Freeview reception has changed?
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?
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
J
Jason7:53 PM
Hi all, I live in Caterham on the Hill.
I have Humax - HDR-FOX T2.
Never had any issues with it but ever since the switchover on april 18th, all the ITV channels, Channel 4, Channel 5 are bad!
I've tried multiple re-tunes and even factory default. Nothing seems to work!
Any ideas?
Jason
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Tuesday, 1 May 2012
M
Mark Butler10:41 PM
Surbiton
I am in KT5 8JJ. All day today (May 1) I have failed to get any decent TV reception, just some heavily pixelated BBC channels and not much else. DigitalTV UK say its because Crystal Palace is having work done this week, but I think theres more to it than that. Why would I go from full coverage at 100% strength to quality "1" (out of 10) on a handful of channels ?
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Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Mark Fletcher11:21 PM
Surbiton
Mark Butler,Surbiton.One possibility could be you may have too much signal as you reside not far from the Crystal Palace mast itself.The symptoms of too much signal is often similar as you described in your earlier post to one of a very poor signal itself in a poor reception area.Either try a set-top aerial or fit an attenuator to decrease the signal strength as such.
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Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Mark Fletcher11:24 PM
Halifax
Correction to my above post.My location is Halifax not Surbiton as stated.Apologises for my wee error !
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Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
M
Mark Butler12:25 AM
Blimey Mark Fletcher, you are perfectly right. Thank you. For the past seven years my internal aerial has been gathering dust. I reconnected it ad now Im back to normal. Why couldnt Digital TV UK have told me this! The HD signal strength in only 6/10 but I cant see any difference to the picture.
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Mark Fletcher4:20 AM
Halifax
Mark Butler.My pleasure to have assisted you as such !
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Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 3 May 2012
A
alison3:11 PM
My freeview stopped working 2 days ago. ive checked my booster and aerial leads. when i turn the tv on i get a good picture for about 5 mins before pixelation and then eventually no blue no signal screen. when 1st on. the info tells me i have 0% signal which then goes to between 80% to 90% then back to 0 before picture disappearing. any ideas? ps there are apparently no transmitter problems in york at mo.
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Mark Fletcher5:14 PM
Halifax
Alison.If you leave your full postcode preferably then us experts on here will give even more valuable assistance to you.
One possible indicator to your predicament is the booster you mentioned,the other possibly could involve resetting your appliance which is causing all the problems.
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Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Richard6:07 PM
Bath
I've not been able to get any of the BBC channels for about a week now. Have tried retuning with and without the aerial plugged in, have checked the cables and aerial itself and everything appears to be in working order. I do get very good reception on many other channels. I'm in BA1 4LB
Thanks
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Friday, 4 May 2012
J
Jenny2:57 PM
London
Hi,
I live in NW2 7DW was watching a programme two nights ago through freeview. Everything was fine (picture was a bit static-y but I am blaming the nearby crane and the trees for that)and then I lost all signal on all channels and went to a black screen. I have re-scanned about 6 times since at different times of day and I am still not getting any channels at all. This has happened a couple of times before, (pre and post digital swithover) but I have never lost picture for this long. My TV is a SONY and is 18 months old with built in digital reciever. Neighbours in y block tell me they still have pictures
Any suggestions please?
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Jenny's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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