Full Freeview on the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter
Brian Butterworth first published this on - UK Free TV
Google Streetview | Google map | Bing map | Google Earth | 51.237,-2.626 or 51°14'12"N 2°37'33"W | BA5 3LB |
The symbol shows the location of the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter which serves 720,000 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.
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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
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which Freeview channels does the Mendip 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
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Mendip transmitter?
ITV West Country News (East) 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Bristol BS4 3HG, 23km north (11°)
to ITV West region - 61 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 50% evening news is shared with West Country (West)
Are there any self-help relays?
Cheddar | Transposer | 15 km E Weston-super-Mare | 1674 homes |
Luccombe | Active deflector | 6 km w Minehead | 38 homes |
How will the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2010 | 2010-13 | 2013-18 | 2013-17 | 27 Feb 2018 | |||
C/D E | E | E | C/D E | C/D E T | W T | W T | |||
C30 | _local | ||||||||
C32 | BBCA | ||||||||
C33 | com7 | com7 | |||||||
C34 | D3+4 | ||||||||
C35 | com8 | com8 | |||||||
C36 | ArqB | ||||||||
C37 | C5waves | C5waves | |||||||
C48 | SDN | SDN | SDN | SDN | |||||
C49tv_off | BBCA | BBCA | |||||||
C51tv_off | LBS | LBS | |||||||
C52tv_off | ArqB | ArqB | ArqB | ||||||
C54tv_off | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | D3+4 | D3+4 | D3+4 | |||
C55tv_off | com7tv_off | ||||||||
C56tv_off | ArqA | ArqA | ArqA | COM8tv_off | |||||
C58tv_off | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBCB | BBCB | BBCB | |||
C61 | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | BBCA | |||||
C64 | 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 24 Mar 10 and 7 Apr 10.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
Analogue 1-4 | 500kW | |
Analogue 5 | (-6dB) 126kW | |
SDN, ARQA, ARQB, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 100kW | |
com7 | (-8.4dB) 72.4kW | |
com8 | (-8.6dB) 69.1kW | |
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*, LBS | (-17dB) 10kW |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Mendip transmitter area
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Sunday, 28 September 2014
M
Martin Batchelor7:22 PM
Templecombe
Dave Lindsay -- Thanks for your very full answer. In order to answer you with 100% certainty I have just checked the channels and frequencies of both West and South TV transmissions.
My Panasonic Digital Recorder shows channel No, frequency, service i.e. West or South as well as error rate.
On turning the aerial towards Rowridge and tuning Chan 31 I get all of the correct channels on the correct Nos . The signal level is around 9 and the quality is hard over on maximum, the error rate is 0. The picture quality is excellent. On rotating the aerial to Mendip and tuning Chan 33 get a tiny signal that is not good enough to even try to tune. All other Mendip signals are much the same as for Rowridge.
On examining the map for Mendip there is a reception area that extends to Bournemouth via Blandford and to the Isle of Wight. I suggest that I may be benefitting from this freak but in the other direction. We have almost a clear view from SE to S as we are on an upward slope of the Blackmore Vale. It would be easy just to switch to Rowridge but as I said earlier we would have to take the south news.
Unless I can put up a 100ft pole for the aerial I have probably reached the end of my thoughts on this topic.
When I installed the FM aerial 8 years ago I also found that I get better reception from the direction of Rowridge than Wenvoe so have left it facing that way.
Thanks again for your assistance.
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Martin's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb387:58 PM
David Newton : Thanks for the update, although now its known that the Humax in question is a HDR2000t model its possibly not the best to use for signal checking purposes, as adverse reports have been seen with regards to the sensitivity of the tuners used in this particular model.
However, I have updated the test post code used for signal assessment purposes in your area to that of the old library, this still indicating that excellent reception should be possible in your area from Mendips COM7 on Mux Ch33, also by the way, including Wenvoes COM7 on Mux 31 on a reverse pick up on your aerial (only 2 degrees out) albeit that a line of sight obstruction does exist at around 1 mile prior to your area.
As far as the next stage of action is concerned, although I do realise that your local TV shop has verified that COM7 is received OK where they are located, its really best to try and check with someone located as near as possible to your own property, this being to avoid the remote possibility of a dead spot coming into the equation, if though COM7 is being received nearby then this is inclined to point to a fault on the aerial system such as a defective connection, as its not exactly unknown for a defective joint to be frequency selective.
The ideal test of all would be if you could retune any of your HD devices whilst connected into another aerial system, as once connected back onto your own system this would instantly reveal if yours was indeed faulty.
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Monday, 29 September 2014
J
jb387:31 AM
David Newton: In addition to that said, and although a long shot, but as the aerial system referred to dates back around 20 years check the coax route to the actual aerial itself to make sure that it doesn't pass through a small box of any sort such as a diplexer, as back in the analogue years the previous owner of the property might possibly have been using a twin aerial system to enable viewing of news programmes from two areas via a single downlead, and if a diplexer had been left in the system it would block signals of a lower frequency, Mendips analogue transmitters always having used channels in the higher end of the band.
By the way, although diplexers were usually always installed attached to the aerial mounting pole, in some cases they might even have been installed in a loft.
Could you also confirm that you are "not" able to view EPG 124 / 134 or 64?
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D
David Newton5:49 PM
jb38 - thanks..
Ok, I've no idea how old the aerial is. It is obviously 'old fashioned' looking compared to others nearby.
Sorry, I can't get easy access to the attic to check for any other components,
without moving wardrobes.
I can confirm 124 / 134 or 64 are absent from the EPG of The HD devices I've just checked.
Would it be any use for test purposes to try and find a mains powered set top aerial
stored in a box somewhere in the house.
Or would it be too old to function with HD channels ?
cheers.
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J
jb387:16 PM
David Newton: Aerials will receive anything within the range of frequencies they are designed to cover irrespective of whatever the transmission mode might be, and so if you have an old set top aerial of the powered variety kicking about it could be used for a "manual tune" test of the type described in a previous reply.
That said, I wouldn't put too much reliance on the outcome of the test, as set top aerials even of the powered variety, might not detect anything in your area when installed at only a few feet above ground level.
Of course, should you manage to find the aerial, it goes without saying that you would first of all try it out on the channels that's known to be receivable on the main aerial, as the outcome of that test would at least give you an idea of whether or not you are liable to be wasting your time using an aerial of that type for tests.
By the way, the reason for emphasising the "manual tune without pressing scan or search" procedure, is simply because that this procedure effectively uses the receivers tuner as a form of signal meter free from threshold cut off levels, meaning that extremely low level signals will still be shown on the strength bar even although the strength of anything indicated might well be under a level that's capable of resolving a picture, plus the quality will be zero. But though, it doesn't really matter about this, as you are only interested in knowing if any RF signals exist from Mux33.
I would also like to say, that even although I have referred to issues concerning the sensitivity of tuner used in your 2000t, the Humax is still the best device to use for tests of this sort, always remembering to select DVB-T2 for HD signals.
Pity you are unable to access the loft, but have a look up at your aerial just to make sure the coax coming down from same is not seen to be passing through any small boxes strapped to the mast, or brickwork.
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Friday, 3 October 2014
M
Mike3:41 PM
Poole
For the past 10 days I have been having considerable interference on most freeview channels.Aerial firm insisted it was 4G interference . Filters supplied byat800 have made no difference.The main com causing problem is Com5.Don't know if high pressure is the cause but have not had this much on Mendip before.Post code BH15 3RJ.{or whether it is connected to dual aerial system I use]
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Mike's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
4:40 PM
4:40 PM
Mike: If you've got an aerial amplifier then any filter will need to go before it.
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Sunday, 5 October 2014
M
Mal12:57 PM
Com5 is at 754MHz
There is the N+9(72MHz) problem with can tuners that have IF frequency.
754 + 72 = 826MHz which would put in the 4Gs duplex gap (821 - 832).
It seems that the interference shouldn't be 4G.
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Tuesday, 21 October 2014
J
Jeff10:58 PM
Anyone know of any problems affecting COM7 (BBC4 HD, etc)? Over the past few days it's been very intermittent, sometimes with no signal at all (even through a booster). As it's now listed above at 72 400w (up from 10000) there should be no reception problems. No problems are reported at Mendip. Any information?
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Wednesday, 22 October 2014
J
Jeff10:22 AM
Update to above: booster only used to check reception: not normally used. All other MPXs OK., just channel 33.
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