4G test signals areas listed by the BBC
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV BBC News (see BBC News - Organisation launches to help combat 4G interference ) has provided the location to the public where the 4G at 800MHz test signals will be provided.
Locations of Cradley Heath and Rowley Regis.
To save you looking on Ofcom's Sitefinder ('Sitefinder' Mobile Phone Base Station Database) I have reproduced the locations of mobile phone masts in the two locations:
Cradley Heath
Rowley Regis
Each location lists the mobile phone operator: O2, T is T-Mobile (now part of EE), Or is Orange (also EE), V is Vodafone, NR is Network Rail, 3 is 3.
The second number is the frequency range used, 900MHz, 2100MHz etc.
It is expected that 4G 800 will operate from existing "900MHz" locations.
Help with TV/radio stations?
In this section
Monday, 18 March 2013
The post office postcode for Cradley Heath is B64 6AQ - My Freeview | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
The post office postcode for Rowley Regis, B65 0DS - My Freeview | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
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Kurt Eaves1:12 PM
Rowley Regis
Briantist : The postcode for your reference is B65 8HN.
We did have issues with reception while the analogue service was still active, however since September last year when the analogue disappeared we have had no problems. Just seems very coincidental that today of all days we have problems.
Managed to connect a spectrum analyser and there is alot of noise on the band between 794.00mhz and 857.00mhz, I can't check any higher as the analyser won't go past 857.00mhz.
It's been suggested interference may be leaking through either my FM or DAB aerial. Just going to try disconnecting those from the triplexer after the filter which filters the UHF component of the system. However I would have thought the FM and DAB aerial would have been highly attenuated outside their operating frequencies.
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Kurt's: mapK's Freeview map terrainK's terrain plot wavesK's frequency data K's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Kurt Eaves: I'm not too sure what "alot of noise" could be as 791-821MHz are cleared for 4G mast-to-device, 821-831MHz is cleared for the guardband, and 832-861MHz is cleared for use as LTE device-to-mast.
It isn't very likley that the FM or DAB aerial will pick up 4G signals, but poor cables from the aerial to the triplexer could be an issue.
Can you describe the "Freeview problems"? Which multiplexes are effected? How do the problems manifest themselves?
Also, did you get the At800 mailer?
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Kurt Eaves7:21 PM
Briantist : We received our mailer on Friday explaining our area was going to be trialled for reception problems as Rowley and Cradley had been identified as an area where interference was a high possibility.
Being the naturally suspicious person I am I connected my analyser to the system on Saturday and the band following channel 60 was very clean. However as from this morning the band from channel 61 was experiencing only what I can describe as intermittent spikes and prolonged pulses ranging power from 40dbmv to 55dbmv.
I have since disconnected the DAB an FM from the triplexer and capped off the inputs with 75ohm terminators and the problem has disappeared and the band is now cleaner than it was all that can be seen now is what I would describe as slight rumbling and spiking from channel 61 onwards.
The notable channels that were affected were bbc1, bbc2 & sky news.
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Kurt Eaves7:23 PM
Popping and breaking up of the picture were mainly the problems. The complete system uses double screened copper cable with crimp connections throughout.
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Kurt Eaves: I'm interested to see if you see the "classic" 4G overload problem on your Freeview receivers - they are very similar to Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | Digital switchover | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice .
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Kurt Eaves8:42 PM
I have left the FM and the DAB disconnected for now until I can filter it. I have connected the Johanssen Filter directly to a Vision V5-204 which then connects to V5-512 & V5-516 multiswitches, the 4 satellite cables also connect to the V5-204. I could have used a V5-524 but splitting the switches gives a better range of outputs as some of the cables are quite long as two cables venture outside to an outbuilding.
I've checked the signal levels directly off the aerial and they are a little jumpy ranging between 71 & 78dbmv, out of the cluster they are level at 66-67dbmv. At the plates the UHF power level is no less than 51dbmv and no greater than 57dbmv and thats taken from a selection of plates across the house. The satellite power ranges from 64dbmv to 73dbmv.
The error levels on the UHF muxes varies between a CBER of 4.3E5 & 7E4, & constantly at a VBR of <1.0E7 with an MER>32 and C/N at least >32dbmv. Which is back to normal now with the DAB and FM disconnected.
Before I disconnected the DAB and FM the VBER on channels 59 & 60 were fluctuating sometimes dipping below 5E7 which is around the cut-off for picture and sound problems.
So I think something was definatly hitting either the DAB or FM, not sure which one or maybe both. I'm going to do some more testing tomorrow now everything is working fine for tonight.
However I'm sure the system is not overloaded and working within spec.
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Kurt Eaves: I can't help noticing that Vision have some so-called "4G-800 Products" 4G-800 Products Catalogue » Vision Products - Powerful Products. Easy Installation. Excellent Value .
No actual at800 logo though.. at800 Approved 4G Filters | TV Interference Filters | at800
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Kurt Eaves: Looking at their V10-28L product page, the graph shows that it won't block the 800MHz signals very much at all.. V10-28L 28 Element Stub Tuner Log Standard Periodic Aerial » Vision Products - Powerful Products. Easy Installation. Excellent Value .
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Kurt Eaves10:11 PM
The V5 system was installed about 3-4 years back when the effects of 4G were little known however this is the Johansson Cluster Equaliser that filters the TV.
Programmable Filter-Equalizer - Johansson
To be fair I didn't think the 4G signals would leak in through the FM & DAB aerials as much as they have, I would have thought they would be highly attenuated outside their operataing range 88-108mhz & 217.5 - 230mhz especially more so towards the higher end of the UHF band.
The ingress of the 4G signal as said has stopped for now since removing the triplexer and inputing the filtered output from the cluster directly to the multiswitch, so just looking for a product to apply more attenuation on the FM & DAB outside their operating ranges.
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