4G switches on in Henlow

New fourth generation mobile services, known as 4G, is being switched on in Henlow.

4G gives people faster access to the internet on smartphones and tablets. However, there is a small chance that some 4G mobile signals transmitted at 800 MHz will cause interference to Freeview TV.

Because 4G signals sit next to the frequencies used by Freeview, they can overload the receivers in TVs and set-top boxes causing interference. Signs include the loss of channels or sound, pictures going blocky, freezing or the TV screen going blank or showing a ‘No Signal’ message.

Help is available. Set-up under government direction, a company called at800 offers free support to households that rely on Freeview for their TV to resolve 4G related interference problems.

Ben Roome, CEO of at800, said: “If you rely on Freeview for TV, we can arrange for one of our accredited engineers to visit homes to fix Freeview interference caused by 4G signals, free of charge. If you use Freeview alongside other TV services, we can send free filters which block mobile signals that are easy to fit to the aerial lead connecting to TVs and set-top boxes.”

Cable and satellite TV, like Sky or Virgin, won’t be affected. Call 0808 13 13 800 (free from landlines and mobiles) www.at800.tv/contact-us

For more information, visit www.at800.tv