Full Freeview on the Carmel (Carmarthenshire, Wales) transmitter
 | Google Streetview |  | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 51.818,-4.067 or 51°49'5"N 4°4'3"W |  | SA14 7NA |
The symbol shows the location of the Carmel (Carmarthenshire, Wales) transmitter which serves 72,000 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 Carmel (Carmarthenshire, Wales) mast?
Carmel transmitter - Carmel transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 28/10/2024 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 Carmel (Carmarthenshire, Wales) 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 Carmel 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 Carmel (Carmarthenshire, Wales) 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 Carmel transmitter?
BBC Wales Today 1.2m homes 4.7%
from Cardiff CF5 2YQ, 68km east-southeast (122°)
to BBC Wales region - 206 masts.
ITV Cymru Wales 1.2m homes 4.7%
from Cardiff CF5 6XJ, 68km southeast (127°)
to ITV Wales region - 206 masts.
Are there any self-help relays?
| Abergorlech | Active deflector | Dyfed | 5 homes |
| Cwmere | Active deflector | 11 km NE Aberystwyth | 10 homes |
How will the Carmel (Carmarthenshire, Wales) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2009 | 2009-13 | 2013-18 | 2013-17 | 17 Jul 2019 | |||
| C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E T | C/D E T | W T | |||
| C23 | BBCA | ||||||||
| C26 | D3+4 | ||||||||
| C29 | BBCB | ||||||||
| C33 | SDN | ||||||||
| C36 | ArqA | ||||||||
| C48 | ArqB | ||||||||
| C49tv_off | ArqB | ArqB | |||||||
| C53tv_off | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | D3+4 | D3+4 | D3+4 | |||
| C54tv_off | SDN | SDN | SDN | ||||||
| C55tv_off | _local | _local | _local | _local | |||||
| C57tv_off | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBCB | BBCB | BBCB | |||
| C58tv_off | ArqA | ArqA | ArqA | ||||||
| C60tv_off | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | -BBCA | -BBCA | ||||
| C61 | ArqB | ||||||||
| C63 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves |
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 26 Aug 09 and 23 Sep 09.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 100kW | |
| BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 20kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB | (-10dB) 10kW | |
| Mux A* | (-13dB) 5kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux B* | (-16dB) 2.5kW | |
| Mux C*, Mux D* | (-20dB) 1000W |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Carmel transmitter area
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Is the transmitter output the same in all directions?
Radiation patterns withheldWednesday, 16 October 2019
C
Chris.SE3:30 PM
Robert John:
You are quite correct, you may need a new aerial, a group K rather than a wideband (better sensitivity as there are no temporary COMs 7&8 from Carmel). If you give us your full postcode or if you put your postcode into About us | Freeview you can see your predicted reception at your location. If any of the multiplexes are not "good" you should definitely go for the Group K.
If you are having issues with the main BBC channels since the retune (and the SDN channels - see About us | Freeview and have retuned it is possible that your aerial is an old C/D group that is not able to receive the new channels sufficiently well, and it may need replacing. You can get free help if you do not have Satellite or Cable by contacting Freeview on 0808-100-0288 see Important changes to Freeview TV signals Important changes to Freeview | Freeview and also see the FAQs on that page in case they may help.
BUT you need to do it NOW as there's a 3 month time limit on the free help.
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Saturday, 8 February 2020
C
Cliff Phillips12:15 PM
Since the change of frequencies last year on the Carmel Transmitter, I have been unable to receive channels 33 & 36 whilst the remaining channels are often subject to poor signal strength and atmospherics. Prior to the changes all channels were providing a good quality service. The question is what has happened? I've checked my antennae for direction (no change), and used different TV's, all with a similar outcome. Having retuned the TV several times I've been surprised that I'm now receiving better quality reception for BBC & ITV from transmitters in the South West of England. This has never happened before - and be assured my antennae has not moved. The only conclusion I can come to is that the radiation patters have changed. I would appreciate a response with solutions to restoring the reception back to its previously good standards.
SA334UB
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C
Chris.SE3:32 PM
Cliff Phillips:
Unfortunately you are not in a good spot there for reception of the COM multiplexes from Carmel, but you should be having no trouble with the PSB ones which you should have tuned on C23, C26 & C29 for the BBCB HD mux.
Are you getting COM6 on C48?
The fact that you say that the remaining channels are poor reception and subject to atmospherics makes me wonder how old your aerial is? The original Aerial Group for Carmel was a C/D and the changes now mean the all but COM6 are in Group A, so ideally a Group K aerial is best, although a Group T /Wideband covers the channels depending on the aerial chosen it's not as sensitive. A Group C/D aerial has a Green plug in the end if you can see the end of the aerial.
You mention that you are now getting better quality BBC/ITV from the South West (presumably Huntshaw Cross?). Apart from such signals travelling quite well across the water, if this was the last few days and/or back around the New Year period there have been some quite strong "atmospherics" - "Tropospheric Ducting" that can come with high pressure, but it has been unusually strong for the time of year, as is often not as strong even in summer. You are probably picking these signals up on "side-lobes" of your aerial's reception pattern. If you are not getting C33 & C36, you could try C32 & C34 from Huntshaw Cross but no reception is predicted but specific locations can have unexpected results. I'd not be optimistic because all those just mention channels are used by Mendip, which in all probability may give enough interfering signal at your particular location. You could try C42 & C45 from Wenvoe, but they aren't in your aerial's normal beamwidth and in any event you might get interference from Preseli.
Back to aerials, if you have an old Group C/D this will be the primary issue and it's a shame you didn't say something about it back then because you could get free support (normally a 3 month time limit) from Freeview if you don't have Satellite or Cable. However as you had problems with the PSB multiplexes lately with the Tropospheric Ducting I'd still see if you can get some free help - ring Freeview on 0808-100-0288 tell them it's been bad since July but especially so with the recent weather.
If you don't have an old aerial, post back with some more info and I'll make some other suggestions.
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M
Michael 11:02 PM
Cliff, excellent advice from Chris., who has investigated your situation in detail. If you are receving good signals from Huntshaw Cross : welcome! The Bristol Channel is not our best friend. The tital rise and fall can enance and deplete the signal received. We had the same in former years with digital reception from Preseli and Carmel .
Warning: the weaker multiplexes (eg Sky News) from Huntshaw Cross frequently suffer interference, probably from France. I am myself considering a second aerial pointing at Carmel, so you might consider Huntshaw for the main channels and a separate aerial for local Welsh news etc. Now that all transmitters (multiplexes) have been reallocated to lower frequencies (Band A), you might have to install a new aerial for Huntshaw and another for Welsh transmitters, such as Kilvey-Hill, Preseli, Carmel, Wenvoe - or a local relay. That said, IF you have line-of-sight to the Sky position at 28E, you might find Freesat the most reliable option. Research on - and be wary of "cowboy installers! :-)
Keep us posted!
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Saturday, 26 June 2021
B
Bernard John11:45 AM
Llanelli
I get my signal from Carmel transmitter but I get intermittent poor/weak signal on channel 33(always this channel).
Sometimes the signal is good for weeks and then I lose the signal for a number of days and then the signal improves. The signal quality is never better than about 6 to 7 whilst the other channels are constantly strength 10.My aerial is outside and is over 20 years old.Can you give me some pointers as to what the problem might be.
SA14 6BG
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Bernard's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
C
Chris.SE3:11 PM
Bernard John:
What is obviously important with an aerial that old is its condition and that of the downlead and it's still pointing the correct way. You are so close to the transmitter - I guess you can see it! That said, before the 700MHz clearance programme Carmel was an aerial Group C/D and if that is what you have, it's performance at the lower channels now used by Carmel will not be as good. Although the PSB multiplexes are on lower UHF channels again they are also transmitted at higher power than the COM4-6 multiplexes. You might be able to see a Green plug in the end of the aerial if it's a Group C/D but not all manufacturers fitted correct coloured plugs and it might be black (possibly making you think it's wideband).
Unless you are certain the aerial is wideband I would assume the problem could be related to performance as well as possibly condition, weather can play havoc with connection boxes and cable insulation. Aerial misalignments, problematic connections, water ingress etc. can seem to affect reception of just AN individual or several multiplexes.
It should be pointing at bearing 28 degrees, fractionally E of NNE, but if you can see the mast, pointing it shouldn't be an issue.
Even so, you location is predicted to get variable/poor reception of the COM multiplexes (predictions are often based on external aerials at about 10m height).
See Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview for which channels are on which multiplex.
I guess you may be on fairly high ground, so that interference from other transmitters using those channels (possibly Mendip) might be an issue in certain weather conditions. I do know that in such conditions, signals from Mendip can get to the Preseli's. Even though the aerial isn't pointing that way it will have what are called sidelobes, especially with smaller standard aerials which I assume this probably is being so close to Carmel, where it will be able to receive signals in those directions.
The trick to deal with this sort of interference problem (as that is quite likely) is to have the aerial positioned maybe not as high if there is a clear unobstructed view of Carmel, and somewhere which screens it (by eg. buildings) from the directions most likely to have the interfering sources. Also use an aerial likely to have better directivity and minimal sidelobes - a log-periodic could be the best option, if for some reason it's not the best, a Group K aerial will be better than wideband. Even consider loft mounting, but that can have issues with partition walls, water tanks, metal chimneys, lead flashing and so on requiring careful positioning.
Being on-site and maybe a little bit of experimenting to get the best arrangement and using an experienced (and recommended) aerial installer if it's not a job you are able to tackle yourself.
As for weather conditions, there has been quite a bit of "Tropospheric Ducting" around lately which has been quite variable. It can come and go in seconds or minutes or last for longer and doesn't always affect all multiplexes - it tends to be frequency dependent.
See Effect of tropospheric ducting on Freeview | Help receiving TV and radio for a simplistic explanation.
Some predictors are showing that there could be more over the next few days, but they aren't specific for the frequencies used by TV, and like weather forecasts they can change!
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Monday, 25 September 2023
M
michael 11:38 AM
There seems to be a lot of mast-tinkering and reduced-power "pixellation" notifications at present.
Is this to improve Freeview reception - or in preparation of its demise - or what?
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C
Chris.SE12:56 PM
michael :
AFAWK it's routine maintenance michael. Remember it's a good 10years since DSO and I expect loads of things need checking, some replacing. Lots of main transmitters and some relays have had extended periods of maintenance. The Bilsdale fire may well have made them do thorough checks to ensure similar is not likely anywhere else!
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Saturday, 30 September 2023
M
Michael 9:41 AM
Chris, thanks for the reassurance! I plan to replace my corroding log-periodic with a Group-A yagi. There are persistent musings about an eventual switch-off of DTT, with all broadcasts moving to fibre-Internet and satellite. This would be problematic for rural areas - and for older viewers who might be perplexed by the complexities of "smart" TV navigation. Likewise the plan to transfer all telephone services to fibre. Maybe for future generations :-)
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C
Chris.SE6:14 PM
Michael :
Yes all such future switching is/can be/will be confusing for some. HOWEVER if you want to receive all of Carmel's muxes as they are at present, your really need a Group K. They do do both Group K and Group A Log-periodics these days (well Blake certainly do, there are one or two others).
Personally I doubt there'll be much of a DTT switch off in the next decade, whilst mux licences run until 2034 even though some could be terminated at shorter notice, I doubt the wider public will tolerate it. The type of change to "broadcast" TV is by no means certain, some think 5G may still be the choice. Streamed content will obviously be still an option anyway as it is at present although not for all and the "complexities of smart TVs" makes it all far to clunky at present for a lot of users. But as for VoIP phone don't start me on that topic :o
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