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Freeview reception has changed?

Why should my Freeview reception change when I have not changed anything?

Why should my Freeview reception change when I have not changed
published on UK Free TV

From time to time people find that their Freeview box, integrated set (idTV) or Personal Video Recorder (PVR) has lost many channels without any apparent changes.

There are a number of factors to consider

Freeview is broadcast on digital multiplexes. This means that, once broken down into a stream of bits, each television channel is combined into a single transmission of 1s and 0s. This means that reception is of the multiplex first if this is lost it affects all the channels in the multiplex in the same way.



The signal strength received by the box or TV for a particular multiplex from a given transmitter determines if the data can be received or not. So, a poor signal results in no data, an adequate signal in perfect data and a low signal in either none or all.

Poor digital signal levels do not result, as they do with old-fashioned analogue television, in a sub-standard picture or sound. Poor signals often result in a perfect data-stream, but are prone to periods of no reception. Sometimes this will be for hours, but can also be several times a minute when caused by induction from fridges, freezers, central heating systems, two-stroke scooters, baby monitors and so on.

If you have lost ALL your Freeview channels

First disconnect the aerial lead from the Freeview box or TV set and reconnect it and then follow this reset procedure to scan for channels again. If this does not result in services being restored, check the Freeview transmitters page to see if there are any engineering problems with your local transmitter.

How to check all cables, connectors and aerials

The RF connectors need to be in very good condition to work. There are two general types:

Factory-fitted connectors are very reliable as they cannot easily be taken apart, but they can be damaged by wear and tear. On the female-type the central section is often composed of two parts which can often be forced apart, resulting in a poor connection you can push them back together if this has happened with a pair of tweezers. On male connectors if the central pin is damaged, you will need a new cable. If there are any loose partials in the connector, remove them.

Another problem with these cables is that quite easy to sprain the connector at the back which causes little obvious external damage, but disconnects the internal connection. This happens often when a set-top box is pushed backwards into a cabinet.

Hand made cables can also suffer from similar problems to factory made ones and they are also prone to accidental damage from a cable being pulled. If such a connector is not firmly attached to the cable, the connector may need refitting.

Cables

Make a visual check of the cables. There are a few basic checks:

If the cable has been slashed or cut, it will not be very effective or reliable. If such a cable is fitted externally, this can allow rainwater to enter the cable and this will reduce the signal levels.

You can easily damage an RF cable by crushing it, for example in a door. If the outside of the cable has a permanent kink in the cable or has been very tightly looped, this could be the site of damage.

Aerial

For reliable and effective Freeview reception, a rooftop aerial is required. It is hard to make a visual check of such an aerial without putting yourself in potential danger.

You can make a visual check of the route between the aerial and the transmitter. Any form of obstruction will damage the digital signals. In particular trees coming into leaf, as these will leech the signal before it reaches your aerial. This applies to both trees adjacent to the aerial and at a distance.

Another common problem in cities is building work. A large crane will often change position many times during the day, and if this is between your aerial and the transmitter this can reduce the signal levels in an unpredictable way.

If your system uses a booster, the power may have failed. Check the fuse to the power to the booster.

Weather problems

There are two main weather problems that effect Freeview reception.

The Inversion Effect: please see What is the Inversion Effect and why does it effect my Freeview TV reception?



Wind: high winds sometime can dislodge the aerial this results in a poor signal.

Rain: poor or old cables can fill with water and this results in a poor signal. If this happens, the cables will require replacement.

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
Two frequency interference 5
Single frequency interference6

Comments
Thursday, 27 December 2018
P
Paul Smith
10:34 PM

In damage where all freeview disappeared from my tv and was replaced by a dozen french channels. How do I solve this

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

11:40 PM

Paul Smith: At a guess, atmospheric conditions have caused services from a French transmitter to travel further than normal, which happen to be broadcasting on the same frequencies as the transmitter you normally receive. To give any specific advice we need to know where you are (please provide a full postcode) so that we can see which transmitter you're meant to be receiving and your predicted coverage etc.

link to this comment
StevensOnln1's 3,606 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 5 March 2019
J
Jo
2:25 PM
Tenbury Wells

Hi, I have been without any TV for the last 9 days. I initially had problems with Sky News breaking up, eventually I lost everything other than BBC1 and 2. These then both disappeared 9 days ago. I have re-tuned my TV but to no avail. I am on the verge of contacting an engineer but found this website and thought I'd see if you had any advice. I have a roof top aerial and a Freeview TV.

My transmitter is Sutton Colfield, post code WR15 8JE

Thanks, Jo

link to this comment
Jo's 1 post GB flag
Jo's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:46 PM

Jo:

There is no problem with the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. If there were then ove a million people would have been affected and complained.

Please check all your aerial connections, unplugging all coaxial plugs/sockets and refitting them. Then check what programmes you can receive. Nearly all problems such as you report are due to aerial system faults.



link to this comment
MikeP's 3,056 posts PT flag
Thursday, 14 March 2019
H
Harry
9:24 AM

I live in N Wales - 9 miles from Moe l-y-parc transmitter, As of five days ago I have received no signals. I did a retune - no change, I did a manual tune on channel 45 and received a heavy pixilated picture of BBC wales, does anyone know if the transmitter is off line?

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Harry's 1 post GB flag
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

10:07 AM

Harry:

The transmitter is not reported to have any problems. As it serves a large number of people many would have complained if there was. I suggest you check all your aerial system, the cables and all connections. Unpolug and refit all coaxial plugs/sockets to clear any corrosion/oxidation from the contacts, that is a common cause of the problems you report. You should not have tried retuning, all that achieves is losing all tuning information the TV already had.



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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Friday, 29 March 2019
L
Lee
8:25 PM
Torquay

Hi Guys Just re-tuned against the Torquay Town relay transmitter from Beacon Hill as requested on 27th march 2019. we had a limited free-view service but perfect picture! Now all cancels drop out and are scrambled? Any advice? Your time and reply would be most welcome Thank you ....Lee

link to this comment
Lee's 1 post GB flag
Lee's: mapL's Freeview map terrainL's terrain plot wavesL's frequency data L's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 30 March 2019
A
A H Dixon
10:03 AM

WEYMOUTH, Dorset.

Since retuning on Wednesday 27 March 2018, all six HD channels plus More4+1 now experience a short silence and glitch in the picture every 116 seconds. These - and only these - channels share a Mux.

To whom do I report this fault?

Thank you.

link to this comment
A H Dixon's 2 posts GB flag
S
StevensOnln1
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:04 AM

Lee: The Torquay Town transmitter has changed frequencies on 27th March, which may require a new aerial to be fitted. If you don't have satellite or cable you can contact the Freeview Advice Line (see link below) who can arrange for a replacement wideband aerial to be fitted free of charge.

Important changes to Freeview TV signals | Freeview

link to this comment
StevensOnln1's 3,606 posts GB flag
Sunday, 31 March 2019
A
A H Dixon
2:05 PM

WEYMOUTH, Dorset.

Since retuning on Wednesday 27 March 2019, all six HD channels plus More4+1 now experience a short silence and glitch in the picture every 116 seconds. These - and only these - channels share a Mux.

To whom do I report this fault?

Thank you.

link to this comment
A H Dixon's 2 posts GB flag
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