Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) DAB transmitter
 | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 52.600,-1.835 or 52°36'1"N 1°50'5"W |
Are there any planned engineering works or unexpected transmitter faults on the Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) mast?
Sutton Coldfield transmitter - Sutton Coldfield transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 29/04/2024 Pixelation or flickering on some or all channels 
UK Free TV shows the coverage area for a radio transmitter as a coloured overlay (orange for FM, other colours for DAB) on the grey map. We have computed the coverage by combining the terrain with the official radiation pattern. A single click will select the transmitter to view the coverage for a single site, and a double click goes to a page showing full details. Click on the buttons in the right-hand corner of the map to choose from different frequencies (or multiplexes for DAB).
Local transmitter maps
Sutton Coldfield Freeview Sutton Coldfield DAB Sutton Coldfield AM/FM Sutton Coldfield TV region BBC West Midlands Central (West micro region)Sunday, 13 August 2023
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Chris.SE10:32 PM
Steve Donaldson:
I've just posted this on the Daventry page -
Whilst it could be the Daventry transmitter, there is a relay at Wellingborough which would provide coverage in Northampton, so this doesn't necessarily fit with reports there. I'm thinking this could be a synchronisation issue.
Whatever, we are making our best guesses, and in view of the lack of detailed information about commercial multiplexes, my advice is, as I've previously suggested -
PHONE the Radio station you are having reception problems with and tell them, tell them there are other reports around the area and ask them to contact the transmitter people to check out the problem.
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Chris.SE10:35 PM
Rod H: Robert Anning;
See my post above. PHONE the station(s) you are having a problem with.
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Monday, 14 August 2023
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Rod H12:15 PM
I am having (off-air message) also for UCB 1 and UCB 2 as well as issues with Classic FM. I phoned UCB and they say that they have had no other queries about reception issues in the Leamington area, so told me to leave if for a few days. So no progess here :(
Is there a way of telling which transmitter your set is tuned to. My sets just say D1 11D / 222.064 which is just the Multiplex data (not the transmitter?) Sorry I am not very technical, so not sure if I am correct?
I actually live in Radford Semele (Leamington Spa area) which seems to be on the fringes of coverage, although I have never really had issues with DAB and DAB+ signals before (usually near 100% quality).
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Chris.SE1:27 PM
Rod H:
You can't tell which transmitter you are tuned to (unless you live in a location where there is only one transmitter or you are very close to it, a lot of areas that aren't sparsely populated will get signals from more than one transmitter).
This is because National DAB transmissions - that's BBC National, Commercial D1 and SDL all operate as SFNs - that's Single Frequency Networks. So if for example you are in a car travelling from one area to another , the set automatically switches to the strongest signal without you having to retune.
Some Local multiplexes for larger urban areas have more than one transmitter and so operate as SFNs.
Because they operate as SFNs they have to be synchronised otherwise you get hotspots and NOT-spots where you'll get poor/no reception as signals from more than one transmitter can cancel each other.
If you got through to UCB, I'd try again and tell them there are reports appearing on specialist web-sites over a wider area from Leamington Spa to Northampton, can they get the transmission people to take a look. It sounds like they need to be convinced that it's not just you having a problem.
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Chris.SE1:30 PM
Rod H:
Meant to include, the reason I don't think it's as simple as a transmitter down, is because there would be hundred of reports from people that live close to that transmitter who would only get weak signals from other ones.
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Chris.SE1:47 PM
Rod H:
You can increase the area from Leamington Spa to Warmington (which is near Peterborough)!
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Rod H1:48 PM
Chris .SE
Thanks for your detailed response and explanation - I will contact UCB again and do as you suggest. I'll update in due course.
Re. your comment above "synchronisation issues" ...does that mean tranmitters can pump out data where the data steam is lagging or ahead of another transmitter and our receivers see errors which they are continuously trying to correct in real-time, resulting in the lo quality / off air messages? Thanks
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Chris.SE1:52 PM
Rod H:
That's pretty much what can happen with synchronisation issues, you've got that right.
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Rod H2:26 PM
Chris.SE
I have sent the below to broadcasting@ucb.co.uk on the suggestion of the colleague at UCB whom I initially spoke to. - I'll report further when I know more.
"Hi
I have spoken with Chris today a couple of times, on your Stoke on Trent number and he has suggested that I email you.
I live on the outskirts of Leamington Spa and my UCB1 and UCB2 DAB+ service has been off air for a few days now. (Classic FM too.) (Multiplex D1 11D / 222.064)
Whan I initially spoke to Chris he said that he had not had any other issue raised about the service in my area and suggested that I just wait to see if it resolved itself.
I have since dug a bit deeper and there are reports appearing on specialist web-sites over a wider area from Leamington Spa to Northampton and as far as Warmington (near Peterborough) which might suggest synchronisation issues?
I was wondering if I could prevail upon you to get in touch with your colleagues on the transmission side of things to have a look into this and perhaps advise?
Many thanks in advance
Rod H
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Rod H4:47 PM
Chris.SE
Had a response from UCB..
"Hi Rod,
Thank you for reaching out and letting us know. We have had a few reports of outings in Rugby and surrounding areas - our broadcasting partner is aware of this and has informed us this is due to an issue with a transmitter in the area, which they are aware of. We are hoping this will be resolved as soon as possible!
Thanks again for your patience."
Watch this space I guess :)
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