Freeview reception at BS4 1HG
For reliable and stable Freeview reception, you need an unobstructed path between the TV aerial on your roof and the digital TV transmitter. The map below shows the transmitters predicted to provide a signal at this location.
You can click on any transmitter symbol to show the coverage area as a green overlay on the map. Double click on a transmitter symbol to go to the transmitter information page.
You can also view the ten closest potential '4G-at-800' mobile phone masts within 1.5km of the selected location - these masts may be used for 4G-at-800 mobile broadband services from 2013-2015.
These icons show the potential locations for 4G-at-700MHz services that may interfere with Freeview reception at some point from 2020 when the 5G 700MHz services start.
For actual mobile phone reception prediction (at 800-960MHz and 1710-2170MHz) see these phone operator's mapping sites: Three O2 T-Mobile EE Virgin
You can click on any transmitter symbol to show the coverage area as a green overlay on the map. Double click on a transmitter symbol to go to the transmitter information page.
You can also view the ten closest potential '4G-at-800' mobile phone masts within 1.5km of the selected location - these masts may be used for 4G-at-800 mobile broadband services from 2013-2015.
map is loading, please wait...
There are 12 mobile phone masts within 1.5km of BS41HG (page shows closest 10)What do the map symbols mean?
EE, Multiple operators, O2, 3, Vodafone, location on line-of-sight, Selected location, Freeview transmitter, Freeview light transmitter, Engineering/fault today.These icons show the potential locations for 4G-at-700MHz services that may interfere with Freeview reception at some point from 2020 when the 5G 700MHz services start.
For actual mobile phone reception prediction (at 800-960MHz and 1710-2170MHz) see these phone operator's mapping sites: Three O2 T-Mobile EE Virgin
Predicted Freeview channel list
Advanced options
Show good and blocked paths from BS4 1HG for aerial height of ...10m20m (Angel of the North)25m30m40m56m (Hyde Park Flats, Sheffield)62m (Monument)90m (Royal Liver Building, Liverpool)107m (Meridian Quay Tower, Swansea)115m (Bridgewater Place, Leeds)127m (Glasgow Tower)143m (Guy's Hospital)158m (Blackpool Tower)170m (Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth)180m (The Gherkin/BT Tower) 193m (Tower 42)235m (Canary Wharf)310m (The Shard)(default view)
Monday, 6 March 2023
C
Chris.SE11:21 PM
Luke :
Hi. If that location is very close to Mother Ivy's Bay, then you are about half-way between two transmitters, Caradon Hill to the east of you and Redruth to the SSW. However Caradon Hill is the more powerful transmitter and that location is predicted to get better reception of all 6 multiplexes.
The other disadvantage of Redruth is that is is co-channel for the PSB multiplexes with Wenvoe (across the water near Cardiff) and may give interference problems under adverse conditions, the COM multiplexes are also co-channel with some of Mendip's channels and reception could be variable.
However, you'd need to make sure that the aerial was high enough not to have an obstructed line-of-sight, ie no other caravans directly in the way, or large dense clumps of trees.
For Caradon Hill, your aerial should point at compass bearing 96 degrees (6 degrees S of due E), the rods (or squashed Xs) should be horizontal.
For Redruth, it's compass bearing 205 degrees, that's pretty much SSW, rods horizontal again.
Other than local obstructions, there should be line-of-sight to either transmitter.
Which way do your immediate neighbours point their aerial (which may not be the best of course")?
The UHF channels for Caradon Hill are C28, C25, C22, C21, C24, & C27
& Redruth C41, C44, C47, C48, C33, & C32
both in multiplex order BBCA/PSB1, D3&4/PSB2, BBCB HD/PSB3, SDN/COM4, ArqA/COM5, ArqB/COM6.
You may have to try manual tuning if signals are weak.
| link to this comment |
Wednesday, 8 March 2023
L
Luke 9:43 PM
Kingsbridge
Chris.SE: my holiday home caravan is a challaborough bay near Bigbury on sea in Devon. Regards
| link to this comment |
Thursday, 9 March 2023
C
Chris.SE3:07 AM
Luke :
As you didn't give a full postcode, I went by the location information that appeared at the bottom of your previous post (but couldn't find a "challaborough bay" which I assumed was a small unmarked bay on the map). At least Bigbury-on-sea now gives a location where I can find "Challaborough Bay".
It's a poor location I'm afraid, and you will probably be lucky to get any Freeview signals and it will depend on your exact location as to which transmitter you might get some weak signals from.
You will need a high gain Group K aerial and possibly a pre-amp (which should have variable gain).
The aerial would be suitable for any transmitter.
As it so happens the two main transmitters are the same - Caradon Hill and Redruth, the direction is obviously different. Predictions by Freeview are poor, the BBC simply say you are unlikely to get reliable reception.
It's 46km from Caradon Hill and is at compass bearing 304 degrees (between WNW and NW).
It's 96km from Redruth and is at compass bearing 266 degrees (almost due W).
Despite the larger distance you might get more reliable signals from Redruth, try it first (without any pre-amp). I don't think Caradon Hill will be any good, but reception from either transmitter is predicted to be poor and you are unlikely to get all the multiplexes (if any!).
Tuning information as as mentioned in my previous post. Good luck.
However - Predictions, especially in difficult locations aren't 100%. The poor reception of the main transmitters is no doubt due to local terrain - being is a slight valley etc.
So having had a quick look on street view, I see that there are some aerials with their rods vertical and appear to be pointing roughly in a westerly direction, so could be getting signals from a relay transmitter possibly on the east cornish coast. As I mentioned in the previous post -
Do the neighbouring caravans have any aerials? Which way do they point?
Often reception over the water can be quite reasonable but may not be stable.
I suggest point your aerial in the same direction as the neighbours (with the rods (or squashed Xs) vertical and as previously mentioned, try Manual tuning but do so working your way up through the UHF channels (starting at 21) and just see what you pick up. Make a note of the channels with the strongest signals.
Post back with how you get on and as much detail as possible, any signal strength and quality figures, as it might be possible to give further comment.
| link to this comment |
L
Luke 8:44 AM
Kingsbridge
Chris.SE:
Hi, I've just had a look. All the caravans on site have vertical aerials aimed at a mast on the cliff but it doesn't seem to be working
| link to this comment |
C
Chris.SE5:34 PM
Luke :
Hi. How far away roughly are we talking for this mast, can you put any name to that part of the coast?
It could be what's called a "self-help" relay which may not be listed anywhere, but I'll try and check some other listings. If it is, and it's an "active" transponder or a transposer, it could have been switched off because of the energy costs at present, it depends on who provides it. If it's there primarily because of the holiday caravans I can't imagine there'll be many there at this time of year, so they may have turned it off.
More detail on it's location may help.
| link to this comment |
L
Luke 6:28 PM
Kingsbridge
Chris.SE: the transmitter is on the cliff next to the holiday park. Thanks
| link to this comment |
C
Chris.SE7:22 PM
Kingsbridge
Luke:
If it's on the corner of the cliff next to the beach (by the coastal path) there's no record of it that I can find. I assume it's not a new mobile phone mast and that TV aerials happen to point in that direction!
In which case it could well be a self-help relay and more than likely the site will have something to do with it.
I think your best bet will be to go and ask Parkdean Resorts what they can tell you about it (I assume they'll have a site office). If not, try asking someone in the Nisa Local store to see if they can tell you anything.
| link to this comment |
L
Luke 7:45 PM
Kingsbridge
Thanks for your help. I found this information on it. It looks a bit homemade using standard B&Q aerials! http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=1640
| link to this comment |
C
Chris.SE8:06 PM
Luke :
Well done for finding that. mb21 was my next point of call for a search just in case it had anything!
Are you looking at the latest pictures with the new lattice mast from 2021, kit doesn't look quite so home-made!
If this information is correct then it's a transposer, but where does it get it's power?
Quote -
Closeup of receive antenna, from Redruth. Challaborough re-transmits all 6 multiplexes. It is a transposer using channels 49,50,54,55,56,59 VP. 700 MHz clearance has yet to be implemented here.
Interesting, if it still uses those channels? Perhaps you can go have a look for a power source (solar?). Ask around if nothing obvious. Please let us know what you find out.
| link to this comment |
Monday, 13 March 2023
C
Chris.SE3:04 PM
Luke:
Well looking at the latest picture after Storm Eunice repair March 2022, the new receive antenna is suggested pointing at Caradon Hill.
If this self-help relay is now just a (active?) transponder, try Caradon Hill's UHF channels.
If it's still a transposer, no idea which UHF channels might be used as the ones previously mentioned are unlikely to be licenced.
As previously suggested, try a manual tune for every UHF channel starting at C21 and work upto C48 and see what you pick up.
This all assumes that if it's active, it's actually powered at present.
| link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please