Can a DVI cable cause interference?

Skeeter · 27 Nov 2009 at 21:49

Hi

Just wondering if DVI cables can cause interference with other connections around it? Ive got a DVI cable connecting my HTPC to my HDTV and since changing to this from VGA I can only get half as many freeview channels, and my WiFi connection seems slow. The Wifi card and Freeview card are next to the DVI out, with the ariel cable running close too. Could the DVI cable be interfering? It is a cheap one, although with digital this is less of an issue.

Biz.Kid09 · 27 Nov 2009 at 22:11

I cant imagine it doing so, Take the cable out and see if you get everything back to normal

Werewolf · 27 Nov 2009 at 22:50

Assuming the DVI cable is even remotely sheilded I can't see it causing any problems, bare in mind the cable will normally be fairly well shielded from RF interference because it could cause problems for the display, which means it's shielded from causing RFI.

If in doubt as biz kid says try taking the cable out/swapping it for another one.

Skeeter · 28 Nov 2009 at 16:14

To answer my own question.... Yes!

With my HTPC hooked up with DVI to my HDTV I could pick up 51 Freeview channels, and ripped DVDs on my server wouldnt stream over wifi without constant stuttering. Ive swapped out the DVI cable and put in a VGA cable and now have 99 Freeview channels and ripped DVDs play perfectly.

It would seem then that while connected via DVI either the TV in DVI mode, the cable itself, or the Graphics card outputting to DVI was causing interferance with the signals thfor Wifi and Freeview. I suspect either the cable or the card as they are the only things that come close to the Wifi and Freeview PCI cards.

It does mean im stuck on VGA with a noticably less sharp picture, but I spose I might get a decent DVI cable.

Biz.Kid09 · 28 Nov 2009 at 16:22

Yeh just get a new cable from a reputable place not 99p store e.t.c lol and you should be fine, I am suprised it was causing interference though

Skeeter · 28 Nov 2009 at 16:47

So am I. Being digital it shouldnt make much difference. Ive got a couple of DVI cables on my main PC that were ebay specials and they work fine. Ill get one from somewhere less dodgy.

Skeeter · 6 Dec 2009 at 19:37

Well that sucks.

Replaced the cheap DVI cable with a half decent Belkin one from here and.... same issue. Ive lost some of my channels and Wifi is back to being shocking. It looks like its the HD3450 graphics card that might be causing the issue! Any ideas as to how? Its passive cooled so no fan. Could it be drawing more power?