Why have I been sent a filter for my Freeview?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV At800, the people who are going to stop interference from the new mobile internet services (4G) when they start in the old analogue TV frequencies (called the 800MHz band) are performing a third test in the Isleworth area.
The test area is approximately:
Homes which are thought to be at risk from the interference will be sent a special filter before the test signals are broadcast.
This is to allow at800 to find out if sending filters out first is the most effective way of preventing people having problems. This is to compare to the second-phase trail in south west London, where leaflets are sent, but each householder has to call in to be sent a filter (and possibly an engineer).
The filter looks like this:
This will need to be fitted to the back of the Freeview box (if there is only one in use) or to the aerial side of an amplifier, if one is in use.
Help with TV/radio stations?
In this section
Thursday, 14 November 2013
B
B Jackson4:26 PM
Oldham
Mike B - sorry you are talking to a woman here I haven't a clue where my signal comes from I just turn on the tv and hope for the best - I am the same with cars too
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B's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
B Jackson
Even with only 1 tv your location can still be receiving too much signal.
The way to fix this issue would be to install a variable gain attenuator.
This reduces the signal to stop your tv reception overloading.
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jamie's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
MikeB9:32 PM
B jackson: Dont worry, find out where your signal is coming from isn't that difficult.
Fortunately, you've included your postcode, so its pretty easy to find out where it should be coming from - have a look at your aerial, to begin with.
The Digital tradeview says that Saddleworth should be on a bearing of 210 degrees from your house - so roughly SSW. If it pointing that way, you can then check that both your TV and PVR are tuned into it. Start by going into the setup of each machine (refer to the manual if you can - if not, at least tell us the make/model of each), and there should be a way to check the digital tuners strength and quality, plus what transmitter its on.
Put the TV and PVR on BBC1. And then find the digital tuner in setup (or similar)
It will normally tell you in percentage terms about both strength and quality. Because you are so close to Saddleworth, as Michael and Jamie Stevens have both said, the tuners in the TV, etc might be overloaded, so have a look. If they are very low, and just stay low, your getting a very poor signal. Since you should be getting a very good signal, check that all your aerial connections are working OK, etc. If its too high, the strength bar will jump from very high to very low over a minute or two and back again, and the quality will be bad.
If its just right, then it should be around 75%, and quality should be 100%.
OK - the same menu should give you a number - this will be the 'channel' the TV is tuned to, or rather its the frequency. Saddleworth is 45, but Winter Hill is on 50. If its on 50, then your tuned into a transmitter which is going to be very difficult to get a decent signal on.
Let us know how you get on.
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Tuesday, 7 January 2014
P
Pete1:47 AM
Hi there where could I pick up one of these boosters from? As I wasn't sent one
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M
Michael11:44 AM
Pete: You can get one for free from at800 if you are actually suffering from 4G interference, which they will confirm if you call them.
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Hi Pete,
If you are experiencing difficulties with your Freeview, feel free to get in contact with us so we can diagnose the situation. If your problems are due to 4G we can send you a filter free of charge. Our contact details are on our website https://at800.tv/contact/.
Kind regards.
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MikeP
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Pete:
It's not a 'booster' but a filter. It removes, as best it can, all signals above 800 MHz and hence attempts to eliminate the cause of interference and possible poor reception being caused by the 4G signals.
I strongly adice following the advice from at800 given above.
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M
MikeB10:25 PM
Pete: Since most of the people sent one didn't seem to need one in the end, the fact that you were not sent one possibly indictes that the problem is elsewhere.
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Friday, 6 June 2014
K
kira5:22 PM
Woking
The continual digital Freeview interference I have been experiencing over the last two months, and has nothing to do with Ariel's that the BBC website consider is the cause!. I had tried to obtain a free anti-interference box you can obtain if exhausted all potential solutions to the problem, yet unable to without first having to make calls to the relevant people who handle this. The BBC also said that my Area is not affected by the 4G signal on phones etc. after they checked my postcode, yet having looked at the areas affected on the Freeview checker website, it clearly states that many, if not all parts of Surrey where I am located, certainly are.
I am based in GU21 2FD and the problem began 2 months ago for no apparent reason, the sound on my HD TV keeps suddenly cutting out each time a car or bus passes on the main road. There are no internal Ariel faults because this has already been checked by the maintenance team I am in contact, and the shared attic indoor Ariel also checked for potential faults, nothing appears to be wrong with any of the Ariel's as I live in a shared block of flats and everyone else's TV's are fine, except the one next door to my flat. The TV has also been serviced in case of faults there, as well as replacing fly-lead to TV - nothing has been left uncovered, and yet the problem still exists no matter what is done to try and resolve it. I genuinely believe it is this new 4G transmitting that is directly causing the problem, as all other potential issues/resolve exhausted.
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kira's: mapK's Freeview map terrainK's terrain plot wavesK's frequency data K's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb387:53 PM
kira: On having carefully read over everything said, the main point that stands out above everything else is the fact of you having reported that everyone else's TV's in the shared apartment block are fine except the one next door to your flat, this automatically indicating that your entire problem is down to the signal level being fed into the flats in question being low to the extent that the TV's in question are liable to be running at a level that's not much above the threshold minimum necessary to resolve a picture, hence why any slight dip in same, such as caused by passing traffic, causes problems.
Aerials in your area are seen to be pointing towards the Crystal Palace transmitter, and even if 4G was operating in your area it would be unlikely to have any effect on reception from that station by it using channels in the C22 - C29 range, whereas its channels from C60 downwards that are susceptible to being affected by 4G signals.
I feel that the only way you are going to resolve the problem is by contacting a "proper" aerial installer and who will have the equipment necessary for making an accurate assessment of the signal level (and quality of) being fed into your flat, and not anyone connected with the building maintenance team, that is "if" this is who you were referring to?
A factor that could be responsible for the problem having only recently started could be down to an increased level in tree foliage, as trees are not exactly in short supply in your area and tree foliage can causing blocking of DTT signals.
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