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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Sunday, 23 February 2020
C
Chris.SE3:09 PM
nedbod:
That will depend on what type of aerial you need, whether it has to be high gain, very directional, low gain, medium gain etc. and whether it's going to mounted externally or in a loft.
Without a full postcode we can't advise what is more likely as the distance from the transmitters and predicted reception at your location will be the determining factors.
There are some very cheap aerials around (nick named baco-foil aerials as they are flimsy - but some sellers charge over the top for them - they may do in a loft installation, but externally are easily damaged) and very high gain aerials will tend to be more expensive.
If you are in need of a group A aerial because of the recent changes AND you won't be able to get COMs 7&8 at your location, ok. But otherwise you should have a group T, maybe an amplified Log-Periodic if you need more gain, sometimes a Group K may suffice.
Prices could vary from just under 10 to over 60 depending on quality and who you buy from - that's just the aerial - not clamps, masts, mounting kits, cable, installation, etc.
However, if you need a replacement aerial because of the changes and don't have Cable or Satellite, don't use a Landlord's aerial or a Communal one, then you can get free help from Freeview, ring 0808-100-0288
see Important changes to Freeview | Freeview but they are advising there could be long waits on the phone (it's free) because of current demand 26 Feb 2020 - Wait times for viewers calling the Freeview Advice Line | Freeview
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M
Mr R. Tyson4:29 PM
Hi again,
I reckon the BBC have "broken something" even if you don't. Viewers were told to re-tune their sets. Having done that many can not get a signal on any of the BBC channels. I believe there are long delays because the phone help service is swamped by callers. I am easily capable of following all the steps to manually, automatically re-tune and also set everything back to the TV manufacturers default. There are going to be thousands of people who can't do this and that would explain why the helpline is clogged up with callers.
Now if you take something which is working and alter it so that many thousands of people can no longer use it then, by my definition, you have broken it. It then takes some digging online to find out that you may need to change your aerial.... why wasn't more information made generally available to the public about the problems this alteration could/would cause ?
On Friday night I was talking to three normal, sensible people who all have problems with no BBC reception since they re-tuned. What about the very elderly on their own with nobody to help them ?
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D
David Parr9:38 PM
Mr R. Tyson: I must say that I tend to agree that not enough information has been given to the general public. OFCOM did estimate that 100,000 people in Greater Manchester might lose service. I'm a techy who was able to just buy a high gain T-Band Aerial for 20 and install it in my loft in 30 minutes, but what about the pensioner living alone? Yes, anyone who loses service can have a free replacement, but the "let's see what we can get away with" sort of approach is a sad reflection on our society.
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C
Chris.SE10:38 PM
Mr R. Tyson:
I don't disagree with you about the poor level of information given to the public and too much of the available information relies on being "on-line", which of course a lot of pensioners won't be, exactly as David Parr has said. However if they were to call their TV dealer, they should be told how to get the free help.
None of you should have trouble with "NO" BBC channels, js told you in a post on the previous page here, how to get the BBC programmes from the old UHF channel. This will continue until April 22nd to give enough time for aerial problems to be resolved.
Did you not follow the links I gave you in my previous reply to you -
"The BBC has done nothing to "break the system" . If you want to understand what all the changes are about see What is 700MHz clearance? | Freeview "
This is all the subject of International Agreements and the UK has to be in-line with them otherwise broadcasting in Europe (and elsewhere) would be a complete mess as everyone would be causing interference to each other. OFCOM are responsible for this country's part of the agreements, and Arqiva are the Engineering company that make the transmitter changes required. Freeview is the public interface and responsible for organising free replacement aerials for those that need them.
Have you told your neighbours, and there may be others, especially the elderly who don't know where to find the BBC channels in the meantime, and the free help that is available.
You obviously know about the long delays on the free helpline 0808-100-0288 but that is Freeview's fault for bad management, but at least it's free! I will say that there are many engineers like those of us posting help here who are not impressed by the poor performance of the Freeview Helpline services, although I will say that once you are assigned a booking for a replacement aerial, the company that's employed to do the job is normally extremely good. I've only heard good reports.
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Monday, 24 February 2020
M
Mr R. Tyson2:28 PM
Once more into the breach.
I think I have made my point. Yes I did look at the online information whose links were given to me on here.
I had already found them for myself. It is O.K for those who are capable of sorting this out but there are going to be lots of people who won't know what to do. For the frailer and older members of our communities this is a problem they can well do without. I hope they have success finding an aerial/TV. firm as a lot seem to have gone out of business - certainly in my area. Yes I did tune to alternative frequencies for the BBC channels but it is not a good signal and it appears that will also change in April.
I live on the coast where there is a high rate of salt corrosion to metal parts so my aerial is in the loft. It is easy for me to replace. This won't be the case for many people and they will have to wait for an aerial rigger - and it looks as though they are going to be in great demand with long waiting times.
Before making a change with the impact that this had had/will have it might have been sensible to cover it on some of the TV news broadcasts. To make such a sweeping change with virtually no information shows a high degree of contempt for those about to be affected. To know that in one area alone some 100,000 people could be inconvenienced and then to go ahead and do it without providing any information is incredible.
I realise why this is being done and can well appreciate the complete mess of conflicting services sharing limited spectrum. That is no excuse for generating a complete mess of another sort in the process.
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C
Chris.SE5:38 PM
Mr R. Tyson:
I don't disagree with you one jot about making such changes with such poorly available information. Perhaps you'd like to contact your local press and media and ask them why they've not given it decent publicity. However the mess is down to the incompetent management at Freeview & DigitalUK, Arqiva are only doing the donkey work.
Quote > " I hope they have success finding an aerial/TV. firm...."
They don't have to. A free replacement aerial installation will be provided to those that need it, all they have to do is contact Freeview on 0808-100-0288.
Quote > ".. Yes I did tune to alternative frequencies for the BBC channels but it is not a good signal "
The signal for the BBC programmes at EPG LCN751 and upwards should be identical to the signal before the new multiplex was started on C32. The power on C50 is supposed to be the same.
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Tuesday, 25 February 2020
M
Mr R. Tyson11:16 AM
Hi,
Last word on the subject...
Quote > ".. Yes I did tune to alternative frequencies for the BBC channels but it is not a good signal "
The signal for the BBC programmes at EPG LCN751 and upwards should be identical to the signal before the new multiplex was started on C32. The power on C50 is supposed to be the same.
That's as may be but in practice it isn't at my location. The quality of image is not as good and there are slight signs of break up at times.
I will have resolved my problem by tomorrow. Good luck to all those trying to get through on helplines and then are awaiting an aerial replacement. The amount of people affected will slow the process down.
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D
Dave Williams1:45 PM
Neston
Just add to the Winter Hill retune , I live at CH64 0SH on the Dee coast on the Wirral , with line of sight to Moel y Parc , with A band antenna turned from Wrekin to Winter Hill , perfect reception of new BBC NW channels .
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Dave's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
C
Chris.SE2:40 PM
Dave Williams:
The Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker shows highly variable reception from The Wrekin at your location and of course it is Central Region. Now you get the NW region which I assume pleases you. Whether or not you'll get any usable signal from COM7 with a Group A aerial you can only try if you want. COM8 prediction is variable until other changes elsewhere on the 22nd April when it should improve to be similar to COM7.
Mr R. Tyson:
Anyone having to use Freeview Helplines needs Good Luck for whatever reason!! Their issue here will no doubt be understaffing. Because other major regions had similar changes last year, it's not as though that they couldn't anticipate demand being much higher because Granada (Winter Hill) serves a very large population 2nd only to London!
It's certainly strange that you are finding the signal on C50 not as good as previously.
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