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Freeview reception has changed?

Why should my Freeview reception change when I have not changed anything?

Why should my Freeview reception change when I have not changed
published on UK Free TV

From time to time people find that their Freeview box, integrated set (idTV) or Personal Video Recorder (PVR) has lost many channels without any apparent changes.

There are a number of factors to consider

Freeview is broadcast on digital multiplexes. This means that, once broken down into a stream of bits, each television channel is combined into a single transmission of 1s and 0s. This means that reception is of the multiplex first if this is lost it affects all the channels in the multiplex in the same way.



The signal strength received by the box or TV for a particular multiplex from a given transmitter determines if the data can be received or not. So, a poor signal results in no data, an adequate signal in perfect data and a low signal in either none or all.

Poor digital signal levels do not result, as they do with old-fashioned analogue television, in a sub-standard picture or sound. Poor signals often result in a perfect data-stream, but are prone to periods of no reception. Sometimes this will be for hours, but can also be several times a minute when caused by induction from fridges, freezers, central heating systems, two-stroke scooters, baby monitors and so on.

If you have lost ALL your Freeview channels

First disconnect the aerial lead from the Freeview box or TV set and reconnect it and then follow this reset procedure to scan for channels again. If this does not result in services being restored, check the Freeview transmitters page to see if there are any engineering problems with your local transmitter.

How to check all cables, connectors and aerials

The RF connectors need to be in very good condition to work. There are two general types:

Factory-fitted connectors are very reliable as they cannot easily be taken apart, but they can be damaged by wear and tear. On the female-type the central section is often composed of two parts which can often be forced apart, resulting in a poor connection you can push them back together if this has happened with a pair of tweezers. On male connectors if the central pin is damaged, you will need a new cable. If there are any loose partials in the connector, remove them.

Another problem with these cables is that quite easy to sprain the connector at the back which causes little obvious external damage, but disconnects the internal connection. This happens often when a set-top box is pushed backwards into a cabinet.

Hand made cables can also suffer from similar problems to factory made ones and they are also prone to accidental damage from a cable being pulled. If such a connector is not firmly attached to the cable, the connector may need refitting.

Cables

Make a visual check of the cables. There are a few basic checks:

If the cable has been slashed or cut, it will not be very effective or reliable. If such a cable is fitted externally, this can allow rainwater to enter the cable and this will reduce the signal levels.

You can easily damage an RF cable by crushing it, for example in a door. If the outside of the cable has a permanent kink in the cable or has been very tightly looped, this could be the site of damage.

Aerial

For reliable and effective Freeview reception, a rooftop aerial is required. It is hard to make a visual check of such an aerial without putting yourself in potential danger.

You can make a visual check of the route between the aerial and the transmitter. Any form of obstruction will damage the digital signals. In particular trees coming into leaf, as these will leech the signal before it reaches your aerial. This applies to both trees adjacent to the aerial and at a distance.

Another common problem in cities is building work. A large crane will often change position many times during the day, and if this is between your aerial and the transmitter this can reduce the signal levels in an unpredictable way.

If your system uses a booster, the power may have failed. Check the fuse to the power to the booster.

Weather problems

There are two main weather problems that effect Freeview reception.

The Inversion Effect: please see What is the Inversion Effect and why does it effect my Freeview TV reception?



Wind: high winds sometime can dislodge the aerial this results in a poor signal.

Rain: poor or old cables can fill with water and this results in a poor signal. If this happens, the cables will require replacement.

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
Two frequency interference 5
Single frequency interference6

Comments
Thursday, 13 January 2011
B
Bekki
9:01 PM

My GRundig television has always worked well of my bedroom aeriel. It has integrated freeview and unil yesterday successfully picked up ITV, E4, More 4, Channel 4 and Channel 5. I have never had a problem before. Yesterday I retuned my tv as advised and no longer pick up any signal at all. I have retuned the tv multiple times, have reset it and run first time installation. I have retuned it through the main house aerial, bought a new booster and new wires and have now completely run out of ideas! Please help!

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Bekki's 1 post GB flag
Friday, 14 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:08 AM

Bekki: It could be a fault with the TV set.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:08 AM

Jane Smith: It could be a short in the aerial cable causing the error message.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Saturday, 15 January 2011
R
Ray Smith
3:01 PM

Hi,I have a Bush BTU160DTR and have been trying to set it up.After tuning it I can receive [it appears]all bbc programs OK but all or most of the other freeview programs are blocky and freeze continually although signal strenth shows as 7-8 on both tuners.I then reconnected my older Digivision {that no longer receives a 7 day EPG,[hence the change] and I can receive all the chanels on freeveiw perfectly.Any Ideas please Thanks Ray

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Ray Smith's 1 post GB flag
Monday, 17 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:30 AM

Ray Smith: The Bush box might be faulty.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
D
Dean Walters
7:19 PM

I have a Technika STBHDV2010 Freeview HD box and for the past 6 months it's been working fine (with the occasional break-up of signal/picture in bad weather). However about a week or so ago all HD channels disappeared completely. Tried re-tuning but they have gone off the list of channels and are not coming back. Is this a problem with the HD box or signal from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter? Help!

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Dean Walters's 1 post GB flag
G
Gill Stevens
7:57 PM

Has anyone else recently experienced losing ITV3 reception in the WD7 area (Watford)? I appear to have lost ITV3 on my integrated Toshiba freeview TV and although I've auto scanned to restore channels a number of times over the past couple of days,cannot get this one back! Have checked aerial connection and it is OK. Also noticed some intermittent breaking up of picture on other channels. We have cable TV on another set and ITV3 is available on this, so I know its transmitting!

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Gill Stevens's 1 post GB flag
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
M
Michelle
7:26 AM
Burgess Hill

I have various freeview items including an integrated freeview tv. I retuned at the weekend as advised and since then I have been unable to get ITV1, C4, C5, ITV2, More4, E4 (basically all the channels in line 2 above). I suddenly got them back last night, a bit scrambled to begin with and then they were fine by the end of the night. This morning however, even though they are still showing on my channel guide, I cannot receive the pictures again and it keeps saying no signal. Is there a problem with the Heathfield transmitter (or possibly the Midhurst one)?

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Michelle's 13 posts GB flag
Michelle's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
N
Nia
10:52 AM

There's obviously a widespread problem here as SO many people in such a wide area are losing channels but we keep being told its all ok....clearly not the case

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Nia's 3 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

12:23 PM

Nia: There is no "widespread problem". Please attend to fixing your own problems.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
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