Property managers and homeowners often attribute a pixelating TV signal to a loose connector or a damaged aerial. While physical wear causes many issues, high-power mobile data transmissions from 4G and 5G masts now serve as a primary cause of system instability across West Yorkshire, often requiring specialised digital TV aerials to resolve the conflict.

4G and 5G signals disrupt digital TV because they operate on the 700MHz and 800MHz frequencies space that previously belonged to television broadcasts. This proximity causes signal overload in older wideband aerials. Resolving this requires high-gain digital TV aerials with mechanical SAW filters and CAI-certified shielded cabling.

Why does 5G interfere with my TV signal?

Radio frequency proximity drives this interference. To expand mobile networks, the UK government reallocated frequency bands that previously hosted digital television. The industry identifies this process as the "Digital Dividend."

Cube Communications engineers resolve this conflict by identifying how local mobile masts broadcast on these specific 700MHz and 800MHz bands. Most legacy digital TV aerials utilise wideband technology, meaning they receive all signals within a broad range. Because mobile signals deliver more power than distant TV transmitters, they overwhelm the TV tuner. This saturation leads to Signal Overload, where the tuner fails to distinguish the broadcast bitstream from background electronic noise.

The Technical Reality: Signal Clipping and Spectrum Compression

Following the 700MHz Clearance program, the available space for digital terrestrial TV (DTT) was significantly compressed. TV signals that once had room to breathe are now "squeezed" into a narrower window (channels 21–48).

When a 5G mast is in close proximity, it doesn't just create "noise"; it causes Signal Clipping. The sheer volume of 5G data pushes your TV amplifier into a non-linear state. This "clips" the waveform of the actual television signal, making it unreadable to the box. Even if your signal meter shows "100% Strength," the quality will be zero because the data is effectively mangled by the 5G overlay.

What are the symptoms of 4G or 5G interference?

Intermittent interference creates maintenance requests that are notoriously difficult for property managers to verify during daylight hours. Understanding these symptoms helps you avoid unnecessary call-out charges for "faults" that aren't there.

• Pixelation during evening hours: If a signal fails between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, local mobile data traffic usually causes the fault. As residents return home and stream video, the electronic noise floor in the area rises.
• Missing channels: You may find that BBC channels function while others, such as Sky News, vanish. Mobile interference often targets specific frequency groups (multiplexes) at the higher end of the TV range first.
• Broken "Smart" Features: 5G interference often breaks Freeview Play functionality. These services rely on a clean DTT signal to trigger metadata for catch-up apps. If the signal has a high Bit Error Rate (BER), the "Green Button" prompts and catch-up services will fail to load, even if the picture looks okay.
• Smartphone proximity: If a TV pixelates when a tenant uses a 5G phone nearby, your internal cabling likely lacks sufficient shielding. The wire itself is acting as an antenna for mobile frequencies.

Can TETRA radio signals affect digital TV aerials?

Commercial sites near police stations or hospitals in Leeds often face TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) interference. TETRA provides secure radio for emergency services and operates on a frequency very close to the TV band.

This proximity causes frequent failures in communal IRS systems and standard digital TV aerials. Standard retail filters lack the precision to remove these specific spikes. We use spectrum analysers to map these interference patterns before specifying a professional filter, ensuring we don't accidentally block the TV channels you actually want to keep.

The Engineering Solution: Stabilising the Signal

We fix 4G and 5G interference through a three-tier engineering process. Each step serves a specific commercial purpose for the property owner.

1. High-Gain Aerial Upgrades

We replace the signal source with high gain digital TV aerials equipped with mechanical SAW filters. These components physically block signals above 694MHz.

• Business Benefit: This stops interference at the "front door" of the system, preventing expensive headend equipment from burning out due to signal saturation.

2. Professional vs. Consumer Filtration (Class 0)

Not all filters are equal. Standard "plug-in" filters are often overwhelmed by the power of a nearby mast. We exclusively use Class 0 LTE Protected equipment.

• Business Benefit: Class 0 components provide up to 50dB of rejection. This professional-grade attenuation ensures that even if a 5G mast is within 500 metres, your TV signal remains clean and stable.

3. Calibrated Spectrum Analysis

Our engineers use signal analysers to measure the Bit Error Rate (BER) and Carrier-to-Noise (C/N) ratio. We apply precise signal reduction to remove noise without weakening the actual TV broadcast.

• Business Benefit: This data-driven approach eliminates "trial and error" repairs, reducing the number of repeat maintenance visits and tenant complaints.

4. CAI-Certified Shielded Infrastructure

We replace unshielded cabling with double-shielded, CAI-certified versions (like CT100) and install screened wall outlets.

• Business Benefit: Proper shielding protects the building's infrastructure from "internal" interference caused by tenants' mobile devices, ensuring the system remains a long-term, low-maintenance asset.

Why should landlords address TV signal interference?

A pixelating TV generates frequent, time-consuming tenant complaints. For many properties, the most cost-effective solution is a site-wide upgrade to modern digital TV aerials.

• The Liability of Delay: Many managers wait for mobile networks or state-backed schemes to "fix" the problem. However, these schemes often exclude communal IRS systems or commercial buildings. Waiting for external help leads to months of tenant friction. A private-sector upgrade is the only way to bypass these delays.
• Asset Protection: In communal systems (IRS), 5G interference forces amplifiers to work harder and run hotter. This leads to premature hardware failure and unexpected capital expenditure.
• Tenant Retention: Tenants expect reliable media access as a basic utility. A professional upgrade provides a certified audit trail, proving the building meets modern utility standards and reducing tenant turnover.

Reclaiming Your Signal Integrity

The 5G rollout is a permanent shift in the radio spectrum. Aerial systems must adapt to function in this new environment. If you experience intermittent signal drops, you require an engineer who understands frequency management, not just a ladder and a screwdriver.

Contact Cube Communications today to book a Signal Integrity Audit. We will map the electronic noise on your site and install the specific filters needed to protect your viewing experience.

Call 0113 287 9000 or visit our Commercial Services page to arrange a technical assessment.