Freeview intermittent interference
Brian Butterworth 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?
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
R
r. harvey12:07 PM
Nottingham
It is more or less that the reception is not
working on several channels got ITV on now ,no signal?
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r.'s: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb381:18 PM
r. harvey: It depends entirely where you are receiving your signal from, as you are predicted as only being able to receive Nottingham on a status of poor but good from Waltham or even Sutton Coldfield, although Walthams PSB transmitters are indicating to be being slightly down compared to normal although SDN (ITV3 etc) isnt.
Checked from near Peterborough.
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Wednesday, 28 March 2012
M
M. Blake2:09 PM
Battle
Every day we get a prompt message to retune our digital box. We have been without ITV1 and C4 for over a week. On Sunday and last night we lost BBC1 and BBC2. We have a brand new roof aerial and we live in the Battle, E. Sussex area. Our analogue signal was perfect. We have had nothing but problems since having the digital box was installed. Is there anything we can do to improve our situation or is this what we have to look forward to in the future?
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M.'s: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M. Blake: Where is your aerial pointing? To which transmitter? In which direction?
The transmitters that serve your area haven't switched over to full power digital yet, so the digital signals aren't as strong as the analogue ones.
Looking at the Digital UK Tradeview predictor, no transmitter is predicted as being great until switchover.
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B
Brian Springthorpe5:26 PM
Colwyn Bay
My mum's TV/Freeview stopped working a couple of times over the last couple of days.
She lives in Rhos on Sea in North Wales and I understand her main transmitter is Winter Hill.
As anyone else had similar problems?
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Brian's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Brian Springthorpe: You have previously posted on this site about the fact that your mum can receive from Llanddona and Winter Hill, the aerial pointing in the direction of the former.
If this is the case and it is Winter Hill reception that failed, then this is probably a result of the aerial facing the wrong way.
There has been high pressure which is causing signals to travel much further than normal, so this could be the cause, not helped by the fact that the signal being received isn't from the direction to which the aerial faces (and which it is most sensitive).
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Thursday, 29 March 2012
B
Brian Springthorpe5:44 PM
Colwyn Bay
Dave Lindsay: Its actually pointing in the Winter Hill direction. Everything seems to go down.
We fully understand and realise that the programs that are received from the Llandonna mast are a bonus, (these are the BBC Wales versions of BBC1 and ITV1). The supposedly best signal which gives BBC Northwest and Granada is still poor.
Mum lives in a complex of flats and having spoken to several other of the residents some say they have no problem others seem to be experiencing the same.
I am going round on Monday with my signal meter and see what I find.
The Llandonna signal is prone to "bounce" at certain times of day, (usually coinciding with changes in tides). Is the Winterhill signal also prone? It has to come over the sea at some point I would have thought.
When I left this afternoon, the Freeview signal was showing poor with extreme pixellation.
I wih we could find a solution to this - she is 86 and only watches TV a few times a week, mainly Corrie, Pointless and Casualty/Holby City.
She seems totally bu**ered at the moment and installing FreeSat or Sky is not an option.
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Brian's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Mazbar6:44 PM
Brian a simple solution could be the lead from the wall to the tv. Try a lead that has been made up not pre made use the best coax you can and good plugs if the plugs have a small screw in it remove it and dont use it. Finaly the outside of the coax the brade doesnt touch the inside copper core this could solve your problems
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Friday, 30 March 2012
G
Glenn7:44 PM
I have a problem with a neighbours petrol lawn mower he lives 2 houses away from me, when he is cutting the grass it causes interference on all my tv's (digital) signal.
The lawn mower is some years old but this has only started over the last 18 months, I have spoken to him about this problem and he has changed the spark plug to a resistive type but it is still happening.
I have replaced the arial and used double screen coxial cable though out the installation connecting to a distribution amplifier in the loft, our change over starts on the 04-04-12.
I will be grateful for any advice given.
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M
Mazbar8:21 PM
Glenn your amplifier could be faulty some new amplifiers are better screened plus try a log periodic aerial they surpress implus noise very well hope this helps
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