Another week of hot and sunny weather means those reliant on Freeview for their TV reception may encounter glitches or loss of signal.
Freeview has issued its third high pressure related weather warning in as many weeks as weather conditions revert back to settled weather after recent thunderstorms.
High pressure can lead to tropospheric ducting that can impact Freeview, FM and DAB reception, especially for viewers and listeners in coastal areas. But unstable atmospheric conditions may cause some signal reception issues further inland this week.
Most viewers won’t be affected, but for viewers whose Freeview signal is more borderline and subject to interference from other transmitters using the same frequency, reception issues will continue.
It’s not a matter that can be easily resolved, as the number of frequencies available for terrestrial broadcasting has been reduced over the last decade to make way for 4G and 5G services. But for viewers living in areas where terrestrial reception is unreliable, Freesat or online streaming services provide an alternative solution.
Freeview has reminded viewers not to retune, as services should return when weather conditions change. There’s one exception – and that’s for viewers in North Yorkshire and Teesside where the launch of the new Bilsdale transmitter mast may force a small number of viewers to retune or seek support from the Project Restore helpline.
- Separate work on the Emley Moor transmitter, which resulted in overnight loss of Freeview in parts of Yorkshire, has now been completed.
- The next official Freeview channel update that may require some viewers to retune is not due until 21st June.
Marc Thornham
[Image: Abstract Vectors by Vecteezy]