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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
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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
Monday, 10 June 2013
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:58 PM

Mike Sear: Turn your aerial vertical.

Rowridge is unique as a main station because, for over a year now it has been broadcasting all channels horizontally and vertically. The Commercial (COM) channels - which carry 5* and others - are not as strong horizontally.

The reason for this restriction is because the COM channels from Stockland Hill broadcast on the same channels (same frequencies), whereas the Public Service (PSB) channels of Rowridge and Stockland aren't co-channel. Stockland broadcasts only horizontally so using vertical polarisation for Rowridge will help "rejection" of interference from Stockland, should it be present.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:03 AM

Mike Sear: I should emphasise that it is just your aerial which need switching for vertical polarisation. A wideband aerial isn't necessary for Rowridge, and indeed a wideband yagi isn't as effective as a Group A one, which it will probably be, particularly if it dates back to four-channel analogue.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Sunday, 16 June 2013
M
Mike Sear
12:08 AM
Dorchester

Mike Sear: Dave, thankyou so much, just off to get the ladders.


link to this comment
Mike Sear's 2 posts GB flag
Mike's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 30 June 2013
T
Tony Haynes
9:48 PM

I have an unusual issue, that has only recently started. At 3 minutes past the hour, every hour, on HD channels, we briefly get a No Signal message. This occasionally occurs at 18 minutes past the hour too - the rest of the time, and for all of the other channels, all is fine. Any ideas? We are in Cambridge, and receive from the Sandy Heath transmitter.

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Tony Haynes's 5 posts GB flag
Monday, 1 July 2013
J
jb38
12:08 AM

Tony Haynes: The question would be as to whether or not you are using a communal aerial?

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jb38's 13 posts GB flag
T
Tony Haynes
7:26 PM

jb38: No, it's not a communal aerial

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Tony Haynes's 5 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:39 PM

Tony Haynes: Are there solar panels which communicate to base via a mobile phone signal?

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
J
jb38
9:46 PM

Tony Haynes: The only reason for my enquiry with regards to a communal aerial was simply because the reason for what you have mentioned has be caused by something very local to where you reside, have you as yet checked with any of your neighbours to ascertain if they are also experiencing similar problems to yourself? because as Dave Lindsay has touched on the problem is suggestive of being caused by something of an auto-checking / updating nature such as used in remote switching or sensing devices.

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jb38's 13 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:47 PM

check.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Saturday, 6 July 2013
T
Tony Haynes
11:04 AM

Dave Lindsay: Yes, we do have solar panels, they communicate with the web via our router

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Tony Haynes's 5 posts GB flag
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