tv interference

dae · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

About a month ago, we started to get interference on our tv, but just at night. We have Comcast basic cable (not antenna). Interference is on 2 (worst, no sound, pick is just snow) up to 6 (very fuzzy), above 6 it is clear and fine.

Today, interference was very strong for about an hour around 6 pm, then it stopped around 9pm. Now, at 10pm, the pictures on 2-6 are getting fuzzy again.

Comcast is no help. They say no one else has reported the problem. They offer to come during the day time (when we never have this problem) and check our cable connection to the tv's for a fee.

We have all underground utilities in the area. We are up near the top of a hill, in a subdivision.

How can we find out what is the cause?
How far away could this be coming from?

Any help, please!

--dae

torbjorn · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 370 Location: Sweden

Check out if you have the same interference when you are receiving by antenna, too. Check if you can find any similar interference on other services (i.e. FM radio, CB radio, cell phones etc).
Try another tv. Try using a battery powered tv and switch of all electricity in your house to make sure that nothing of your own appliances is causing the interference. Ask your neighbours if they have seen any interference, don't rely on the cable operator's word that nobody else has complained.

vtech · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 1264 Location: USA

In dealing with issues like this & trying to get help from your cable company is more like talking to a "door knob"---been there many times.
Channels 2-6 are called the "Low band" & rather susceptible to noise.
Make sure there are no loose ground connections; is cable going direct to TV or goes thru a VCR/Rcvr or some sort of switching ? Can you use another TV or even a VCR to tune-in the same channels when the problem crops up? Also try moving/wiggling any of the connections. If you are absolutely sure that there is no connection or tuner issues, then it may be that your incoming signal is simply too low or marginal which you'd have to ask concast to come out.

cory · Guest

good idea to hook up another tv and see if problem still exists,if so not tv.or hook up vcr on channel 3 or 4 and play tape,if tape clear, cable problem.if not tv tuner problem.

Guest · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject:

Take a look around your area see if you can spot an antenna from a ham operator type. To me it is suspicious to have interference at 6pm nice time to get on the air and stop at 9pm going to sleep. I bet on this problem if so talk to the HAM and compromise before reporting to the FCC.