What is Freeview and what do you need to receive it?
Freeview is the UK's free-to-air digital television service, broadcast from terrestrial transmitters. In London, the primary transmitter is Crystal Palace, with additional relay transmitters in areas where the main signal is weak. To receive Freeview you need two things: a compatible TV or set-top box, and a correctly installed TV aerial that can receive a good-quality digital signal.
The 'correctly installed' part is where problems often arise. Many properties in London still have aerials fitted before the digital switchover — aerials designed for the analogue signal that don't have sufficient gain or bandwidth to cleanly receive all of the Freeview multiplexes. Others have aerials in poor condition, or properties that are shadowed from the transmitter by tall buildings.
Common Freeview problems we fix
- Missing channels — particularly on multiplexes 7 and 8 (COM7/COM8), which require stronger reception than the main six
- Pixelation and freezing — usually caused by a signal that's borderline: just enough to receive the channel, but not enough to decode it cleanly
- 'No signal' or 'Signal too weak' error messages on your TV
- Channels that work during the day but disappear in the evenings (atmospheric signal conditions)
- Channels working on one TV but not another in the same property
- Freeview reception lost completely after an aerial repair or building work nearby
Freeview in London — the signal landscape
London's signal landscape is more complex than most parts of the UK. The density of tall buildings in central and inner London creates signal shadows, reflections, and multipath interference that can cause Freeview reception to vary dramatically street-by-street — and even floor-by-floor within a building.
Lower floors of tall buildings, properties in valleys (like parts of Sydenham and the Thames corridors), and areas shielded by large developments often need higher-gain aerials, better aerial positioning, or in some cases a signal booster to receive the full Freeview service.
Our engineers know London's signal geography in detail. They'll test your specific signal environment and recommend the most effective solution — not the most expensive one.
Freeview HD and 4K
Freeview Play and Freeview HD require a compatible TV or set-top box, but they also require a stronger, cleaner signal than standard Freeview. If you've recently bought a new TV that's supposed to support 4K or HDR via Freeview Play, but the picture quality seems no better than your old set, there's a good chance the issue is your aerial rather than your TV.
Pricing
- Freeview reception diagnosis and repair: from £75
- New Freeview-optimised aerial installation: from £99
- Freeview signal booster installation: from £65
- Additional Freeview aerial point: from £65
Frequently asked questions
Why am I missing some Freeview channels?+
The most common reason is that your aerial doesn't produce a strong enough signal to receive all Freeview multiplexes. The BBC and ITV channels (on the main multiplexes) typically require a weaker signal than the channels on COM7 and COM8. Upgrading to a high-gain wideband aerial usually resolves this.
Can you fix Freeview reception in a flat?+
Yes. Freeview reception in flats depends on the shared aerial system feeding your property. If the system is old, poorly maintained, or incorrectly configured, some flats — particularly lower floors — may receive a degraded signal. We can test the system and identify whether the problem is with the communal aerial, the distribution amplifier, or the cabling to your specific flat.
My Freeview was fine then suddenly stopped — what happened?+
Sudden loss of Freeview reception is usually caused by one of three things: storm damage to the aerial, a failed signal amplifier, or a loose or corroded cable connection. Call us and we'll diagnose and fix it, usually on the same day.
Do I need a special aerial for Freeview?+
You need a digital aerial — one that covers the UHF band used by Freeview transmitters. Most aerials installed after about 2005 are digital-compatible, but aerials installed before then, or cheap aerials sold with set-top boxes, may not have sufficient gain to receive all channels reliably.
Is Freeview better than Freesat?+
Both are free services with no monthly subscription. Freeview uses a TV aerial and gives you around 70+ channels. Freesat uses a satellite dish and gives you 200+ channels, with better reliability in areas with poor terrestrial signal. We install both and can advise which suits your property and location.
