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 25/09/2023 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.
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 withheldSaturday, 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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Friday, 28 August 2020
Transmitter engineering
10:28 PM
10:28 PM
CARMEL transmitter - DAB: Off the air due to a fault from 27 Aug 17:01 until 27 Aug 17:08. . [BBC]
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Saturday, 5 September 2020
Transmitter engineering
10:28 PM
10:28 PM
CARMEL transmitter - DAB: Reduced quality due to a fault from 13 Aug 23:42 until 13 Aug 23:52. . [BBC]
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Friday, 9 October 2020
Transmitter engineering
7:25 PM
7:25 PM
CARMEL transmitter - DAB: Off the air due to essential engineering from 9 Oct 10:37 until 9 Oct 11:40. . [BBC]
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Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Transmitter engineering
1:27 PM
1:27 PM
CARMEL transmitter - DAB: Off the air due to essential engineering from 27 Oct 11:58 until 27 Oct 12:38. . [BBC]
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Friday, 8 January 2021
Transmitter engineering
7:54 AM
7:54 AM
CARMEL transmitter - DAB: Off the air due to a fault from 8 Jan 03:21 until 8 Jan 03:28. . [BBC]
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Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Transmitter engineering
1:51 PM
1:51 PM
CARMEL transmitter - DAB: Off the air due to essential engineering from 17 Feb 11:46. . FM: Slightly reduced power due to essential engineering from 17 Feb 12:29. . [BBC]
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Transmitter engineering
2:10 PM
2:10 PM
CARMEL transmitter - DAB: Off the air due to essential engineering from 17 Feb 11:46. . [BBC]
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