Loss of TV Signal

[Conchis]

Last year, a high speed internet network was installed in my area: it took out my tv signal and shortly after I got a note through the door offering a (free) service to boost my signal so that I would be able to get reception as normal. It doesn't help that my house is situated between two transmitters.

I took advantage: a team of two came round and, apparently, sorted it out. End of story, I thought, and shredded the note that had come through the door.


Then, shortly before Christmas, the signal went again - I now cannot receive any programme s on my set, though I can still watch on my laptop and can get youtube on the screen.

I'm not particularly bothered, as I rarely watched the junk that passes for tv these days. However, I've got some people coming to mind my house while I'm away later this year and I'd like them to have the option of watching television.


Any ideas on how I can solve my problem?

[cloughie]

Last year, a high speed internet network was installed in my area: it took out my tv signal and shortly after I got a note through the door offering a (free) service to boost my signal so that I would be able to get reception as normal. It doesn't help that my house is situated between two transmitters.

I took advantage: a team of two came round and, apparently, sorted it out. End of story, I thought, and shredded the note that had come through the door.


Then, shortly before Christmas, the signal went again - I now cannot receive any programme s on my set, though I can still watch on my laptop and can get youtube on the screen.

I'm not particularly bothered, as I rarely watched the junk that passes for tv these days. However, I've got some people coming to mind my house while I'm away later this year and I'd like them to have the option of watching television.


Any ideas on how I can solve my problem?

Very interesting I have recently had problems with reception on BBC1 and 2 (Freeview 1 and 2) but no problem on other channels and these were not previously problematic, but reception was not good on the HD channels. Now the opposite is true. The changes maybe are due to having replace my Panasonic HD recorder, which had stopped recording, with a humax recorder. I now watch HD for BBC 1 and 2, switching only for Spotlight news, putting up with digital break-up, when needed, but any 1 or 2 recordings are done on 101 and 102. I do think that some of these reception problems are at the whim of the transmitter and not helped by the proximity of routers and other interference-inducing equipment.

[Dave2002]

Not quite sure why a high speed internet should interfere with TV - msg 1. Are you receiving off air - perhaps Freeview?
Some new mobile phone networks can interfere, but a specialised filter precisely for this problem in the input line - cost a few pounds - should (no promises) fix that.

[Conchis]

Not quite sure why a high speed internet should interfere with TV - msg 1. Are you receiving off air - perhaps Freeview?
Some new mobile phone networks can interfere, but a specialised filter precisely for this problem in the input line - cost a few pounds - should (no promises) fix that.

Yes - sorry! - it was indeed a mobile phone network that was installed.

I am on freeview but no longer have the box and my tv is a viera. Not heard about the specialised filter. Can you provide a link? Thanks. :)

[cloughie]

Not quite sure why a high speed internet should interfere with TV - msg 1. Are you receiving off air - perhaps Freeview?
Some new mobile phone networks can interfere, but a specialised filter precisely for this problem in the input line - cost a few pounds - should (no promises) fix that.

All kinds of things interfere eg my microwave interferes with broadband.

[Dave2002]

Yes - sorry! - it was indeed a mobile phone network that was installed.

I am on freeview but no longer have the box and my tv is a viera. Not heard about the specialised filter. Can you provide a link? Thanks. :)

I think this gives some clues - about 4G networks anyway - https://at800.tv/guide/4g-filters-guide/

There's also this about 5G, though it dates from 2012 and may now be out of date. Watch out for new developments.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/19/freeview_bump_5g/

I bought a filter, but it didn't make any difference here - so I think the 4G "problem" does not affect my area, but it definitely could
make a difference in areas which are using some of the channels as mentioned in the at800 article. Check also that the "problem" you are having is not something simple like the channels having moved - try reinstalling the channels.

Here is a cheapish filter for if you need one - though you might need to check it's the right one for your area - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00CAM0E0C
According to the at800 article you should be able to request a free filter - but maybe not any more.

[Dave2002]

All kinds of things interfere eg my microwave interferes with broadband.

Is that mobile broadband, or wired? It may be more likely that it actually interferes directly with your computer, though that's not something I've noticed in recent years. One of the offices I worked in had a problem with my desktop computer whenever someone turned on a mobile phone nearby - but that was a long while back. Microwave cookers can certainly have similar effects.

[richardfinegold]

One solution for your guests would be to directly plug a computer via HDMI into the TV or to use Air Play. The latter might require an Apple TV hookup but then you can also get further content. Or alternatively a Google Chrome or Amazon Fire stick. As long as your Internet works you can still see a lot of stuff on the TV monitor

[jean]

I bought a filter, but it didn't make any difference here...

We never had any trouble with the signal until the recent storms, and now suddenly it's become unwatchable, picture all breaking up and a horrible screeching sound every so often.

We phoned Sony but their advice didn't work. Today we summoned an aerial person, and he said he was going to get a filter...hope it works better than yours did!

[Bryn]

If you have an external aerial it could be water ingress to the cable, leading to serious signal attenuation.

[jean]

Thanks. We thought the first thing he'd do would be leap up onto the roof and actually look at the aerial, but he didn't.

[Bryn]

Thanks. We thought the first thing he'd do would be leap up onto the roof and actually look at the aerial, but he didn't.

I wrote from personal experience. A few decades ago I erected FM and television aerials strapped to the chimney block. Some years later the signal showed signs of deterioration. What I had failed to do was seal the connection boxes and terminals with self-amalgamating tape. Fortunately, after a spell of hot, dry weather the signal restored to normal and I was able to go back up on the roof and seal everything with said tape. A reel should cost less than a fiver and is good for waterproofing a wide range of connections.

[Dave2002]

Whatever "you" do - don't follow in Rod Hull's footsteps.

[Bryn]

Whatever "you" do - don't follow in Rod Hull's footsteps.

I have no intention of going up there again. When I used to do so I always roped myself to the chimney stack. Damned collared doves have managed to remove the reflector from my FM Yagi, but it still just about functions, and I mainly make do with DAB, Freeview or the iPlayer these days, so have no plans to get a professional in, either.

[johnb]

It seems that the 4G issue affects TV stations that are broadcast from the transmitter on (transmitter) Channels 59 and 60 as the frequencies used by these channels are adjacent to the band being used by 4G. (The transmitter channels numbers completely different to the TV station numbers and one transmitter channel can carry many TV stations).

So the first thing to do is to check whether you receive any TV stations on Channels 59 or 60. You can usually do this via the TV's setup menus or by consulting which channels your local transmitter uses. This link shows the UK transmitters. Click on the one you use, then scroll down and look under the "Frequency" column for C59 or C60: https://ukfree.tv/maps/freeview

If you receive transmissions on Channels 59 or 60 and you can no longer view TV stations broadcast on those channels then you would probably benefit from a filter. This website includes a few recommended filters. Make sure that the filter you buy covers the affected channels, e.g. the Labgear filter in the recommended list only covers Channel 59, not Channel 60. https://at800.tv/guide/4g-filters-guide/