The document discusses TV reception issues that may occur when 4G mobile services operating at 800 MHz are introduced in an area. This could interfere with Freeview/digital terrestrial TV signals and potentially cause loss of sound, blocky images or lost channels. Pilot projects are evaluating the problem and testing solutions like providing filters. Viewers experiencing issues should call the contact center for assistance. Special support is available for vulnerable groups through home visits.

2. OVERSIGHT

3. What TV equipment can receive
UHF
television
channels
21
-­‐
69
470
MHz
862
MHz

4. What TV equipment can receive
Digital
Terrestrial
Television
MUX
on
channels
21
-­‐
60
790
MHz
470
MHz
4G at 800 MHz
791
MHz
to
862MHz

5. 3
EE
Vodafone
O2
EE
3
Vodafone
O2
A
B
C
A
B
C
FDD
downlink
frequency
bands
(base
staPon
transmit)
duplex
gap
FDD
uplink
frequency
bands
(base
staPon
receive)
4G at 800 MHz
5
MHz
791
MHz
to
862MHz

6. West Midlands pilot (19-26 March)

7. DTT channels for Brierley Hill
790
MHz
470
MHz
4G at 800 MHz
791
-­‐
862MHz
West
Midlands
DTT
MUX
50,
53,
55,
57,
59,
60
Digital
Terrestrial
Television
MUX
on
channels
21
-­‐
60

8. 4G LTE 800MHz base station

9. 19 March, 12:35PM (250 yards)

10. Ofcom see the same thing

11. 12:50 - the first call

12. 13:20 - help arrives

13. 13:30 - more help arrives

14. Where’s the aerial?

15. How did you know who to contact?

16. Interference

17. The solution
Plug
TV
set
into
correct
(IRS)
socket

18. One hour later

19. Communal

20. Across the road

21. No reception

22. The solution
Communal filter
fitted between
aerial and amplifier

23. Later in the day

24. Weak DTT strong 4G at 800MHz

25. The solution
Weatherproof
channel 59 filter
fitted between
aerial and amplifier

26. Across the road: aerials point in all
directions… hard to model

27. Plumes, pixels & problems

28. Summary
• 22,600 mailed
• c1000 in affected pixels (address based)
• c120 forecast to potentially be affected
• 15 reception problems due to 4G at 800 MHz
• All had amplifiers in the system

29. The need for London pilots . . .
Baker Street

30. SE London pilot (22 April – 3 May)
• 170,000 addresses mailed
• Small number of standard domestic reception
problems possible
• More problems expected in amplified systems
– But, little to no need for (domestic) amplifiers given
Crystal Palace power

31. DTT channels Crystal Palace
790
MHz
470
MHz
4G at 800 MHz
791
MHz
to
862MHz
Crystal
Palace
DTT
MUX
22,
23,
25,
26,
28,
30
Digital
Terrestrial
Television
MUX
on
channels
21
-­‐
60
240
MHz

32. Ten days into the pilot …
One indoor aerial
(with amplifier)

33. Raising awareness on the street

34. West London Pilot (29 April – 10 May)
• 27,000 addresses mailed
• >20,000 filters sent out proactively
• Few standard domestic reception problems possible
• Fewer than 100 problems in amplified systems
possible
- but again expect little to no need for (domestic) amplifiers
given Crystal Palace power

36. Early findings from pilots
• Amplifier always present
– No Standard Domestic Installations (SDIs)
– Same found in large French trials
• Reception problems more likely with DTT/LTE channel
adjacency; proximity & line of sight to base station
• Communal properties feature more prone to problems
• Everyone on a learning curve

37. Amplifier issue
DTT
DTT
Tuner/amplifier
threshold
AMP
✔

38. Amplifier issue
DTT
4G
+
DTT
AMP
4G
Tuner/amplifier
threshold
✗

39. Amplifier issue
DTT
DTT
Tuner/amplifier
threshold
AMP
✔
4G
FILTER

40. Brighton Pilot (from mid-May…)
• >80,000 addresses to be mailed
• >2,000 filters sent out proactively
• Home visit service for vulnerable groups
• DTT channel 60
• Hilly terrain

41. DTT channels in Brighton
790
MHz
470
MHz
4G at 800 MHz
791
-­‐
862MHz
Brighton
DTT
channels
48,
51,
53,
56,
57,
60
Digital
Terrestrial
Television
channels
21
-­‐
60

42. Beyond pilots…

43. 12 – 4 weeks before mast
Return address:
PO Box 1353
Sunderland
SR5 9NF
If you watch Freeview,
you need to read this.
What’s happening and why?
New 4G mobile services are coming to your area from Monday 15 April.
They operate at 800 MHz, a similar frequency to Freeview, and so may
cause problems to your Freeview service such as loss of sound, blocky
images or loss of TV channels.
If you experience problems with Freeview, please call our contact centre.
We can send you – free of charge – an at800 filter, which connects
between your TV aerial and your television, set-top box or signal booster.
It is straightforward to fit and can enable you to continue watching
Freeview as normal.
We recommend you keep this information in case you need to contact us.
Only those who watch Freeview will be affected; you are unlikely to
experience problems if you watch cable or satellite TV.
For the Contact Centre opening hours, visit www.at800.tv. Only one, free of charge, at800 filter per household. Calls from landlines and mobiles are included in
free call packages. Calls from landlines are typically charged between 2p and 10p per minute; calls from mobiles typically cost between 10p and 40p per minute.
The at800 brand is a trademark of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL). DMSL has been formed by and represents the UK mobile operators with 800 MHz
spectrum – EE, Telefónica UK (O2), Three and Vodafone.
DM002
If you watch Freeview, you need to read this.
If you need help
or more information:
Visit www.at800.tv
Call 0333 3131 800
@at800tv www.facebook.com/at800tv

44. Support for the vulnerable
• Home Visit Service
• Available to those:
– over 75
– registered blind or partially sighted
– eligible for disability living allowance; attendance allowance;
constant attendance allowance; mobility supplement
– that have lived in a care home for six months or more
• Arranged through our contact centre

45. Providing expert support
Push/Pull
jobs
CAI/RDI
installers
registered
with
at800
Regional
contractors

46. Q & A