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Freeview intermittent interference

When you get occasional sound loss or picture freezes

When you get occasional sound loss or picture freezes
published on UK Free TV

There are several different types of interference that cause problems. This page deals with the situation where:

  • Freeview reception is perfect or near-perfect most of the time
  • The audio on TV and radio channels mutes momentarily a few times each minute
  • The picture on a Freeview channel freezes a few times each minute


There are two main causes of this type of intermittent interference:
  • 'Induction' interference
  • Mobile phone interference


Induction interference

Induction interference is caused by mains-powered household devices that contain a large motor, such as:
  • Washing machine;
  • Tumble dryer;
  • Central heating pump or combination boiler;
  • Fridge;
  • Freezer;
  • Power tools (drills, jigsaws etc)
  • Vacuum cleaners;
  • Water pumps;
  • Automatic doors


You can identify if one or more of these devices is causing the Freeview reception problem by powering off the devices.

If one of these devices is causing the problem, then the reception problem can usually be solved by using a mains filter device and use it on the Freeview boxes mains connection.



Such as device is this: Maplin: 6-Way Flat Screen and HDTV Surge Protector and Mains Filter.

Mobile phone interference

If you keep a mobile phone by your Freeview box or digital television, keep it further away!

This also applies to other transmitters such as baby monitors, video senders, walkie talkies, and portable phones.

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In this section
Official aerial installers guide to the TV spectrum future1
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Freeview reception has changed?5
Two frequency interference 6

Comments
Thursday, 7 June 2018
S
StevensOnln1
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:49 PM

H M Skardhamar: Which channels do you mean by live channels? Have you checked for any loose or damaged cables or connections behind your TV?

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StevensOnln1's 3,670 posts GB flag
M
Mark Heselden
6:05 PM

Has anybody any ideas about combating interference from passing aircraft. It's not a big problem but causes occasional momentary drop-outs mainly on HD channels. It's either a signal reflection or blocking problem, I guess. Would using two aerials combined help at all? The airport is Gatwick and the transmitter Reigate.
Thanks.


.

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Mark Heselden's 1 post GB flag
Thursday, 28 June 2018
D
David Johnson
10:40 AM

I have been suffering picture/sound breaking up for the past two afternoon/evenings. Could it be the abnormal weather?

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David Johnson's 1 post GB flag
S
StevensOnln1
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:34 PM

David Johnson: The current weather conditions are a possible cause. It's also worth checking for any loose or damaged cables/connections behind your TV. Do not attempt to retune.

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StevensOnln1's 3,670 posts GB flag
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:41 PM

David Johnson:

The current warm weather is not 'abnormal' and occurs every year to differing degrees. This year happens to be a fairly hot period, but that is as expected in summer.

Tropospheric lift is a natural event occuring regularly in hot weather and is not unusual at all.



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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Monday, 17 September 2018
T
Tom Scott
7:57 PM

Freeview chanels are subject to momentory loss of signal from the Selkirk transmitter

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Tom Scott's 3 posts GB flag
T
Tom Scott
8:00 PM

Problems with freeview signal from Selkirk transmitter. Loss of signal intermittant

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Tom Scott's 3 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

10:20 AM

Tom Scott:

Please check your aerial cables and connections. If there are coaxial pluggs/sockets in use then unplug thos and then refit, that will clear any corrosion/oxidation that is a common cause of your problems. It is very unlikely to be the transmitter as no one else has reported any such problem and Arqiva (who operate the transmitters) have not so reported either.



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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 2 October 2018
C
cjt1963
11:20 AM

Can anyone confirm signal strength in the Ivybridge area. I've been getting sound & picture intermitent interrupts with that awful high pitch sound squeak today (02-10-2018). This has happened a few times now over the last month or so. Is there a map or website that shows any maintenance works etc.

cjt1963

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cjt1963's 3 posts GB flag
S
StevensOnln1
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:05 PM

cjt1963: There are no recent engineering works shown for the Ivybridge transmitter. Have you checked for any loose or damaged cables or connections behind your TV?

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StevensOnln1's 3,670 posts US flag
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