menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Freeview

 

 

Click to see updates

Freeview reception has changed?

Why should my Freeview reception change when I have not changed anything?

Why should my Freeview reception change when I have not changed
published on UK Free TV

From time to time people find that their Freeview box, integrated set (idTV) or Personal Video Recorder (PVR) has lost many channels without any apparent changes.

There are a number of factors to consider

Freeview is broadcast on digital multiplexes. This means that, once broken down into a stream of bits, each television channel is combined into a single transmission of 1s and 0s. This means that reception is of the multiplex first if this is lost it affects all the channels in the multiplex in the same way.



The signal strength received by the box or TV for a particular multiplex from a given transmitter determines if the data can be received or not. So, a poor signal results in no data, an adequate signal in perfect data and a low signal in either none or all.

Poor digital signal levels do not result, as they do with old-fashioned analogue television, in a sub-standard picture or sound. Poor signals often result in a perfect data-stream, but are prone to periods of no reception. Sometimes this will be for hours, but can also be several times a minute when caused by induction from fridges, freezers, central heating systems, two-stroke scooters, baby monitors and so on.

If you have lost ALL your Freeview channels

First disconnect the aerial lead from the Freeview box or TV set and reconnect it and then follow this reset procedure to scan for channels again. If this does not result in services being restored, check the Freeview transmitters page to see if there are any engineering problems with your local transmitter.

How to check all cables, connectors and aerials

The RF connectors need to be in very good condition to work. There are two general types:

Factory-fitted connectors are very reliable as they cannot easily be taken apart, but they can be damaged by wear and tear. On the female-type the central section is often composed of two parts which can often be forced apart, resulting in a poor connection you can push them back together if this has happened with a pair of tweezers. On male connectors if the central pin is damaged, you will need a new cable. If there are any loose partials in the connector, remove them.

Another problem with these cables is that quite easy to sprain the connector at the back which causes little obvious external damage, but disconnects the internal connection. This happens often when a set-top box is pushed backwards into a cabinet.

Hand made cables can also suffer from similar problems to factory made ones and they are also prone to accidental damage from a cable being pulled. If such a connector is not firmly attached to the cable, the connector may need refitting.

Cables

Make a visual check of the cables. There are a few basic checks:

If the cable has been slashed or cut, it will not be very effective or reliable. If such a cable is fitted externally, this can allow rainwater to enter the cable and this will reduce the signal levels.

You can easily damage an RF cable by crushing it, for example in a door. If the outside of the cable has a permanent kink in the cable or has been very tightly looped, this could be the site of damage.

Aerial

For reliable and effective Freeview reception, a rooftop aerial is required. It is hard to make a visual check of such an aerial without putting yourself in potential danger.

You can make a visual check of the route between the aerial and the transmitter. Any form of obstruction will damage the digital signals. In particular trees coming into leaf, as these will leech the signal before it reaches your aerial. This applies to both trees adjacent to the aerial and at a distance.

Another common problem in cities is building work. A large crane will often change position many times during the day, and if this is between your aerial and the transmitter this can reduce the signal levels in an unpredictable way.

If your system uses a booster, the power may have failed. Check the fuse to the power to the booster.

Weather problems

There are two main weather problems that effect Freeview reception.

The Inversion Effect: please see What is the Inversion Effect and why does it effect my Freeview TV reception?



Wind: high winds sometime can dislodge the aerial this results in a poor signal.

Rain: poor or old cables can fill with water and this results in a poor signal. If this happens, the cables will require replacement.

Help with Freeview, aerials?
How do I get a test card with Freeview1
I would like to know if it is possible to receive UK terrestrial Freeview servic2
I have been told I would receive too much singal from my Freeview tansmitter as 3
Can my Freeview box receive more than one BBC and ITV region?4
Is it true that my 87 year old mother is entitled to a FREE upgrade when the ana5
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
Two frequency interference 5
Single frequency interference6

Comments
Saturday, 10 September 2016
A
Angela Thompson
2:28 PM

jb38: I forgot to add you can download the manual on the internet.

link to this comment
Angela Thompson's 15 posts GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:48 PM

Angela Thompson: Yes, I have it thanks. However, as far as your initial difficulties in using the box is concerned, it's almost guaranteed that you were not in any way whatsoever to blame, as a high percentage of Bush brand boxes (virtually all models) can be notorious for suffering spells of locking up / freezing, whereby the only way of escaping same is by disconnecting them from the mains for around a minute or so followed by carrying out a first time installation, a procedure which I suspect was carried out by your friend.

Although, when working OK they are certainly capable of producing excellent results as far as picture quality etc is concerned, but it's the aspect of their unreliability that somewhat spoils their otherwise good performance, and so without wishing to appear as a "Prophet of Doom", I would strongly advise keeping the receipt in a safe place.


link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 31 October 2016
M
Mark
11:11 PM

We live in Broughton, just outside Chester. We did buy a new TV recently, but initially received all the channels we had previously received. However, a few days ago, many channels simply disappeared, with the TV telling us there was no signal.

Basically, all the BBC channels, including radio, are fine. Virtually everything else is not.

Multiplex PSB1 - OK
PSB2 - bad
PSB3 - OK
COM4 - bad
COM6 - bad, except Aljazeera, for some reason.
LL - OK

link to this comment
Mark's 1 post GB flag
M
Mark
11:12 PM

We live in Broughton, just outside Chester. We did buy a new TV recently, but initially received all the channels we had previously received. However, a few days ago, many channels simply disappeared, with the TV telling us there was no signal.

Basically, all the BBC channels, including radio, are fine. Virtually everything else is not.

Multiplex PSB1 - OK
PSB2 - bad
PSB3 - OK
COM4 - bad
COM6 - bad, except Aljazeera, for some reason.
LL - OK

link to this comment
Mark's 1 post GB flag
N
nicholas mugford
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

11:39 PM

Mark: Hi,when you scanned for channels,did you save them?,if the tv indicates same.Sometimes people
forget to save them or memories even i n new sets go faulty.

link to this comment
nicholas mugford's 120 posts GB flag
N
nicholas mugford
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

11:54 PM

Hi,i was just thinking,people who live very close to their local transmitter and yet have problems,is to use
the infill signal which is transmitted at a low height on the station mast but this is available only really
within one or two miles,anyhow its just a suggestion.An aerial could be put virtually at ground level and
pick up a stable signal,all these things are worth trying,aerial science sometimes is weird and wonderful.

link to this comment
nicholas mugford's 120 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 1 November 2016
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:19 AM

Mark: Viewers in many Western / Southern areas have been (and still are in some cases) experiencing moderate to severe reception problems over the past week due to conditions related to atmospheric pressure, therefore its best to check the situation with someone else in your area before looking for faults in your system.

By the way, "if" you have retuned your TV since you first experienced the problem? then you will have to carry out further retunes in order to find out if the situation has returned to normal, as the action of retuning deletes everything stored in the tuners memory system.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
M
MikeB
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

2:55 PM

Mark: Check signal strength and the the transmitter your getting it from. If you chose a different transmitter, then that can cause a problem, and tuners of sets do have slightly different thresholds. However, if you getting no signal, thats normally your system at fault.

I havn't heard much about any high pressure system, but looking at the weather, it should have gone by now.

BTW - a postcode really helps.

link to this comment
MikeB's 2,579 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 30 November 2016
B
B
8:42 PM

Is anyone else having problems with no digital TVs signal available in Far Cotton Northampton?

link to this comment
B's 2 posts GB flag
B
B
8:44 PM

We have no digital signal in Far Cotton Northampton. Is anyone else having problems with reception?

link to this comment
B's 2 posts GB flag
Select more comments

Your comment please
Please post a question, answer or commentUK Free TV is here to help people. If you are rude or disrespectful all of your posts will be deleted and you will be banned.







Privacy policy: UK Free Privacy policy.