Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
 | Google Streetview |  | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 53.625,-2.516 or 53°37'30"N 2°30'56"W |  | BL6 6SL |
The symbol shows the location of the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter which serves 2,690,000 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 Winter Hill (Bolton, England) mast?
Winter Hill transmitter - Winter Hill transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 18/11/2024 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.
DTG-8 64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-2 16QAM 2K 3/4 18.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which Freeview channels does the Winter Hill 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.
| Mux | H/V | Frequency | Height | Mode | Watts |
| PSB1 BBCA | H max | C32 (562.0MHz) | 726m | DTG- | 100,000W |
 1 BBC One (SD) North West, 2 BBC Two England, 9 BBC Four, 23 BBC Three, 201 CBBC, 202 CBeebies, 231 BBC News, 232 BBC Parliament, plus 17 others | |||||
| PSB2 D3+4 | H max | C34 (578.0MHz) | 726m | DTG- | 100,000W |
 3 ITV 1 (SD) (Granada), 4 Channel 4 (SD) North ads, 5 Channel 5, 6 ITV 2, 10 ITV3, 13 E4, 14 Film4, 15 Channel 4 +1 North ads, 18 More4, 26 ITV4, 28 ITVBe, 30 E4 +1, 35 ITV1 +1 (Granada), 71 That’s 60s, | |||||
| PSB3 BBCB | H max | C35- (585.8MHz) | 726m | DTG- | 100,000W |
 46 5SELECT, 101 BBC One HD North West, 102 BBC Two HD England, 103 ITV 1 HD (ITV Granada), 104 Channel 4 HD North ads, 105 Channel 5 HD, 106 BBC Four HD, 107 BBC Three HD, 204 CBBC HD, 205 CBeebies HD, plus 1 others | |||||
| COM4 SDN | H max | C29 (538.0MHz) | 726m | DTG-8 | 100,000W |
 20 U&Drama, 21 5USA, 29 ITV2 +1, 32 5STAR, 33 5Action, 38 Channel 5 +1, 41 Legend, 42 GREAT! action, 57 U&Dave ja vu, 58 ITV3 +1, 59 ITV4 +1, 64 Blaze, 67 TRUE CRIME, 68 TRUE CRIME XTRA, 81 Blaze +1, 83 Together TV, 91 WildEarth, 93 ITVBe +1, 209 Ketchup TV, 210 Ketchup Too, 211 YAAAS!, 251 Al Jazeera English, 255 FRANCE 24 (in English), 265 Rok Sky +1, plus 29 others | |||||
| COM5 ArqA | H max | C31 (554.0MHz) | 726m | DTG-8 | 100,000W |
 11 Sky Mix, 17 Really, 19 U&Dave, 31 E4 Extra, 36 Sky Arts, 40 Quest Red, 43 Food Network, 47 Film4 +1, 48 Challenge, 49 4seven, 60 U&Drama +1, 65 That's TV 2, 70 Quest +1, 74 &UYesterday +1, 76 That's TV 2 MCR, 233 Sky News, plus 13 others | |||||
| COM6 ArqB | H max | C37 (602.0MHz) | 726m | DTG-8 | 100,000W |
 12 Quest, 25 U&W, 27 U&Yesterday, 34 GREAT! movies, 39 DMAX, 44 HGTV, 52 GREAT! christmas, 56 That's TV (UK), 63 GREAT! romance mix, 73 HobbyMaker, 75 That's 90s, 82 Talking Pictures TV, 84 PBS America, 235 Al Jazeera Eng, plus 18 others | |||||
| LM | H -20dB | C40 (626.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-12 | 1,000W |
 from 1st October 2014: 7 That's Manchester, | |||||
| LL | H -17dB | C24 (498.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-12 | 2,000W |
 from 30th June 2014: 7 Bay TV Liverpool, | |||||
| LPR | H -20dB | C56 (754.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-12 | 1,000W |
 from 1st October 2014: 7 That's Lancashire, | |||||
| GIM | H -20dB | C57 (762.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-2 | 1,000W |
 Now 90s, Spotlight TV, Clubland TV, Country Music Entertainment , Classic Hits MCR, 77 That's 60s MCR, 78 TCC, 80 That's 80s, 86 That's 90s MCR, 88 TV Warehouse+1, | |||||
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-2 16QAM 2K 3/4 18.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Winter Hill transmitter?
BBC North West Tonight 3.1m homes 11.8%
from Salford M50 2QH, 22km southeast (140°)
to BBC North West region - 92 masts.
ITV Granada Reports 3.1m homes 11.6%
from Salford M50 2EQ, 22km southeast (139°)
to ITV Granada region - 80 masts.
How will the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1956-80s | 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2009 | 2009-13 | 2013-18 | 2013-17 | 20 Feb 2020 | ||
| VHF | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E T | W T | W T | ||
| C9 | ITVwaves | ||||||||
| C12 | BBCtvwaves | ||||||||
| C24 | _local | ||||||||
| C29 | SDN | ||||||||
| C31 | com7 | com7 | |||||||
| C32 | BBCA | ||||||||
| C34 | D3+4 | ||||||||
| C35 | BBCB | ||||||||
| C37 | com8 | com8 | |||||||
| C40 | LOCAL2 | ||||||||
| C48 | C5waves | C5waves | |||||||
| C49tv_off | ArqA | ArqA | |||||||
| C50tv_off | BBCA | BBCA | |||||||
| C54tv_off | -BBCB | -BBCB | -BBCB | ||||||
| C55tv_off | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | ArqB | ArqB | ArqB | com7tv_off | ||
| C56tv_off | _local | _local | _local | LPR | |||||
| C57tv_off | GIM | GIM | GIM | GIM | |||||
| C58tv_off | SDN | SDN | SDN | ||||||
| C59tv_off | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | D3+4 | D3+4 | D3+4 | |||
| C61 | ArqA | ||||||||
| C62 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBCA | |||||
| C65 | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves |
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 4 Nov 09 and 2 Dec 09.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 500kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 100kW | |
| com7 | (-12.9dB) 25.7kW | |
| com8 | (-13.4dB) 22.6kW | |
| Analogue 5 | (-16dB) 12.5kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D* | (-17dB) 10kW | |
| LL | (-24dB) 2kW | |
| GIM, LM, LPR | (-27dB) 1000W |
Local transmitter maps
Winter Hill Freeview Winter Hill DAB Winter Hill AM/FM Winter Hill TV region BBC North West GranadaWhich companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Winter Hill transmitter area
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Wednesday, 31 July 2013
4Gsolver:
Just going to take issue with
"the devices that do not filter out the 4G 800MHz frequencies that are therfore (sic) not Freeview friendly"
No Freeview device will filter out C61-C69. Why? Because they were very specifically designed to operate on those frequencies.
Does that mean they won't work? No.
"RDR-HXD770, 790, 870, 890, 970, 995, 1070, and 1095. This list is not necessarily exhaustive. "
As per my comment above, unless you list every single Freeview box ever made, it won't be "exhaustive".
"1. Press and hold the power button which effectively reboots your device.
2. Disconnect the power supply for 30 seconds to flush out any memory resident erroneous data that has been captured.
3. Reconnect the power supply.
4. Switch your device on again. "
Not sure if (1) is true. It's not normally.
The CMOS memory in Freeview boxes will keep data for more than 30 seconds.
Doing (3) and (4) won't clear the effect of 4G.
"Long term solution:
Buy yourself a 4G filter from such places as Maplins or Argos to name but two. They are about £8 or so. "
Or, why not get one for FREE from the nice people at at800? One call to 0333 31 31 800 or 0808 13 13 800
will get you a FREE filter in tomorrow's post.
"The role of the 4G filter is to filter out unwanted 800MHz frequencies that cause your device to experience loss of Freeview. "
Ah, a true bit!
"Note: Certain transmitters have been undergoing a realignment in readiness for the 4G mobile network. "
But... the C61 and C62 clearance has little to do with the deployment of 4G services.
at800 | 4G Interference | 4G Filters | Let's be clear at 800 Mhz does indeed have lots of info.
But... please don't scare people. The 4G tests in London found that the service effected NO HOMES WHATSOEVER.
The tests in Brighton and York showed that COMMUNAL aerial systems had problems, but counted-them-on-the-fingers-of-one-hand other homes did.
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Damian: Sorry for not replying sooner.
Thanks for the suggestion, I will see what I can do.
It's odd you say "Almost all our relatively new receiving equipment will not reallocate channels by region /transmission group" as the latest D-Book specifically requires Freeview boxes to offer a region selection.
All Freeview HD boxes do this.
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Sunday, 4 August 2013
P
Peter4:11 PM
Manchester
Total novice here. My post code is M46 9RT. My house has a large tree lined hill at the back of it, in line with Winter Hill. reception is highly intermittent. I am considering transferring to BT TV but have been told that it is delivered through an aerial, which obviously has me worried.I have had an aerial fitter out who said "sorry it's where you are".
Has anybody any .? The area is in Atherton
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Peter's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
John6:12 PM
All my BBC channels and occasionally Dave have suffered interference from about May 2013. I've retuned many times and now a retune doesn't pick up any BBC channels. Today I bought a 4G '59' filter and that didn't help. My transmitter is Winter Hill and all the BBC channels are on C50 (706Mhz) and Channel Dave is on C49 (698MHz), so nowhere near 800. I've turned all our mobiles off and all three TV's in the house still get interference that's sporadic throughout the day. Any suggestions on the cause ? Hale/Altrincham.
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M
Michael7:49 PM
John: Unfortunate that you spent money on a 4G filter when you can get 1 per household for free from at800 if you are actually affected by 4G interference. Before you get all paranoid about 4G though, call at800 to check if there's any active masts in your area... (doubt it!)
The channels you mention were the two muxes which moved frequency back in April. If your neighbours are ok (find out) and since all 3 TV are having problems then it's clearly a problem with the aerial, connections or very local interference. Some people on here have benefited from renewed cabling or adjusting the aerial.
What kind of signal strength/quality are you getting for those channels?
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Tuesday, 10 September 2013
B
Bryan Jones3:57 PM
Crewe
My postal code is CW1 3HR. The reception quality has deteriorated drastically over the last 3-4 months, affecting all channels. Usually in the early morning, 7-9am, there is so much picture freezing and pixilation as well as sound distortion that it is impossible to watch the television. Also, frequently in the evening, 7-10pm, the same thing happens - for instance, on 06 September, I couldn't watch the England v Moldova football match. Reception at lunchtime and through the afternoon is much better with just occasional problems. I have tried all the recommended solutions with no success and the problem occurs with all three receivers in the house. A BT technician checked the signal strength recently during a period of good reception and said that the signal strength received at the time was good and that there was no problem with the aerial. So, it seems that there is a problem with signal strength from the transmitter at certain times of the day. Two other neighbours living within 100 metres have said that they are experiencing the same problems. Could you please look into this problem.
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Bryan's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
I
Irvine Bell5:38 PM
Lytham St. Annes
Wednesday 11-09-2013. My postcode is FY8 4PX.
I retuned my TV to deal with a problem of Film 4 not being where it should be. Now I seem to be back with a problem that happened earlier this year of the BBC Wales Channels pre-empting the BBC North West channels - 1 is BBC 1 Wales and BBC1 NW England has been put in 800 something. I have tried various different types of re-tuning, including manual re-tuning and re- ordering channel sort sequences, but none are a very satisfactory solution to my problem - I just want to run a simple re-tune on the TV and get BBC1 North West in slot 1 and so on. Earlier in the year the problem just eventually seemed to go away, presumably because the transmission authority changed something. Has something changed recently to re-introduce the problem? Maybe if I wait and try again it will just go away again?
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Irvine's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb386:45 PM
Irvine Bell: The way to solve this problem is by first of all blanking out everything stored in the tuners memory, carrying out an auto-tune but with the aerial being disconnected usually being suffice and checking afterwards that nothing is indicated in the EPG listings, if not then go into your TV's manual tuning menu and tune in Winter Hills BBC on Ch50 storing the results if not done automatically, next enter then scan the ITV mux on Ch59 likewise storing the results.
Normally I would have said to use the channels update procedure to add the remaining muxes if this is offered in your TV's tuning menu, and although you could try using this facility however on some TV's this acts like a normal auto-tune and which would wipe out the two muxes that you have already stored, therefore its sometimes best to continue using manual tuning to add the remaining muxes, these being: HD service (54) - SDN (58) - Arq A (49) - Arq B (55).
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Thursday, 19 September 2013
T
tony10:40 PM
my post code is wn68nu the reception quality has deteriorated drastically over the last 4-5 months, affecting all channels the picture keeps freezing and breaking up im using 2 different aerials both outside one is even a highgain aerial even tried tv boosters but nothing works :(
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