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Expecting 4G interference? Tests now show that you have a one in 300 chance

Remember the scare stories in the papers? Millions of homes will have problems when 4G starts... Even the Ofcom figures suggested 760,000 homes would have problems. The 4G tests suggest the just 90,000 homes will need to fit a filter.

Remember the scare stories in the papers?  Millions of homes wi
published on UK Free TV

Looking back the the original posting, Ofcom moves to protect Freeview interference from 4G mobile, we can see the Ofcom suggested that:

Of the 16.3 million UK homes with a standard (unamplified, unshared) Freeview reception, 110,000 (0.67%) would be effected.

Of the 5.2 million homes using communal aerials systems, 550,000 (10.6%) will have problems.

Of the 5.6 million homes using amplified Freeview reception, 100,000 (1.8%) will experience problems.

Today, at800 have published the results of the tests in London, Brighton and Hove and York - at800 updates estimate of likely impact of 4G at 800 MHz on Freeview:

"Following tests conducted across the country, at800, the organisation responsible for protecting Freeview when 4G at 800 MHz is rolled out across the UK, has provided a new estimate of the likely scale of the impact. If national rollout reflects the results seen during its tests, at800 expects no more than 90,000 households, with Freeview as their primary TV service, to experience disruption caused by 4G at 800 MHz. Whatever the level of disruption, at800 is ready to restore Freeview to viewers.



at800 has now sent postcards to households in London and the surrounding areas in preparation for the activation of 4G at 800 MHz masts over the coming weeks and months. at800 is also sending postcards to other areas of the UK ahead of masts switching on. at800’s mailing does not mean that 4G services will be available to consumers. For information about the availability of 4G services, people should contact their mobile operators.

In London, in particular, Freeview received from the Crystal Palace transmitter is unlikely to be affected by mast activation because of the strong terrestrial television signal and its relatively large frequency separation from 4G at 800 MHz. However, at800 is sending postcards and running a publicity campaign to ensure anyone who does experience new disruption to their Freeview service knows how to get in touch."

So with 26.50 million TV households in the UK (see Monthly universe summary - BARB) 90,000 represents 0.340% of them - that's a ONE IN THREE HUNDRED chance.



It seems that you are most likely to need a filter if:

a) you are a long way from a high power Freeview transmitter; and

b) you are very close to a 4G mobile phone mast; and

c) you are using a booster.

That's good news for Freeview viewers.



If you have had a postcode from at800 - see Received a postcard from at800?



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Comments
Friday, 12 July 2013
Dale Martin
11:30 AM

I'm still having problems had anyone got any advice please

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Dale Martin's 5 posts GB flag
J
JonA
11:57 AM

Hi, suddenly lost all channels sometime between last Sunday pm and Monday evening in Wrexham, tried to retune, even system reboot on Samsung tv with built in freeview (2-3 yrs old). Still cannot find 1 channel and signal strength is zero.
Any ideas

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JonA's 1 post GB flag
Dale Martin
11:40 PM

How do you know if you have been affected by the 4g interference

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Dale Martin's 5 posts GB flag
Saturday, 13 July 2013
I
Ian from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

7:33 AM
Nottingham

Dale Martin- As far as i'm aware, 4G has only been tested in certain areas and at this moment no one can be affected by it because it isn't "turned on" yet

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Ian from notts's 253 posts GB flag
Ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
mick jones
5:03 PM
Hemel Hempstead

my reception has bean bad since the 4g came in.most channels are un watchable

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mick jones's 1 post GB flag
mick's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Malcolm
9:03 PM

We have just returned form holiday and have no BBC1,BBC2 (except HD),we've also lost ch 80 BBC News,BBC4, CBBC All BBC radio channels.What can I do about this apart from withholding my licence fee !!!(Freeview).

link to this comment
Malcolm's 1 post GB flag
M
MikeB
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:08 PM

mick jones : as Ian has just pointed out , its unlikely that your signal is affected by 4G. However, looking at the Terrain plot, etc for your postcode, it turns out you are just 5km from the Hemel Hempstead transmitter! (its parent transmitter, Crystal Palace, is on exactly the same bearing) Since thats extremely close, its distinctly possible that your signal is far too powerful - see:
Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice

Check the signal quality and level on your equipment. Also check which transmitter your tuned into - HH will be on Channel 44, but Crystal Palace (which you might be tuned into instead) is on 23. Since many tuners start low and go to high, you might have picked up this by mistake.

PS - Dale martin - if you give us a postcode and a quick rundown of your set, we can offer advice. (PE12QN)

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MikeB's 2,579 posts GB flag
M
MikeB
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:26 PM
Peterborough

Malcolm: Your postcode hasn't worked to give us any info to work from, but it sounds like you've lost the BBC mux - the first thing to do is find out what channel your Tv is on, what it should be on, and hopefully a simple retune will sort it out

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MikeB's 2,579 posts GB flag
MikeB's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 14 July 2013
C
Carol, Glasgow
9:19 PM
Glasgow

Have just returned from holiday and have lost all Freeview channels. The filter was among the mail but it doesn't fit our booster box. Filter has a push connection, but our booster box has a screw connection. What can we do?

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Carol, Glasgow's 1 post GB flag
Carol,'s: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:39 PM

Carol, Glasgow: If the booster is for one room only then it might not be needed following switchover.

If it is required then contact at800:

Contact at800 / DMSL | General Enquiries | at800

I was wondering this one myself. The threaded connectors are f-connectors and are used for more perminant connections, i.e. generally not behind the TV set.

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
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