Expecting 4G interference? Tests now show that you have a one in 300 chance
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Looking back the the original posting, Ofcom moves to protect Freeview interference from 4G mobile, we can see the Ofcom suggested that:
Of the 16.3 million UK homes with a standard (unamplified, unshared) Freeview reception, 110,000 (0.67%) would be effected.
Of the 5.2 million homes using communal aerials systems, 550,000 (10.6%) will have problems.
Of the 5.6 million homes using amplified Freeview reception, 100,000 (1.8%) will experience problems.
Today, at800 have published the results of the tests in London, Brighton and Hove and York - at800 updates estimate of likely impact of 4G at 800 MHz on Freeview:
"Following tests conducted across the country, at800, the organisation responsible for protecting Freeview when 4G at 800 MHz is rolled out across the UK, has provided a new estimate of the likely scale of the impact. If national rollout reflects the results seen during its tests, at800 expects no more than 90,000 households, with Freeview as their primary TV service, to experience disruption caused by 4G at 800 MHz. Whatever the level of disruption, at800 is ready to restore Freeview to viewers.
at800 has now sent postcards to households in London and the surrounding areas in preparation for the activation of 4G at 800 MHz masts over the coming weeks and months. at800 is also sending postcards to other areas of the UK ahead of masts switching on. at800’s mailing does not mean that 4G services will be available to consumers. For information about the availability of 4G services, people should contact their mobile operators.
In London, in particular, Freeview received from the Crystal Palace transmitter is unlikely to be affected by mast activation because of the strong terrestrial television signal and its relatively large frequency separation from 4G at 800 MHz. However, at800 is sending postcards and running a publicity campaign to ensure anyone who does experience new disruption to their Freeview service knows how to get in touch."
So with 26.50 million TV households in the UK (see Monthly universe summary - BARB) 90,000 represents 0.340% of them - that's a ONE IN THREE HUNDRED chance.
It seems that you are most likely to need a filter if:
a) you are a long way from a high power Freeview transmitter; and
b) you are very close to a 4G mobile phone mast; and
c) you are using a booster.
That's good news for Freeview viewers.
If you have had a postcode from at800 - see Received a postcard from at800?
5:35 PM
I live about ten miles north of Norwich. For the past 18 months since a new aerial was fitted the reception has been perfect on my HD set and hard drive recorder. I also have a couple of smaller TVs on a separate aerial in the loft and the reception has mostly been pretty good on all channels. However, during the last 3-4 weeks, some channels have occasionally become unwatchable for an hour or so in the evenings ( breakup of picture, loss of sound, often followed by no signal message - typically 8.30pm-11.30pm) Ch 5, Pick, BBC News 25 and a few others. The HD channels always seem unaffected. This problem is the same on all sets and some neighbours are having similar trouble. Any ideas?
| link to this comment |
6:29 PM
Bill:
Hi just checking for a neighbour and noted this. Mayb e no help but my neighbour and I have problems sometimes when someone parks across the road from us in a van or lorry or minibus and the problem remains until the vehicle moves
| link to this comment |
9:26 PM
Bill: If the problem is happening for/at the same time each night, then its probably local interference - boiler switches are a favourite - Single frequency interference | Freeview Interference | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice
- or even a minibus!
If your HD channels had gone first, the too much signal would probably have been the problem.
| link to this comment |
11:36 PM
Thanks for the comments. My first thoughts were some kind of local interference, but I ruled this out as the HD channels are always unaffected. There is actually nothing obvious in my immediate direction of the transmitter at Tacolneston and the interference is not at any precise times, but it can be pretty severe. There's been nothing like this at any time in the past and incidentally, no problems tonight (Friday 11/10/13).
| link to this comment |
12:22 AM
E: This type of thing is usually experienced by viewers who reside in an area where the TV signal levels received are inclined to be a bit on the low side, this resulting in their TV or boxes tuner operating at a level that is hovering at just above that required to resolve a picture and with the slightest drop in level resulting in picture freeze.
Is your aerial at bungalow roof height? and do you use a booster? you should carry out a signal strength check on a channel whilst viewing it and making a note of the levels being indicated over around 45 seconds or so, giving an update on the result.
It would also be of assistance if your post code (or one from nearby) was provided. as its impossible to assess the levels expected at your location without this info.
| link to this comment |
3:34 AM
As previously mentioned, there is no problem with the equipment or signal strength. Postcode NR10. Until very recently, reception was nearly always perfect on every channel. The main aerial is not a relic on the roof of a bungalow, and only one TV uses a Freeview box, which is fed from a loft aerial that has worked well for some years. This is the only piece of equipment more than 18 months old. I'm talking about an entirely new intermittant problem that happens in the evening on non-HD channels. I've not seen anything like it before!
| link to this comment |
7:21 PM
Saxmundham
We have been having trouble with digital reception for the last few days. My postcode is ip17 and we normally get our signal from aldeburgh via Tacolneston. Channel 55 (bbc1 et al) is the worst affected, the better TVs in the house are picking the signal up from other transmitters but the other TVs have no signal on channel 55. I am bored with retuning trying to get reception. All the sites that report freeview problems are denying there is a fault. Does anyone have any idea what is going on? Has my ariel moved with the high winds, is there a problem at either of the transmitters? We use a booster.
Also, like Bill, we have had a choppy signal in the evenings for weeks now.
| link to this comment |
Gweneh's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
8:21 PM
Gweneh: Apart from one notable exception in Moor Road, all of the aerials in your area are seen to be pointing towards the Aldeburgh relay transmitter as reception from the Tacolneston transmitter is only predicted as providing a variable level of signal, and so unless your aerial has been repositioned to face towards Tacolneston Ch55 does not come into the equation as Aldeburgh's channels are 28 (BBC) - 23 (ITV) - 25 (HD channels).
| link to this comment |
7:48 PM
Saxmundham
Gweneh:
Thanks for that info jb83 however we did nothing with the ariel when aldeburgh came online and to date we have been happily picking up the Tacolneston channels.
I retuned one of the TVs an hour ago and for the first time ever it found something on channel 23 ie aldeburgh. This might actually be useful info as it tells me the ariel has possibly moved in last weeks high winds
| link to this comment |
Gweneh's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
7:54 PM
Saxmundham
Gweneh:
Thanks for that info jb83 however we did nothing with the ariel when aldeburgh came online and to date we have been happily picking up the Tacolneston channels.
I retuned one of the TVs an hour ago and for the first time ever it found something on channel 23 ie aldeburgh. This might actually be useful info as it tells me the ariel has possibly moved in last weeks high winds. I would have been happier had the tv found the other aldeburgh channels as we are still have no BBC channels
The ariel man cometh on Thursday so we'll see what he has to say. I would prefer to pick up the wignal from Tacolneston as there is stuff on arqA and ArqB I watch.
| link to this comment |
Gweneh's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage