Full Freeview on the Heathfield (East Sussex, England) transmitter
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The symbol shows the location of the Heathfield (East Sussex, England) transmitter which serves 170,000 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 Heathfield (East Sussex, England) mast?
Heathfield transmitter - Heathfield transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 25/11/2024 Screen may go black 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.
64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
The Heathfield (East Sussex, England) mast is a public service broadcasting (PSB) transmitter, it does not provide these commercial (COM) channels: .
If you want to watch these channels, your aerial must point to one of the 80 Full service Freeview transmitters. For more information see the will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? page.
Which Freeview channels does the Heathfield 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.
64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
The Heathfield (East Sussex, England) mast is a public service broadcasting (PSB) transmitter, it does not provide these commercial (COM) channels: .
If you want to watch these channels, your aerial must point to one of the 80 Full service Freeview transmitters. For more information see the will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? page.
Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Heathfield transmitter?
BBC South East Today 0.8m homes 3.2%
from Tunbridge Wells TN1 1QQ, 17km north (6°)
to BBC South East region - 45 masts.
ITV Meridian News 0.7m homes 2.7%
from Maidstone ME14 5NZ, 41km north-northeast (31°)
to ITV Meridian (East) region - 36 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 50% evening news is shared with all of Meridian plus Oxford
How will the Heathfield (East Sussex, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2012 | 2012-13 | 2013-18 | 2013-17 | 19 Jul 2018 | |||
| C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | W T | W T | W T | K T | |||
| C29 | _local | _local | _local | _local | |||||
| C40 | SDN | ||||||||
| C41 | ArqB | ArqB | ArqB | BBCA | |||||
| C42 | SDN | SDN | SDN | ||||||
| C43 | ArqA | ||||||||
| C44 | ArqA | ArqA | ArqA | D3+4 | |||||
| C46 | ArqB | ||||||||
| C47 | BBCB | BBCB | BBCB | BBCB | |||||
| C49tv_off | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | D3+4 | D3+4 | D3+4 | |||
| C52tv_off | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBCA | BBCA | BBCA | |||
| C64 | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ||||||
| C67 | 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 30 May 12 and 13 Jun 12.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 100kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 20kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2* | (-18dB) 1.6kW | |
| Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D* | (-20dB) 1000W |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Heathfield transmitter area
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Is the transmitter output the same in all directions?
Radiation patterns withheldSunday, 23 February 2020
E
Emma Ginger4:37 PM
Maidstone
Hi. We lost all the PSB2 channels last week, and have not been able to access them since. The EPG list still works but when we select the channel it just says 'no signal'. Postcode ME17 3EN and our aerial is on the house roof (and has not been damaged because all the BBC channels work fine). Is there a problem at Heathfield? (We have always been tuned to this transmitter and have had this problem twice before over the last couple of years, but only for about 3 days at a time - but this has been ongoing for nearly a week).
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Emma's: mapE's Freeview map terrainE's terrain plot wavesE's frequency data E's Freeview Detailed Coverage
C
Chris.SE10:12 PM
Emma Ginger:
Neither of you should have any problems receiving from Heathfield, although for parts of your mother-in-law's area the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker suggests Dover to be the "Most likely Transmitter" however strangely Heathfield is marginally better!!
If you see the two posts before yours, it indeed suggests there is a transmitter problem. Have you checked if your neighbours are having similar problems?
All of you (not just one on behalf of others) need to ring Freeview on 0808-100-0288, try Option 3. Unless hey get several reports they probably won't take any notice and try telling you to retune etc.
We aren't responsible for the transmitters or broadcasters, we're an independent help-site.
The Heathfield PSB2/D3&4 multiplex is on UHF channel 44 in case you haven't tried a retune.
And of course if you get the HD multiplex on C47 ok, at least you can get ITV/Ch4/Ch5 there in the meantime.
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Monday, 22 June 2020
J
John Middlemiss9:34 AM
Hi, Can you shed any light on disappearing mux 40 due to mux 29 being registered 1st on a Samsung TV.
Mux 29 is very weal where as all mux in the 600MHz band are 10/10 due to line of site with transmitter.
The tuner 2018/19 model stops at 29 and registers 40+ channels, it ignores all channels till 40, scans, but does not update the channel list, then carries on to 41,43,44,46 & 47 without issue.
It is my guess that Samsung software is not allowing overwrite with same channel number starting at 12 for Quest.
Have you heard of this issue.
Many thanks
John
TN339LD Kenmore
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C
Chris.SE4:27 PM
John Middlemiss:
Hi, yes this is a problem that's not unheard of, especially with older sets and also set memory can get "confused". If you've not experienced the issue before, it could be due to "Tropospheric Ducting" with the current weather conditions, which causes signals from other transmitters to travel much further and you are picking up the COM4/SDN multiplex on C29 from another transmitter.
The easiest way to deal with this is to unplug the aerial and do an automatic full retune which should clear memory of all previous tuning as no channels will be found. Plug the aerial back in and then carry out a manual retune for each of the Heathfield UHF channels.
If you can't do a manual retune, look at the scanning indicator and estimate where it is once it has passed C29 but before it gets to C40. Clear the old tuning again, the repeat the automatic retune but do not plug the aerial back in until after the indicator has passed C29 but before it gets to C40.
What will not be helping matters right now is that the Heathfield transmitter has Planned engineering with "Possible Weak signal" so you might have to repeat this a few times to get it right if signals are not at normal levels when you do it.
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Friday, 26 June 2020
B
Brian Smith7:06 PM
Bexhill-on-sea
The aerial is in the loft, with an amplifier.
I'm currently pointing at the Hastings transmitter. I believe the Heathfield transmitter strength is greater. What sort of aerial do I need to change to Heathfield? Will I need an amplifier as I do now?
If I install a second (small) aerial pointing to Bexhill (I can see the transmitter from my back bedroom window) will I have to install any filters, attenuators etc.?
Lastly, as there are mobile phone masts in close proximity will I need a 5g filter or can I avoid this by using the correct type of aerial?
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Brian's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 27 June 2020
C
Chris.SE7:17 AM
Brian Smith:
First, to answer most of your questions (certainly with any accuracy), we'd need a full postcode to look at the predicted reception. Just because a transmitter is higher power doesn't mean you'll receive it any better, especially when it's further away. In fact reception might be awful and you'd need more than an amplifier!
There may be a small hill locally on the line-of-sight.
I don't see any advantage in using Heathfield UNLESS reception might be better than Hastings, they transmit the same multiplexes.
Are you not getting satisfactory reception from the Hastings transmitter? What is the aerial you currently use?
When you mention the Bexhill transmitter, do you mean the one on Conquest House otherwise known as Bexhill UHF? This transmitter is a "Light" transmitter and only carries the 3 main PSB multiplexes, not the main 6 multiplexes. What do you want to do with this aerial, is it only for a second set?
If it's to connect to your main system, you can't just couple aerial leads together, you'd need some sort of diplexer or splitter in reverse both of which will have insertion loss and could compromise the signals sufficiently to make them unreliable - it depends upon the predicted reception.
As far as mobile masts are concerned, there is almost certainly bound to be some on Conquest House and there are others nearby, there may be some close to you, but we need that postcode. There's certainly no 5G (700MHz) yet, but you might need a 4G filter if you amp or receiver is getting overloaded with signal which could make the TV reception a bit "deaf".
As far as aerials go, Hastings is a Group A, vertical polarisation.
Heathfield is a Group B, horizontal polarisation.
Bexhill was a Group B but is now technically a K, Horizontal polarisation, but you might get adequate reception with a Group B or even a bit of wet string as you are quite close.
For all, Groups K, T, or Wideband would do if they have the right gain characteristics, again depending on predicted reception..
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B
Brian Smith12:07 PM
Bexhill-on-sea
Chris.SE: Sorry, forgot to put in postcode. TN39 3RJ.
The website I looked at gave the signal strength at my location and showed Bexhill as strongest, then Heathfield, then Hastings with a significant difference between them. Other sites list the best transmitter for me as Heathfield. We don't normally get any problems except, occasionally, the HD channels. I use a multiswitch with 4 satellites and terrestrial input. I was thinking of adding a second aerial for Bexhill to receive all of it's channels, and then 'top-up' with Heathfield/Hastings for the rest, getting the best signal and reducing the chances of interference. My TV will sort out the best signal and I can specify individual frequencies in the PC tuner software.
The main thing I need to know is which sort of aerial to get. I presume a simple LOG periodic will do for Bexhill but I don't know about the Heathfield one. Would it need to be for a weak signal due to the position and it being in the loft? Would a LOG periodic or Yagi or ?? be the best? I don't want to spend time and money installing something only to find it not worth the effort.
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Brian's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
C
Chris.SE5:59 PM
Brian Smith:
Interesting, with your set-up then yes I see the sense of having an aerial pointed at Bexhill, that should certainly give you reliable reception of the PSBs.
No reception predictors are 100% accurate at all locations, but the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker shows some surprising variations around your postcode for Hastings and Heathfield, especially the COM muxes.
You supposedly have line-of-sight to all 3 transmitters, but of course that won't take account of any local trees that may be on line-of-sight. As for the "best" or "most likely" transmitter, I haven't always found rhyme or reason behind the suggestions, especially if there's little to choose between PSBs1/2 from one to another yet markedly better on the COMs and that transmitter isn't the "most likely" even taking distance into account!!
If the Freeview/DUK predictor is anything to go by, going from one end to the other in your postcode, the BBCB HD mux from Heathfield MIGHT be more unreliable. The BBC doesn't give a prediction for Heathfield for some parts of your postcode, yet COM6 from Hastings is always good!
My thoughts are also that I would expect Hastings to have less problems with Tropospheric Ducting due to direction, it being closer and vertical polarisation BUT practical experience at a location is more important. If you've had little trouble with Hastings, I would tend to say stick with it especially as you have a loft aerial. Maybe the only times you've had a problem is when there's been Planned Engineering at the transmitter.
Hastings is a Group A transmitter, these lower frequencies tend to propagate better than the higher ones, Heathfield being a Group B.
As far as aerials is concerned, for Hastings or Heathfield, I'd recommend a Grouped aerial rather than wideband, but depending on the manufacturer and the gain curve for a specific aerial, some Group Ks may be worth a look. In both these cases we'd be talking a quality Yagi-18 as minimum, more complex aerials depend on your loft space and things like metal flues, flashing, water tanks, solar panels & etc. Don't waste your time/money on tri-booms and similar.
For Bexhill, yes a small log may be just the job.
You may wish to buy locally, but for some interesting information about (specific) aerials have a look at
ATV aerial gain tests : all the gain curves - A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials and
Wideband / grouped TV aerials - A.T.V. Poles, Brackets, Clamps & Aerials
As far as any attenuation goes, one needs to be on the spot. has your amp got variable gain, that'll be helpful if it has, but in any event, invest in one of these, they are an invaluable tool Coax TV Aerial Attenuator Adjustable Variable Between 0-20 dB Reduces signal | eBay (eBay item 310039226920). There are F-connector versions available if you prefer.
The nearest mobile masts are those on Conquest House, others are over 1.5km away and none on the line-of-sight to Hastings or Heathfield.
Hope that all helps.
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Monday, 21 September 2020
S
Steve6:14 PM
Transmission in Stone Cross pevensey has become worse and I have to reset my box daily. Why is this
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C
Chris.SE11:22 PM
Steve:
Without a full postcode we can't see what predicted reception is at your location. The area in general shouldn't normally have any problems with reception from Heathfield.
How long have you been having this problem?
There's been a lot of "Tropospheric Ducting" around causing interference, see Effect of tropospheric ducting on Freeview | RTIS for a simplistic explanation. It's been around several days and it's may continue on and off for a day or two more.
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