symptom on Crystal Palace, Sandy Heath, Oxford and Hannington transmitters, and when to call a local CAI-trained aerial engineer. Same-day repair across Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Amersham, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and the Chilterns.
Why has my TV aerial stopped working?
Nine times out of ten, a TV that's lost Freeview channels isn't a broken aerial — it's a snapped downlead, a corroded wall socket, a knocked-off-bearing aerial after a windy night, a failing mast-head amplifier, or simply a re-tune the TV missed when a local transmitter changed frequency. This page walks through the symptoms we see every week across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and the Chilterns, what they usually mean, and the two-minute self-checks worth trying before you book an engineer. If you'd rather skip straight to a fix, call 01296 568243 and we'll usually be with you the same day.
What's included
- ✓Plain-English diagnosis of the 10 most common Freeview faults
- ✓Two-minute self-checks before you call an engineer
- ✓Local transmitter advice — Crystal Palace, Sandy Heath, Oxford, Hannington
- ✓Same-day repair visits across Bucks & Herts where possible
- ✓Calibrated signal-meter diagnosis on every job
- ✓Fixed quote before any work begins
- ✓Two-year guarantee on parts and workmanship
- ✓"No signal, no charge" — if we can't fix it, you don't pay
Pricing guide
Honest, upfront pricing. Exact quotes depend on property type, access and equipment. Every price includes parts, labour and our two-year guarantee — we'll confirm the exact cost before we start.
- Aerial diagnostic call-out (credited against any repair)from £90
- Re-tune and signal check at one TVfrom £90
- Wall socket / face-plate replacementfrom £100
- Aerial realignment after wind or stormfrom £100
- Snapped downlead / cable replacementfrom £120
- Mast-head amplifier replacementfrom £140
- Full aerial replacement (wideband, parts & fit)from £220
Two-minute self-checks before you call an engineer
- ▸Re-tune the TV from the menu — many "lost channel" faults are simply a missed re-tune
- ▸Check the aerial cable is fully pushed into the back of the TV and the wall plate
- ▸If you have a mast-head amplifier, check its plug-in power supply hasn't been switched off
- ▸Try a different TV on the same wall socket — rules out a faulty TV tuner
- ▸Look outside (safely from the ground) — is the aerial visibly bent, hanging or missing elements?
- ▸Check whether neighbours on the same street have lost signal too (transmitter work) — postoffice.co.uk and freeview.co.uk publish current transmitter issues
Why choose Aylesbury Aerials
We diagnose before we quote
Every visit starts with a calibrated signal-meter reading at the wall plate and at the aerial — so the cause is proven, not guessed, before you're asked to spend a penny.
Repair-first approach
If your existing aerial is sound and the fault is in a cable, connector, socket or amplifier, we'll fix that and leave the aerial alone. We don't replace kit you don't need.
Same-day across most of Bucks & Herts
Call before midday and we'll usually be with you the same day, with common replacement parts on the van — wideband and Group A aerials, WF100 coax, wall plates, mast-head amps and brackets.
No signal, no charge
If we can't restore a usable Freeview signal, the call-out is free. We're confident enough in the diagnosis to back it that way.
Common questions
Why has my TV aerial suddenly stopped working?
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The three most common causes we see are: a snapped or water-damaged downlead (especially after wind or rain), an aerial that has come off its bearing in a storm, or a failed mast-head amplifier. Less commonly the aerial itself is genuinely past its life. A calibrated signal-meter diagnosis tells us which in 10–15 minutes.
Why is my Freeview picture pixelating or freezing?
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Pixelation is the classic symptom of a weak or unstable signal. The usual causes are a mis-aligned aerial, water in a connector or wall plate, a failing amplifier, or — increasingly — 4G/5G interference from nearby mobile masts. A signal meter at the wall plate and at the aerial pinpoints which.
I've lost BBC HD / ITV HD / Channel 4 HD — what should I do?
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First, retune the TV from the menu — HD multiplex frequencies sometimes change. If that doesn't bring them back, the aerial is most likely a narrow-band (Group A) type that can't reach the HD frequencies cleanly. A wideband upgrade or a re-alignment to a stronger transmitter usually fixes it.
Is it worth repairing my aerial or should I just replace it?
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In our experience around 7 out of 10 aerial call-outs across Bucks and Herts turn out to be cable, connector or amplifier faults — not the aerial itself. We always test before quoting and only recommend a full replacement when the aerial is genuinely past its useful life. Repair is almost always cheaper.
Can you fix my aerial today?
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In most of our coverage area, yes — if you call before midday. We carry wideband and Group A aerials, mast-head amplifiers, WF100 coax, wall plates and brackets on the van, so most aerial faults are completed on the first visit.
What if the fault turns out not to be the aerial?
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We diagnose the whole signal chain — aerial, downlead, splitters, amplifiers, wall plates and the TV input. If the fault is somewhere other than the aerial we'll show you on the meter and fix the actual cause, not the symptom.
How much does a typical aerial repair cost?
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Most aerial repairs across Bucks and Herts come in between £100 and £160 including the call-out, diagnostic and minor parts. A full replacement aerial fitted is typically £220–£320 depending on bracket and mast requirements. We confirm a fixed price before any work starts.
Do you guarantee aerial repair work?
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Yes — every repair is covered by our two-year guarantee on parts and workmanship. If the same fault returns inside that period, we're back to fix it at no charge.
Ready when you are