Full Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter
Brian Butterworth first published this on - UK Free TV
Google Streetview | Google map | Bing map | Google Earth | 52.801,-0.801 or 52°48'4"N 0°48'5"W | LE14 4AJ |
The symbol shows the location of the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter which serves 770,000 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.
This transmitter has no current reported problems
The BBC and Digital UK report there are no faults or engineering work on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter._______
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 Waltham 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 Waltham transmitter?
BBC East Midlands Today 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Nottingham NG2 4UU, 28km northwest (306°)
to BBC East Midlands region - 17 masts.
ITV Central News 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Birmingham B1 2JT, 83km west-southwest (244°)
to ITV Central (East) region - 17 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 80% evening news is shared with Central (West)
Are there any self-help relays?
Braunstone | Transposer | 5 km SW Leicester city centre | 170 homes |
How will the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2011 | 2011-13 | 2013-18 | 2013-17 | 4 Mar 2020 | |||
C/D E | E | E | W | W T | W T | W T | |||
C26 | LNG | LNG | |||||||
C29 | SDN | SDN | SDN | SDN | |||||
C31 | com7 | com7 | |||||||
C32 | BBCA | ||||||||
C34 | D3+4 | ||||||||
C35 | C5waves | C5waves | BBCB | ||||||
C37 | com8 | com8 | |||||||
C41 | _local | ||||||||
C49tv_off | BBCA | BBCA | |||||||
C54tv_off | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | D3+4 | D3+4 | D3+4 | |||
C55tv_off | com7tv_off | ||||||||
C56tv_off | ArqA | ArqA | ArqA | COM8tv_off | |||||
C57tv_off | ArqB | ArqB | ArqB | ||||||
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 17 Aug 11 and 31 Aug 11.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
Analogue 1-5 | 250kW | |
BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 50kW | |
SDN, ARQA, ARQB | (-10dB) 25kW | |
com8 | (-12.7dB) 13.4kW | |
com7 | (-13.9dB) 10.2kW | |
Mux 1* | (-14dB) 10kW | |
Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B* | (-14.9dB) 8kW | |
Mux C*, Mux D*, LNG | (-17dB) 5kW |
Local transmitter maps
Waltham Freeview Waltham DAB Waltham AM/FM Waltham TV region BBC East Midlands Central (East micro region)Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Waltham transmitter area
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Saturday, 8 January 2011
J
jb389:05 PM
Rich Martindale - Apologies for intruding on Briantists replies to you, but being fairly knowledgeable of the Newark area I can say that certain areas in and around Newark have always experienced reception problems, that also applying to analogue right from when it first started transmission.
Even in a couple of villages slightly South of the town where friends of mine reside, tests I carried out last year proved the DTT signals received from Belmont were far in a way better than Waltham, this to the extent that when the former switches to high power I may possibly have to by-pass the internal amplifiers located within the log periodic aerials I had fitted up for them when they went digital.
Regarding Waltham, I also get quite variable performance from there, and even on Mux1&2 with virtually 80 /100% quality indication (Panasonic & Humax devices) this can suffer from an occasional dive to about 20% every now and again, and although I am in no way line of sight I don't feel its just happening due to atmospheric reasons, albeit of course its quite correct that it could.
I do feel though that when Waltham goes over to high power most of the problems presently experienced will likely disappear, that is as much as can be expected with digital reception of a terrestrial nature.
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Rich Martindale9:22 PM
Newark
jb38 - thank you for your message. We have just moved in to Farnsfield where it seams that all the aerials are aimed at Waltham? I think that I will cancel my sports subscription until after Waltham is switched over (September?) then revisit this. However, if you know of any good engineers in the local area, a recommendation would be much appreciated. Cheers. Rich
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Rich's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 9 January 2011
J
jb385:54 PM
Rich (Martindale) - Well my personal opinion on your situation is, that if you don't have any great problems whilst viewing the other main channels then its maybe best policy to wait until after the changeover before making any decisions, as judging by what I have read in various places it seems to be that there is quite a number of people forking out money for the type of upgrades that I know is very likely to only result in a fractional difference in reception, when if they were prepared to wait until after switchover occurs their present problems would most likely to a great extent just about vanish.
Regarding the signal strength you reported as getting on Ch33 (570Mhz) which does seem to be a bit on the low side although the quality diving is the real killer, that being said though as far as strength is concerned the level being indicated for a given aerial signal input level can vary by quite a large degree depending on how enthusiastic the scale is designed on the particular brand of reception device being used, as in my own case my Humax PVR indicates 65% strength & 100% quality on MUX1 (Ch49) whereas the same signal input on my Panasonic G20B TV indicates the level as being 100% on both S&Q, however purely out of curiosity I would be interested to know what strength / quality you get on Ch49 (698Mhz) - Ch23 (490Mhz) & Ch26 (514Mhz) as if "some" channels are not considerably higher (excluding 26) then it could possibly indicate a problem.
Two clarifications - (1) re- Briantist mentioning Ch56 after changeover, it simply means that the programme operator Aquiva that Sky sports is on will then be using Ch56 (754Mhz) @ 25Kw output rather than what they are presently on @ 8Kw output, although at changeover everyone will have to retune their equipment as all the MUX transmitters are changing their channel positions.
(2) Regarding your mast head amplifier, to check if its still operating all you require to do is unplug its mains connection whilst you are watching a programme, if you are on DTT (DVB on some sets) the picture will vanish, and likewise if you are viewing analogue the picture will fade to snow, because if the amplifier wasn't working unplugging it would not make any difference and the fact that it does somewhat proves its OK.
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Rich Martindale7:27 PM
Newark
jb38 - Many thanks again. Regarding signal on the other frequencies requested; 698MHz (64% strength, 100% quality); 490MHz (62% strength, 50-100% quality); 514MHz (64% strength, 100% quality); 570MHz (44-50% strength, 0-20% quality); all taken from the BT Vision box.
Regarding masthead amplification, I ran the tests you suggest on DTT and my picture vanished, so I think it is working.
As suggested, I am inclined to leave it until after switchover but it is frustrating that this has happened after a decent start (SSP1 was good in late November/early December!!!). Anyways, any thoughts/recommendations would be very gratefully received. Regards. Rich
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Rich's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 10 January 2011
J
jb384:45 PM
Newark
Rich (Martindale) - Thanks for the signal strength / quality check on the various channels I mentioned as this has proved to be very helpful by making it easier to assess the cause of your complaint by somewhat confirming what I expected, being that although obvious deficiencies do exist with your present reception they are of a nature that doesn't suggest they are in any way caused by problems within your installation but originate totally out with your control, as with the variable signal strength / intermittent quality dive problem only really being evident (in severity anyway) on 570Mhz is just one of these inconveniences that will rectify itself at switchover and is a problem commonly experienced with distant reception from a low powered source, as the low powered signal is vulnerable to all forms of possible interference along the route, coupled of course to possible atmospheric condition problems making matters worse.
I find your report on 570Mhz interesting though! as I experienced this channel increasing in strength to 100/100% last year near to about the same time scale you said your own reception of it went downhill, of course on the negative side (for myself) my 514Mhz took a dive at a similar time whereas you seem to be OK with reception of this frequency, my Ch26 reception jumping on and off the so called "digital cliff" effect.
Although I don't profess to knowing reception conditions out with Newark as far as your neck of the woods is concerned, as aforementioned I do know Waltham to be very iffy in many places hence the reason Belmont is used by quite a number of people, albeit of course that the local news doesn't really favour the area, so although I honestly do feel that come switchover the problem that you presently experience will be no longer in evidence Belmont should not be discounted, this being irrespective of the fact that you have noticed that all aerials in your area point towards Waltham, as to frank about it aerial installers in very many cases just "go with the flow" to save time as the DTG post code predictor (unlike Wolfbane.com) gives Belmont as first choice for coverage with Waltham being second, this with a NG22 8EF post code being entered. (Local Co-op)
Just to finalise as I realise I am going on, I wouldn't touch anything until after switchover as to me all seems OK with your system, fine trimming aerials can sometimes give slight improvements but as well as these being fractional its usually at the expense of some other channel.
Hope the info may have been of some assistance. Regards JB38.
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jb38's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Rich Martindale4:58 PM
Newark
jb38 - your input is greatly appreciated and you have provided lots of assistance. Many, many thanks.
I am going to leave it until after switchover before looking in to this any further. Here's hoping that the issue is sorted but if not, I will get an engineer involved at that point.
Having walked around the village over the weekend, several aerials are actually pointed towards Belmont so that gives me confidence that one way or another this will be resolvable!
Finally, I'm sorry to hear about your issues on 514MHz. I hope it is sorted for you ASAP.
Many thanks, all the best and speak again in September!
Rich
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Rich's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb389:23 PM
(Rich Martindale) Thanks Rich! and come later on in the year will look forward to hearing an update from you. Regards - John (JB38)
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Sunday, 23 January 2011
J
Jane Grylls4:01 PM
For the past fortnight or so our freeview boxes have been unable to pick up BBC 1 or 2 from Waltham, but all other digital channels appear OK. This is becoming very annoying, more so as it seems to be restricted only to these two channels. Re-tuning the freeview boxes does not help (done at least 6 times). Is the signal strength low?
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Monday, 24 January 2011
Jane Grylls: Yes, that what "TV (digital) Liable to interruption" in the engineering is about.
However, this should not effect your evening viewing, so please also see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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Thursday, 27 January 2011
H
h jones10:16 PM
I live 5 mins drive from the waltham transmitter and can see it from my window !
All freeview is off this week at our house(no amount of re-tuning helps)as it was at the beginning of December.
But an indoor ariel works great !!
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