We had many hypothesis about antenna and how well they received signals and send to the small decoder that is connected to the TV. The height of the antenna, the direction where it is facing, iron rod for better signals also it works with the blood on our palm, the wind can disrupt the signals too. Might sound silly but for some reasons these hypothesis were maybe true 😂😂.
We had a colour TV from onset and I don't really like watching movies especially the local ones which I sit to watch only because everyone in the house is watching. I preferred to wait till when some channels will be alive and ready to show action, sci-fi and adventure movies and cartoons too. We had a set of cushion chairs in the parlour that formed letter C so anyone could sit and enjoy watching TV from any possible angle of the parlour.
Rainy and windy days are the worst days because those are the days we might spend more time with the antenna than we spend watching TV. We had few favourites channels which include Yoruba or igbo movies, American and other actions movies, then cartoons and then we have news channels (every kid's worst channels those days). While watching, the signal might get disturbed by the wind, so someone is asked or volunteer to go out to turn the pole of the antenna. The pole is buried into the ground in such a way that it can still be turned to the left or right.
Making the antenna get a good signal requires some skills that is learned from experience. The person or people inside tells you how well and which direction to turn the antenna to. Those days, if I was the one with the antenna, I will meticulously hold and turn our antenna slowly maybe half inch per turn because just a little extra turn can make one loose the whole signal. Those days, you hear something like this.
People inside: turn it to the opposite direction.
(the person with the antenna does that)
People inside: turn it a little bit to the right.
Antenna controller: is it clear ?
People inside: No, turn it back to the left just a little.
Antenna controller: is it okay ?
People inside: No, a little more!
Antenna controller: what about now?
People inside: it is getting clearer, turn it more but gently.
Antenna controller: (turns just a little bit).
People inside: a little more to the left will make it perfect. (everyone is getting excited)
Antenna controller: okay (turns a bit more)
People inside: it's okay, it's okay.... No! you've turned it a bit too much now we've lost it.
Antenna controller: I did what you asked me to do (trying to defend him/herself).
People inside: Turn it back a little to the opposite direction again.
Antenna controller: I just did, any difference ?
People inside: Nooo!
And it goes on and on till the signal is back or the pole gets stucked and wouldn't turn again or someone else tries to become the antenna controller or everyone just give up or change to another channel. There are days when no channel will be working, such days require special efforts😅, like removing the whole pole and erecting it in a different position. Asking neighbors to know how strong their antenna signal is then pointing your own antenna to face same direction, hitting the antenna up at the end of the pole with a long stick. Those with iron rod as pole for their antenna tries the palm of all family members to see whose blood will enable the antenna pick a better signal faste as it turned to the right or left. Some of us memorized the right angle to get best signal for certain channels, which were our favorite then.
Now no one really uses the TV except for news. Smart TV can connect to the internet to watch Netflix and YouTube. There are now television with wide and flat screens, could be as large as 42 inches.
Posted Using INLEO