What issue can some set-top boxes (STB) with poor shielding cause?

Set-top boxes with poor shielding can lead to CB or ham radio interference, as well as ingress on all cable channels. This is largely because of inadequate shielding allowing external signals to leak into the device or internal signals to escape.

When shielding is insufficient, set-top boxes may pick up radio frequency interference (RFI) from nearby transmitters, such as CB and ham radios. This interference can disrupt the normal operation of the STB, causing issues such as degraded signal quality and video performance on all channels.

Moreover, ingress can occur when signals from outside the system invade the internal circuits of the STB, leading to a variety of issues including pixelation, loss of signal, and overall instability in the performance of the cable channels. This emphasizes the importance of proper shielding in maintaining a high-quality viewing experience and minimizing external interferences.

The other options, while they may relate to specific technical issues in different contexts, do not directly result from the inadequate shielding of the STB. Compression artifacts are related to data handling rather than signal interference, recording capabilities are usually influenced by software or hardware specifications, and power supply inconsistencies typically stem from electrical issues rather than shielding problems.