Over the past few years, a growing number of Australian households have noticed their TV reception getting worse for no obvious reason.
The antenna looks fine, the cables are intact, and nothing has changed inside the house, yet the picture pixelates, channels drop out, and reception that was once rock-solid has become unreliable.
In many cases, the culprit is something outside your control: a nearby 4G or 5G mobile phone tower.
📋 In This Guide You'll Learn
- ✅ Why mobile towers affect TV reception
- ✅ How to tell if mobile interference is your problem
- ✅ The fix: 4G and 5G filters explained
Why Mobile Towers Affect TV Reception
Free-to-air TV in Australia broadcasts in two main frequency bands: VHF (Very High Frequency, around 174 to 230 MHz) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency, around 520 to 694 MHz).
4G mobile services operate on frequencies that sit just above the TV broadcast range. Some 4G bands start at 694 MHz, literally right next to where TV broadcasts end. 5G services can operate across an even wider range, including frequencies that overlap with or sit adjacent to TV broadcast bands.
Your TV antenna doesn't know the difference between a TV signal and a mobile signal. When a powerful mobile tower is broadcasting nearby, that energy can flood your antenna and overwhelm your TV's tuner.
How to Tell If Mobile Interference Is Your Problem
There are a few telltale signs:
- →Your reception was previously fine and has gradually or suddenly deteriorated without any changes to your antenna system
- →The problems are worse during peak mobile usage times, such as evenings and weekends
- →You can see a mobile phone tower within a few hundred metres of your home
- →A new tower has recently been built or upgraded in your area
- →Your reception issues started around the same time you or your neighbours noticed improved mobile coverage
Good to Know
If several of these apply to your situation, mobile interference is a strong possibility.
The Fix: 4G and 5G Filters
The good news is that this problem has a straightforward solution. A 4G/5G filter (sometimes called an LTE filter) is a small device that attaches to your antenna system and blocks mobile frequencies while allowing TV frequencies to pass through cleanly.
These filters are designed to cut off everything above the TV broadcast range, so mobile signals are stopped before they reach your amplifier or TV tuner. They're inexpensive, and a professional installer can fit one in minutes as part of a service call.
The filter is usually installed at the antenna connection point on the roof, before the signal reaches any amplifier or splitter in your system. Installing it at this point ensures that the mobile interference is blocked as early as possible in the signal chain.
Why Signal Boosters Make This Worse
Common Mistake
If your reception has deteriorated, your first instinct might be to install a signal booster to strengthen the TV signal. But if mobile interference is the cause, a booster will amplify the problem rather than fix it. A signal booster amplifies everything the antenna receives, including the unwanted mobile signals.
If you already have a booster installed and you're experiencing interference, adding a 4G/5G filter before the booster is essential. The filter removes the mobile signals first, and then the booster amplifies only the clean TV signal.
What About Existing Filters?
If you had an antenna installed or serviced in the last five or six years, there's a chance a 4G filter was included as part of the installation.
However, many of the earlier 4G filters were designed for the initial rollout frequencies and may not cover the newer 5G bands.
As mobile networks expand and new frequency allocations come into use, an older filter may no longer be adequate. If you have a filter installed but are still experiencing interference, it may need to be upgraded to a newer model that covers the full range of current and planned mobile frequencies.
Can You Install a Filter Yourself?
If you can access the antenna connection point in your roof space (where the cable from the antenna connects to a splitter or the cable that runs to your TV), you can technically install a filter yourself.
It screws into the coaxial cable connection inline. One end connects to the cable from the antenna, the other connects to the rest of your system.
However, if your antenna connection is on the roof or in an inaccessible location, or if you're not confident working with coaxial connections, it's best to have a professional handle it.
The Bigger Picture
This issue is only going to become more common. As Australia's 5G network continues to expand and new mobile towers are built in residential areas, more homes will be affected by mobile interference with TV reception.
The practical reality for homeowners is that a 4G/5G filter is becoming a standard part of any TV antenna system, much like quad-shield cabling and proper mounting hardware.
FAQ: 4G/5G Interference
Common questions about mobile tower interference with TV reception.