Analogue and digital signal strength
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Many people ask why they can receive an OK analogue picture, but need to upgrade their aerial to get Freeview, or sometimes get perfect Freeview reception when the analogue picture is very poor.
The digital signals are currently broadcast at low power (this will change as switchover happens) to prevent interference with the existing analogue signals. Thankfully most Freeview boxes can work with these weak signals. The following list shows the strength of the digital signal compared to the analogue for the 80 Freeview transmitters.
Expr2
Aberdare: 15%
Angus: 2000%
Beacon Hill: 1%
Belmont: 1.43%
Bilsdale: 1.15%
Black Hill: 4%
Blaenplwyf: 1.66%
Bluebell Hill: 8.88%
Bressay: 10%
Brierley Hill: 1.22%
Bristol Kings Weston: 4.5%
Bromsgrove: 1550%
Brougher Mountain: 0.5%
Caldbeck: 0.82%
Caradon Hill: 0.76%
Carmel: 2%
Chatton: 4.16%
Chesterfield: 1.8%
Craigkelly: 2%
Crystal Palace: 2%
Darvel: 2%
Divis: 0.49%
Dover: 1%
Durris: 2%
Eitshal: 0.8%
Emley Moor: 0.93%
Fenham: 1%
Fenton: 0.5%
Guildford: 1%
Hannington: 4%
Hastings: 18.3%
Heathfield: 1.2%
Hemel Hempstead: 2%
Huntshaw Cross: 3.66%
Idle: 2%
Ilchester Crescent: 4%
Keelylang Hill: 1%
Keighley: 0.91%
Kilvey Hill: 3.83%
Knock More: 1%
Lancaster: 1.83%
Lark Stoke: 416.66%
Limavady: 0.8%
Llanddona: 1%
Malvern: 10%
Mendip: 1.83%
Midhurst: 1.25%
Moel-Y-Parc: 0.41%
Nottingham: 1.85%
Olivers Mount: 9.1%
Oxford: 1.6%
Pendle Forest: 18.2%
Plympton: 9.15%
Pontop Pike: 1.93%
Pontypool: 6%
Presely: 0.83%
Redruth: 1.85%
Reigate: 1500%
Ridge Hill: 2%
Rosemarkie: 10%
Rosneath: 2%
Rowridge: 4%
Rumster Forest: 1.33%
Saddleworth: 1.8%
Salisbury: 6.9%
Sandy Heath: 1.83%
Selkirk: 6%
Sheffield: 1%
Stockland Hill: 1%
Storeton: 2550%
Sudbury: 2.01%
Sutton Coldfield: 0.8%
Tacolneston: 2.66%
The Wrekin: 1%
Torosay: 0.62%
Tunbridge Wells: 1%
Waltham: 1.8%
Wenvoe: 1.16%
Whitehawk Hill: 3.67%
Winter Hill: 1.83%
8:04 PM
Sudbury
Mike & Steve - thanks for your comments. Haven't been on the old PC lately to check this site so didn't see your responses. Aerial and cable were replaced a couple of years ago when old aerial rotted away so I am assuming that damp isn't an issue. When I tried manually tuning the PVR it showed no signal strength on most of the channels it wasn't already using. The ones that did show signal strength wouldn't identify any channels. I don't get my signal from Sudbury despite the fact that the mast is only 5 or 6 miles away. Are you saying that the Sudbury transmitter is interfering with my reception? If so, would an attenuator help anyway? Sorry to be vague, the technicalities of TV reception are uncharted territory for me.
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Jerry's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
9:12 PM
Wrexham
Jerry - Where DO you get your signal from?
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Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
6:11 PM
Sudbury
Steve. Apparently the signal comes from Talconeston, a place I'd never heard of until I visited this website. The old analogue signal came from Sandy Heath.
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Jerry's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Jerry Brett: You will only ever get a good service from the Sudbury transmitter, so you should move your aerial to point at that transmitter.
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3:18 PM
Sudbury
Brian. I just had a look outside and my best guess is that the aerial is pointing to the Sudbury transmitter. I assumed that it was Talconeston because that is the transmitter that is highlighted on this website when I put in my postcode. I understand that Humax is broadcasting an update on 1st June. Could this solve my problems or are they just paving the way for switch over on 20th July?
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Jerry's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Jerry Brett: The Humax upgrade is being provided throughout the whole of the UK, so is not specific to your switchover. It seems quite possible it will fix your problem. Let me know when you've installed it.
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3:43 PM
when watching bbc1 or 2 i keep getting a mesage stating "low signal strenght"
why is this
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6:29 PM
m.h it is probably because the signal strength is low that you get that message.
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9:25 PM
i have to retune my tv every time i switch on
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