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Full Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter

first published this on - UK Free TV
sa_streetviewGoogle Streetviewsa_gmapsGoogle mapsa_bingBing mapsa_gearthGoogle Earthsa_gps52.801,-0.801 or 52°48'4"N 0°48'5"Wsa_postcodeLE14 4AJ

 

The symbol shows the location of the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter which serves 770,000 homes. The bright green areas shown where the signal from this transmitter is strong, dark green areas are poorer signals. Those parts shown in yellow may have interference on the same frequency from other masts.

Are there any planned engineering works or unexpected transmitter faults on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) mast?

Waltham transmitter - Waltham transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 25/03/2024 Pixelation or flickering on some or all channels Digital tick


Choose from three options: ■ List by multiplex ■ List by channel number ■ List by channel name
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Which Freeview channels does the Waltham transmitter broadcast?

If you have any kind of Freeview fault, follow this Freeview reset procedure first.

Digital television services are broadcast on a multiplexes (or Mux) where many stations occupy a single broadcast frequency, as shown below.

MuxH/VFrequencyHeightModeWatts
PSB1
BBCA
 H max
C32 (562.0MHz)442mDTG-50,000W
Channel icons
1 BBC One (SD) East Midlands, 2 BBC Two England, 9 BBC Four, 23 BBC Three, 201 CBBC, 202 CBeebies, 231 BBC News, 232 BBC Parliament, plus 17 others

PSB2
D3+4
 H max
C34 (578.0MHz)442mDTG-50,000W
Channel icons
3 ITV 1 (SD) (Central (East micro region)), 4 Channel 4 (SD) Midlands ads, 5 Channel 5, 6 ITV 2, 10 ITV3, 13 E4, 14 Film4, 15 Channel 4 +1 Midlands ads, 18 More4, 26 ITV4, 28 ITVBe, 30 E4 +1, 35 ITV1 +1 (Central west),

PSB3
BBCB
 H max
C35 (586.0MHz)442mDTG-50,000W
Channel icons
46 5SELECT, 101 BBC One HD East Midlands, 102 BBC Two HD England, 103 ITV 1 HD (ITV Central West), 104 Channel 4 HD Midlands ads, 105 Channel 5 HD, 106 BBC Four HD, 107 BBC Three HD, 204 CBBC HD, 205 CBeebies HD, plus 1 others

COM4
SDN
 H -3dB
C29 (538.0MHz)442mDTG-825,000W
Channel icons
20 Drama, 21 5USA, 29 ITV2 +1, 32 5STAR, 33 5Action, 38 Channel 5 +1, 41 Legend, 42 GREAT! action, 57 Dave ja vu, 58 ITVBe +1, 59 ITV3 +1, 64 Blaze, 67 TRUE CRIME, 68 TRUE CRIME XTRA, 78 TCC, 81 Blaze +1, 83 Together TV, 89 ITV4 +1, 91 WildEarth, 209 Ketchup TV, 210 Ketchup Too, 211 YAAAS!, 267 Al Jazeera English, plus 30 others

COM5
ArqA
 H -3dB
C37 (602.0MHz)449mDTG-825,000W
Channel icons
11 Sky Mix, 17 Really, 19 Dave, 31 E4 Extra, 36 Sky Arts, 40 Quest Red, 43 Food Network, 47 Film4 +1, 48 Challenge, 49 4seven, 60 Drama +1, 65 That's TV 2, 70 Quest +1, 74 Yesterday +1, 75 That's 90s, 233 Sky News, plus 11 others

COM6
ArqB
 H -3dB
C31 (554.0MHz)449mDTG-825,000W
Channel icons
12 Quest, 25 W, 27 Yesterday, 34 GREAT! movies, 39 DMAX, 44 HGTV, 52 GREAT! romance, 56 That's TV (UK), 61 GREAT! movies extra, 63 GREAT! romance mix, 71 That’s 60s, 73 HobbyMaker, 82 Talking Pictures TV, 84 PBS America, 235 Al Jazeera Eng, plus 18 others

LNG
 H -10dB
C41 (634.0MHz)442mDTG-125,000W
Channel icons
from 27th May 2014: 7 Notts TV,

DTG-8 64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)

Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Waltham transmitter?

regional news image
BBC East Midlands Today 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Nottingham NG2 4UU, 28km northwest (306°)
to BBC East Midlands region - 17 masts.
regional news image
ITV Central News 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Birmingham B1 2JT, 83km west-southwest (244°)
to ITV Central (East) region - 17 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 80% evening news is shared with Central (West)

Are there any self-help relays?

BraunstoneTransposer5 km SW Leicester city centre170 homes

How will the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmission frequencies change over time?

1984-971997-981998-20112011-132013-182013-174 Mar 2020
C/D EEEWW TW TW T
C26LNGLNG
C29SDNSDNSDNSDN
C31com7com7
C32BBCA
C34D3+4
C35C5wavesC5wavesBBCB
C37com8com8
C41_local
C49tv_off BBCABBCA
C54tv_offC4wavesC4wavesC4wavesD3+4D3+4D3+4
C55tv_offcom7tv_off
C56tv_offArqAArqAArqACOM8tv_off
C57tv_offArqBArqBArqB
C58tv_offBBC1wavesBBC1wavesBBC1wavesBBCBBBCBBBCB
C61ITVwavesITVwavesITVwavesBBCA
C64BBC2wavesBBC2wavesBBC2waves

tv_off Being removed from Freeview (for 5G use) after November 2020 / June 2022 - more
Table shows multiplexes names see this article;
green background for transmission frequencies
Notes: + and - denote 166kHz offset; aerial group are shown as A B C/D E K W T
waves denotes analogue; digital switchover was 17 Aug 11 and 31 Aug 11.

How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?

Analogue 1-5 250kW
BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 50kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-10dB) 25kW
com8(-12.7dB) 13.4kW
com7(-13.9dB) 10.2kW
Mux 1*(-14dB) 10kW
Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*(-14.9dB) 8kW
Mux C*, Mux D*, LNG(-17dB) 5kW

Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Waltham transmitter area

Feb 1956-Jul 1968Associated TeleVision†
Feb 1956-Jul 1968Associated British Corporation◊
Jul 1968-Dec 1981Associated TeleVision
Jan 1982-Feb 2004Central Independent Television
Feb 2004-Dec 2014ITV plc
Feb 1983-Dec 1992TV-am•
Jan 1993-Sep 2010GMTV•
Sep 2010-Dec 2014ITV Daybreak•
• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Waltham was not an original Channel 3 VHF 405-line mast: the historical information shown is the details of the company responsible for the transmitter when it began transmitting Channel 3.

Comments
Saturday, 23 January 2016
M
Malcolm Robinson
8:36 AM

We are suffering dropout on BBC channels from Waltham today and yesterday. Signal strength seems OK but bit error rate shows intermittent increases. Not sure if the maintenance is the cause.

link to this comment
Malcolm Robinson's 1 post GB flag
Saturday, 30 January 2016
G
Geoff
2:24 AM
Leicester

Since December 2015 the signal to my aerials (three of them serving different equipment) has been weak. No problems for years since Freeview first started, so why would this change for the last couple of months?
Location LE5 6HG

I did try the 4G filter in case this may be and issue - but that made no difference. I have bought a very high gain aerial with built in 4g filtering for the loft in case the high winds we have been having were a problem. But this has not resolved things. In total I have four aerials three external on the chimneys and the recent one in the loft for testing. I used to get excellent signals on all external ones and they are still as fitted.

link to this comment
Geoff's 5 posts GB flag
Geoff's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:23 PM

Geoff:

Which transmitter are you trying to use? According to the service area map just at the bottom of your posting yopu could get either Waltham or Sutton Coldfield. Waltham is North East of you only around 27km away and Sutton Coldfield is almost due West but some 52 km away.

Is your problem affecting all channels?

What is the signal strength shown as? If it is above 80% then it is too strong and that can cause picture break up.

I assume you have checked all the connections through from the aerials to each TV set?


link to this comment
MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Monday, 15 February 2016
G
Geoff
7:54 PM

MikeP:

All aerials are aligned to Waltham. It is not too strong a signal, quite the oppersite, some stations no longer received and tuners report no signal. Signals across the board are lower. I have even replaced the co-axial cable on one to Labgear PF100 to ensure that is not a problem. - The issue remains as when posted although some days are better than others, none are as good as the reception used to have. It is though the transmitter has been reduced in output. If it was just one aerial I could understand it being a problem my end.

link to this comment
Geoff's 5 posts GB flag
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

11:41 PM

Geoff:

Are you saying that your signal strength is high? Any strength greater than about 70% is likerly to cause the
symptoms you are experiencing and needs to be reduced. Too strong a signal is known rto cause picture breakup and sound problems, especially on HD services.

I suggest trying an attenuator fitted in the aerial feed cable indoors. They are readily available from Maplins, RS Spares and others. What strength attenuator is required depends on just how strong thesignals are. Buy a few of different attenuation, it's meaured in dB so start with a 3, a 6 and a 12. Try each separately to see which give the best results.


link to this comment
MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
G
Geoff
12:07 AM

MikeP:
I am saying it is not too strong, it is weak.
Just been looking as of a minute ago.
BBC1 Signal 32% Quality 95%
Quest Signal 31% Quality 95%
Quest+1 Signal 19% no video

link to this comment
Geoff's 5 posts GB flag
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:53 PM

Geoff:

From the figures you have now given, it rather looks as if you have a problem with your aerial system. I'm assuming you do not live in a flat with a shared communal aerial.

If that is so, then check all the leads feeding the TV as far back towards the aerial as you can, not forgeting to check that any aerial amplifier or powered splitter is actually working properly - just having the indicator light on does not necessarily mean it is working!

If you do not find any cabling problems then it could mean you need any aerial contractor to examine and test the aerial. It would cost, so it's your choice.


link to this comment
MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:32 AM

Geoff: As the signal levels received from Waltham's multiplexes in your particular location is undeniably on the low side, subsequent checking reveals that signal path from said station (@ 42 degrees) would "appear" to pass over in a diagonal fashion (the worst!) the range of trees separating the back gardens of the properties between Spencefield Lane and Thurnview Road at a level equivalent to an extension of Mickleton Drive.

My thoughts on this being, that as trees can have a dastardly affect on DTT signals, I was wondering if the aerials you refer to on your particular property are at a height that actually clears said trees by a reasonable margin, by say 10 feet or or so?

Purely for information purposes, I reside in the Stamford area which is approximately 16 miles away from Waltham, checks made (various) on the signal levels received from this station being in most cases only fractionally different from the norm when measured on a Humax Freeview PVR, the fractional differences referred to being fluctuations in the quality of the signals received from COM5 (C56) and COM6 (C57), BBC (C49) being rock steady @ 82% strength / 100% quality.




link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
G
Geoff
7:02 PM

jb38
I have one aerial that does need attention as I spent some time comparing the reception signal of those fitted. The signal reported in my last post was of what I would expect to be the worst aerial and it is 19% compared to another at 50% (same station). However even the 50% one is not performing as well as it used to. I have been at this location for over 20 years and the reception changed last December. The aerials have not moved from their positions. While the one I now suspect one must have some wiring issue I am not aware of any new obstructions. My location is as high as any in the area and the aerials are mounted as high as any on chimneys. For information I will post back when the rain and high wind drop so I have the courage to get back up there to check things out.

link to this comment
Geoff's 5 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 30 March 2016
I
Ian from Pinxton
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

10:43 AM

having problems in NG16 area of Notts from people losing mainly BBC but getting interuptions on Waltham ?it seems to be on "amped " systems ? Waltham isnt the best choice in the area but has been working ok since switch over? now quite a few have suddenly lost signls in the past 2 weeks with BBC seeming the most affected ? any info or others with problems?

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Ian from Pinxton's 253 posts GB flag
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Your comment please
Please post a question, answer or commentIf you have Freeview reception problems before posting a question your must first do this Freeview reset procedure then see: Freeview reception has changed, Single frequency interference, and Freeview intermittent interference.

If you have no satellite signal, see Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fault'

If you have other problems, please provide a full (not partial) postcode (or preferably enter it in box at the top right) and indicate where if aerial is on the roof, in the loft or elsewhere.

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