Full Freeview on the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter
 | Google Streetview |  | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 52.130,-0.242 or 52°7'47"N 0°14'33"W |  | SG19 2NH |
The symbol shows the location of the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter which serves 920,000 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 Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) mast?
Sandy Heath transmitter - Sandy Heath transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 22/04/2024 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)
Which Freeview channels does the Sandy Heath 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)
Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Sandy Heath transmitter?
BBC Look East (West) 1.0m homes 3.7%
from Cambridge CB4 0WZ, 29km east-northeast (65°)
to BBC Cambridge region - 4 masts.
70% of BBC East (East) and BBC East (West) is shared output
ITV Anglia News 1.0m homes 3.7%
from Norwich NR1 3JG, 119km east-northeast (60°)
to ITV Anglia (West) region - 5 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 80% evening news is shared with Anglia (East)
How will the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1965-80s | 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2011 | 2011-13 | 12 Feb 2020 | ||||
| VHF | A K T | K T | K T | W T | W T | ||||
| C6 | ITVwaves | ||||||||
| C21 | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | +BBCB | BBCB | ||||
| C24 | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | D3+4 | D3+4 | ||||
| C27 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBCA | BBCA | ||||
| C31 | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | ||||||
| C32 | com7 | ||||||||
| C33 | SDN | ||||||||
| C34 | com8 | ||||||||
| C35 | _local | ||||||||
| C36 | ArqA | ||||||||
| C39 | C5waves | C5waves | |||||||
| C43 | _local | ||||||||
| C48 | ArqB | ArqB | |||||||
| C51tv_off | SDN | ||||||||
| C52tv_off | ArqA | ||||||||
| C55tv_off | com7tv_off | ||||||||
| C56tv_off | COM8tv_off |
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 Mar 11 and 13 Apr 11.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 1000kW | |
| BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7.4dB) 180kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB | (-7.7dB) 170kW | |
| com7 | (-13dB) 49.6kW | |
| com8 | (-13.1dB) 49.1kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D* | (-17dB) 20kW | |
| Analogue 5 | (-20dB) 10kW |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Sandy Heath transmitter area
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Tuesday, 4 October 2011
R
RobWhitwell10:26 AM
Hitchin
Back up to 59 tv channesl today. Saying that, those 'returning' Mux C ones are frozen images with little signal strength. Perhaps may improve tomorrow as weather gets colder.
No Mux A (SDN) channels yet.
Watch this space.
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RobWhitwell's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
M
Murray Allen9:06 PM
We have recently lost all MUX C channels (chiefly Dave, Dave Ja Vu and E4+1). I have tried retuning but it makes no difference. It appears to have happened in the last 3 weeks (maybe when I re-tuned on 13th September switchover - which saw the long awaited return of Film4). I live in Cambridge and assume I am accessing the Sandy Heath transmitter. Any ideas? Thanks.
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R
RobWhitwell10:56 PM
Hi Murray.
Seems your problems almost mirror mine.
Today have lost all of the mux C channels so total of 40 TV channels again.
Looks like we both will have to wait until next April :-(
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Thursday, 6 October 2011
J
John Morris3:53 AM
Peterborough
Is Sandy Heath transmitting horizontal or vertical polarity?
I wish to install a loft antennae as I can't (daren't) climb to the top of my chimney stack where the old (pre 1860's) antennae is.
Can you recommend a suitable antennae for the job?
Lastly I have a dish for receiving Philippine channels what do I need to do to hook it up to receive Freeview? Thank you John Morris
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John's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
John Morris3:58 AM
Peterborough
One more question to settle an argument with my nephew. He says that co-ax cable needs renewing every few years but I think as the core wire is copper and well protected this is not the case. What is your opinion please?
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John's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb388:14 AM
John Morris: Sandy transmits on horizontal polarity, and as far as fitting the aerial in the loft it all depends on where you are located in Peterborough, as reception can vary slightly between the North and South sides of the city with many in the North end favouring Waltham, although speaking in general terms a good signal can be received in most areas with the exception of Sandy's Mux Ch67 & Mux Ch48 which are still on low power, this also applies to Mux Ch31 but it is generally received at a far superior level over the other two mentioned.
For a loft aerial, I would recommend that you take advantage of an excellent offer I noticed that's on in Screwfix, the aerial referred to seen on the link and is virtually guaranteed to be perfect for your requirements provided its not positioned facing into a water tank. (this aerial in Argos being £52.00)
By the way on the co-ax issue, there is no real need to change this at all provided water hasn't crept into it nor has it been damaged in any way.
This being the aerial referred to.
Labgear 27885LAB Megaboost Amplified Outdoor Aerial & Cable 16dB | Screwfix.com
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S
Steve P9:24 AM
JM - like your antique antenna!
If your Filipine dish is pointed in the same direction as "our" satellites you need a Freesat box or old skybox. If it is NOT pointing right you can't get them.
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M
Mike Dimmick2:59 PM
John Morris: The cable insulation is plastic and like all plastics, it deteriorates with exposure to sunlight, and can then let damp in. White insulation tends to be affected worse than black or brown.
Cables should be anchored at frequent intervals, including clips over tiles, so that they cannot move in the wind and rub over the brickwork or tiles, which wears through the insulation.
I'd say you should plan to replace cables about every ten years.
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Saturday, 8 October 2011
S
Steve1:52 PM
Milton Keynes
Has Sandy Heath recently reduced power on Mux C in the last few days as I have lost all these channels (Sky News, Dave, E4+1). All other Mux channel bundles are fine.
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Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
R
RobWhitwell6:25 PM
Steve, That is exactly what has happened with my reception.
Apparently the official line is the SH transmiter has not reduced power. However I think you and I are both developing our own ideas.
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