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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

firstFirst comments prevEarlier comments  ◊  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.

jb38
Friday 3 February 2012 12:25PM
Paul Johnston: And another possibility to keep in is that the signal you are receiving is too strong and this can block reception, or if received is likely to suffer from continual glitches, so if you use any form of amplification on your aerial you will require to by-pass it, or use an attenuator in line with the aerial socket if you cannot like in the case of a mast head amplifier.
Mazbar
Friday 3 February 2012 4:47PM
Paul first unplug the aerial and then do an auto tune to get rid of all the channels. Then do a manual tune using the channel numbers 54, 55, 58, 59, 61, 62. After this has beem done switch off the auto update so you dont get the message telling you there are new channels. Hope this helps
Paul Johnston
Tuesday 7 February 2012 9:34AM Manchester
Thank you JB38. I carried out a factory reset and then autotuned and now have all HD channels again between 50 -54 as they should be. Your help is much appreciated.
jb38
Tuesday 7 February 2012 4:49PM
Paul Johnston: Thanks for your update on the situation and pleased to have been of assistance.

Regards / JB38
SUE
Wednesday 8 February 2012 6:53PM
Trying to help my mum and dad with their freeview tv - the picture is great, I have scanned for new channels so this is up to date, however the sound breaks regularly and the signal strength is about 78%. They have also lost BBC1 but have BBC1 Wales instead. Can you help?? Thanks
SUE
Wednesday 8 February 2012 7:58PM Wirral
Sue:
SUE
Wednesday 8 February 2012 8:00PM Wirral
When is a new digital hi gain compatible aerial needed?
jb38
Wednesday 8 February 2012 9:53PM
SUE: The problem you might be having is that you are predicted to be able to receive signals from three different stations, Winter Hill being the main one but with Moel-y-parc a close second and Storeton Wales last, so you are possibly receiving a mixture from the two main sources.

You should carry out a factory reset (or maybe called default setting) on the TV followed by going into the set up menu / tuning / manual tune and entering the following mux channels one at a time, storing what's received after each scan then repeating the operation.

Ch62 - 59 - 54(HD if applicable) - 58 - 61 - 55.

Do not auto-tune.


Loula
Friday 10 February 2012 9:05PM Swindon
My freeview TV has in the last few days started to scramble the picture and sound to the point I am unable to watch it. Booster hasn't helped, what can I do???
Neil
Saturday 11 February 2012 7:01AM
My freeview TV has in the last few months has started to scramble various channels and the picture and sound is a mess and there are lots of blips and blobs on the screen. I am unable to watch it. I already had a Booster which i have owned for years and not working 100%. Can you help please?
jb38
Saturday 11 February 2012 7:35AM
Neil: With any query made involving a reception issue its not really possible to offer advice when a persons location isnt known, this preferably in the form of a post code, as it would then enable an assessment to be made of the signal level expected at the given location and from what station, as it might involve more than one choice being available.
Neil
Saturday 11 February 2012 4:35PM
Thanks for your reply regarding my question, my postcode is DE24 OUW

My freeview TV has in the last few months has started to scramble various channels and the picture and sound is a mess and there are lots of blips and blobs on the screen. I am unable to watch it. I already had a Booster which i have owned for years and not working 100%. Can you help please?
jb38
Saturday 11 February 2012 7:53PM
Neil: Thanks for the update regarding location, armed with this knowledge I have now checked the reception predictions indicated for your area, this showing that Sutton Coldfield (@ 27mls) as well as Waltham (@ 26mls) are the main choices, with the Derby (@ 4mls) PSB only relay also being shown.

Without actually knowing which one of the stations you are using, but "if" you are receiving from the very high powered Sutton Coldfield transmitter then the distinct possibility exists that the signal you are receiving is slightly over the top strength wise, as the symptoms of an over powerful signal is "exactly" the same as to one that's on the weak side, even as far as the signal strength being indicated is concerned, so if you are aware that this is the station you are using then I suggest that for a test you by-pass the booster for a day and evaluate the result.

If though you are not sure where you are receiving from then select BBC1 and carry out a signal strength check, this not so much for the strength aspect but more to note the Mux channel number shown associated with the strength indication, if its Sutton Coldfield its Ch43 whereas if Waltham its Ch61. (Derby Ch48)

Maybe you could give an update on the channel number seen, also your local news service can help indicate where you receive from, as if its anything "other" than East Midlands today then its Sutton Coldfield, if though its East Midlands today then than can mean either Derby or Waltham.
B.DIXON
Wednesday 22 February 2012 2:42PM South Shields
i have a humax digital personal video recorder,i have problems regarding reception,@ times i get on screen no or bad signal.but its ok,my aerial plugs into my humax then to my tv via a scart lead,for the last 2-3 months i can't use my remote to change programes,i have to switch the box off then on to use my remote,then seconds later have to repeat proceeder,this happens for 1 day like today then its ok for a week then same thing happens.is this happening while work is going on regarding change. thank you.
jb38
Wednesday 22 February 2012 4:41PM
B.DIXON: Pontop Pike (@ 16 miles) is shown as your main station but Fenham at only 9 miles away is also indicated as possible, but not particularly good, so just to make sure that you haven't picked this up during an auto-tune carry out a signal strength test on your Humax whilst on BBC1 and note what channel number is indicated associated with the signal level, if its Pontop it should be Ch48 whereas if Fenham it will be Ch30.

Once done carry out a similar check whilst on ITV, where in this case Pontop is Ch55 with Fenham on Ch22. If Fenham is being received (as their bearings are not that far apart) then you would require to manually in tune Pontops six multiplexes, info given dependant on result of test.

If though Fenham does "not" come into the equation on either test, then maybe you could give details of the aerial system you use.
H.Redwood
Wednesday 22 February 2012 6:36PM Chard
I suspect that my next-door neighbour is using some sort of equipment that is causing the problems on my tv.All channels have been perfect for a few days but now it's like something is blocking the signals to many of them again.Is there anyone who could come and check this out fot me?.I live in Chard,Somerset.
Mazbar
Wednesday 22 February 2012 7:21PM
Mr redwood the best advice i can give you is to get a local aerial man out to check everything there is very few things your next door neighbour can do to affect your tv though how old is your aerial that could be your problem
jb38
Wednesday 22 February 2012 7:47PM
B.DIXON: In addition to that already said, I just noticed that because of on going engineering work taking place at Pontop Pike BBC services are liable to be interrupted at any time, so I would keep this fact in mind if any odd problems are seen to occur.
Dalstongirl
Wednesday 22 February 2012 9:53PM
Help!

I live in Hackney East London and for the last several days I have been getting serious interference with the following channels ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. I have always had interference with these channels. However, the BBC channels are now being affected. This is a first.

I have no idea what could be possibly causing all this interference. It's driving me crazy. It's getting so bad that I lose reception all together and the screen goes blank.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation
Martin Twigg
Friday 24 February 2012 11:13AM
I live in Wiltshire and receive digtal reception from Chisbury. First phase digital channles all good reception from Feb 8th. Second phase on 22nd Feb i have intermittent interference on channel 4, e4, more 4 and 5. Causes loss of sound and picture. All HD channles have good reception.
Any Ideas would be welcome to resolve.
Thanks
Keith
Saturday 25 February 2012 11:14AM
I live in North Bristol. I suffer intermittent interference (picture turns black and white, etc) on Film4, E4, More4.
I have a very strong signal and perfect reception on all channels. I have had no problems at all, until perhaps October 2011.
Is there a council or government department I should be contacting over this?
Would be grateful of any assistance.
Briantist
Sunday 26 February 2012 1:29PM
Keith: You should consult an aerial installer, surely?
Briantist
Sunday 26 February 2012 1:44PM
Martin Twigg: Have you tried all the things listed at the top of the page?
Steve Swift
Tuesday 28 February 2012 6:17AM
Is my mother suffering from Police interferance?
She gets picture pixelation, and sound glitches randomly, maybe 4-5 per hour. Less than 75m away is the Alton, Hants Police Station.

Are the police interfering with her? :-)
Briantist
Tuesday 28 February 2012 6:54AM
Steve Swift: The TETRA system can be quite bad for this, so it is possible. You can usually overcome problems by using higher quality aerial cables (ie, satellite cable) but if the TETRA mast is between the aerial and the transmitter you might have to take other action.
Julie
Tuesday 28 February 2012 5:39PM Runcorn
I've tried everything suggested , my tv is still pixelated and unwatchable.I have tried resetting the digital but keep getting bbc1 wales, Itv1 wales and s4c instead of channel 4 ! does not improve the picture either or sound!
Mazbar
Tuesday 28 February 2012 5:58PM
Julie if you are still receiving welsh and have done everything you can your only other option is to call an aerial man and he will be able to tune your tv back into granada you could also have a problem with your aerial but he will be able to tell you hope this helps
Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 28 February 2012 6:04PM
Julie: I'm not sure whether this will cure your problem, but it is certainly the case that your TV tunes to Moel y Parc transmitter as that is where the Welsh variants are coming from. Where this is the case, then the signal being received is not from the direction to which the aerial is facing, so poor reception is to be expected.

Moel y Parc's highest channel is 52 and Winter Hill's are currently all above it.

From Winter Hill (in ascending order of channel number):

BBC B (HD services) = C54
Arq B (Yesterday etc) = C55
SDN (ITV3 etc) = C58
D3&4 (ITV1, C4, C5 etc) = C59
Arq A (Pick TV etc) = C61
BBC A (BBC TV & Radio) = C62

If, whilst scanning, your TV shows channel numbers, then have the aerial unplugged until it has gone past C52. If it's percentage, then plug it in at 66%.

If, once you've completed the tuning, you are missing any because you didn't get the aerial in in time, then add them manually.

Some time next year there will be a retune for Winter Hill due to the clearance of TV frequencies for use by 4G mobile services. BBC A will move to C50 and Arq A to C49, so when you complete this procedure, you will have to manually add these two.
Julie
Tuesday 28 February 2012 6:07PM Runcorn
Thanks for that ,managed to get my tv back to the normal channels but its still heavily pixelated.My aerial sits below my mums aerial on the chimney stack, never had any problems until now.This tv doesnt let me manually do programmes ,all I get is a blank screen when I try.Any other help appreciated :-)
Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 28 February 2012 6:35PM
Julie: Can you try your TV on your mother's aerial?
Julie
Wednesday 29 February 2012 12:05AM Runcorn
Have done that and its okay on hers ,I don't know for sure if hers is above mine or below outside,I know the aerial guy fixed them together 4 years ago now
Julie
Wednesday 29 February 2012 4:57PM Runcorn
Had to get a repair guy in,turns out its the freeview tuner in my tv so I have to buy another digital box.Thanks for all your help though, much appreciated.
gerry wright
Thursday 1 March 2012 8:55AM
i am in boscombe down in amesbury wiltshire .
since switchover all the channels found when retuning are pixelated and unwatchable .
the t.v. is a relatively new lg flatscreen
and the information in the diagnostics menu shows that the signal strength is at between
80 and 100% but the signal quality is between 0 and 20%. can anyone help please .
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 1 March 2012 10:04AM
gerry wright: What transmitter is your aerial directed to? Is it Hannington?

See here:

www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice

You might need to remove any booster you have.

I put the post code for MOD Boscombe Down in to the Digital UK Tradeview and it gives 100s for most multiplexes from Mendip:

www.digitaluk.co.uk link icon Postcode Checker - Trade View

With that in mind, check that it hasn't tuned to Mendip (hence the signal is coming from a direction from which your aerial does not face).
MAGGIE
Sunday 4 March 2012 12:22PM
Dear persons, my neighbour and I are finding that we can not watch tv BBc1 &2 the picture starts to discolour and jump why?
jb38
Sunday 4 March 2012 1:26PM
MAGGIE: As this type of question is one involving a reception issue you will really have to indicate your location, (pref: post code) this to enable the signal levels expected in your area to be assessed and the station they are coming from.

Are you viewing on an analogue TV?
kim trehane
Thursday 8 March 2012 10:39AM
Hi Is anyone else having this problem? I am trying to help my parents sort their tv pixilation problem out. They live in Bognor regis and from 5.30pm - 8.30am every evening for the past few weeks can only watch BBC as the pictures is so badly distorted on all the other channels, it only happens during tis time, during the day all channels are fine. I know the switch over is happening in this area now, but can this be the problem, if it is any idea when it will finish?
Many thanks
KB Aerials
Saturday 10 March 2012 8:23PM
Kim Is there an increase in traffic around the property at these times - could be impulse interferance caused by vehicles passing
Or could be mobile phone interference which sounds daft but I have known amplifiers to be swamped in the past and the picture deteriate due to this - noticed it when I didn't have a clue what was causeing a problem for this customer - I received a text message and at the same time the tv picture froze - we tested it by phoneing my phone and every time it rang the picture went off - and the customer lived next to a main road reported the problem happening around rush hour traffic - allthough we didn't put 2 and 2 togeather untill I got the text - I swapped the amp and as far as I'm aware problem solved

Keith KB Aerials sheffield
07946481125
aerialsinsheffield.co.uk
jane
Sunday 11 March 2012 5:31PM
hi for ages now we kept getting interferance on the 2 tvs upstairs tryed loads of things even bought a new tv!!! then just on the off chance i swithched my smartphone on and off and yep it was that all along!!!
why is this??? its fine downstairs and apart from switching it off how can i stop this i even hid the phone under the pilows lol
thanks jane
KB Aerials
Sunday 11 March 2012 6:09PM
Jane - you may have a faulty amplifier that is picking up the radio signal from your smart phone - I assume the aerial goes into a sky box then out of a sky box into an amplifier (I'm guessing here ) - the amplifier then feeds the 2 tv's upstairs - possibly amp is behind the tv , outside on the wall or in the loft - - and the reason the lounge tv is un affected is because the aerial goes to the tv without the amplifier being involved - ie the amp feeds the 2 tv's upstairs picks up your phones output and degrades the signal quality

Only way of knowing for sure is bypassing the amp - or if it was me I'd get some test equipment on it - might be worth involving an aerial rigger to fault find for you - we could check the signal and find the problem

Keith
Kb aerials
Sheffield
Aerialsinsheffield.co.uk
Steve
Saturday 17 March 2012 9:45AM Chichester
Some guidance please ----
I have been using a bog standard freeview box for a couple of years - no problems or interference from any source. With the on-going freeview changes I've recently "upgraded" to a Goodmans 320 recorder.
Problem now is interference via the Goodmans - so picture breakup/total loss.

A variety of sources can cause the problem; 2 android mobiles, laptop wifi connection to internet (via BT), and dongle (GPRS/3G/HPSA) can all cause interference to the point of unwatchability.

The Goodmans sits exactly where the old box was; swap back in the old box and there is no interference at all - so do I take the Goodmans back? is this a common problem with this make?
Thanks
Keith
Saturday 17 March 2012 12:29PM
For the past twelve months or so I have been unable top receive BBC4 television programmes in Cork, Ireland.

For the past month or so I have been unable to receive Channel Five either.

I have a satellite dish which enables me to see a very large number of broadcasts in English.

Can you please advise how I can view the missing channels?.

Perhaps there is a way they can be viewed on my computer?

Many thanks

Keith.
jb38
Saturday 17 March 2012 5:44PM
Steve: Your problem can really be looked at from various angles, insomuch that although some Goodman's boxes can be troublesome interference wise it has to be said that this problem is usually only experienced when the box is being used to loop the aerial through before feeding it into a TV's aerial socket, and "not" if the TV concerned is being viewed via a scart (or any) cable between the box and it.

That said though, in cases where the TV is being viewed directly and not via a scart cable the loop through problem can in some instances be really bad unless the two aerial cables (in & out) are taken straight away from the boxes aerial sockets and not allowed to rest anywhere on the plastic casing, the underside of where the seemingly high levels of processor noise interference radiates from.

However the other angle that needs checked on is this is, as you are predicted to be able to receive signals from more that one source you should check to make sure that the Goodman's has picked up channels from the same station as the other Freeview box you were using, the way to do this being to carry out a signal check on the programme channel numbers you have the trouble with, noting the mux channel number being shown that always accompanies the strength / quality levels.

Do that on a few programmes, BBC1 / ITV1 / ITV3 / PickTV / Film 4 then put the old Freeview box back in position and carry out the aforementioned procedure on it always using the same programme test channels as previously used on the Goodman's, then once completed compare the mux channel numbers obtained from the two boxes to ensure both are the same, if not it means the two boxes are on different transmitters and which will necessitate a manual re-tune being carried out to rectify the problem.
jb38
Saturday 17 March 2012 5:46PM
Keith: What are you using to view the English broadcasts on?
jane
Wednesday 21 March 2012 9:00PM
KB AERIALS
thanks for your reply...this is all over my head lol im in dorset,would it be very expensive to get someone out to fault find?? thinking back we had a new booster fitted its possible it happend around that time regards jane
DON WRIGHT
Thursday 22 March 2012 9:55PM Dereham
MY 2 TELEVISIONS ARE SUFFERING FROM INTERMITENT BREAKS IN RECEPTION WITH A NOTICE SHOWING NO OR POOR SIGNAL THIS IS USUALLY IN THE EVENING BUT HAS ON OCCASSION BEEN AT LUNCH TIME IF AFTER DARK MY OUTSIDE FLOODLIGHT [ WHICH HAVE PR DETECTORS ON] ALSO COME ON, NO OTHER LIGHTS ARE AFFECTED.
I AM IN NORFOLK AT NR20 5RA has anyone an answer please.
Jan Clay
Saturday 24 March 2012 8:42PM
We live in Grimston, Norfolk and have a Humax Freeview system that has worked perfectly until today. We have intermitant BBC channels now and although the tv works fine, when on the Humax system it keeps breaking up.
We also now have a choice of receiving from: East Midlands; Yorkshire & Humberside, Anglia, Cambridge Bedford - more choices than before! Help!
Dave Lindsay
Saturday 24 March 2012 9:02PM
Jan Clay: The choice is region is simply a choice of which transmitter to tune to.

Because the Fens are flat, signals from multiple transmitters are available.

If you have selected the wrong region, then it is not surprising that you are experiencing poor reception. What you are doing is receiving signals from a direction to which your aerial doesn't face.

The signals from other transmitters may be sufficient to make your receiver aware that they are there (and therefore add them to the Regions list), but they aren't good enough to produce uninterrupted reception.

In order to work out which region you need to select, we need to know which transmitter your aerial is pointing at. If you do not know, then what direction is it pointing in? And are the elements of the aerial horizontal or vertical?
karen
Saturday 24 March 2012 10:25PM
Last week or two but particularly bad tonight, the picture goes all blocky and eventually you cant watch it, happens on BBC and ITV, then it can say no signal and has a 5 min count down!
Have tried reinstalling channels, seem to have lost a few, did that they other week as well when it was bad and they disappear but if I reintall again they come back.

I live in a flat/ground floor and have freeview integrated into my television. I am in ware in hertfordshire
Ali
Sunday 25 March 2012 9:09AM
I live in Margate, and presumably receive signal from the Dover transmitter. Over the last few days I have barely been able to get a reliable signal for any channels expect BBC Four. (Very boring if you want to watch Casualty). From Wednesday until last night I have constantly had to retuned to pick up anything. I am not the only one suffering this problem. I live in Garlinge, but people in Margate and Birchington experiencing this problem too. Is it technical or the fault of this freak fog we've been having? I've never had any problems with Freeview before.
Su Johnston
Sunday 25 March 2012 10:18PM Dorking
We share an aerial in this apartment block, and up until about 3 weeks ago, we could all receive all free channels perfectly. Now we regularly get breakup of the picture, No Signal messages etc. Even more annoying, it seems to be at the peak 9pm period and after. Suggest - the digital changeover? the high pressure (didn't happen before) - shere badness on someone's part?
karen
Sunday 25 March 2012 11:23PM Ware
Su Johnston: Hi

Your comments seem to be the same as what is happening with me. I was wondering for a while whether the new neighbour of 2 weeks was the cause, but reading on here... that seems unlikely. Just wondering if it means we have to suffer this until the swich over which for me starts 4th April. Its also strange that some channels are affected more than others, unless someone can explain some technical reason for that



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