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 
_______
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
|
|
Friday, 11 July 2014
K
KMJ,Derby6:59 PM
Briantist: COM7 details are given after the Winter Hill local petal details in "non-DSO muxes".
| link to this comment |
Sunday, 13 July 2014
A
anthony5:10 PM
If I understand that OFCOM page correctly, and it's not easy to follow.
Com 7 is 25.7kw
Manchester and Liverpool petals are 2kw.
Preston petal is 1kw
GIM is 1kw.
| link to this comment |
A
andy9:15 PM
Chester
Wirral Radio on DAB Block 10D
| link to this comment |
andy's: mapA's Freeview map terrainA's terrain plot wavesA's frequency data A's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 21 July 2014
G
Gary12:07 PM
As most people using Winter Hill have a group C/D aerial, why is com7 being broadcast on channel 31? My BBC Four HD and BBC News HD reception is appalling and variable with constant break ups whereas reception of the (lower power) local multiplexes is much stronger and uninterrupted. Who made this decision? Are they mad? Are they going to pay for a wholesale aerial replacement programme throughout the North West?
| link to this comment |
A
anthony4:40 PM
These were the only spare channels, and power levels, available, all modern aerials are wide band so channel 31 isn't a problem for many people. The BBC has been recommending the use of wide-band aerials ever since digital transmissions. began. The 800Mhz band (channels 61-68) was reallocated to 4G and the 700Mhz band might well follow. As this is a government, not a BBC, decision you must address your complaint to your MP including any claim for a replacement aerial. That's what he is for.
| link to this comment |
G
Gary5:10 PM
Take a look around at the rooftops and you'll see plenty of original group C/D aerials here. The Government's decision to reallocate 700 MHz is a poor one. I will take your advice and complain to my MP.
| link to this comment |
Gary: A similar situation occured in the Wrekin TSA.My father in-Law's previous aerial was a Group A,in Analogue Day's,but when DVB-T came along a Group W was required,to be able to receive all the Mux's.
I have to say that here in the North Wales coast area,most aerials are Group W,directed towards Winter Hill.There are a few Group C/D 'contractor' type,but i would expect these will be replaced with Group W type.
| link to this comment |
MikeP
8:46 PM
8:46 PM
Gary (and Anthony)
The original aerail groupings were worked out very carefully in the sixties so that there would be maximum coverage with minimum interference. Sadly, modern planners have not had the forethought to consider the affect on millions of viewers who had perfectly good aerials - until the frequencies used were changed or added to.
Not all modern aerials are wide-band, many Yagi pattern aerials are still grouped. A 'wide band' version of a Yagi type is not the best solution as they are not so good at the lower frquencies (channel/Mux numbers). The group W types mentioned by David Roberts (above) are of the poorer Yagi pattern and not to be recommended.
The best solution, if your old aerial is not so good with the newer services, is to change it to a log-periodic type which is good across the whole band by its design. And don't fall the con of a 'digital' aerial, all UHF log-periodic aerials are ideal for both the old analogue signals (no longer available) and all digital signals.
| link to this comment |
MikeP: Totally agree with the comments on the use of a Log-Periodic aerial,in preference to the Yagi type. In mentioning the former type of aerial,it appears that many Households in North Shropshire,have Log-Periodic type aerials fitted,in preference to the Yagi. I haven't seen as many in the North Wales coast area,where the Triax 'Unix' type or the SLX,seem to dominate. For the record i have a Wideband Televes DAT45,located on the end wall of our house.It's a bit like overkill now,as it was originally used for the pre DSO 10kw erp&lower Mux's,from Winter Hill.
Regarding who should foot the bill for replacement aerials,i took this issue up,with the consumer rights people,in 2010,just after DSO,at Winter Hill,Llanddona&Moel y Parc.Their opinion was that viewers had no real grounds to claim compensation for having to replace aerials or associated equipment,because of the change to DVB-T from Analogue.
| link to this comment |
K
KMJ,Derby10:23 PM
MikeP: Even log periodics might be "grouped" Vision make a Group A version for use on Crystal Palace, Rowridge, Caradon Hill, Stockland Hill etc. It is well worth sourcing one of these aerials for those transmitters which are using entirely Group A channels. It is benchmarked class2, the wideband version is only class 4, so offers quite a bit more gain for viewers who need it.
| link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please