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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.

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
Freeview reception has changed?5
Two frequency interference 6

Comments
Monday, 3 January 2011
P
Paul Jameson
3:06 PM
Prescot

I have a digital TV with built in Freeview.
I am getting SC4 (Wales) rather than C4 which is a bit annoying when you want to watch a specific programme which is not on SC4.

My postcode is L35 4PR.
I am in the Granada area.

Thanks Paul Jameson

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Paul Jameson's 1 post FR flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
A
Alan
12:56 AM

I have had troble with my freeview HD.The piture would freeze or pixulate,some times so regular it was inpossiable to whatch it.
I found the problem.The HD box was plugged into an exsenion lead with other eqipment.I have now plugged it into a wall socket alone.
Not only has this stopped the above problem it greatly improved the reception.Hope this is some help to others with problems.

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Alan's 1 post GB flag
K
KMJ,Derby
sentiment_satisfiedGold

7:42 AM

Paul Jameson : have you tried channel 8 in your channel list for C4? This would be the usual position when S4C occupies position 4.

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KMJ,Derby's 1,811 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
J
Jeroen Devos
10:54 AM
London

Hi, I've read through the threads and will follow some of the advice when I get home. However, my problem appears to be only with my new 46" Sony TV; when my 6 month old 32" Toshiba TV is installed in place of the Sony (same leads, power point, same proximity to possible interference) the Tosh shows all Freeview channels 100% ok, whereas the Sony is unwatchable on any Freeview (let alone HD) and analogue is patchy. Should I send back the Sony as defective and hope a replacement (or a different make?) is better? Or do I upgrade to a bigger aerial and hope the Sony works? I live in London SE14 5PY, rooftop aerial and booster set professionally installed approx 5 years ago. Many thanks for your help. JD

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Jeroen Devos's 2 posts EU flag
Jeroen's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Les Nicol
sentiment_satisfiedGold

1:00 PM

Jernen Devos - I doubt there is any malfunction with the Sony. Your problen is related to either the booster and or tuning of the Freeview signal. Your Sony is either getting to much signal from the booster or its finding a different transmission dignal from the Toshiba. If your unsure I would get an installer in and save your self the hassle.

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Les Nicol's 991 posts GB flag
J
Jeroen Devos
2:05 PM
London

Les Nicol - thanks! Have just returned from Maplin with a mains conditioner, as suggested elsewhere on this site. I will also try finding some options for retuning the tv itself, and swich off/disconnect the booster to see if that helps. Next stop, an installer as you suggest. Thanks again. JD


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Jeroen Devos's 2 posts EU flag
Jeroen's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
L
Laura
8:48 PM
Bristol

Hope someone on here can help.

We've been having a nightmare with our TV reception every since DSO in April 2010.
We're in Bristol, less than 2 miles from the Ilchester Cres Tx. We've got 3 freeview devices: 2 iDTVs (LG & Samsung) and 1 STB (Sagem - PVR). The picture breaks up on all sets and appeared to break up intermittently on any channel, we've tried everything, but to get a better idea I started writing down when we experienced the interference and it seems to be every 4 minutes. It's worse when a car drives past though. We've tried everything and can't sort this out - anyone have an ideas? Tearing my hair out!

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Laura's 4 posts GB flag
Laura's: mapL's Freeview map terrainL's terrain plot wavesL's frequency data L's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

9:10 AM

Laura: Is your aerial on the roof?

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Briantist's 38,914 posts GB flag
L
Laura
10:14 AM

Hi Briantist,
Yep the original one is, we've since bought another one and put that in the loft to see if that helps. The exterior one of the roof is shielded from the traffic by the roof itself if that helps

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Laura's 4 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

10:16 AM

Laura: You will get better signals from a rooftop aerial. You also have the choice of three transmitters, so you should choose the one with the least interference.

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Briantist's 38,914 posts GB flag
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