What’s happening?

Mobile services and digital TV use parts of the radio spectrum (airwaves), to reach us. The airwaves used by some new mobile services are next to those used for TV received through an aerial, such as Freeview, BT, TalkTalk or YouView.

As a result, when a nearby mobile mast is upgraded, there is a small chance that your aerial, TV, or set-top box could struggle to receive a good TV signal. Cable and satellite services will not be affected.

You are more likely to be affected if you live in an area with weak digital television reception, have a TV signal booster, or are very close to a mobile mast.

If we believe the interference might be due to mobile signals, and if you are responsible for your own aerial, we can send you a Restore TV approved filter to fit yourself, free of charge. Filters are smaller than a pack of cards and need no batteries or external power supply. They normally plug into the lead between your TV and your aerial. There is more information about filters in our FAQs. The filter blocks the mobile signals being received by your TV equipment and enables you to continue receiving and watching free to view TV as normal.

Full fitting instructions are included with the filter and we can provide further advice online and by phone. We also have a video that shows you how to fit the filter. Cable and satellite services are not affected. In most instances, fitting the filter will resolve interference from mobile signals. If it doesn’t, and if you are eligible, we may be able to arrange for a Restore TV engineer to visit your home. The engineer will test whether mobile signals are the cause of the interference and fit a filter to your TV system.

If the interference is not due to mobile signals, the engineer can provide advice on what might be causing TV interference and advise you on how to retune your TV. The engineer will also fit a filter to prevent any interference if mobile services are upgraded in your area in the future.

If you require additional filters for multiple TV sets, we will provide these on request. If you have more than one TV receiving free to view TV in your home, you may have a single aerial and a distribution amplifier or splitter that sends the signal to different locations. If so, then one filter – fitted between the TV aerial and the distribution amplifier or splitter – should resolve any interference on all of the TVs in your home.

It is only if you have separate aerials for each of your TVs that you may need additional filters.

If you are eligible and if you don’t feel comfortable fitting the filter yourself, we may be able to arrange for an engineer to fit this for you, at our expense. Please contact us.

If you have a rooftop aerial amplifier, a weatherproof Restore TV approved filter needs to be installed – we can arrange for an engineer to fit this for you, at our expense.

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