Channel numbers/frequencies for DTT services from Wales - Preseli transmitter

PyeContinental

I find this information useful, so hopefully others will too. It took me a surprisingly long time to actually find the info, and there's so much out of date and obsolete info out there. Any corrections or additions welcome. Maybe people would like to add similar info for other transmitters which can be received in Ireland and the thread title could be edited to reflect a broader scope if necessary.

From http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SN172306
Tuning frequencies for Freeview Digital Terrestrial DVB-T services from the Preseli transmitter in south west Wales:

Frequency: UHF Channel 42 (642 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: COM4 (Commercial) SDN
Transmission Broadcast Power: 2KW until 2010/2011, increasing to 10KW
Services: 10 ITV3, 16 QVC, 20 Virgin 1, 23 Bid TV, 30 FIVER, 31 FIVE USA, 38 Quest, 39 TOPUP Stream 2, 40 TOPUP Stream 3, 86 S4/C2, 103 Teletext Casino, 712 Smash Hits! Radio

Frequency: UHF Channel 43 (650 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: PSB1 (Public Service Broadcasting) BBC A
Transmission Broadcast Power: 20KW
Services: 1 BBC One (Wales), 2 BBC Two (Wales), 7 BBC Three, 9 BBC Four, 70 CBBC Channel, 71 CBeebies, 80 BBC News, 81 BBC Parliament, 105 BBC Interactive text, 301 BBCi 301, 700 BBC Radio 1, 701 1Xtra BBC, 702 BBC Radio 2, 703 BBC Radio 3, 704 BBC Radio 4, 705 BBC Radio 5 Live, 706 BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, 707 BBC Radio 6 Music, 708 BBC Radio 7, 709 BBC Asian Network, 710 BBC World Service, 719 BBC Radio Wales, 720 BBC Radio Cymru

Frequency: UHF Channel 45 (666 MHz) *Conflicts with same channel used by Irish DTT services from Mount Leinster transmitter.
Multiplex (Mux) Name: COM5 (Commercial) Arqiva A
Transmission Broadcast Power: 2KW until 2010/2011, increasing to 10KW
Services: 11 Sky3, 19 Dave, 29 E4+1, 37 price-drop tv, 82 Sky News, 83 Sky Sports News, 108 NHS Direct, 108 Sky Text, 723 talkSPORT, 725 Premier Christian Radio, 727 Absolute Radio

Frequency: UHF Channel 46 (674 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: PSB2 (Public Service Broadcasting) D3&4
Transmission Broadcast Power: 20KW
Services: 3 ITV1 (HTV Wales), 4 S4/C, 4 Channel 4, 5 FIVE, 6 ITV2, 13 Channel 4+1, 14 More4, 28 E4, 33 ITV2+1, 87 Community, 100 Teletext, 101 Teletext Holidays, 104 Teletext on 4, 728 Heart

Frequency: UHF Channel 49 (698 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: COM6 (Commercial) Arqiva B
Transmission Broadcast Power: 2KW until 2010/2011, increasing to 10KW
Services: 12 Yesterday, 15 Film4, 18 4Music, 21 VIVA, 22 Ideal World, 24 ITV4, 25 Dave ja vu, 35 Virgin 1+1, 41 TOPUP Anytime4, 43 Gems TV, 45 Lottery Xtra, 85 Russia Today, 711 The Hits radio, 713 Kiss radio, 714 Heat Radio, 715 Magic radio, 716 Q radio, 718 Smooth radio, 722 Kerrang! radio

Frequency: UHF Channel 50 (706 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: PSB3 (Public Service Broadcasting) BBC B
Transmission Broadcast Power: 20KW
Services: Freeview HD coming soon

"To receive Freeview from the Presely transmitter you will require an aerial of group B positioned horizontally. This transmitter is 545 metres above sea-level, and transmits at 833 watts."

It also mentions that a mux referred to as "NEW7" starts on C30, but this is outside the Group B range of frequencies. Does anyone have any more info about this one?

mrdtv

PyeContinental wrote: »

I find this information useful, so hopefully others will too. It took me a surprisingly long time to actually find the info, and there's so much out of date and obsolete info out there. Any corrections or additions welcome. Maybe people would like to add similar info for other transmitters which can be received in Ireland and the thread title could be edited to reflect a broader scope if necessary.

From http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SN172306
Tuning frequencies for Freeview Digital Terrestrial DVB-T services from the Preseli transmitter in south west Wales:

Frequency: UHF Channel 42 (642 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: COM4 (Commercial)
Transmission Broadcast Power: 10KW
Services: 10 ITV3, 16 QVC, 20 Virgin 1, 23 Bid TV, 30 FIVER, 31 FIVE USA, 38 Quest, 39 TOPUP Stream 2, 40 TOPUP Stream 3, 86 S4/C2, 103 Teletext Casino, 712 Smash Hits! Radio

Frequency: UHF Channel 43 (650 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: PSB1 (Public Service Broadcasting)
Transmission Broadcast Power: 20KW
Services: 1 BBC One (Wales), 2 BBC Two (Wales), 7 BBC Three, 9 BBC Four, 70 CBBC Channel, 71 CBeebies, 80 BBC News, 81 BBC Parliament, 105 BBC Interactive text, 301 BBCi 301, 700 BBC Radio 1, 701 1Xtra BBC, 702 BBC Radio 2, 703 BBC Radio 3, 704 BBC Radio 4, 705 BBC Radio 5 Live, 706 BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, 707 BBC Radio 6 Music, 708 BBC Radio 7, 709 BBC Asian Network, 710 BBC World Service, 719 BBC Radio Wales, 720 BBC Radio Cymru

Frequency: UHF Channel 45 (666 MHz) *Conflicts with same channel used by Irish DTT services from Mount Leinster transmitter.
Multiplex (Mux) Name: COM5 (Commercial)
Transmission Broadcast Power: 10KW
Services: 11 Sky3, 19 Dave, 29 E4+1, 37 price-drop tv, 82 Sky News, 83 Sky Sports News, 108 NHS Direct, 108 Sky Text, 723 talkSPORT, 725 Premier Christian Radio, 727 Absolute Radio

Frequency: UHF Channel 46 (674 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: PSB2 (Public Service Broadcasting)
Transmission Broadcast Power: 20KW
Services: 3 ITV1 (HTV Wales), 4 S4/C, 4 Channel 4, 5 FIVE, 6 ITV2, 13 Channel 4+1, 14 More4, 28 E4, 33 ITV2+1, 87 Community, 100 Teletext, 101 Teletext Holidays, 104 Teletext on 4, 728 Heart

Frequency: UHF Channel 49 (698 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: COM6 (Commercial)
Transmission Broadcast Power: 10KW
Services: 12 Yesterday, 15 Film4, 18 4Music, 21 VIVA, 22 Ideal World, 24 ITV4, 25 Dave ja vu, 35 Virgin 1+1, 41 TOPUP Anytime4, 43 Gems TV, 45 Lottery Xtra, 85 Russia Today, 711 The Hits radio, 713 Kiss radio, 714 Heat Radio, 715 Magic radio, 716 Q radio, 718 Smooth radio, 722 Kerrang! radio

Frequency: UHF Channel 50 (706 MHz)
Multiplex (Mux) Name: PSB3 (Public Service Broadcasting)
Transmission Broadcast Power: 20KW
Services: Freeview HD coming soon

"To receive Freeview from the Presely transmitter you will require an aerial of group B positioned horizontally. This transmitter is 545 metres above sea-level, and transmits at 833 watts."

It also mentions that a mux referred to as "NEW7" starts on C30, but this is outside the Group B range of frequencies. Does anyone have any more info about this one?

That site is often inaccurate, although useful. It contradicts itself in that it is not consistent: the actual PSB ERPs are 20kW and those on SDN (Ch 42), Arqiva A (45) are 10 kW and Arqiva B (49) is currently 2kw until 2010/2011.

The official OFCOM list of frequencies and powers is here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/tech/dsodetails/


Open the Wales pdf and all will be revealed....

PyeContinental

Edited original post, but that spreadsheet says Channel 49 "Arqiva B" is 10KW mrdtv, unless I'm not reading it properly?

mrdtv

PyeContinental wrote: »

Edited original post, but that spreadsheet says Channel 49 "Arqiva B" is 10KW mrdtv, unless I'm not reading it properly?

See footnote f in that Ofcom Wales pdf...

And this document which I posted last week (especially the footnote on DSO 2):

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/34925/Installer_Newsletter_Preseli__1_month_out_FINAL_2_revised_relay_times.pdf

PyeContinental

Ok - edited original post again for the transmission power of those three muxes.
Footnote "f" says: SDN, Arqiva A, and Arqiva B at Preseli are expected to operate at 2kW ERP until 2010". Why do you say 2010/11? I take it that this date is still vague?

Regarding http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/34925/Installer_Newsletter_Preseli__1_month_out_FINAL_2_revised_relay_times.pdf
What footnote are you referring to? I'm finding it difficult to scour through all these PDFs!

mrdtv

PyeContinental wrote: »

Ok - edited original post again for the transmission power of those three muxes.
Footnote "f" says: SDN, Arqiva A, and Arqiva B at Preseli are expected to operate at 2kW ERP until 2010". Why do you say 2010/11? I take it that this date is still vague?

Regarding http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/34925/Installer_Newsletter_Preseli__1_month_out_FINAL_2_revised_relay_times.pdf
What footnote are you referring to? I'm finding it difficult to scour through all these PDFs!

See:

At around midnight, all analogue services and existing low powered digital services will be switched off and will
stop broadcasting permanently.
• At all transmitters, the BBC-A mux will remain on-air but be subject to switching breaks.
• During the morning, new (8K COFDM/64QAM) high power digital services are launched
- At all transmitters: the new PSB DSO muxes D3&4 and BBC B launch on their final DSO channels and at full DSO
power.
- At Preseli: the new COM muxes SDN, Arqiva-A and Arqiva-B launch on their final DSO (UHF) channels.
- At Ferryside: SDN also launches
- SDN and Arqiva-A are expected to adopt their final post DSO transmission powers in autumn 2009 and Arqiva-B
in Q1 2010. All dates are still to be confirmed. .

FREETV

Hi, can Freeview be received in Swords from the different Welsh Transmitters? Swords is only a few miles from Malahide and the Irish Sea. If so would a mast of thirty feet high above the ground with a masthead amp of 26dB and a wideband aerial be sufficient to receive them? Would ten feet extra in height up to 40ft make much of a difference in receiving them? Any higher might be too dangerous incase of the poles collapsing in a gale with neighbours on either side. Maybe somebody should start a thread with the different transmitters and their reception in various different parts of Dublin. I see aerials pointing in three different directions on houses a half mile or so away from me. I have spent a lot of money on heavy duty galvanised steel poles as I would like to receive all of the other tv stations not available to me fta from a satellite dish. Surely Blaenwynplwyf will be receivable all over Dublin with a strong masthead amp in February with a wideband aerial?

mrdtv

FREETV wrote: »

Hi, can Freeview be received in Swords from the different Welsh Transmitters? Swords is only a few miles from Malahide and the Irish Sea. If so would a mast of thirty feet high above the ground with a masthead amp of 26dB and a wideband aerial be sufficient to receive them? Would ten feet extra in height up to 40ft make much of a difference in receiving them? Any higher might be too dangerous incase of the poles collapsing in a gale with neighbours on either side. Maybe somebody should start a thread with the different transmitters and their reception in various different parts of Dublin. I see aerials pointing in three different directions on houses a half mile or so away from me. I have spent a lot of money on heavy duty galvanised steel poles as I would like to receive all of the other tv stations not available to me fta from a satellite dish. Surely Blaenwynplwyf will be receivable all over Dublin with a strong masthead amp in February with a wideband aerial?

Aerials pointed north are for Kilkeel (no DTT till 2012), south are for Kippure/Three Rock. In your location the best bets are Llanddona and Arfon all due east, but possibly also Winter Hill and Port St Mary IOM. I think you will be too far away for Blaen-Plwyf and that is cochannel with Divis analogue after DSO. But there's only one way to find out: a) ask the neighbours with aerials pointing out to sea and b) experiment for yourself and report your results... The height is not a big deal because are looking at sea path transmissions and the curvature of the earth means they will be coming just above sea level: its more important to have an antenna that tilts upwards. I mentioned the Fracarro sigma yesterday which is very high specification, easy to install with out any tools, can be mounted H or V easily and has a built-in tilting mechanism.

FREETV

mrdtv wrote: »

Aerials pointed north are for Kilkeel (no DTT till 2012), south are for Kippure/Three Rock. In your location the best bets are Llanddona and Arfon all due east, but possibly also Winter Hill and Port St Mary IOM. I think you will be too far away for Blaen-Plwyf and that is cochannel with Divis analogue after DSO. But there's only one way to find out: a) ask the neighbours with aerials pointing out to sea and b) experiment for yourself and report your results... The height is not a big deal because are looking at sea path transmissions and the curvature of the earth means they will be coming just above sea level: its more important to have an antenna that tilts upwards. I mentioned the Fracarro sigma yesterday which is very high specification, easy to install with out any tools, can be mounted H or V easily and has a built-in tilting mechanism.

Any idea of where to buy Fracarro aerials in Newry or in Dublin for a reasonable price? What masthead amps would you recommend to receive the distant signals from Wales? If I wanted to buy CT-100 cable, say about fifty metres of it then were could I get it at a good price? I would prefer to pick it up in a store. Thanks, Mrdtv for any help.

PyeContinental

Can't edit the original post to reflect the fact that Ch42 and Ch49 are also co-channel now, hopefully only as a temporary test before the Irish channel mux is moved to Ch39 permanently!