Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
 | Google Streetview |  | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 53.625,-2.516 or 53°37'30"N 2°30'56"W |  | BL6 6SL |
The symbol shows the location of the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter which serves 2,690,000 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 Winter Hill (Bolton, England) mast?
Winter Hill transmitter - Winter Hill transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 18/11/2024 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.
DTG-8 64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-2 16QAM 2K 3/4 18.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which Freeview channels does the Winter Hill 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.
| Mux | H/V | Frequency | Height | Mode | Watts |
| PSB1 BBCA | H max | C32 (562.0MHz) | 726m | DTG- | 100,000W |
 1 BBC One (SD) North West, 2 BBC Two England, 9 BBC Four, 23 BBC Three, 201 CBBC, 202 CBeebies, 231 BBC News, 232 BBC Parliament, plus 17 others | |||||
| PSB2 D3+4 | H max | C34 (578.0MHz) | 726m | DTG- | 100,000W |
 3 ITV 1 (SD) (Granada), 4 Channel 4 (SD) North ads, 5 Channel 5, 6 ITV 2, 10 ITV3, 13 E4, 14 Film4, 15 Channel 4 +1 North ads, 18 More4, 26 ITV4, 28 ITVBe, 30 E4 +1, 35 ITV1 +1 (Granada), 71 That’s 60s, | |||||
| PSB3 BBCB | H max | C35- (585.8MHz) | 726m | DTG- | 100,000W |
 46 5SELECT, 101 BBC One HD North West, 102 BBC Two HD England, 103 ITV 1 HD (ITV Granada), 104 Channel 4 HD North ads, 105 Channel 5 HD, 106 BBC Four HD, 107 BBC Three HD, 204 CBBC HD, 205 CBeebies HD, plus 1 others | |||||
| COM4 SDN | H max | C29 (538.0MHz) | 726m | DTG-8 | 100,000W |
 20 U&Drama, 21 5USA, 29 ITV2 +1, 32 5STAR, 33 5Action, 38 Channel 5 +1, 41 Legend, 42 GREAT! action, 57 U&Dave ja vu, 58 ITV3 +1, 59 ITV4 +1, 64 Blaze, 67 TRUE CRIME, 68 TRUE CRIME XTRA, 81 Blaze +1, 83 Together TV, 91 WildEarth, 93 ITVBe +1, 209 Ketchup TV, 210 Ketchup Too, 211 YAAAS!, 251 Al Jazeera English, 255 FRANCE 24 (in English), 265 Rok Sky +1, plus 29 others | |||||
| COM5 ArqA | H max | C31 (554.0MHz) | 726m | DTG-8 | 100,000W |
 11 Sky Mix, 17 Really, 19 U&Dave, 31 E4 Extra, 36 Sky Arts, 40 Quest Red, 43 Food Network, 47 Film4 +1, 48 Challenge, 49 4seven, 60 U&Drama +1, 65 That's TV 2, 70 Quest +1, 74 &UYesterday +1, 76 That's TV 2 MCR, 233 Sky News, plus 13 others | |||||
| COM6 ArqB | H max | C37 (602.0MHz) | 726m | DTG-8 | 100,000W |
 12 Quest, 25 U&W, 27 U&Yesterday, 34 GREAT! movies, 39 DMAX, 44 HGTV, 52 GREAT! christmas, 56 That's TV (UK), 63 GREAT! romance mix, 73 HobbyMaker, 75 That's 90s, 82 Talking Pictures TV, 84 PBS America, 235 Al Jazeera Eng, plus 18 others | |||||
| LM | H -20dB | C40 (626.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-12 | 1,000W |
 from 1st October 2014: 7 That's Manchester, | |||||
| LL | H -17dB | C24 (498.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-12 | 2,000W |
 from 30th June 2014: 7 Bay TV Liverpool, | |||||
| LPR | H -20dB | C56 (754.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-12 | 1,000W |
 from 1st October 2014: 7 That's Lancashire, | |||||
| GIM | H -20dB | C57 (762.0MHz) | 572m | DTG-2 | 1,000W |
 Now 90s, Spotlight TV, Clubland TV, Country Music Entertainment , Classic Hits MCR, 77 That's 60s MCR, 78 TCC, 80 That's 80s, 86 That's 90s MCR, 88 TV Warehouse+1, | |||||
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-2 16QAM 2K 3/4 18.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Winter Hill transmitter?
BBC North West Tonight 3.1m homes 11.8%
from Salford M50 2QH, 22km southeast (140°)
to BBC North West region - 92 masts.
ITV Granada Reports 3.1m homes 11.6%
from Salford M50 2EQ, 22km southeast (139°)
to ITV Granada region - 80 masts.
How will the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1956-80s | 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2009 | 2009-13 | 2013-18 | 2013-17 | 20 Feb 2020 | ||
| VHF | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E T | W T | W T | ||
| C9 | ITVwaves | ||||||||
| C12 | BBCtvwaves | ||||||||
| C24 | _local | ||||||||
| C29 | SDN | ||||||||
| C31 | com7 | com7 | |||||||
| C32 | BBCA | ||||||||
| C34 | D3+4 | ||||||||
| C35 | BBCB | ||||||||
| C37 | com8 | com8 | |||||||
| C40 | LOCAL2 | ||||||||
| C48 | C5waves | C5waves | |||||||
| C49tv_off | ArqA | ArqA | |||||||
| C50tv_off | BBCA | BBCA | |||||||
| C54tv_off | -BBCB | -BBCB | -BBCB | ||||||
| C55tv_off | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | ArqB | ArqB | ArqB | com7tv_off | ||
| C56tv_off | _local | _local | _local | LPR | |||||
| C57tv_off | GIM | GIM | GIM | GIM | |||||
| C58tv_off | SDN | SDN | SDN | ||||||
| C59tv_off | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | D3+4 | D3+4 | D3+4 | |||
| C61 | ArqA | ||||||||
| C62 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBCA | |||||
| C65 | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves |
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 4 Nov 09 and 2 Dec 09.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 500kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 100kW | |
| com7 | (-12.9dB) 25.7kW | |
| com8 | (-13.4dB) 22.6kW | |
| Analogue 5 | (-16dB) 12.5kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D* | (-17dB) 10kW | |
| LL | (-24dB) 2kW | |
| GIM, LM, LPR | (-27dB) 1000W |
Local transmitter maps
Winter Hill Freeview Winter Hill DAB Winter Hill AM/FM Winter Hill TV region BBC North West GranadaWhich companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Winter Hill transmitter area
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Wednesday, 29 December 2021
K
Karl10:55 AM
It was CPC and I've actually just been to the trade counter this morning... wanted some caps for something I'm working on.
It was CPC I got the dimensions from. It's hard gauging size from the ground but the ones I see look very very small indeed. Looking at Antiference now... yes they say 440mm and show a picture. It looks about right in relation to the mast so maybe CPC is in error. They do look small up on a roof.
Another strange sight around here that I'm not sure about. Mini Yagis? I can find nothing on these at all. Is there such a thing?
Now had I seen one of these looking tatty I would just dismiss it as a Yagi with the front part of the boom that had fallen off but I've seen around three now that are Yagi's and with just 3 elements in front of the dipole. These all look shiny new installs. In fact I'm sure on one of these I noticed the old aerial blown down, wondered what might appear, and it was one of these. I really don't know whether they are 'real' or defective damaged ordinary ones.
They all look pretty much like a standard Antiference style Yagi but a short boom of I think just 3 elements at the front, tail mounted. They look even smaller than those miniature logs.
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K
Karl7:43 PM
So these are real... another shiny new one has just gone up a few hundred metres from where I am.
I can not find (so far) a picture of these anywhere, let alone who makes them. They look like a Yagi with a proper reflector at the back, but hardly any boom in front.
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C
Chris.SE11:35 PM
Karl:
Could it be one like this? https://cpc.farnell.com/s…3503
If not, is it rods or Xs on the boom?
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Thursday, 30 December 2021
K
Karl7:18 AM
Yes, well done! Those look exactly like the ones I see. I wonder just how suitable those will prove over time. The description suggests more for mobile use rather than permanent installations and there isn't much in reserve gain wise.
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S
StevensOnln110:36 AM
Karl: The aerial Chris has linked to is a wideband yagi type designed for use on caravans and motorhomes etc. It will probably work ok in areas with a strong signal but I wouldn't expect it to be much good if you are a long way from the transmitter.
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K
Karl12:04 PM
StevensOnln1:
The distance is 44km from here to Winter Hill. I did a lot of research when I did my loft install including compass bearings (amazing what you can do with free web sites such as finding the bearing between to two locations).
I am seeing more and more of those little Yagi's in this neighbourhood, relatively speaking of course. It would be interesting to know if it was one particular contractor fitting these as logs seem to have been the preferred fitment these days for pretty much every situation in the last few years.
I do wonder how they will last as it only needs a small reduction in signal level (damp in cable etc) to really have an impact. Also thinking of when transmitters are on low power for maintenance.
One to watch I think.
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Friday, 31 December 2021
C
Chris.SE2:12 AM
Karl:
StevensOnln1:
I bet whoever is installing them is making a killing! They do look reasonably well made (time will tell) and they are cheap!
A bit shorter than that LP and if the figures are to be believed, similar gain.
On paper I suppose that providing the loss in the downlead is less than the aerial gain, it'll be OK as you are in quite a good signal area, I'd guess about 50dBuV @10m external unobstructed, even feeding an amp/splitter all should be well, but it could get very iffy with passive splitters. Personally I'd prefer a bit more signal.
Consideration also needs to be given to the F/B ratio and beamwidth. However I'd think that with the low gain then Moel-y-Parc shouldn't be an issue, and considering your particular near coastal location F/B shouldn't be an issue either, but never the less I'd still go for that Labgear LP if COM7 isn't an issue.
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M
Mazbar 2:06 PM
Chris.SE: I can assure you very few aerial riggers are making a killing, first you have your stock to buy, aerial, mast, bracket, lashing, coax, tape, clips, f connector and coax plug if you are neat hole tidy. Then you need your meter, ladders, cat ladder, your van and van insurance service your van and diesel. You also need public liability insurance. Then you have your tax 20% and then 9%. If you take credit card you pay a percentage mine is 1.75%. You will also need your equipment like drills and tools. After all that you have your profits for one of the most dangerous jobs you can do.
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Monday, 3 January 2022
K
Karl11:23 AM
For interest I did a test using the Sony recorder that is on its own individual feed from the low gain distribution amp in the loft (as opposed to the main set up that has a three way passive splitter feeding TV, Sony recorder (yes I have two) and the Panasonic recorder).
So picking a representative MUX on CH31 we get:
0db = 88%
3db = 87%
6db = 84%
10db = 72%
12db = 65%
15db = 56%
18db = 50%
24db = 31%
All 5 main MUXES are broadly similar give or take. The Sony can not receive the HD CH37 MUX but levels here are good on the TV and Panasonic.
The lower power CH21 (?) and CH40 are the odd ones out. These show CH21 and CH40 respectively. Signal quality was 100% for all except for the one entry detailed below.
0db 35% and 57%
3db 34% and 51%
6db 35% and 42% (35% was what it was)
10db 35% and 35%
12db 34% and 32%
15db 11% and 36% (signal Quality fell to 24% on CH21 but was error free to view)
18db 0% and 31%
24db 0% and 35%
All the attenuators used were single individual values and not stacked or combined. It looks like the tuner must be working overtime with its AGC (as expected) as the results are not very linear and it 'holds on' as long as it can with ever lower levels. Never the less the set up seems to have plenty in reserve and have to say I'm really pleased given its a loft install.
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C
Chris.SE3:12 PM
Karl:
That's quite interesting, good bit of experimenting there. The setup is doing well then as your other output with the passive splitter also works well. Don't forget that Local muxes are beamed in the directions of the areas they are intended to serve. So you're doing well to get a signal on C21 as it's the Liverpool mux.
Just as a reminder for others as well (as it tends to get "lost" being a few posts back) -
Full list of Winter Hill channels at Winter Hill (Bolton, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy
COM8 closure mentioned in Winter Hill (Bolton, England) Full Freeview transmitter | free and easy
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