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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
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
Sunday, 18 February 2018
S
StevensOnln1
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:33 PM

mick: If signal is very strong then you may be suffering with signal overload. Search for the article titled "Too much of a good thing" on this website.

link to this comment
StevensOnln1's 3,604 posts GB flag
M
MikeB
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

10:03 PM

mick: 23km from the transmitter? It sounds like a problem with the aerial system. Check signal strength, and note when there is a big change in signal strength either way. A sudden lose of signal could be due to interference, or water getting into the system after heavy rain.


link to this comment
MikeB's 2,579 posts GB flag
Saturday, 3 March 2018
A
Alf Ching
9:03 AM

Hello ,i am still working my tv ( Freeview) with one of the old fashioned wire type Ariels plus a anti interference gadget that I bought,I have managed to reduce the inter France to a large degree,but still
get it.Is there anything else can be done to eliminate it and do I really still need to use the old wire type
Ariel.

link to this comment
Alf Ching's 1 post GB flag
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:29 AM

Alf Ching:

Without knowing where you are it is difficult to advise. A full post code entered into this website will help.

If you are having interference problems then a decent rooftop aerial is required and that needs to be very directional and carefully aimed at your best option transmitter. You also need to consider having an aerial that is suitable for all currently know signal requirements for now and into the forseeable future. Hence it is often recommended that you have a log-periodic aerial fitted. One point to watch out for is that an aerial with a narrow acceptance abngle usually has higher gain, so you need to ensure that your resultant signal strengths are between 60% and 85% on all the available multiplexes. If it is too high, you can reduce it using attenuator(s) in the coaxial feed behind the TV equipment. If it is too low, then a powered amplifier, preferably right next to the aerial (on the pole) is recommended.



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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Friday, 9 March 2018
B
BeeJay
7:25 AM

Hi, Why can't I receive channel 81 on my Freeview. My transmitter is Emley Moor West Yorkshire. Thanks

link to this comment
BeeJay's 3 posts GB flag
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:18 PM

BeeJay:

Do you get Yesterday channel? And do you get 5Spike, CBS Action, 4Music, etc? If you do then you will also be getting Talking Pictures TV as they are all on the same multiplex according to the listing for the Emley Moor transmitter (https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Emley_Moor).

It may have been inserted in a different channel by your TV set during a recent retune.



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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:47 PM

BeeJay:

Please also see the response from StevensOnln1 on you other posting at Talking Pictures TV



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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 2 May 2018
J
James
1:47 PM

Hi,
I have been having problems with Freeview HD Channels in particular BBC News HD and Channel 5 HD. There are supposed to be no problems at Winter Hill but Digital UK say it is operating at reduced power and has been for some time. To buy a new aeriel would cost a lot and without any guarantee that the problem would be solved if Winter Hill is running on reduced power. I am thinking of going with Sky to stop this problem.

link to this comment
James's 1 post GB flag
S
StevensOnln1
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:33 PM

James: I can't find anything to say that Winter Hill is currently operating on reduced power, only a warning of possible weak signal (meaning that power levels may be reduced for a few hours whilst engineering work takes place, it certainly doesn't mean that the transmitter is operating at reduced power all the time). Have you checked for any loose or damaged cables or connections behind your TV? Please provide a full postcode so that we can see where you are in relation to the transmitter and your predicted coverage etc.

link to this comment
StevensOnln1's 3,604 posts GB flag
Thursday, 7 June 2018
H
H M Skardhamar
9:16 AM

Losing sound on the live channels every few seconds. Sound is fine on channels such as Yesterday. Any idea what is happening?

link to this comment
H M Skardhamar's 1 post GB flag
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