Full Freeview on the Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England) transmitter
 | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 53.283,-1.429 or 53°16'60"N 1°25'43"W |  | S18 4BT |
The symbol shows the location of the Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England) transmitter which serves 25,000 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 Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England) mast?
Chesterfield transmitter - Chesterfield transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 02/12/2024 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.
64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
The Chesterfield (Derbyshire, 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 Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield (Derbyshire, 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 Chesterfield transmitter?
BBC Look North (Leeds) 1.9m homes 7.4%
from Leeds LS9 8AH, 58km north (353°)
to BBC Yorkshire region - 56 masts.
ITV Calendar 1.9m homes 7.4%
from Leeds LS3 1JS, 59km north (351°)
to ITV Yorkshire (Emley Moor) region - 59 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 80% evening news is shared with Belmont region
How will the Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2011 | 2011-13 | 5 Feb 2020 | |||||
| A K T | A K T | A K T | K T | K T | |||||
| C23 | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | D3+4 | |||||
| C26 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBCA | |||||
| C29 | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | BBCB | BBCB | ||||
| C31 | BBCA | ||||||||
| C33 | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | ||||||
| C37 | D3+4 | ||||||||
| C40 | ArqB | ArqB | |||||||
| C43 | SDN | SDN | |||||||
| C46 | ArqA | ArqA |
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 10 Aug 11 and 24 Aug 11.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 2kW | |
| BBCB | (-4dB) 800W | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB, BBCA, D3+4 | (-7dB) 400W | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D* | (-17dB) 40W | |
| Mux A* | (-20dB) 20W |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Emley Moor transmitter area
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Monday, 14 February 2022
G
Greg10:01 PM
Chesterfield
Apologies for multiple posts!
Seems I am getting C47 from Emley Moor Transmitter ?
But all other frequencies from Chesterfield?
Thanks
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Greg's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
C
Chris.SE11:32 PM
Greg:
Unfortunately posts can sometimes take an inordinate amount of time to appear on this site!
I can't find any faults listed fro Chesterfield and it's not currently listed for Planned Engineering, so why C31 was missing is a mystery at present.
Yes, C47 is BBCA/PSB1 from Emley. As you haven't given a full postcode I can't tell you at which compass bearing your aerial should point, but it should be vertical polarisation whereas Emley is horizontal. I'd check it hasn't tipped over or accidentally been disturbed.
If you retuned when the recent channel changes took place, there was weather related interference issues affecting some people and that might be how you accidentally got tuned to C47.
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Tuesday, 15 February 2022
G
Greg10:59 AM
Chesterfield
Thanks Chris
Postcode is S42 6LA, aerial is set vertical. I have a strong signal on all channels except C31 which is missing.
Then I have another strong signal on C47 which comes from Emley Moor which provides the missing signal C31.
Seems strange. Years ago aerial was horizontal and presumably picking up Emley, but when we went digital I found better reception vertical from Chesterfield. They are both in a very similar direction from here.
A 5G mast has been approved for Chesterfield, will this affect my C47?
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Greg's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
G
Greg11:09 AM
Is there any possibility that Chesterfield is transmitting on C47 in place of C31 ?
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S
StevensOnln13:22 PM
Greg: Freeview's detailed coverage checker shows that you should get good reception from both Emley Moor and Chesterfield. The PSB1/BBCB multiplex is broadcast on C47 from Emley and C31 from Chesterfield. Interference from a 5G mast is unlikely unless it is very close by and in the same direction as the Chesterfield transmitter, and even then C31 is in the lower part of the UHF band and is almost the furthest away from the 700MHz band being used for 4G and 5G services of all the frequencies used at Chesterfield (only PSB3/BBCB on C29 uses a lower frequency).
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C
Chris.SE4:10 PM
Greg:
Compass bearing 356 degrees (almost due N) for Chesterfield, and 340 degrees (fractionally N of NNW) for Emley. Of course polarisations of received signals change change a bit due to local nearby objects, trees, buildings, walls, chimneys etc. (it's that sort of thing that can make RF a bit of a black art at times!).
Have you looked in your 800 LCNs for any BBCA mux channels. It will be dependant on set brand/model as to how you can view which UHF channels you are tuned to, and if for some reason your Emley signal was/is being picked up a bit stronger when you tuned, it may choose that instead of Chesterfield!
Predicted reception across your postcode shows a bit of variability on random checks, but Emley mainly seems to come out stronger with C55 being variable/poor to non-existent! But they are only predictions, things can be different on the spot!
Manual tuning would be the thing to do, for specific UHF channels.
It's not at all likely that Chesterfield is using C47 (apart from a lot of DUK/Freeview & OFCOM documentation being wrong) they'd have to operate as a SFN and they are listed by OFCOM as two different news regions (North for Emley, South for Chesterfield), so no, highly improbable IMHO.
As far as 5G is concerned, there's a bit of confusion as at present it's mainly operating on much higher frequencies. It could be 4G or 5G operating in the 700MHz band, it depends on the coverage needed to fall in line with OFCOM agreements. Whichever it is, it will depend on how close the mast is, and whether it's on the line-of-sight. Any very strong signal (including Freeview itself) can overload and desensitise a receiver's front end. The most likely impact (initially) would be C55 which in any event being a temporary mux is closing by end of June 2022 in line with the current licence. If the signal strength were to be strong enough to be affecting channels lower down (C48 and lower) you would most likely receive a postcard from restoretv.uk (was at800/DMSL) and be entitled to a free filter.
Ha, seems like I was typing my reply at the same time as StevensOnln1 ;)
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G
Greg8:15 PM
Chesterfield
Thanks both
The new 5G transmitter (upgraded from current 4G on that site) will be directly in line about halfway between me and the Chesterfield TV Transmitter. I am right on the edge of the coverage map for both Emley & Chesterfield. I hope C47 is not impacted by the 5G
So my (new) TV can tune to the best signal from either & both Emley & Chesterfield Transmitters ?
Just odd that I can't find C31.
The main thing is that I am covered, the HD channels news is from the wrong region, so I sometimes switch to the SD channels. I am unable to get COM7 (Quest HD) from Emley as it is much lower powered.
Without anything changing at my end, roughly a year or so (maybe more) ago I lost BBC1 from my old TV (presumably C31) and had to manually rearrange from channel 814 on my TV (presumably C47). The new TV stops at 800. Something has happened to prevent me receiving C31 from Chesterfield. I am glad the TV picks up C47 from Emley to replace it.
Many Thanks both for replies.
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Greg's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
G
Greg8:32 PM
Chesterfield
Just to say I have scrolled back through the comments and found another post with the same problem.
C31 has strong signal strength but poor quality, that is what I found previously as the TV would autotune to it every time, meaning I had to manually sort it.
That post thinks interference from the mast at Waltham was to blame.
Regards
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Greg's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 16 February 2022
C
Chris.SE12:31 AM
Greg:
As mentioned in the following reply Chesterfield (Derbyshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy Waltham is over 70km away. If it were a persistent problem for you, neither Freeview's Detailed coverage checker (mentioned by StevensOnln1) nor the Radio and Television Interference Service or the BBC (I checked all) would predict good reception of C31 for you. Yes your set could tune to the best signals it finds if no other preferences have been specified or can be set. Manual tuning the wanted UHF channels is the solution to that one.
Waltham is in the complete opposite direction to Chesterfield & Emley at your location and so would have to be receiving the horizontally polarised signals from Waltham off the back of your vertically polarised aerial. Whilst it's unlikely under normal conditions it's not inconceivable. It you had a suitable aerial (with sufficient gain) pointing at Waltham you are predicted to get good signals for the PSBs but NONE for ArqB/COM6 which is on C31 at Waltham, that being due to the strong C31 from Chesterfield.
I assume you aerial doesn't have any missing bits.
The poster in question did not come back and provide a full postcode so we were unable to check predicted reception BUT located in Dronfield, both Chesterfield and Waltham would be in a generally SE direction and as pointed out by the other poster that replied it can be a problem in that area with poor aerial installation. Furthermore, if that poster had some form of splitter/booster system to feed several TVs, they may have had too much gain bringing in unnecessarily strong signals from Waltham as well as overloading the TV front ends with Chesterfield signals which would result in poor signal quality (a common problem with excessive signal).
Another possible relevant factor at that time was that Storm Arwen had occurred a few days before. We've no idea about the condition of that poster's aerial or downlead and its connections which may have been damaged or had water ingress. (I didn't ask about yours because you mentioned it was in the loft).
Having mentioned about reception under "normal" conditions, there's been no weather related "lifts/temperature inversion/tropospheric ducting" conditions in the last few days and only some very minor and very brief conditions a week ago. That wasn't the case though when the retune occurred as I mentioned previously.
As I also mentioned, predicted reception of Emley is generally better across your postcode BUT it is always dependent on local conditions. One thing people often tend to ignore is trees on the line-of-sight!
You mention your TV stops at 800, this seems rather odd. I'm not convinced you are not receiving C31 from Chesterfield, simply that your set is not using it as the preferred BBCA/PSB1 multiplex for some reason. It is common when sets receive two signals of the same multiplex (even when different regions) it will put the weaker signal (unless it's the chosen region) in the 800s.
HD channels have limited regions at present, that is due to change later in the year.
I suggest there's a few things you could do here. Go through your TV's settings and tuning sections looking for any "automated retune" on no signal setting - if you find one, turn it off, it's more trouble than it's worth. Retunes are rarely needed these days, often only when the commercial operators make some changes to their channels on the COM muxes and then there's usually a pop-up on screen message so you can either manually retune or initiate an automatic one.
In your TV tuning section wherever it gives the Strength and Quality (or Error/BER) figures for each UHF channel's multiplex, post those figures for each.
It might be an idea to check all your coax plugs, connections, flyleads etc, unplug connectors check for corrosion or other problems and reconnect them. Flyleads are a common problem, try swapping/changing them. Also check the connections at your aerial for corrosion particularly if its been installed for a long time but especially as you mentioned losing presumably C31 on your old TV a year ago.
Problematic connections can seem to affect reception of just an individual or several multiplexes.
Make sure you don't have any HDMI leads close to your aerial leads or flyleads, as HDMI has been known to cause interference.
Do you have a distribution amp/splitter?
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G
Greg2:12 PM
Chesterfield
Many Thanks Chris.SE for your detailed reply.
My loft is dry and well ventilated, so corrosion is not a problem, however the aerial in there is connected to a 3-way splitter/amplifier and it does point directly at a plastic cold water tank. I wonder if this is affecting the polarisation? Could C31 be boosted too strong?
I have been playing around with a great little phone app "UK Aerial Alignment" I would say that my aerial (Vertical) is pointing best towards Emley (Horizontal) where the strongest signal is. However Chesterfield (Vertical) is only slightly further North.
Examining a different TV (kitchen) it seems that one is picking up different signals again (from the same aerial) still no C31. A mixture of Emley & Chesterfield frequencies. I was tempted to go up and try the aerial Horizontally, but as I have great signal strength and quality on all available channels (except COM7) it would be better not upset things.
I have found this interesting, the fact I am missing C31 is just strange, but not causing me any problem as I now realise that the TV's will pick up the best signal from anywhere. I now suspect C31 could be too strong with my setup. At least I now have a much better understanding of my TV signals.
Very Many Thanks again for the great help on here.
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