Full Freeview on the Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) transmitter
 | Google Streetview |  | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 52.600,-1.835 or 52°36'1"N 1°50'5"W |  | B75 5JJ |
The symbol shows the location of the Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) transmitter which serves 1,870,000 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 Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) mast?
Sutton Coldfield transmitter - Sutton Coldfield transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 04/11/2024 Pixelation or flickering on some or all channels 
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Digital television services are broadcast on a multiplexes (or Mux) where many stations occupy a single broadcast frequency, as shown below.
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 Freeview channels does the Sutton Coldfield 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.
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 Sutton Coldfield transmitter?
BBC Midlands Today 2.9m homes 10.9%
from Birmingham B1 1RF, 15km south-southwest (200°)
to BBC West Midlands region - 66 masts.
ITV Central News 2.9m homes 10.9%
from Birmingham B1 2JT, 15km south-southwest (201°)
to ITV Central (West) region - 65 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 80% evening news is shared with Central (East)
Are there any self-help relays?
| Burton (shobnall) | Transposer | 1 km W Burton-on-Trent | 60 homes |
| Coalville | Transposer | 18 km NW Leicester | 600 homes |
| Solihull | Transposer | Land Rover building | 400 homes |
How will the Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1950s-80s | 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2011 | 2011-13 | 7 Mar 2018 | ||||
| VHF | B E T | B E T | B E T | B E K T | W T | ||||
| C4 | BBCtvwaves | ||||||||
| C33 | com7 | ||||||||
| C35 | com8 | ||||||||
| C36 | LOCAL2 | ||||||||
| C39 | +ArqB | ArqB | |||||||
| C40 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | +BBCB | BBCB | ||||
| C42 | SDN | SDN | |||||||
| C43 | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | BBCA | BBCA | ||||
| C45 | ArqA | ArqA | |||||||
| C46 | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | D3+4 | D3+4 | ||||
| C48 | _local | ||||||||
| C50tv_off | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | ||||||
| C51tv_off | LB | ||||||||
| C55tv_off | com7tv_off | ||||||||
| C56tv_off | COM8tv_off |
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 7 Sep 11 and 21 Sep 11.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 1000kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 200kW | |
| com7 | (-10.5dB) 89.2kW | |
| com8 | (-10.7dB) 86kW | |
| LB | (-20dB) 10kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D* | (-21dB) 8kW |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Sutton Coldfield transmitter area
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Friday, 27 August 2021
T
Tracey Loasby11:40 AM
I recieve signal from Sutton Coldfield transmitter and wondered is there any way to find out when it will be sorted. As they were doing engineering works beg of August and altho its now off the list for works, i still have a reduced signal, 20% and not many channels, no HD at all. Sometimes around 10pm i lise the signal completely and have no channels at all. My tv upstairs was set up b4 the works so ive still got all my channels including HD channels but sometimes pic pixels and signal level is same as downstairs 1 but my tv downstairs is new and been trying to scan and get channels but as i said, not many channels and no HD channels. Any info when Sutton Coldfield will be up and back to normal would be great please. My postcode is WS15
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Saturday, 28 August 2021
C
Chris.SE5:43 AM
Tracey Loasby:
In the TV tuning section, what signal strength and quality figures are showing for the Upstairs TV for each of the UHF channels it is tuned to?
It's worth checking in your TV's tuning section that you are tuned to the correct UHF channels for Sutton Coldfield. All the multiplexes are C43, C46, C40+, C42, C45, C39+, C55, C36/C48 that's in the order BBCA/PSB1, D3&4/PSB2, BBCB HD/PSB3, SDN/COM4, ArqA/COM5, ArqB/COM6, COM7 and Local L-BRM.
On your downstairs TV, you could try manual tuning on UHF channels C40 and C55 for the various HD channels, autotune sometimes misses weaker signals.
I replied to your previous query about the engineering here Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy now on the previous page.
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Tracey Loasby9:53 AM
Chris.SE: Thank you for your reply. I will try the things you sugguested and see if that helps. From your experience and knowledge, would it be fair to say, that the works for Sutton Coldfield transmitter should all be over and finished by latest end of September, given that the works started beginning of August, so by then i should be back to normal and recieve all channels and full signal, just sos i know that if i still have problems with the signal end of September, i can get someone to check my ariel, (i dont want to pay for someone to check my ariel just yet, only to find that ive wasted my money because its the transmitter at fault not my ariel). Thank you again for your reply and your previous reply to my query last week.
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C
Chris.SE1:34 PM
Tracey Loasby:
Quite understand about you not wanting to pay someone to check your aerial installation just yet, that's one of the reasons I've asked about the Signal Strength and Quality figures (or the Error count - set dependent) for each multiplex on your upstairs TV, these will give a better feel for what is going on, and maybe being able to offer some more detailed guidance.
It's impossible to say anything positive about the engineering work. Trying to get hold of appropriate people to get accurate information from Arqiva is no easy matter (rather than customer services type staff who may not be fully informed) and at present they rather have their hands full with the Bilsdale transmitter fire problem.
Works have been going on at a number of transmitter sites with new 5G installation preparations (that was going on when the Bilsdale fire occurred) and whilst no information has been made available (or may even be known yet) the cause of the fire may cause suspension of works elsewhere or slow it down, or maybe make no difference whatsoever to other transmitter work (it depends on the nature of the work).
If there are any changes to the information available, I'll certainly try and post the relevant information.
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Chris.SE1:37 PM
Tracey Loasby:
Sorry, forgot to mention, roughly how old is your aerial installation?
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Friday, 24 September 2021
J
jack11:20 AM
Sutton coldfield 746Mhz all channels unwatchable for the last few days
It looks like the power is far too low - even our amplifier that produces nice clean 80% on
most channels at the moment can only do 40-48% with quality all over the place on BBC-4 etc
This is on multiple recievers all leads checked and boxes reset as advised.
Are they ever going to fix this permanently?
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C
Chris.SE11:45 AM
jack:
As per the post before yours, Sutton Coldfield had been on Planned Engineering and that work may not have been completed. As COM7 operates as an SFN, dependent on your location, your reception could be affected by other main transmitters with COM7 eg. Oxford and Ridge Hill both on Planned Engineering.
Just to compound matters, current weather conditions may be producing some disruption to signals as a result of interference from distant transmitters.
If you are still having issues after the weekend, please provide a full postcode so we can look at predicted reception in your locale.
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Thursday, 30 September 2021
J
jack3:01 PM
Birmingham
hi chris
Thanks - for the response
We were having this issue before the works listed but nowhere near as bad
and only occasionally but maybe that's why they were doing it?
Anyway this seems to be permanent now - today (bad weather I know) power through the amp
is bouncing between 31% and 52% with Q dropping to zero every few seconds
The channels on it are just unwatchable.
pcode b34 6te - understand there are repeaters but dont know if we are using one.
I think we are pointing right at sutton.
As mentioned all other channels are no problem at all.
Looking back online on other sites 55 has been a problem for a few years at least
in other places. I stood outside and watched the aerial the other day in case
it was wobbling in the wind but it seems solid.
Up until recently it was ok for us when the new amp was fitted (3 years ago about)
(I have tried swapping ports on that by the way.)
Just an FYI in case it helps - I am seeing a steady 30-31% 100% Q (through the amp)
on ch26 (514Mhz) - no channels on it so not sure what it's for unless it's engineering -
I just read your comment above about manual tuning - I havn't tried that so will
give it a go just in case.
jack
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jack's: ...
Friday, 1 October 2021
C
Chris.SE1:24 AM
jack:
Ok, lots of possibilities here now that we've got a location.
You shouldn't have any issues with any of the multiplexes as you are so close to the transmitter, and in addition because of the direction your aerial points and the coverage of Oxford and Ridge Hill, any Planned engineering at either is highly unlikely to have any effect of your COM7 reception.
Let's deal with an easy thing first. You said "Up until recently....." Have you changed anything about in your installation? Make sure you don't have any HDMI leads close to any aerial cables or flyleads, especially those that aren't high quality double screened flyleads etc. HDMI has been known to cause interference especially to C55.
Just also to mention, manual tuning is unlikely to have any effect as C55 is the only channel for COM7, and you say you don't have problems with the other multiplexes so you are presumably correctly tuned to Sutton Coldfield. Note - the Local mux for you is on C48. (C36 is beamed in a Northerly direction).
You've looked at your aerial, I assume you noted if it was intact and not missing any elements. The rods (or squashed Xs) should be horizontal and it should be pointing at a bearing of 343 degrees (very fractionally N of NNW) for your location. Is the downlead secure and not flapping in the wind? How old (roughly) is the installation?
Are there any nearby trees on the line of sight that have grown and maybe having an effect whilst in leaf?
Any scaffolding or new buildings gone up nearby especially on the line of sight?
Relays (repeaters) are of no consequence a far as COM7 C55 is concerned as it is only transmitted from 25 Main transmitters (was 30 before 700MHz clearance) - this in part was because it's only a temporary multiplex and the limitations of some transmitter antenna and suitability of otherwise redundant Tx equipment. These limitations, transmitter locations and the need to operate as a SFN on C55 means the Tx power is lower than the main multiplexes, this is why not everyone can receive it.
Some very weak signals from the Waltham transmitter may reach you (it does have COM7) and it had Planned Engineering until a couple of weeks ago, so there is a small possibility it might have some influence on your COM7 reception but I'd think it unlikely except possibly when weather conditions that sometimes come with high pressure cause signals to travel further than normal. Such conditions should now have cleared.
Now, you mentioned an amplifier (and ports - how many?) so obviously it's a distribution amp. Do you know what the gain per port is? What make/model is it? However, as you are close to the transmitter (12km) there is the possibility that you may have too much signal which can have weird effects desensitising tuner inputs, can give incorrect signal strength figures, and can cause pixellation and sound breakup, and also reductions in quality.
If you connect the aerial direct to one TV set (rather than through the amp - one where you can easily check signal strength and quality (your main set?), what signal strength and quality do you get on all the multiplexes.
Does the amp have a gain control?
You mention C26 and a signal of ~30% which could be PSB1/BBCA coming from The Wrekin transmitter, signals from it can get rather well into your area (no COM7 there though) and although it's a bit off-beam it'll be picked up quite well. You say there are no channels on it, but unless you tune it in you won't see them and they'd be the same as BBCA from Sutton Coldfield anyway. If you do tune it, it may replace your Sutton ones (less reliable signal) (or possibly put them in the 800s) so you might need to retune Sutton C43 to get the correct one back.
But the quite good strength of 30% supports the possible concern about too much signal from Sutton Coldfield.
Post back with the info, especially the Strength & Quality figures direct to one set, and we should be able to offer some more constructive comment and any suggestions.
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J
jack3:48 PM
Thanks chris - I'll look into all that.
FYI I have checked out my entire system top to bottom - nothing moving (even in the wind the cable
comes straight in upstairs so is quite short - maybe no more than 15 ft into the amp.)
and no changes here otherwise. No cable re-route but I have unplugged and replugged everything
in case of a loose plug. I've even dissmantled the plugs and made sure they were tight and
grounded inside. The current aerial was put in I think about 5 yeas ago - no damage to it. We
had this one because there are trees nearby and I wanted a better signal at the time but there
always has been trees - if anything the leaves have come off recently which usually improves
things so I would tend to discount that. (I'd also expect some issue with other channels wouldnt I ?)
I seem to recall the installer said 340 degrees so 343 rings about true.
I've just put a F-F inline to run without the amp (Its a SLX 4 way signal booser that says
"red compliant" whatever that means. mains powered) It takes both UHF and VHF input.
I feed 2 identical boxes off it - the readings and issue are pretty much the same on both.
Gain per port is 11dB -fixed no control
Noise < 3dB
4G protect >46dB (No mention of 5G or police frequencies)
Reading down the mux channels list now I get: [mux Pwer Q]
Amp removed:
26 10% 50-90
39 65-67% 100
40 67-68% 100
43 65-67% 100
43 58-67% 100
45 60% 100
46 38-55% 100
48 10-20% 0-100 getting steady 100-Q at 15%+
55 25-31% 100 steady - actually went to 55 when plane flew over (between us and sutton)
FYI at 7 am this morning 55 was totally off air. 0% 0 perhaps overnight working still?
Most channels look like they dont need the amp anymore just a couple that do on todays
showing.
If anything the power levels on most have improved over recent years - at least on this reading -
I havn't needed to look at things for a long time.
C26 is tuned - theres just nothing picked up on it - just power and q and no channels.
Could it be something other than freeview using that channel? I don't see how I'd pick that up but I
don't know. It's been there for months if not at least a year now.
55 seems to get even worse in the evenings for some reason.
I'm out of ideas of what to try. I'll try watching without the amp tonight to see if anything
else is droppong out - even the city center channel (birmingham TV on 48) seems clean at the moment
despite the very low power and Q changes.
jack
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