Tv Picture Breaking Up On Just Two Channels, Itv 3 And 5 Usa

[HAMMEROFTHOR]

I have a Samsung flat screen TV, and the picture is pixilating/ breaking up on two channels-
ITV 3 and 5 USA. Other channels are OK. Tried re-tuning but no joy, the two channels still break up badly. Does anyone have ideas about a possible cause for this, and /or a solution?
Any help would be much appreciated, many thanks! HAMMEROFTHOR

[Buenchico]

Freeview channels are transmitted in 'bundles', called 'multiplexes', with each multiplex being on a different frequency. In an ideal world you'd have a separate TV aerial on your roof for each multiplex, with the lengths of the elements exactly matched to the relevant frequencies (to provide perfect 'resonation'). That's clearly impractical, so all TV aerials provide only a 'rough match' to each of the incoming frequencies, meaning that they're often far better at receiving some multiplexes than others.

Further, the strengths of the signals arriving at your TV aerial don't remain constant. They're affected by all sorts of things, including the 11-year sunspot cycle, individual flares on the surface of the sun, the length of the day (affecting the height of the ionosphere above the Earth's surface), atmospheric pressure, precipitation, local interference, etc, etc.

ITV3 and 5USA are both bundled into the 'COM4' multiplex. Your aerial clearly isn't particularly well-matched to the frequency used by COM4, meaning that, although it can 'pull in' channels when signal strengths are good, it can't handle them properly when the signals are weaker (in this case, almost certainly because of the current weather conditions). You might find that you experience similar problems with other COM4 channels too, such as Quest.

The usual solution is simply to fit a signal amplifier:
www.argos.co.uk/product/5713543
(You'll also need a fly lead to go between the amplifier and your telly: https://www.screwfix.com/p/fly-lead-coaxial-plug-to-plug-1m/41720 )

[Buenchico]

Making that first link above 'clickable':
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5713543

[Hopkirk]

The question is how much are you prepared to pay for ITV 3 and 5 USA.

Personally nothing

[HAMMEROFTHOR]

Hey Buenchico! You certainly are a mine of useful information- thankyou so much for the answer you have sent me! ( and thanks again for your help with the property question I posted on here yesterday!) The detailed explanation you gave me about my tv today Is very clear- and is very useful technical info explained in language that is easy to understand....also thanks for the link to the signal amplifier too!
Hopkirk- for your info ITV3 and 5USA are freeview channels and I don't have to pay for them, perhaps you should get your facts straight before making sarcastic remarks....I asked for help on here, I didn't ask for your opinions on my tv viewing habits

[Hopkirk]

Yes, I know they are on Freeview. Buenchico was saying you need to buy a booster.
I was expressing the view that those two channels do not justify that expenditure.