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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 by 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.





Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

  ◊  Later commentsnext Latest commentslast

Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Martin Norman
Monday 24 September 2007 9:13AM Chipping Norton
Hi there,

My freebox seems to suffer from Induction interference. Are there any other "mains filters" that anyone can recommend?

Thanks

Martin
Kenneth Lawson Hughes
Monday 24 September 2007 2:40PM Altrincham
all my digital BBC channels are breaking up at the moment. Why is this?
Matt Leiter
Monday 24 September 2007 5:27PM Ruislip
this is exactly what I'm experiencing. I thought it was being picked up by the aerial rather than via the mains though.
Briantist
Monday 24 September 2007 9:17PM
Matt Leiter: You live and learn.
Briantist
Monday 24 September 2007 9:18PM
Kenneth Lawson Hughes: ALL BBC channels?
Magellan
Thursday 27 September 2007 2:33AM
FYI: There is a very poor quality signal (down to 1 or 2 out 10 according to my Freeview Receiver) on Sky News and UKTV History at the moment in the KT2 area of SW London.

It appears to have deterioration significantly after the storms of a week or so ago in the London area, so I am assuming that the aerial has shifted in some way. There has however been a poor signal (though the signal strength is indicated as being good) for some time.
tony
Monday 15 October 2007 9:18PM
We rarely had problems until today - we can hardly get a signal and have given up - N20 in N London - does it coincide with the recent update and the new - but less legible and more fiddly to scroll through 'Teletext' on screen guide?

Anybody else around N20 also in trouble suddenly? - No storm actity to 'twitch' my aerial - which has caused trouble before - but never on this scale
Mandy Langley
Monday 15 October 2007 10:33PM March
Live in March PE15, a week ago we lost ITV1,2,3,4, More 4,E4 etc no sign of being able to get back- before this we got all channels. Have had the arial updated & checked there appears no problems- any ideas
Briantist
Tuesday 16 October 2007 1:43PM
Mandy Langley: Please see the section www.ukfree.tv link icon Interference | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice
Andi
Tuesday 16 October 2007 4:54PM
We've had a few problems with rubbish signal but put it down to atmospheric conditions - it always 'righted' itself. But since the weekend we've lost all ITV and Channel 4 programmes, tv just says no signal. We have integral freeview on the tv. I can't even get a picture to try and scan again. I can still receive analogue thru the tv. I can't even receive these channels thru our dvd/freeview recorder. Any ideas what's going on? Thanks
Briantist
Tuesday 16 October 2007 6:08PM
Andi: Sounds like you need your aerial testing. I can't say more without your full postcode.
Martin Norman
Wednesday 17 October 2007 12:08PM Chipping Norton
Briantist: Thanks for the info. The mains filter definitely improved our reception. Who would have thought about buying a £15 surge protector/filter to fix interference? Many thanks

Glynn Bromley
Monday 22 October 2007 11:00AM Windermere
Hi
Postcode LA23 1PJ. Experiencing serious loss of quality on all analogue channels over the last week and no teletext. Freeview reception is intermittent and this morning is no signal at all.

How can I find out where our signal comes from (Lancaster , Winter Hill?) - its not Windermere due to Mountain in the way!

Any ideas on cause of problems?

Rgds, Glynn
MAURICE BROOKS
Tuesday 23 October 2007 10:01AM Leicester
LE3 2XP INTERFERENCE ON DVB ITV CHANNELS THIS INTERFERENCE HAS ONLY RECENTLY APPEARED ONLY ON ITV CHANNELS.i AM STILL TRYING TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE DIGITAL TECHNICAL DEPT WITHOUT SUCCESS.IT SEEMS AS THOUGH ITV ARE WORKING ON REDUCED POWER.A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THE ANTENNA IS POINTING IN THE DIRECTION OF SUTTON COALFIELD, THE RECEIVER IS A NEW PANASONIC 32" WITH BUILT IN DVB
Dave Moreau
Tuesday 23 October 2007 7:22PM Huntingdon
PE28 9NA ... we are having regular, but sporadic loss of ITV, C4, ITV2, ITV3, C4+1, More4, ITV4 and E4 (we have been told there is maintanance at Sandy Heath) but we get 4+1, ITV2+1 plus all other Freeview channels without a problem. We have a Topfield TV5800 Freeview box. Incidentally, analogue ITV on the other sets works fine! Anyone have any ideas what's needed? When the ITV channels come back, they're perfect. Dave
Craig Hartley
Thursday 25 October 2007 9:29PM Royston
Like many other postings we have recently lost ITV1, C4, ITV2, ITV3, C4+1, More4, ITV4 and E4 but we get 4+1, ITV2+1 plus all other Freeview channels without a problem. We've had Freeview for over a year without these problems. The problem corresponds exactly with other people's posts so its obviously not a problem with our aerial. What is happening at Sandy Heath? I note that Briantist keeps posting a web address in anwer to this question, but it does not provide the answer.
Briantist
Friday 26 October 2007 8:57AM
Craig Hartley: You have lost a single multiplex. NOTHING is wrong with the transmitter, it is YOUR reception equipment. See also www.ukfree.tv link icon Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice
Craig Hartley
Sunday 28 October 2007 5:02PM Royston
Thanks for your post Briantist, but I still don't undersantd why this should suddenly have happened after over a year of trouble free viewing and no change of my reception equipment. Surely the fact that hsi multiplex is stated as broadcast from Sandy Heath at low power on these pages must have something to do with it? Otherwise, why should so many people suffer the same problem at the same time?
Briantist
Monday 29 October 2007 6:02AM
Craig Hartley: Because your reception equipment has degraded. The multiplex output levels have not changed in several years. The problem always effects reception of 64QAM multiplexes first. www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview modes | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice
Dave Moreau
Friday 2 November 2007 10:13PM
Briantist, our Freeview box is brand new and worked perfectly for a month before this started happening and it is intermittent. Perfect transmission followed by two or three days of missing services, then back on again. When we phoned ITV they told us there was work going on that was affecting their transmissions from Sandy Heath. But it is random.
Briantist
Saturday 3 November 2007 4:03PM
Dave Moreau: It could be the box that is faulty?
rexkenway
Thursday 8 November 2007 2:26PM
of the 5 present analog channels from crs pal,sometimes bbc1 continuosly noisy picture . Is this due to you running at lower power ,or some tests ? Ihave checked antenna ,seems ok .posted by rex kenway 8 nov
Briantist
Thursday 8 November 2007 3:29PM
rexkenway: There is nothing up with the analogue BBC One signal, please see this page for help on interferece www.ukfree.tv link icon Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice
Steven Woollard
Wednesday 21 November 2007 10:15PM Newton Abbot
I am experiencing the same intermittent problems one day its perfect then next I can only receive a few channels. Suggesting its my equipment is not a rational explanation as nothing is changing I still have the same devices running. My freeview box is only one year old and I can't see why it should work fine one day and then some channels not to work on other days.

My post code is TQ12 6LB

So come on Briantist give me a proper explanation as your previous ones are not credible.
Briantist
Thursday 22 November 2007 5:47AM
Steven Woollard: If you don't want my help, please contact an installer and pay for them to sort your problem out.
amanda edwards
Saturday 24 November 2007 11:08PM Cardiff
im not sure if you can help but ill give it a go.i live in cf15 7sf,have an old rooftop aerial,had no problems with freeview until recently started with sync problems but tonight its driven me mad,pixelating and freezing,loss of sound evry few minutes for only seconds at a time this went on for a few hours.worse on itv!ive checked all scart connections thinking it could be that but im wondering if its the switchover??thanks
a edwards
Saturday 24 November 2007 11:21PM Cardiff
can i just add to above that i can receive all freeview channels but theyre not in the correct order even when i scan for new ones(which it is set up to do on its own but doesnt)thanks
J. Kent
Sunday 25 November 2007 9:28AM
Last week (about the same day as some violent thunderstorms) we lost our Freeview channels. Then we re-tuned the Freeview box automatically and got most the channels back, except for the BBC ones. This morning we repeated the process and have got back the BBC channels but they are extremely poor (pixelated). Our transmitter is C28 Rowridge. Any ideas?
Briantist
Sunday 25 November 2007 3:32PM
amanda edwards: It's not switchover. Check the aerial, it certainly won't be the SCART cable.
a edwards
Wednesday 28 November 2007 11:12PM Cardiff
thx briantist,i have followed the procedure and got all channels in near enuff the correct order but itv is still pixelating??i cant physically check the aerial as it is roof mounted but do you think i need a new1?and if so do i need 1 of the new digital ones they charge a fortune to fit?next door had 1 and its huge and yellow!!thx
Briantist
Wednesday 28 November 2007 11:39PM
a edwards: There is no such thing as a "digital aerial", but there are aerials suitable for better digital reception. Yes, you need a larger one, but they cost no more to fit.
Lewis Wright
Friday 30 November 2007 3:02PM
I have integrated Freeview TV. ALL BBC channels are unwatchable. All other channels are fine....Why is this ???? isnt BBC the No1 broadcaster ????

Briantist
Friday 30 November 2007 5:00PM
Lewis Wright: What is your full postcode please?
Ross McGinnes
Friday 7 December 2007 6:03PM Hebden Bridge
Our Freeview reception has been great for 18 months in HX7 8QX (Winter Hill) with a Hi-Gain aerial, yet 80% of channels are unwatchable over the past week. High winds? Only BBC 1 & 2 are fine! Any ideas Briantist? (Great service you've got here, by the way).
Lyn Turner
Sunday 9 December 2007 8:20PM Huddersfield
My BBC channels are pixelating. They have been fine all summer and have deteriorated over the last couple of weeks. I had a new roof top ariel on a long pole about 18mnths ago and it was woirking fine. Post code is HD4 6SJ Emly moor. Any ideas?
Ian
Tuesday 11 December 2007 3:14AM
I have found out of all my freeview boxes only the Sagem ones are interference free. I think this is something to do with the fact there power supply is separate. I also have an old Hauppauge DEC 1100 that has also been interference free, that has a separate powere supply. Having said all that my daughter uses a Durabrand from Asda with a separate power supply and that has interference problems.
David East
Wednesday 19 December 2007 8:29AM Bonnybridge
Living in Bonnybridge postcode FK4 2FB. Last couple of days we have been unable to receive BBC channels BBC1 BBC2 BBC3 News24 CBBCs. Is there any work ongoing with the local transmitters that would result in this?Do you suggest investing in a surge protector to see if this makes a difference - I wonder whether all Christmas lights/ etc in the neighbourhood is having an effect? BBC1 and BBC2 analogue signal is poor quality also.
Briantist
Wednesday 19 December 2007 9:16AM
David East: There is no transmitter work at the moment in your area. You need a mains FILTER (not a surge protector, that will do nothing) to help with reception. No, lights will not effect the signal. Poor quality analogue suggests that your aerial has moved, you have loose connectors or a disconnection.
David East
Wednesday 19 December 2007 12:56PM Bonnybridge
Thanks for the advice Briantist - however: Just put digibox on again and BBC channels are fine - strange!? Not sure what's going on here. Suspect this evening when I sit down to watch, the picture won't be there!
Briantist
Wednesday 19 December 2007 1:16PM
David East: That simply suggests that there is a device that is turned on during the evening that is using the RF channel allocated to Mux 1. It could be in your house, or potentially a neigbours or it even could be illegal interfernece such as pirate radio.
Norma Roberts
Sunday 23 December 2007 7:42PM
I live in Thornton Bradford and receive tv from emley moor transmitter. Last night (Sat) I was recording virgin1 on my pvr when it said there was an error, when I checked all the mux d programmes on channel 49 had gone. I have tried disconnecting everything removing existing programmes and doing a rescan also tried a manual scan all to no avail. Any ideas anyone?

Norma Roberts
CaraM
Wednesday 2 January 2008 8:35PM
Hi Norma - Have your missing channels come back yet? I think this is probably just one of those irritating blips. Emley Moor transmits mux d at lower power than the other muxes and a lot of freeviewers get intermittent problems with these channels. I'm in Gt Horton and find that Film4 and Virgin1 are pretty much unwatchable half the time.
Hopefully this will change when the analogue's switched off and the transmitter can bump up the signal, but in the meantime I doubt there's anything you can do.
Georgie
Monday 28 January 2008 6:20PM Orpington
Briantist? Where do I buy a mains filter/surge protector? I live Orpington BR5. Bought new freeview box and no problems first week - now cannot get itvs chan4 etc. It is an old aerial and facing Crystal Palace but normal channels are ok - only freeview problems? Thanks for any help!
Briantist
Wednesday 30 January 2008 6:36AM
Georgie: Most high street electrical retailers should be able to help, or you can get them from
Maplin > 6-Way Flat Screen and HDTV Surge Protector and Mains Filter
Brian Robbins
Friday 8 February 2008 7:22PM Plymouth
Hi I am experiencing intermittent loss of audio. I live in Plymouth PL3 area.
I have two Freeview boxes. One is a cheap one from Tesco's and the other a more expensive one I bought from Curry's a Logik. The trouble is that no matter which television I connect the Logik box to i get intermittent loss of audio but not with the Tesco's box. The Logik box is the second one I have had from Curry's the exchanged a Matsui which had the same problem - intermittent loss of sound. I have tried using different scart leads but it is still there. Any ideas why and what should I do to cure this inconveience.
Briantist
Sunday 10 February 2008 10:49AM
Brian Robbins: Yes, please see the text of the article above.



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