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Single frequency interference

What to do when several channels are missing, but they are all on the same 'multiplex'

What to do when several channels are missing, but they are all
published on UK Free TV

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

There are two main causes of this type of intermitted interference: The current Freeview mulitplexes are shown in this diagram. If all of your missing channels are on a single row, you have "single frequency interference":



Local analogue interference

Local analogue interference is caused by household video devices that you can attach to a television such as:
  • Sky Digibox;
  • Video cassette recorder (VCR);
  • Personal digital video recorder (PVR);
  • Games console;
If you have any of these devices, you will need to work out which of these is blocking the reception of a Freeview multiplex by turning off the suspect device and then rescanning for channels on the Freeview box.

If powering off the device restores the Freeview channels from the blocked multiplex, you will need to either stop using the problem device's RF output by disconnecting the RF output cable permanently, or by changing the RF channel number that that device uses. See, for example, How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox?

You can find a list of the frequencies that are not in use at your location by putting your postcode into the My Freeview reception and looking under the "Free RF channels" section.

Non-wideband aerial in some areas

In some places you will need a wideband aerial to receive all the Freeview multiplexes. For example in Central Birmingham, the Sutton Coldfield has multiplex D on an 'out of group', so you cannot view Film4 or ITV2+1 without an aerial upgrade.

To find out if you need an aerial upgrade, see My Freeview reception.

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
Is it true that my 87 year old mother is entitled to a FREE upgrade when the ana5
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
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

7:36 PM

JOHN NEWMAN: The Great Missenden transmitter will not have any digital services until 2012.

I would have a look at the Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page for more things to check.


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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Sunday, 27 February 2011
J
jen
4:20 PM
Cardiff

i live in a high signal area in cardiff. i have a small tv upstairs with inbuilt freeview which picks up all channels with a cheap aerial. i have a 42inch bush tv with inbuilt freeview downstairs which will pick up only a few channels with the same aerial. ive tried 2 other amplified aerial on this tv (one supposedly the best that maplins carry)but no joy in getting the channels. any suggestions?

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jen's 1 post GB flag
jen's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

4:41 PM

jen: Is this "cheap aerial" on the roof?

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Monday, 28 February 2011
J
Jon
8:50 PM

can some please help? Just got my first flat screen tv a Silvercrest and looks grate,but I have set it all up and it seems that I do not get all the freview channels I have a roof aerial, but all the ones I do get are very good picture how do I gettthe missing channels/

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Jon's 1 post GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:05 PM

Jon: Can you tell me your postcode please?

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
K
Kate
9:34 PM

If I've established that I have single frequency interference (which it seems I have) what do I do about it? I live in the Notts area (NG21).

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Kate's 1 post GB flag
J
Jennifer Whitehead
10:50 PM
Market Harborough

Please help, i have a sanyo tv with freeview inbuilt and at about 6pm this evening lost all signal. Still no signal, i've tried another lead for aerial, also an indoor aerial and still no signal. I've tried to re-install channels, with no luck and can only get analogue with very bad reception. I live in Market Harborough (le16).

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Jennifer Whitehead's 1 post GB flag
Jennifer's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

6:00 AM

Kate: You disconnect whatever it is that is causing the problem.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Thursday, 3 March 2011
J
Julian
3:44 PM
Daventry

Help, I had an aerial upgrade completed by a professional 5 years ago to enable me to pick up a signal from the Oxford transmitter. This worked fine with occasional loss of signal due to atmospherics until just after Christmas. Since then I have been unable to get ITV 1, C4, C5 etc. The aerial has a booster device on it, but this seems to be working OK. I have re-tuned my set top box following your instructions on single frequency and multiple frequency problems but to no avail. My postcode is NN11 3RA. Any suggestions?

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Julian's 1 post GB flag
Julian's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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