The hot weather the area is experiencing is producing a phenomenon known as ducting, where unusual atmospherics disturb the television signals.

Extremely hot or very cold conditions can disrupt the digital transmission wave, affecting the picture.

It is anticipated the disruption will only last while the conditions persist. 

The loss of television reception for some channels throughout the Shoalhaven this week is also partly due to the federal government’s restack of digital television services. 

Services coming from the transmitter on Knights Hill have been disrupted as local stations prepare to be moved to new channels, changing their frequency as the final step in the move to digital-only TV.

The official public retune for parts of the Shoalhaven will vary from March, April, May and June. (For more information see retune.digitalready.gov.au).

There is a lack of suitable spectrum for digital radio services outside the five mainland capitals as they use the same part of the radiofrequency spectrum as existing analog and digital television services. 

This situation is unlikely to improve until the restack of digital television services has been completed at the end of 2014. 

Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis said she had received many phone calls and emails regarding poor TV quality throughout the electorate. 

“I understand the frustrations of viewers watching their favourite programs when, at the worst possible moment, reception drops out – right in the middle of the tennis or cricket, our January favourites,” Mrs Sudmalis said. 

She said as some TV channels change their frequency as the final step in the move to digital-only TV, residents will need to retune their TV, set-top box or digital recorder.