If you need help finding the best TV signal booster in the UK, then you have come to the right place. This article discusses each factor to be considered before buying a TV signal booster, then we present to you our top choices.
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What to Consider When Buying a TV Signal Booster
Gain Level
When choosing a signal booster, you will want to pay the most attention to the gain level, as this is the most important factor. Without the right gain, then you will not be able to enjoy high-quality television without a lot of problems and will find that the signal booster is not strong enough to easily meet your needs.
When looking at the gain, you must make sure that your gain is going to be at least the same as your signal loss, if not greater. For example, if you have cable with 8dB of loss, then you must make sure that your booster provides at least 8dB or more to enjoy quality visuals without a lot of static or noise.
Remember, however, that when looking at the gain level of different signal boosters, that a higher gain doesn’t necessarily mean that the booster will be better. Higher-gain boosters aren’t always a better option. If you opt for a signal booster that provides too much gain, then you can easily overdrive your tuner. This will mean that you get too much signal and won’t be able to enjoy great quality TV that is clear and uninterrupted.
If you are going to be using the booster with a signal splitter to reach various points, then you will want to consider a slightly higher gain level. The more outputs that are going to be used, the higher the gain level needs to be to ensure great performance with very little noise.
Cables
The cable that you use with your signal booster is just as important as the booster itself and will play a huge role in whether or not you are happy with the way that your booster and your TV work together. It’s important to use a high-quality coaxial cable. Some boosters come with cables, but most do not.
If you do choose a signal booster that ships with a cable, then you must take time to make sure that the cable is high quality enough to be used and won’t cause your picture and sound quality to suffer. Make sure that any coaxial cable that you opt for is long enough to be used on its own, as you will experience a signal loss each time you try to connect more than one cable for this use.
4G Filtering
To ensure that you don’t experience any channel loss or frequency interruptions when using your signal booster, you must make sure that the equipment you buy has an integrated 4G filter. This is becoming more and more common on signal boosters due to the problems that users have when they use equipment without this filter.
An integrated 4G filter is able to easily remove any signals from 4G mobile phone signals. This interference can easily cause problems with viewing television if they are not removed, which is why this filter is so important. As 4G becomes so much more popular, it is normal to experience problems with using a TV signal booster unless you opt for one that has this built-in filter for protection and to ensure clear communication and reception.
Frequency Range
It’s important to make sure that the signal booster you choose offers a wide frequency range so that you won’t have to worry about whether or not you will be able to pick up the channels that you want to view. Seeing what channels are available in your area and then making sure that the option you choose offers that range is important.
Considering the frequency range will allow users to more easily choose the signal booster that is going to be best suited to their use. This ensures the best possible use of this equipment.
How Many Outputs
If you are going to be using your signal booster with more than one TV, then you need to look for equipment that will meet your needs. Many signal boosters on the market are designed to only be used by one TV at a time, which means that trying to split the signal will result in a lot of noise and lower-quality viewing.
Some units, however, are designed to offer great output to more than one TV, which is great for use in a home or office that needs to boost signals to multiple TVs without having to invest in more boosters.
Auto Gain Control
Some signal boosters come with an auto gain control feature, which is a great option for anyone who is worried about accidentally damaging their TV’s tuner. These controls will reduce the gain if the signal is too strong, which could cause damage to the TV.
Very advanced controllers will not only drop the signal if it is strong enough to cause damage, but can also help to maximise weaker signals. This ensures that users get the best possible performance from their equipment without any fear of damage from high gain.
FM Trap
Strong FM signals can cause a lot of problems with TV and can produce a lot of interference. Rather than allowing this to be a problem, buyers can simply opt for a signal booster that comes with an FM trap. These traps are designed to lower the signal level of incredibly strong FM stations.
Traps are available as either switchable or as fixed. They are a good consideration for anyone who wants to receive a station that is on a certain channel that deals with a lot of interference.
Dual Input
Anyone who wants to enjoy VHF and UHF will want to look for a signal booster that offers dual input. This means that both the VHF and UHF signals can be joined without much loss. The end result is high-quality reception.
Best TV Signal Booster Reviews
Philex 27813HS Booster
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This is a great option for any home or office that has up to four TVs, as this signal booster can be used for more than one TV without experiencing a huge drop in quality. Any problems with quality or increased noise can easily be addressed by simply undoing one of the TVs and purchasing another signal booster. The fewer TVs plugged into this unit, the better it works, but it does a wonderful job boosting signal for multiple TVs when used correctly and in ideal conditions.
Not only does it do a great job boosting signal so that users don’t have to worry about whether or not they will be able to watch TV without interruption, but thanks to the powerful 4G filter, this unit is not negatively affected by 4G. Other similar units that don’t have this filter simply won’t be able to prevent the interruption and channel loss that can easily occur when used around 4G signals.
The compact plug-in power adapter is small and easy to use, ensuring that users will be able to easily power this device without any problems. It’s small and discrete enough to be used in most any location without becoming an eyesore, which is a huge issue with larger signal boosters. The decibel gain on this unit is 10dB, which is great for use with one TV or with more, as long as the cables are kept shorter.
Unlike some other units that can easily be affected by bad weather and can tend to become spotty or have a lot of static in the rain, this unit is powerful enough to provide a strong and powerful signal that doesn’t break up a lot. This is great for homeowners who live in rainy areas and will ensure that they can easily boost the power for their TV to enjoy a clear signal without problems or the signal being dropped or lost.
Since this booster doesn’t have an amplifier, it does require a decent signal to work as well as possible. This means that some people may struggle to get all of the channels that they want to watch. However, as long as you have a good signal coming into the home, this shouldn’t be much of a problem and will prevent you from having to pay for TV channels.
The compact size of this unit, as well as its reasonable price, makes it a great option for most homes or for anyone looking to boost their signal without making a huge investment to do so. Additionally, it is clearly labelled and very easy to use and to understand, which makes it a great option for anyone who may struggle with other types of boosters. Once everything is plugged in and the booster has been connected to a power source, then it can be easily used without any additional adjusting, ensuring great results in very little time.
Pros
- Smaller size makes it easy to find a hidden place in the home for this signal booster
- Very reasonably priced, making it a great choice for buyers on a budget
- Easily boost signals from satellite receivers and from DVDs
- Includes an integrated 4G filter that does a wonderful job removing interference and preventing channel loss
- Can be used to run up to four TVs at once without a noticeable drop in signal output or quality
Cons
- Male to male cable isn’t provided and will need to be ordered separately
- Not the most aesthetically appealing option on the market
- Sometimes struggles to pick up signals
SLx Signal Booster
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One of the main benefits that users enjoy when they opt for this signal booster is that it has adjustable gain control, which makes it easy to make adjustments to the gain based on the signal, as well as on the cable length. While it can be a little bit tricky to adjust the gain at first, as the screw is hard to use, once the gain is set correctly, then this is no longer an issue. It can easily boost up to 16dB without any problems, resulting in the best possible reception.
This particular model has two outputs, which makes it possible to connect two TVs to the equipment without any problems. This is where the adjustable gain control really comes into play, as it makes it easy for users to ensure that they have great picture quality and sound even when more than one TV is connected. This same piece of equipment comes with up to eight outputs, which is ideal for larger locations where more TVs are going to be used at once.
As long as there is reception in the area, this signal booster will do a wonderful job boosting the signal and making it much easier for you to enjoy high-quality reception when watching TV. Thanks to the impressive 4G filter that is integrated into this unit, users won’t have to worry about any 4G signals in their home interrupting their reception and making it difficult for them to see the shows that they want to watch.
SLx is known for producing high-quality equipment, and they stand by their signal boosters. This booster comes with a 12-month warranty so that any users who buy it can do so with confidence that the company will address problems in a timely fashion. This gives people peace of mind when they are shopping and makes them much more likely to decide on a piece of equipment that will meet their needs.
While buyers will need to buy cables to run this equipment, that means that they will have complete control over the quality of cable that they purchase. This is great news for anyone who wants to buy high-quality coaxial cables to use with their new signal booster. Both cables need to have male plugs on each end to be able to easily and quickly set up the signal booster.
Thanks to the powerful signal boost that this equipment offers, users will notice a vast improvement in their signal quality when watching TV. It makes it much easier to get channels that were otherwise difficult to get and prevents glitches from occurring regularly. When glitches do occur, the gain can be adjusted to ensure that they won’t continue to be a problem in the future.
Pros
- Offers up to 16dB gain level, which is great for people who need higher gain without going overboard
- Included 4G filtering does a wonderful job at preventing interference from lowering the reception quality
- Comes with a full 12-month warranty
- Works very well over longer cable runs, which is ideal for use in larger homes or rooms
- Does a wonderful job boosting FM signal and TV signal reception
- Sockets are correctly sized and provide a firm fit for the coaxial cord plugs
Cons
- Power cable is not only fixed, but short, which can be difficult to use
- The gain control screw is temperamental and difficult to operate
- Not for use in homes that are closer to the local TV transmitter, as it will overload
Labgear LDA101R
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This is an incredibly powerful signal booster that does a great job boosting signal to a single TV or with a splitter in homes or businesses where there is more than one TV to be affected. It not only offers analogue/digital TV as well as radio, but also Freeview, FM/DAB, DVT-T2 and DVB-T HD signals. This means that it is one of the most comprehensive options on the market and does an incredible job improving the signal in most any location.
Thanks to the switch-mode power supply that it offers, this unit tends to run a lot cooler than other options on the market, which is great for people who are going to have it on for longer periods of time or who are worried about their unit overheating. Because it runs so cool, it can easily be put in most any location in the room and will fit perfectly into the décor of a home without too much effort to protect the space from heat.
The improved signal handling capacity has been adjusted to ensure that it provides great picture quality and resolution on a wide variety of channels, which means that users will be able to enjoy their favourite shows without any problems. This is in addition to the improved impedance matching, which improves how the signal is passed from the amp to the cable. Overall, the end result is impressive and striking, which is great news for anyone tired of the way that their TV looks.
Thanks to the impressive 4G filter that offers 45dB of interference protection, this unit won’t struggle with decreased quality or a loss of reception when 4G electronics are in the area. Since so many people are using 4G phones, this is great news and will prevent users from being frustrated with their equipment.
Even though this signal booster is not nearly as attractive as some of the others on the market, it is one of the most powerful and offers an impressive amplification level. With an amplification of up to 18dB, it’s easy for users to hone in on a signal and enjoy great visuals and sound when watching TV.
While the price is a bit higher than some of the other options on the market, it is one of the most powerful, which makes it a great choice for anyone who needs an extra boost from their equipment. Additionally, it is compliant with the Radio Equipment Directive. This means that users who opt for this signal booster won’t have to worry about whether or not they will need to upgrade in the near future.
Pros
- Offers an impressive 18dB of gain
- Optimised to reduce any signal noise, which can occur with most any signal booster
- Designed to work with very long cables or with a splitter for use with more TVs
- Improved gain flatness ensures that the unit offers great signal handling across the entire range
- Low noise allows users to easily view their favourite shows without a loss in signal quality
- Class 3 4G filter is built into the unit and offers an exceptional 45dB of interference protection
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a variable gain control, so the gain can’t be adjusted to improve picture quality
- Unattractive design doesn’t fit into a home’s décor and will look best if hidden out of view
- Overtightening the connector can result in the solder joint breaking and the unit no longer working