menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Freeview

 

 

Click to see updates

Freeview Light on the Eastbourne (East Sussex, England) transmitter

first published this on - UK Free TV
sa_gmapsGoogle mapsa_bingBing mapsa_gearthGoogle Earthsa_gps50.757,0.276 or 50°45'24"N 0°16'32"Esa_postcodeBN20 7JH

 

The symbol shows the location of the Eastbourne (East Sussex, England) transmitter which serves 3,600 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.

This transmitter has no current reported problems

The BBC and Digital UK report there are no faults or engineering work on the Eastbourne (East Sussex, England) transmitter.

Choose from three options: ■ List by multiplex ■ List by channel number ■ List by channel name
_______

Which Freeview channels does the Eastbourne 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
 V max
C26 (514.0MHz)83mDTG-200W
Channel icons
1 BBC One (SD) South East, 2 BBC Two England, 9 BBC Four, 23 BBC Three, 201 CBBC, 202 CBeebies, 231 BBC News, 232 BBC Parliament, plus 16 others

PSB2
D3+4
 V max
C30- (545.8MHz)83mDTG-200W
Channel icons
3 ITV 1 (SD) (Meridian (East micro region)), 4 Channel 4 (SD) South ads, 5 Channel 5, 6 ITV 2, 10 ITV3, 13 E4, 14 Film4, 15 Channel 4 +1 South ads, 18 More4, 26 ITV4, 28 ITVBe, 30 E4 +1, 35 ITV1 +1 (Meridian south coast),

PSB3
BBCB
 V max
C23 (490.0MHz)83mDTG-200W
Channel icons
46 5SELECT, 101 BBC One HD South East, 102 BBC Two HD England, 103 ITV 1 HD (ITV Meridian Southampton), 104 Channel 4 HD South ads, 105 Channel 5 HD, 106 BBC Four HD, 107 BBC Three HD, 204 CBBC HD, 205 CBeebies HD, plus 1 others

H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)

Are you trying to watch these 44 Freeview channels?

the effected channels
the effected channels
the effected channels
the effected channels

The Eastbourne (East Sussex, England) mast is a public service broadcasting (PSB) transmitter, it does not provide these commercial (COM) channels: 4seven, 5Action, 5STAR, 5USA, Al Jazeera Eng, Al Jazeera English, Blaze, Blaze +1, Challenge, Channel 5 +1, Dave, Dave ja vu, DMAX, Drama +1, E4 Extra, YAAAS!, Film4 +1, Food Network, GREAT! action, GREAT! movies, GREAT! romance mix, GREAT! romance, HGTV, HobbyMaker, ITV2 +1, ITV3 +1, ITV4 +1, ITVBe +1, Legend, PBS America, Quest +1, Quest Red, Really, Sky Mix, Sky News, Talking Pictures TV, TCC, That's 90s, That's TV 2, Together TV, TRUE CRIME, TRUE CRIME XTRA, W, Yesterday +1.

If you want to watch these channels, your aerial must point to one of the 80 Full service Freeview transmitters. For more information see the will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? page.

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

regional news image
BBC South East Today 0.8m homes 3.2%
from Tunbridge Wells TN1 1QQ, 42km north (358°)
to BBC South East region - 45 masts.
regional news image
ITV Meridian News 0.7m homes 2.7%
from Maidstone ME14 5NZ, 61km north-northeast (16°)
to ITV Meridian (East) region - 36 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 50% evening news is shared with all of Meridian plus Oxford

How will the Eastbourne (East Sussex, England) transmission frequencies change over time?

1950s-80s1984-971997-981998-20122012-1319 Jul 2018
VHFA K TA K TA K TA K TA K T
C5BBCtvwaves
C21SDN
C23ITVwavesITVwavesITVwavesBBCBBBCB
C24ArqA
C26BBC2wavesBBC2wavesBBC2wavesBBCABBCA
C27ArqB
C30C4wavesC4wavesC4waves-D3+4D3+4
C33BBC1wavesBBC1wavesBBC1waves

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 30 May 12 and 13 Jun 12.

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

BBCA, D3+4, BBCB 200W
Analogue 1-4(-3.2dB) 95W

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

Aug 1958-Jan 1992Southern Television
Jan 1982-Dec 1992Television South (TVS)
Jan 1993-Feb 2004Meridian
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. Eastbourne 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.

Is the transmitter output the same in all directions?

Radiation patterns withheld

Comments
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
M
MFD
5:00 PM
Eastbourne

I live in Eastbourne and have taken Freeview for the past 3 years from Hastings.
During switchover I have noticed that the strongest signal is now from Eastbourne transmitter, looking on the pages here I also notice that on June 13th the same channel numbers will be used at Eastbourne and Hastings for different services. Whose bright idea was that?

link to this comment
MFD's 3 posts GB flag
MFD's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:57 PM

MFD: The Commercial (COM) multiplexes (which are the three from Hastings that are co-channel with the three [Public Service/PSB] channels from Eastbourne) don't get as good a channels. In some cases new aerials will be needed to receive them and in others they will be unavailable.

In general, the Public Service channels will serve the same areas as the current analogue.

Due to this clash, you will, as you have already found out, not be able to receive the COMs from Hastings.

Rowridge's COMs are also co-channel with Hastings' PSBs, so they "may" act to your detriment.

It looks like the best full service transmitter after switchover will be Heathfield. This will probably mean a new aerial (if your current one is a Group A one). If it is a wideband one, it will be OK.

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Friday, 1 June 2012
A
ANGRY
7:52 PM

I think the whole thing has been a complete shambles. I bought a digital TV in preparation, but have had to retune it (sometimes 2 or 3 times) for the last 3 days . I had checks and it's DEFINITELY switchover rather than my set. Yesterday I ONLY had the BBC channels and couldn't even get ITV & CH4. It's back now, but a complete pain and having looked at this site, it appears this will go on until the 12th June. This is the part where I'd like to do mile long sentence full of expletives about how !@*!@*ks I think it is. Will refrain. If anyone thinks it something I'm doing, please do say. Thanks and I'm BN21 by the way.

link to this comment
ANGRY's 1 post GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

9:03 PM

ANGRY: Before switchover, the digital signals are lower power and consequently not as strong as they will be afterwards.

This means that before switchover there will be those who can receive all channels reliably, those who find all or some hit and miss and some who can't get any.

From what you describe, your reception is hit and miss. Frustrating as it is, I'm not sure what the purpose of being angry might be. You could switch off your digital receiver altogether, which is just the same as those who cannot receive the pre-switchover signals at all. That would relieve the stress of intermittant reception.


Constantly retuning will not have any affect on whether a signal is above or below the threshold level for your receiver to work. It is a waste of time.

The best thing that you can do is leave it as it is, having tuned it in. If you are missing channels and the set has manual tuning, then use it to attempt to add them.

BBC is now on full final power and therefore is as it will be after 12th June.

Until 12th June, ITV1, C4, C5 etc is on C29, so go to the manual tune function and attempt a manual tune to C29. Depending on the design of the receiver, it may give you an indication as to whether there is a signal there (if it isn't big enough to produce a picture).


Those who cannot receive pre-switchover digital at all will now only receive BBC via digital (because it is on full power). Therefore, they will have to watch BBC Two through digital and revert to analogue for ITV1 and Channel 4. They will be able to view BBC One via analogue and digital until 12th.

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
M
Martin
6:23 PM

I live in Eastbourne and use satellite to receive the digital channels. I want to put a freeview card into my PC so I can record straight to my computer.

Will the freeview signals after June 13 be strong enough to use a small indoor aerial for my area? Can anyone recommend a good indoor DVB aerial?

link to this comment
Martin's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:50 PM

Martin: You are presently able to judge as to whether the signals from the Eastbourne relay will be good enough or not, as the BBC mux is already transmitting on its final power ahead of ITV and the HD service.

When you fit the Freeview card into your PC to give an idea of the signal level you are receiving try using a short length of wire (about 300mm) pushed into the inner part of the aerial socket and try a channel scan using that, as should you manage to pick up the BBC mux then its guaranteed that an indoor aerial will work.

On the other hand though if it doesn't and you aren't located in a basement type environment, then try to borrow a set top aerial rather than purchase one as you may find that its not good enough for your location, as the transmitter is biased in a fan shape stretching from Camberlot Wood sweeping around to the coast line just past Cooden Beach golf course heading towards Bexhill.

And on this subject, a more precise answer could be given if you had provided your post code, or at least one from very near by, as signal levels expected at your location cannot be assessed without this.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
P
Peter
2:32 PM

I decided as the switch over is very close to being complete/ is complete to move the aerial to 349 degrees and horizontal and it has a booster as part of it, still picks up the signal from UHF 26 instead of UHF 52 and good signal, have been informed I need to block UHF 26 then it should pick up UHF 52 but is there such a thing.

link to this comment
Peter's 11 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

3:13 PM

Peter: You can avoid it tuning to Eastbourne by unplugging the aerial for the first 30% of the scan. However, if it is one of those receivers that takes it upon itself to due a full rescan when unattended and goes back to Eastbourne, then you will have to see if there is an option to turn off that "function". If not, then cross that bridge when you get to it, but the last resort would be to fit a Group A filter. This will block out all Group A channels which are those in the 20s and some lower 30s.

If this is an external aerial or perhaps a professionally fitted loft aerial, then it may be a Group A one which makes it not the best choice for Heathfield which is Group B now.

For an explanation of aerial groups, see Aerials, TV Aerial and Digital Aerial

They drop off gradually and so a Group A will still work to some degree on channels outside of group. For some example gain curves, see Gain (curves), Again

If this is a set-top aerial or one from a DIY kit, then it is probably a wideband one and will be more suited.

If you can, try using it without the booster to see if it is sensitive enough now. C48 (SDN which carries ITV3 etc) is still on low power until 27th when it will move to C42 and go up to full power, so it may be unavailable or intermittant now.


If you are looking at replacing your aerial, then I recommend that you take a look at ATV's site. It has a page on Heathfield:

Heathfield Transmitter

Heathfield was Group C/D before switchover and is now Group B, so if you do go for a group aerial, then it should be a "B".

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
P
Peter
3:36 PM

Hi Dave,
Thanks very much for your help due to the aerial booster supplying 10 tv's would think that blocking group a would be easier I have found a Group A UHF Bandpass Filter (21 to 37) but it uses F connectors and the aerial to the booster uses coax which is where I'd want ton install it, if I chaged coax to f connector would the cable be okay to use?


Regards



Peter

link to this comment
Peter's 11 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:32 PM

Peter: I should perhaps declare that my comments are made as a non-professional with an interest in the subject.

A Group A bandpass filter means that it allows through only Group A channels. A Group A bandstop filter (if there is such thing) allows through all except Group A channels.

There was (and maybe still is) a plan to sell off C31 to C37 for three new multiplexes. These would be likely to broadcast from the transmitting stations that carry the current three COMs. The Group B bandpass filter sold by ATV (and I assume all "Group B" BP filters) starts at 34 which could cause issues in the future.

I'm not sure whether this plan will come to fruition. It seems like the typical dogs dinner you get these days. Who knows, we could go back to having a single television channel in a few years time, so that most of the spectrum can be sold for 4G, 5G, 6G etc. Let us hope that it won't be Murdoch that will be in charge!

You can get notch filters which are used to stop a single channel. You would obviously need three (or a triple one if there is such a thing) for the three channels used by South Tower. I have no idea on cost so can't say whether that's worthwhile.

F-connectors are generally used in places where the connections are generally perminant and not likely to be unplugged by users. So in a loft or outside (with suitable weatherproofing) it's good practice to use F connectors.

There may be a control on the amplifier to reduce its level which might help. It's probably best to note where it was set originally just in case it goes pear-shaped.

I read your earlier postings which mentioned about a loft aerial. If this is the same one, then could you move it to somewhere where it will still be able to pick-up from Heathfield, but where it will get less signal from the direction of South Tower?

I re-affirm what I said about a Group A aerial being less suited to Heathfield and hence might need replacement. The colour system that is used denotes Group As with a red tip and Bs with a yellow tip. Widebands are black, although depending on its age, I wonder if it may, perhaps, not use any scheme.

I also wonder whether swapping it with a Group B would help a little to reducing the pick-up of Eastbourne (assuming that it is a Group A) as well as increasing sensitivity of Heathfield. Also, even though Group B officially goes down to C34 it should still work quite well on 31 to 33 should they ever get used.

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Select more comments

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.

UK Free TV is here to help people. If you are rude or disrespectful all of your posts will be deleted and you will be banned.








Privacy policy: UK Free Privacy policy.