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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
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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
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
N
Norman Cherrie
8:53 AM
Cirencester

To Dave Lindsey
Thanks to your advice; problem solved. As you suggested might be the case, BBC and ITV were tuned into the Cirencester relay although my roof aerial points towards Mendip. I retuned BBC and ITV to Mendip C61 and C54 and the reception is now OK.
When I retune on 27 March I will take your advice and leave the aerial unplugged for the first 30%.Many thanks again.
Norman Cherrie


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Norman Cherrie's 2 posts GB flag
Norman's: mapN's Freeview map terrainN's terrain plot wavesN's frequency data N's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
M
Malcolm Brown
5:07 PM
York

My post code is YO19 5PY
I have a Panasonic TX-L32E5B Television, which we bought just before Christmas, and a Humax box.

I have just had a new aerial fitted, with good quality cable, as we hoped this would cure our problem - only it hasn't.

If we switch the TV to any of the HD channels there are no problems. If we switch it to any of the non-HD channels (i.e. to watch the local BBC channel) it keeps losing the signal for several seconds. However if we switch the TV to get its signal from the Humax, instead of direct from the aerial, there are no problems. Can anyone suggest either a cause or a solution?

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Malcolm Brown's 1 post GB flag
Malcolm's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:29 PM

Malcolm Brown: If your aerial is pointing to Emley Moor, then Bilsdale is strong in your area.

Confirm that it is tuned to Emley Moor for standard definition channels. Some pointers:

BBC One is on C47 and ITV Yorkshire is on C44, from Emley Moor, whereas Bilsdale is on 26 and 29. Belmont is on 22 and 25.

This information is given on the Signal Condition screen, as set out at the bottom of page 47 of the manual.

The "Network Name" on that screen should say "Yorkshire" which is that of Emley Moor. Belmont is something like "E Yorks/Lincs" and Bilsdale, I think, might be "Tyne Tees".

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
V
VALERIE PRICE
6:44 PM

Hi all - I live in Dorset and receive from Rowridge. I have put in my postcode (BH21) to identify any problems and apparently there are none reported. However, on looking at the map given on this site, Rowridge is undergoing repairs amd maintenance. It would be nice to know when these repairs will be completed as I had a good picture until about a month ago. My BT Vision service seems to be OK (though this occasionally disappears altogether and the other set in my home (on a different floor) still produces a pretty unwatchable picture at times - usually around lunch time daily). There is an attenuator fitted on my main television and I had a new outside aerial fitted last summer which is showing a good signal.

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VALERIE PRICE's 7 posts GB flag
Sunday, 7 April 2013
G
glyn white
9:25 AM

we have strange thing with our YouView. Every 6 minutes we get picture breakup and disturbance for about 5 seconds. Could it be our solar panels or wifi thermostat?

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glyn white's 1 post GB flag
Friday, 12 April 2013
J
Jackie Deakin
12:29 AM
Lytham St. Annes

since work has been done on winterhill transmitter on10/4/2013 have problems with bbc freezing and breaking up also cant get shy news. Have retuned several times but to no avail, FY8 3ET
Thanking you in anticipation Jackie

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Jackie Deakin's 2 posts GB flag
Jackie's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 13 April 2013
M
michael
8:05 PM

if i purchase a television licence, do i not have a legal right to watch my television [freeview ] without 4g interference

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michael's 1 post GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:25 PM

michael: Purchase of a TV Licence does not give you the "right" to anything. It permits you to view television channels, but does not guarantee the availability of terrestrial signals.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Thursday, 25 April 2013
A
alec
12:15 PM

I have two 19 inch led tvs-lg and samsung.

samsung is showing high interference (bit error rate)-with strong signal strength.

The lg is pefect.

Even when i used a splitter the samsung showed interference while the lg still had a perfect signal.


Why is this?

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alec's 1 post IE flag
Sunday, 28 April 2013
B
Bob
2:32 PM

I have an LG TV with built in freeview and also a Humax box. Since the winter hill retune I am having problems with reception. The signal strength is ok 82% the problem is the 100% quality signal. This can vary down to as low as 10% intermittently causing pixalation and loss of picture. I don't know what the cause is except possibly a 4g mast but don't know where these are located. I have read where filters are available to prevent interferience from 4g masts where can I get one.

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Bob's 1 post GB flag
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