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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
Saturday, 6 July 2013
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

1:06 PM

Tony Haynes: If it is a wireless connection perhaps it is your source of interference. It is certainly something you need to check out.

If they do use wifi then turn off the router or disable its wifi and see if it stops the interference.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Sunday, 7 July 2013
T
Tony Haynes
9:18 PM

Dave Lindsay: Thanks. I've asked the solar panel installer, see whether it's a known issue - might be that the panels are making an hourly communication with the website of the inverter manufacturer. The fact that it's 3 minutes past every hour suggests this might be the case.

link to this comment
Tony Haynes's 5 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:35 PM

Tony Haynes: Consider if there could be a contributary factor. For example, is there a connection/join in the aerial lead somewhere near to the possible source of interference? If so maybe it is faulty and needs re-doing.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
T
Tony Haynes
8:50 AM

Tony Haynes: Panel installer suggested switching off the internet connection, which I have now done. Still getting the same problem, so it's back to the drawing board!

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Tony Haynes's 5 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
P
Peter Western
12:28 PM

Could you tell me what the strength should be I live in the Selsey area(PO20) and at present we are only 47/48percent. Would raising the arial 6feet make a difference or should I put in a booster. Thanks (PO20 an) 

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Peter Western's 4 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

1:52 PM

Peter Western: is that the measure for quality or signal strength?

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:20 PM

Peter Western: Turn your aerial vertical.

From Rowridge, all channels are radiated vertically and horizontally.

PSB channels are at 200kW horizontal and 200kW vertical.

COM channels are at 50kW horizontal and 200kW vertical.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Friday, 9 August 2013
P
Peter Western
10:11 AM

Briantist/ Dave Lindsey Thanks to you both for your replies, Briantist,on "yesterday" channel (19) the measure for signal is 30per cent and quality is 10percent but on BBC ITV & chan 4 its 49per cent signal and 100 quality.It does seem to stay low on these lower channels.
Dave Lindsey, as I have now bought the poles and fittings I will be lifting my aerial by about 7/8 feet so I think that I will put it to vertical and see how that goes. Again thank you both for your replies and help will let you know the outcome. Pete

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Peter Western's 4 posts GB flag
Monday, 19 August 2013
D
Dave G
4:01 PM
Colchester

We receive form the Sudbury aerial. about 5 days ago we started to get interference to the picture and sound (sharp blips every now and again that co-inided with reduction in picture quality)

Now the interference to sound and picture is constant on all channels. Have followed advice on clearing tuning and re-doing but still the same issues.

we have 4 ee masts in the local area.

does anyone have any advice as to how I can get my TV back working (sony with built in free view)

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Dave G's 1 post GB flag
Dave's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:15 AM

Dave G: There's no 4G in Colchester, so it's not going to be that.

I would have thought the best thing to do is to check your cables for damage, as this is the most likely explanation for problems with all frequencies.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
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