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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
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
R
Rosemary
10:56 AM
Winchester

Postcode SO22 6QP

we can no longer receive HD channels on freeview box. Box says there is no signal on channel 39. Am pointed at Hannington transmitter. Problem began end of September - assumed it was our aerial at first but then discovered reception OK direct to TV so must be box related. Retuned several times to no avail

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R
Russ Dring
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

11:28 AM
Spalding

Rosemary: Which freeview box do you have?

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R
Rosemary
11:37 AM
Winchester

Russ Dring: Hi it's a Humax HDR T2 about six months old.


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Russ Dring
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

11:44 AM
Spalding

Try: go to menu, manual tune, you need to put in channel; 39 then options, should give you DVB T and DVB T2 Select DVBT 2 This should give you a signal read out, scan and see what happens?

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Russ's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
R
Rosemary
11:48 AM
Winchester

have tried this but box says no signal on channel 39 either T or T2

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Rosemary's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Russ Dring
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

12:06 PM
Spalding

Rosemary, I had the same Humax box,very good it was too,I now have the Youview version.
I had hoped that the option of DVBT and DVBT2
had slipped to the wrong system as did with mine!
What is the signal and quality like for channels 41,42,44,45 and 47, DVBT ?

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R
Rosemary
12:16 PM
Winchester

Russ, signal strength varies from 27% to 36%, quality from 10% to 100%. picture seems fine on channels can get though


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Russ Dring
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

12:26 PM
Spalding

Rosemary, The quality really needs to be 100% on all channels the signal anything above 40% is fine, I would have thought 27-36% is too low for reliable results and HD on DVBT2 is more prone to loss at such low values. (my quality is 100% and signal between 78-84%)
How old is the aerial? does it have an amplifier? does the aerial lead feed directly to the Humax and loop out to the TV?
Can you see what the signal quality and signal is like on the TV direct, which you say is fine for HD?


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Monday, 11 November 2013
H
Helen
6:24 PM
Stockport

Last night, I lost all BBC and Pick tv. I've repeated a rescan and managed to get a very pixelated picture on BBC 1, that has now gone again. Help, it's Stargate tonight on Pick.

My tv says it can't find channel 24 or 50????

Thanks

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Helen's 4 posts GB flag
Helen's: mapH's Freeview map terrainH's terrain plot wavesH's frequency data H's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
J
John
5:19 PM
Manchester

M34 2BY off Winter Hill have lost channels 8,51,52,53,56,62. (only really bothered about movies for men),has the LM mux gone down?
Thanks
John

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