Freeview Signal Overload

I’m getting too strong a signal

Question submitted by Pat Dale

I had a Labgear booster put onto my Ariel about 15 years ago, now that digital has taken place I’m having problems, when we attached the set top box, the following came onto the screen “Antenna Power overload detected”. Could you tell me if this will affect my TV or anything else, do I need to fit a new booster?

Our Answer

Normally, you would use a signal booster to pull in a weak TV signal. In 2008, the UK started the Digital Switchover, and many of the transmitters broadcasting Freeview had to be on lower power, so as not to cause interference. Once your TV region has completed the Digital Switchover, the power for Freeview signals is turned up.

This means that before the switchover, you may have needed a signal booster to pull in a weak low-power Freeview signal. Once the switchover finished in your area and the power was increased, there may now be no need for a signal booster at all.

The message you’re getting on your Freeview TV indicates that you’re getting too much signal – So you have a strong signal, and you’re boosting it.

The first thing to try, is removing your booster – Just connect your TV or Freeview box(s) direct to the TV aerial without using a booster. Not only will this reduce the signal strength, but also save on your electricity (running an un-needed booster)

Set-top Box “Aerial Power”

In researching this answer, we saw other advice offered on the “Antenna Power overload detected” message. Some set-top boxes have the option to send power from the box to a masthead amplifier. If this option is switched on, the box could be sending unnecessary voltage up the aerial cable.

You should look through the on-screen menu for an option such as “Antenna Power” and try disabling the antenna power option. It’s also been suggested that it’s worth trying performing a factory reset on the set-top box, to get the box back to its default settings

Signal still too high?

If you aren’t using a signal booster and your TV is still complaining of a signal overload, you might need to use something called an attenuator, which plugs into your aerial socket, and reduces the incoming signal. You can buy an inline RF attenuator cheaply at Maplin.

TV Aerial Attenuator, for reducing signal

Any questions or comments? Please add a comment below