Freeview: High pressure causing channel loss through "Inversion" | Freeview Interference
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High pressure causing channel loss through "Inversion"

High pressure does not just bring cold at this time of year, it is causing quite random loss of Freeview and analogue reception.

High pressure does not just bring cold at this time of year, it
Published on by on UK Free TV

There is high pressure over the whole of the UK at the moment, and this causes the Inversion Effect. This is causing people to be missing a single Freeview multiplex, or have terrible analogue reception on a single channel. The problem may come-and-go or last for several days.



For details, please see www.ukfree.tv link icon What is the Inversion Effect and why does it effect my Freeview TV reception?.

www.bbc.co.uk link icon 







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Gillie
Wednesday 4 April 2012 9:39PM Wellington
Please help. Since the digital changeover I can no longer receive ITV3, which was working fine before the changeover. I have retuned numerous times but, although I can get it upstairs, I simply CANNOT persuade the downstairs television to tune to ITV3. I live in a TA21 (Wellington, Somerset) area.
with grateful thanks for any suggestions.
Dave Lindsay
Wednesday 4 April 2012 10:50PM
Gillie: The Commercial channels (which include ITV3) increased in strength from Mendip on 28th March. Have you tried a full retune since then?

If that still doesn't work, then if you can manually tune, do so to channel 48. Indeed, you could even try doing it before you retune.

Alternatively, take the downstairs TV upstairs (if you can) and tune in and bring it back down.
jesgreen
Thursday 5 April 2012 9:40AM Cheltenham
I have lost all BBC TV and radio channels over the last 2 weeks. Initially there was signal break up but now no signal at all.
Film 4 also affected.
I have normal ITV channels and channel 4.
Oxford transmitter, has been working well for several years. Same equipment.
I have disconnected power and aerial and retuned to no effect.
Gill
Thursday 5 April 2012 12:21PM
We live BH23 area of the New Forest.Receive from Rowridge. Yesterday we lost all our digital reception. both tv's said check ariel. We went to the local tv repair to buy a new booster and were quoted £60 (the booster had been receiving intermittently but settled if the wires were tweaked, now no reception at all) The engineers at the shop said that the signal was still being increased and we may end up requiring a reducing transmitter. wait until April 15 or 16 because there may also be some interference from a French switch over. This seems 1. rather a long time to wait without tv. 2. Rather an expensive booster. 3. Surely this cannot be true that the signals are still changing after the big switch overs last month.
Karen
Thursday 5 April 2012 12:33PM Surbiton
Just called Digital UK for advice... we are in SW London receiving our rooftop aerial signal from the Crystal Palace transmitter. Usual problems cited here, no signal, loss of picture, terrible pixellation/freezing of picture etc... affecting all channels despite retuning with and without the aerial.

Digital UK have never heard of Inversion, or interference that affects signals. A very worthwhile call. What I need to know is will this continue after full switchover when we are not under a low pressure system? If so, what's the best method of getting TV (Sky is not an option for so many reasons; Virgin I keep hearing dodgy reports of....).

Thanks!
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 5 April 2012 12:53PM
Karen: Inversion will always happen and has always happened. The question I think you're asking is whether it will happen to such a degree as to make your TVs unwatchable.

That's a difficult, if not impossible, question to answer.

What I will say is that you appear to be in an excellent area with regards level of signal from Crystal Palace once it has switched over to full power on 18th April.

A lot of the issue comes down to the level/strength of the signals you wish to receive (i.e. those of CP) versus the level/strength of those which are interfering. The level of CP's will go up on 18th April.
Martyn
Sunday 8 April 2012 10:14PM Boston
In the evenings my picture and sound keep freezing (atmospherics?), I had an aerial profesionaly installed about 2 years ago in anticipation of the digital change over,anolgue was not a problem, I am between boston and spalding in lincolnshire so quite a way from the transmitter (belmont?) which is north of me, I have tried a signal booster but it made no difference, what can I do about this problem as the wife is not happy as it often plays up when her soaps are on! (The end of her world!)
Dave
Sunday 8 April 2012 10:30PM
No Film4 or Film 4+1, No Yesterday or 5 USA+1. I was once asked why I wanted to live in Ammanford West Wales, I am begining to ask myself the same question what's the point of a digital switchover when you have picture bleed Pixilation and very few channels during Inversion. 100 channels of constant repeats it's just not worth the TV licence no wonder there are so many sky dishes on properties these days. Roll on 3D TV at least we can then be heartily sick for a reason
Martyn
Monday 9 April 2012 5:52PM Boston
Can high pressure causing channel loss through "Inversion" affect freesat ?
jb38
Monday 9 April 2012 6:42PM
Martyn: No! as it only affects lower frequencies such as used by Freeview.
Walt
Monday 9 April 2012 6:52PM
I live in the Midhurst area in a flat with a communal aerial. For the last two weeks I have not been able to watch any commercial channels because the picture breaks up with terrible interferance. BBC channels are fine. What's the problem? is it the atmosphere? Should I contact the housing association to upgrade the aerial... I'm fed up!
Briantist
Monday 9 April 2012 9:51PM
Walt: You may need to wait for Wednesday 25th April 2012 (for SDN and ArqB) and Wednesday 20th June 2012 (ArqA) for the commercial multiplexes to go to full power, following the switchover.

However, if you have a full Freeview service before switchover, you may need to contact the owner of the communal aerial to ensure that their system is now "tuned" correctly.
robert stevenson
Tuesday 10 April 2012 10:14PM
hello i would just like to comment about digital tv reception problems -picture breakup-jigsaw effect etc. having installed hundreds off tv aerials i have came across reception issues and have now found that a lot off reception problems are down to bad installations . wrong tv aerials have been installed cheap thin aerial flyleads bad joints in cable . always-ask your installer for quote and then ask them to itemise this for you .ask the installer to supply a price just for parts required then ask for a price for the labour to have it installed. i would say that a top quality job for having a tv aerial installed outside on the chimney off your home should cost approx £125.00 to £150.00 this allows for a good quality tv aerial not one that looks like it is receiving tv signals from space and the installer is telling you that oh no this is what you need to get digital tv and then charge you lots off you hard earned cash . us installers over here in belfast northern ireland basically depend on customer recommendations for most off our work and having seen bbc rogue traders on tv and having watched what installers in england are up to and the price they charge and the lies they tell they just would not last in thit line off work in our town .remember get your installer to explain what you are paying for . if i can help please email me below . use an installer who comes highly recommended ask you friends and family for help in finding a good installer .
robert stevenson belfast aerials
Tuesday 10 April 2012 10:16PM
hello i would just like to comment about digital tv reception problems -picture breakup-jigsaw effect etc. having installed hundreds off tv aerials i have came across reception issues and have now found that a lot off reception problems are down to bad installations . wrong tv aerials have been installed cheap thin aerial flyleads bad joints in cable . always-ask your installer for quote and then ask them to itemise this for you .ask the installer to supply a price just for parts required then ask for a price for the labour to have it installed. i would say that a top quality job for having a tv aerial installed outside on the chimney off your home should cost approx £125.00 to £150.00 this allows for a good quality tv aerial not one that looks like it is receiving tv signals from space and the installer is telling you that oh no this is what you need to get digital tv and then charge you lots off you hard earned cash . us installers over here in belfast northern ireland basically depend on customer recommendations for most off our work and having seen bbc rogue traders on tv and having watched what installers in england are up to and the price they charge and the lies they tell they just would not last in thit line off work in our town .remember get your installer to explain what you are paying for . if i can help please email me below . use an installer who comes highly recommended ask you friends and family for help in finding a good installer .
Whittaker
Wednesday 11 April 2012 3:30PM Fareham
Hi it seem freeviiew,keep asking, retune ???.channel loss.All time.in gosport,area.
Mike Stanley
Saturday 14 April 2012 4:58PM
I live in Altrincham and am experiencing a picture and sound that disintegrate with popping sound, occasional total loss of picture and sound - on Freeview. Does this arise from inversion? Can I do anything about it apart from fume while not watching the Grand National?
Briantist
Saturday 14 April 2012 10:40PM
Mike Stanley: I would have a look at Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
mi amigo
Wednesday 18 April 2012 4:23PM
I live in South Bucks and am tuned to the Crystal Palace transmitter. Wednesday 18 April has arrived and I retuned my TV with in-built Freeview receiver. Have finished up with only 118 overall channel (less than before I retuned) and no ITV programmes at the very least. Here's hoping Thursday 19th is better!!
Briantist
Wednesday 18 April 2012 4:41PM
mi amigo: The switchover is complete. There will be no changes tomorrow!

Please can you try www.ukfree.tv link icon My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice - you might have to look for www.ukfree.tv link icon Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice otherwise.

It is hard to provide specification information without a full postcode.
mi amigo
Wednesday 18 April 2012 5:39PM Marlow
Thanks for your advice. Have followed the rest process several times and the outcome is the same. I list below the on-screen information from my Sony TV with on-board Freeview HD, against the six multiplexes? on your graphic.

BBCA - channels available to view
D3+D4 - "Channel number not available"
BBCB - channel names show but "No Signal" message displayed
SDN, ARQA and RRQB - same as for BBCB

It is very overcast today here in the Thames Valley, might this be a significant problem today. I assume the different message on D3+D4 might mean the present aerial is inadequate?
Briantist
Wednesday 18 April 2012 5:44PM
mi amigo: I wonder if your aerial is pointing at the Crystal Palace transmitter?

If you are using the Hannington transmitter, you would get the poor reception you describe.

Please see Find out how to receive Freeview and Freeview HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for the details of the directions of the transmitters.

Overcast weather has no effect on reception at all.
mi amigo
Wednesday 18 April 2012 6:15PM Marlow
Aerial clearly directed toward Crystal Palace going eastwards along the Thame Valley and towards Slough. Looking at other posts, Icould also look to upgrading the aerial fly lead as it is quite old. Didn't have a problem with the analogue signal. Thanks again.
Caroline
Saturday 28 April 2012 8:04PM
Until Tuesday this week I had excellent free view coverage, on Tuesday I lost most of the ITV channels, channel 4 and 5, this afternoon I had quality 10n signal strength and all of my channels back. This evening I have no channels at all! Is this as good as the service gets from now on?
jb38
Saturday 28 April 2012 9:22PM
Caroline It difficult for anyone to make comment on any other possible reasons for the problem when you haven't actually mentioned your location, this in the form of a post code, or at least one from nearby (shop etc) to enable it to be fed into the reception predictor and the results assessed.
John
Thursday 10 May 2012 2:47PM
It seems to me that this digital TV is as much of a curse as a blessing. My system worked just fine at all times of year, whatever the atmospheric pressure, until switchover. Even afterwards it was fine for a long time. Now I get pixellation (rarely) "no signal" errors with a blank screen (sometimes) and picture freeze (often).

So this is all due to the inversion layer? Our analogue signal sometimes deteriorated when there was an inversion, but you could always SEE it, and follow the programme. It is unwatchable now, much of the time.

Just a rant!

I am most dischuffed and feel we were conned.

Nothing was said in the run up to the change
Graham.F.Lewendon
Thursday 10 May 2012 7:19PM
Hi
Re Sky Freeview; Terrestial Freeview (The one that seems to be causeing many of you problems)and Free Sat.

Having all 3 is nice when a freeview retune comes along I simply change to Free Sat via a device that will record to removeable media but if I were not so lucky and was fed up as some of you good folks seem I would not go with Sky free view go with Free Sat easpecially if you already use the sky system and need to trim costs. It really is just 1 upfront cost the ie tuner or what ever device it comes with just make sure that if you opt for a dual tuner free Sat system that your aware of the need for a daul output LNB on the dish unless you had been already been subscribing to a sky plus package in one room if that is so cancle your arrangement with Sky keep the dish just as it is and swap over the two leads with F conectors from the Sky tuner to the Free sat tuner. Power done the sky tuner first - you might need it one day should your options alter in the future. For those moving from terrestial freeview to free Sat A good guide to check if you have a line of sight to satelitte is to compaire what you see standing under the dish of a close neighbour who is happy for you to do so. you should see just sky or clouds anything else will block signal Now stand where you expect to have or install own dish and do same line of sight check (a compass at neighbour's location is usefull to help you face in right direction back at your own location. Now check that there is only sky and or clouds visable as you move your head from looking staight up (not at the sun) down to as low as the horizion if possible the satelite sits on that arc and this is only a very rough way of checking line of sight but you will be better prepaired when installer arrives. Tv & radio channels exceed those of the terrestial option plus the 5 HD channels are free. No more retunes
Lnz
Thursday 7 June 2012 12:09PM Bude
Sunday 3rd June, reception of all BBC channels was abysmal.
27.6 miles from Caradon Hill using a wideband antenna and Icecrypt T5000 receiver.
Reset rxer to factory default and retuned, have now lost Ch5 5usa and BBC blame the weather. This reception on Analogue was never ever this bad. It may be the Icecrypt receiver, so I have yet another receiver on order.
Mark Fletcher
Thursday 7 June 2012 6:13PM Halifax
Lnz.Bude.I think you will find that Caradon Hill is an all group A transmitter and as you stated you are 27.6 miles from Caradon Hill itself effectively in a poor/marginal area within this transmitter and you mentioned you are using a group W wideband aerial which performs badly on an all group A mast such as Caradon Hill itself in a poor/marginal area.It is most unlikely that the Icecrypt T5000 receiver you indicated is at fault,but if you decide to replace the Icecrypt T5000 with another receiver and your new receiver is at fault then it is most likely in that scenario that the group W wideband aerial you have is of little use on Caradon Hill transmitter itself in a poor/marginal signal area itself.It that was to be the case then you new a new group A aerial a Yagi 18A at your location will do the trick.
Mark Fletcher
Thursday 7 June 2012 6:16PM Halifax
Lnz,Bude.My last sentence should have been.If that was to be the case then you need a new group A aerial,preferably a Yagi 18A at your location will do the trick.
Jim Charters
Monday 23 July 2012 11:53AM
I have a wide band modern aerial in Lincoln directed at Belmont. BBC, BBC2 etc 100% strength 100% quality. ITV, Channel4, Channel5 100% strength, variable quaility from 40% to 80%. If I move the aerial slightly I can improve the signal quality for ITV at the expense of BBC quality.
Why - when all digital tranmissions are from the same place?
Dave Lindsay
Monday 23 July 2012 1:11PM
Jim Charters: Perhaps your aerial is too sensitive for the location and supplying an OTT signal:

www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
Jim Charters
Monday 23 July 2012 4:02PM
Dave
Thanks for the reply. Belmont is on top of a the wolds; I live in a low lying area and found it difficult to receive the analogue signal at times and the previous low output digital one almost impossible periodically. To make matters rather worse, the rear of the property faces immediate woodland of about 50m depth (en route to Belmont)! The aerial is a Blakes JBX 32 element. Is this aerial really that sensitive?
JIM
Alex
Wednesday 2 January 2013 10:22AM High Wycombe
We have a Samsung 22" smart TV. We have recently been losing the use of all BBC channels including Radio channels intermittently. These were not accessible all yesterday (1st Jan/13) evening and have just returned 9.30am today.We are in south Bucks HP10 8AH



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