If you have multiple TVs in your home receiving Over-the-Air TV channels with an antenna, you may have noticed some TVs don’t get a signal as well as others.
The reason for this is some TVs have a better built-in receiver sensitivity.
Most newer TVs built in the last 4-5 years do a better job compared to older units, but they can still vary.
Keep in mind other problems can cause a TV to not receive stations.
Is a Poor Antenna Signal the TV or Broadcasts Signal?
The first thing to do is verify it is the TV and not a bad or weak signal.
If one TV is getting more stations than a TV in another room, the easiest method is to swap them.
After swapping the TVs, be sure to re-scan for channels.
- If the TV receiving lesser channels starts getting more stations, it is the signal.
- If there is no change and the channels still are not picked up, it is the TV.
For low-quality or bad TV signals, a booster or amplifier can be installed that improves a signal when multiple TVs are used.
Example Amplifier for Up-to 4 TVs
Channel Master Ultra Mini 4 TV Antenna Amplifier, TV Antenna Signal Booster with 4 Outputs for Connecting Antenna or Cable TV to Multiple Televisions (CM-3414),White
How To Upgrade an OTA TV Tuner in a TV
If you swap out TVs and find the unit doesn’t receive signals well, there are two ways to upgrade a TV tuner, buy a new TV or an OTA digital converter box.
If your TV is old, it may be time for an upgrade, and a new unit may be a good option.
This doesn’t guarantee the new TV will have a better tuner, although most new TVs do work better.
Keep in mind many new TVs don’t come with a built-in OTA tuner, so be sure to look at the specifications if you do buy a new unit.
Buying a TV tuner converter box is a good option that is low-cost and doesn’t require buying a new TV.
There are many available, with most having extra features such as recording TV shows.
Example OTA TV Tuner Box on Amazon
Mediasonic ATSC Digital Converter Box with Recording / Media Player / TV Tuner Function (HW130STB)
Installing a TV tuner box is simple enough by hooking an antenna to the box and running a cable into a TV.
Most will also have multiple outputs such as Coaxial and HDMI.
Summary
If you have multiple TVs in a home with some getting fewer channels, it can be the TV or signal loss.
Having multiple TVs in a home often requires a booster distribution amplifier as the signal can weaken when multiple TVs are used.
A long coaxial cable can also cause signal loss.
The first step is to swap out the TVs location and see if the problem follows.
If, after swapping TVs, the stations still cannot be picked up, the TV tuner is the likely problem.
Buying a TV tuner box is the best budget option without having to replace the TV.