I'm sick of freeview not coping with interference

For the last few days we've had some bad electrical interference near where
I live. We haven't tracked it down yet but the upshot is its pretty much
killing some of the freeview channels making them either like a slideshow
or no picture at all. So we switch to analogue and it works fine. Sure theres
a lot of noise in the picture but its still perfectly watchable.

If freeview can't cope with interference what bloody use is it other than
offering a load of extra channels hardly anyone watches?

B2003

wrote:
For the last few days we've had some bad electrical interference near where
I live. We haven't tracked it down yet but the upshot is its pretty much
killing some of the freeview channels making them either like a slideshow
or no picture at all. So we switch to analogue and it works fine. Sure theres
a lot of noise in the picture but its still perfectly watchable.

If freeview can't cope with interference what bloody use is it other than
offering a load of extra channels hardly anyone watches?

DVB-T will not work properly if it's corrupted by interference. By your
own admission you have a poor signal, so that will be vulnerable to
external interference. Is that because of an inadequate receiving system
(such as an indoor aerial, or knackered roof aerial), or just that you
are currently not in a DTT served area, and you're attempting long
distance reception ?

Post DSO transmissions are typically 10dB higher in power and employ 8k
COFDM modulation, that does offer marginally better protection against
interference, so when DSO hits your area things should improve, but it's
still a good idea to sort your aerial out. You wouldn't expect a Rolls
Royce to run properly on chip fat !

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:39:49 +0000
Mark Carver wrote:
wrote:
If freeview can't cope with interference what bloody use is it other than
offering a load of extra channels hardly anyone watches?

DVB-T will not work properly if it's corrupted by interference. By your
own admission you have a poor signal, so that will be vulnerable to
external interference. Is that because of an inadequate receiving system
(such as an indoor aerial, or knackered roof aerial), or just that you

I live in london and have a roof antenna so its nothing to do with my
setup.

are currently not in a DTT served area, and you're attempting long
distance reception ?

10 miles to crystal palace.

still a good idea to sort your aerial out. You wouldn't expect a Rolls
Royce to run properly on chip fat !

No , but if I owned a fiesta that ran find then was forced to upgrade to
what the government was insisting was a rolls royce I'd expect the roller
to cope a lot better with poor roads than the old car. Not break down as
soon as it hit a pothole.

I'm sorry but if freeview can't cope with interference in which analogue is
perfectly watchable then its a rather poor joke. Its supposed to be an
upgrade, not a downgrade and its not as if interference is something
unexpected!

B2003

wrote in message ...
For the last few days we've had some bad electrical interference near
where
I live. We haven't tracked it down yet ...[snip]

The Ofcom interference police are your answer.
They spared nothing to track down a youngsters TV that was causing
interference to aircraft.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...t-signals.html

However, I'm not sure they will quite as energetic in your case.

Roger R

wrote:
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:39:49 +0000
Mark Carver wrote:
wrote:
If freeview can't cope with interference what bloody use is it other than
offering a load of extra channels hardly anyone watches?
DVB-T will not work properly if it's corrupted by interference. By your
own admission you have a poor signal, so that will be vulnerable to
external interference. Is that because of an inadequate receiving system
(such as an indoor aerial, or knackered roof aerial), or just that you

I live in london and have a roof antenna so its nothing to do with my
setup.

are currently not in a DTT served area, and you're attempting long
distance reception ?

10 miles to crystal palace.

If that's the case, and the interference is even visible on your
analogue pictures at that range from CP, then the source is either
*very* close by, or chucking out a serious levels of crap. Are you sure
your neighbours don't have a Van de Graaf generator in their house !!

I'd get Ofcom in, as Roger R suggests, I'd imagine the whole street is
affected ?

wrote in message ...
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:39:49 +0000
Mark Carver wrote:
wrote:
If freeview can't cope with interference what bloody use is it other
than
offering a load of extra channels hardly anyone watches?

DVB-T will not work properly if it's corrupted by interference. By your
own admission you have a poor signal, so that will be vulnerable to
external interference. Is that because of an inadequate receiving system
(such as an indoor aerial, or knackered roof aerial), or just that you

I live in london and have a roof antenna so its nothing to do with my
setup.


A decent modern aerial with good quality CT100/RG56 downlead?. It doesn't
sound like a very good set up to me when by your own admission you say about
your analogue reception "Sure theres a lot of noise in the picture but its
still perfectly watchable." and only a mere 10 miles away from Crystal
palace?

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:59:21 -0000
"Ivan" wrote:
I live in london and have a roof antenna so its nothing to do with my
setup.


A decent modern aerial with good quality CT100/RG56 downlead?. It doesn't

Haven't a clue.

sound like a very good set up to me when by your own admission you say about
your analogue reception "Sure theres a lot of noise in the picture but its
still perfectly watchable." and only a mere 10 miles away from Crystal
palace?

There isn't any noise when the interference isn't on - the picture is
perfectly clear. But come the evening and there it is.

Anyway , point is that if freeview can't produce a watchable picture with
the same levels of interference that analogue can cope with then its not fit
for purpose.

B2003

But, to save yourself potential embarrassment and, IIRC, cost, first
ensure that the source is not in your house or flat!

Switch off the entire rest of your home - including fridges,
freezers, central-heating/hot-water; don't forget garages or outhouses
if applicable; everything that comes off your supply point - and
check the interference is still there.

If it isn't, it must be something you've switched off, so switch
things back on one room at a time, and then one item at a time until
you've nailed it.

Don't forget to switch back on the vitals like freezers, fridges,
ch/hw when you're done.

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:47:43 +0000, Mark Carver
wrote:

I'd get Ofcom in, as Roger R suggests, I'd imagine the whole street is
affected ?
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On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:47:43 +0000
Mark Carver wrote:
are currently not in a DTT served area, and you're attempting long
distance reception ?

10 miles to crystal palace.

If that's the case, and the interference is even visible on your
analogue pictures at that range from CP, then the source is either
*very* close by, or chucking out a serious levels of crap. Are you sure
your neighbours don't have a Van de Graaf generator in their house !!

The interference only started this week so I'm hoping its only temporary.
Perhaps someone is using some cheapo foreign power tools in the evening doing
some DIY work or something.

B2003

In article , says...

I live in london and have a roof antenna so its nothing to do with
my
setup.


You are very confident - how do you know?

A decent modern aerial with good quality CT100/RG56 downlead?. It doesn't

Haven't a clue.

Perhaps it's time you did?

sound like a very good set up to me when by your own admission you say about
your analogue reception "Sure theres a lot of noise in the picture but its
still perfectly watchable." and only a mere 10 miles away from Crystal
palace?

There isn't any noise when the interference isn't on - the picture is
perfectly clear. But come the evening and there it is.

Well, there's a BIG clue for a start! What happens 'come the evening' in
October? Does it, perchance, get just a teensy, weensy bit dark?

Perhaps someone's found a remedy for that - things called lights!

So how about looking for a dodgy lamp - especially a fluorescent light
or CFL. And what about street lighting? Try keeping an eye on the street
and see if anything obvious happens when the interference starts.

Has someone turned their central heating on ready for winter? You,
perhaps? Is it on a timer?

Anyway , point is that if freeview can't produce a watchable picture with
the same levels of interference that analogue can cope with then its not fit
for purpose.


It takes a hell of a lot of interference to screw up even a half decent
aerial 10 miles from Crystal Palace! In which case, you won't be alone!

Have you tried talking to the neighbours? After all, if it is as bad as
you say it must affect quite a large area - unless, of course, you're
the only one around with a really crap aerial ...

--

Terry