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?
Monday, 30 March 2015
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John Couch10:51 PM
We have had continual regular interference on freeview. Key factors -
- Always - a strip from top to bottom of the screen about 20% of the screen width - where there is continuous pixel activity blocking out the image. The rest of the screen is fine and shows image. However sometimes the band broadens to up to 40% of the screen.
- During interference it can sometimes stop for a minute or two and then restarts
- usually happens at weekends after mid morning
- or mid to late evening on any day
- TV can run fine for an hour or more and then the interference starts.
- some days we have no problem
There is no mobile phone or other home based signal that could cause this as far as I can determine since our house is about 150 - 200 yards from any other home and I have shut down internet and mobile phones to try to isolate the cause.
I must suspect possible transmission interference from outbound signals - it is almost like "radio ham" interference of old.
Any suggestions?
John
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MikeB11:26 PM
John Couch: We dont have a postcode, which might help.
Single source interference is the most likely cause - water heaters etc? Mobiles wouldn't cause a problem, but the power supply to a DEC phone might. Its generally the timer or power supply which causes interference.
There is one other thing. If your using a digibox attached to a TV, then the signal is fed from the aerial socket, to the box, and then to the TV via scart. My old CRT TV has various scarts/RCA's into a scart switcher, including the DVD player, and the PVR runs via a decent quality set of RCA's. However, I get interference on the DVD (dark ghosting bands across the screen) and sometimes the PVR as well. The scart switcher and most of the cables into it are not well shielded (and a dodgy scart imput into the TV means I'm not touching the cable), and this leads to interference. A better scart cable or aerial lead might help.
Of course the other thing could be the TV itself...
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Tuesday, 31 March 2015
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jb3812:10 AM
John Couch: Although the fact of your home being relatively isolated from your nearest neighbour is inclined to eliminate the possibility of the interference entering your receiver via the aerial, therefore it could be caused by mains borne interference, something which you can check out with the aid of a small AM / FM portable radio using the following procedure.
Although portable radio's with an LW facility are better for this type of test, however medium wave or VHF FM types can still be used. The procedure being to tune the radio to the top end of the band where no transmissions take place followed by turning up the volume until background noise is heard, finally positioning the radio close to a socket near to the incoming mains, as should any interference be entering your household via the mains, its presence will be known about by a loud ripping type noise coming through the radio.
By the way, if using an FM radio, make sure that you fully extend its telescopic aerial.
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John Couch12:21 AM
Bingley
Thanks Mike
This may help a bit:
Post code is BD16 1UH
Water - central heating which is always on
DEC - we do use a number of wireless phones through the house and have for many years. The nearest unit is about 20 ft away (living on its battery) and the main phone power supply is two rooms away from the TV
We don't use a digibox, the TV (Toshiba) has its own inbuilt freeview . The signal is run from an external multi-feed aerial direct to the TV via plug in connector.
We have no other kit connected to or near the TV since we use it the kitchen.
We had no problem for several years and then this all started
Maybe I need a new TV ?? :-(
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John's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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John Couch12:26 AM
jb38
Thanks
I suspect it is not mains driven since it is occasional, sporadic, and mainly at week ends or the evening. If mains induced I would have expected it to happen soon after switch on and regularly. Nevertheless, will check because anything will help.
Regards
John
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MikeB4:16 PM
John Couch: Remember that the kitchen usually has more electrical stuff than almost any other room in the house - washing machines, boilers, microwaves, freezers, etc.
Of course it might be more than just one thing. If your TV's feed has started to develop a fault (frayed cable, etc), then that combined with a source of interference which wasn't a problem before might be enough to bring on the problem. You can check if the TV is at fault by putting it on another feed - if the TV in the main room is fine, then connect the kitchen one to that feed for a while - if there is a problem, then you know its the TV. If not, then its the system/external interference.
If you have one of those cable indicators that use for DIY, try seeing whats live etc around where the feed is - you'd be surprised whats in your wall sometimes!
And there is nothing to be lost by getting another aerial lead - they are really cheap, even for a decent shielded one, and that might stop the problem. I'd certainly follow JB38's advice and use a radio to try and see what interference there might be, and keep a diary of when the problem happens - its often the little things which cause the problem, and if you can find out where the problem lies and when, you can generally deal with it.
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John Couch4:59 PM
Thanks Guys
That gives me something to follow up.
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Wednesday, 1 April 2015
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jb388:09 AM
John Couch: In addition to all said, there is another aspect of the problem that I omitted to mention, insomuch, does the interference affect the audio in any way?
Also, there is another test that I would like you to carry out "during" the next spell of interference, that being to press the menu button and see if the interference is still evident or not, because if it is still there, then that's inclined to point to the problem being caused by an internal fault on the TV rather than anything picked up by the tuner, as selecting menu takes the tuner out of the equation.
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Tuesday, 22 September 2015
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Ben7:54 PM
Hi, I have freeview built into my TV but quite often the picture pixelates and sometimes freezes and the EPG show no information. The channels on which this occurs has a very fluctuating signal strength.
I've checked aerial connection. I live in a communal complex so we share the aerial but no one else seems to have any problem with their viewing.
Any ideas?
Thanks, Ben.
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jb388:41 PM
Ben: If no one else on the communal aerial system are experiencing any problems with reception, then the reason you are has to be connected with your installation. Try wiggling the connectors at each end of the jumper lead connecting your TV into the wall socket whilst you are viewing something, as your problem could possibly be down to one of them not being held tight enough by the socket. If they appear to be OK try shaking the coax, as it could be defective, changing it if you have any doubts as to whether it is or not.
Another possible reason for your problem could be by your TV not being tuned to the correct transmitter for your area, although unable to advise on this as your location is unknown. It should also be noted that engineering work is taking place in a number of areas, this in many instances resulting in less than satisfactory reception, although if this applied it would affect everyone on the communal aerial system.
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