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Freeview intermittent interference

When you get occasional sound loss or picture freezes

When you get occasional sound loss or picture freezes
published on UK Free TV

There are several different types of interference that cause problems. This page deals with the situation where:

  • Freeview reception is perfect or near-perfect most of the time
  • The audio on TV and radio channels mutes momentarily a few times each minute
  • The picture on a Freeview channel freezes a few times each minute


There are two main causes of this type of intermittent interference:
  • 'Induction' interference
  • Mobile phone interference


Induction interference

Induction interference is caused by mains-powered household devices that contain a large motor, such as:
  • Washing machine;
  • Tumble dryer;
  • Central heating pump or combination boiler;
  • Fridge;
  • Freezer;
  • Power tools (drills, jigsaws etc)
  • Vacuum cleaners;
  • Water pumps;
  • Automatic doors


You can identify if one or more of these devices is causing the Freeview reception problem by powering off the devices.

If one of these devices is causing the problem, then the reception problem can usually be solved by using a mains filter device and use it on the Freeview boxes mains connection.



Such as device is this: Maplin: 6-Way Flat Screen and HDTV Surge Protector and Mains Filter.

Mobile phone interference

If you keep a mobile phone by your Freeview box or digital television, keep it further away!

This also applies to other transmitters such as baby monitors, video senders, walkie talkies, and portable phones.

Help with Freeview, aerials?
How do I get a test card with Freeview1
I would like to know if it is possible to receive UK terrestrial Freeview servic2
I have been told I would receive too much singal from my Freeview tansmitter as 3
Can my Freeview box receive more than one BBC and ITV region?4
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In this section
Official aerial installers guide to the TV spectrum future1
Which free digital TV system will give me the most reliable reception?2
High pressure causing channel loss through "Inversion"3
Digital Region Overlap4
Freeview reception has changed?5
Two frequency interference 6

Comments
Sunday, 23 January 2011
H
hazel mcdonald
2:35 PM

our picture breaks around the same time every evening from 4pm until around 8pm it makes viewing impossible,very annoying; we have spoken to our neighbours and they feel it's due to atmospherics we are not so sure
could you help?

link to this comment
hazel mcdonald's 1 post GB flag
Monday, 24 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:15 AM

hazel mcdonald: No, it won't be down to "atmospherics". Please use the checklist at the top of the page.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
T
Tracey
6:08 PM
Gillingham

Suddenly have no ITV3 signal. Closest transmitter Bluebell Hill. Can any one help please?

link to this comment
Tracey's 1 post GB flag
Tracey's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 27 January 2011
M
Mr B Cope
2:38 PM
Liverpool

I live at L37 2FN and frequently have problems on BBC1 and 2 - poor picture/sound other channels are excellent. Does it depend on weather conditions?

link to this comment
Mr B Cope's 1 post GB flag
Mr's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Friday, 28 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:03 AM

Mr B Cope: Your reception should be rock-solid at all times. Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for help.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Sunday, 30 January 2011
T
T Brown
11:31 AM
Uckfield

Hi
I live at TN22 4AJ and have never had any problems with FV at all until just before Christmas when MUX 2 went very patchy, to the extend it is no longer watchable. Intermittent sound and picture break up all the time. I am receiving from the Heathfield transmitter which is only a few miles away, i've checked for engineering works, but nothing seems to have affected digital signals. I have tried the above and re-tuned a few times, but no luck. Nothing has changed in the house, but now just get the bad signal. Any ideas? Many thanks!

link to this comment
T Brown's 1 post GB flag
T's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
R
R nichols
2:46 PM

I receive from Waltham central due to my position in village, I am on a fringe area in LE10, all my TVs and PVRs tune in to Freeview OK, abt 100 stations most with a strong signal. I have just purchased a Technomate triple tuner 2x sat & 1x terrestrial HD tuners, at the moment Waltham are not transmitting in HD. The T2 tuner is capable of receiving standard definition transmissions but when I do a scan it will only install the channels that are transmitting at that time ie BBC 3 or 4 not until 7pm but if I retune sometime before 7am they disappear and are replaced by others. I loop through a Panasonic PVR to the Technomate and then to the TV, the signal is strong and good quality

link to this comment
R nichols's 2 posts GB flag
Monday, 31 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:10 PM

R nichols: Sounds like you have bought a box without the digital tick.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:26 PM

T Brown: Please follow the suggestions on the Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
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