TV Interference

[SMP]

We have an LG Plasma tv and an LG Blu Ray player. Daughter has an LG mobile and nearly every time she sends or recieves a text it causes the tv picture to break up and the sound distorts.This has only happened since we installed the blu ray. Anyone know why this would be happening?

Thanks.

[Hymie]

Many years ago, a cheap Scart cable would cost around £10 and the cable was at least as thick as your index finger. The reason for this was that all the wires within the cable were individually screened. Then someone realised that since the signals were at line level, you could get away with un-screening the individual wires (with passable results) and sell them for £1.

Un-screened cables are susceptible to cross-talk (from other signals within the same cable) and from external interference. With the digital switchover continuing apace – I reckon interference between adjacent cables and other sources will cause major issues for many people’s home A/V set-ups.

My advice would be to take a close look at the output cable from the blue-ray-player. Buying a more expensive cable (with better screening) may solve the problem if this is facilitating the noise pick-up. See if you can’t borrow a better cable before parting with your cash.

[SMP]

Thanks Hymie. Hubby understands what your saying. He thinks if we disconnect the HDMI cable we should be able to see if the tv is still affected, does this sound right?
The tv is only affected when viewing the tv channels not when watching blu ray or DVD.
We are completely digital here no analogue anymore.

[Hymie]

It is possible that the HDMI cable is acting as an aerial (when the blue-ray player is off), picking up the noise. This could to due to the signal outputs floating with the player off and things might not be improved with a better (screened) cable.

One thing to try is unplugging the cable at the player, but leaving it attached at the TV. With many permutations of connects and disconnects, it might be worth writing down the configurations where interference is observed – allowing you to sit back and analyse the result to find a solution.

[SMP]

Thanks.Will let you know how we get on.