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The new Freeview prediction system - includes Freeview HD

Now with any date choice, FIVE different views, faster interactivity, aerial group filtering and better layout.

Now with any date choice, FIVE different views, faster interact
Published on by on UK Free TV

The new Freeview prediction system - beta - is here. Finally!

If you visit www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview reception - UK Free prediction you now get a much more detailed page to help you with any reception issues.

As before you can see this page with a postcode, the system will shortly also allow the input of national grid references, or latitude/longitude references.

Firstly, you can get a prediction for any number of dates by selecting the appropriate tab at the top.

Five different views

There are five different views

  • By direction: this will show the various directions your aerial might point and the services you can receive from the transmitters in that direction.
  • Received signal strength: this shows the information ordered by signal strength, to help you find the strongest signals.
  • By frequency: this lists broadcast frequencies from C21 to C68, showing the services on each. This view can be used to find potential interference or to help with digital region overlap areas.
  • Service names: this lists the services that you can receive, each ordered by the strongest signal.
  • Transmitter names: and finally an alphabetical list of the transmitters with the services listed by broadcast frequency.




Aerial group choice

When you first visit the page you will see the services received by a "wideband" aerial, now you can also select the other aerial groups to see how that will effect reception.

Issues

For the moment it is not possible to resolve postcodes in Northern Ireland (BT) or the Isle of Man. Apologies for that.

Try it now

www.ukfree.tv link icon Try the new UK Free TV Freeview reception - prediction system now.





Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

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Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

D. Robinson
Thursday 9 June 2011 6:33PM Grimsby
Hi - just found UK Free TV. WHAT A GODSEND!

THANK YOU for being there... resolved no end of issues for me, and good solid info about channel strengths, etc. Been a "learning curve" for a Pensioner - the new language really - but well received (no pun intended...).

Used your Beta version of the Postcode Finder for signal strength as I am having drop outs/pixelation.

Prints out text - but no coloured "thermometer" of rating (left). Dunno if its my printer (abs brand new - so doubt it). How about a %age instead? No great problem for me - I guess it's a "relative" rather than "exact" measure - so I put my old engineer's rule on the screen and calculator on the desk...

Good "visual" advice aboutInduction Interference (mains filter device - and a source!)as well as an estimate of increase in signal strength for Belmont at switchover. 12 Times stronger for Belmont!? Better remove/attenuate those boosters...

If BELMONT Transmitter is a gauge of all switchovers, then maybe not enough is openly stated about the signal increasing. I was "fooled" into thinking of moving aerials higher, buying boosters (that I did buy...)and - basically - blaming the STB's - the several I tried - as being "cheap and nasty". NOW I know better... Keep up the good work. I've signed up for the very regular newsletter and I'll WAIT to see how it all pans out after the 17th (August).

Thanks - David (DN34 4.. Area)
D. Robinson
Thursday 9 June 2011 7:06PM Grimsby
Can I just add this warning? (I forgot in the last post - just put it down to age...)

There seems to be "scams" going on (no names mentioned here) in my area (DN34), which has a high population of 'mature' people - and just before switchover. I know at least two neighbours who were persuaded to buy new aerials (at the door) because they "...weren't digital..." - albeit they were working very well on analogue (esp Ch5 -which is usually weak. The original aerials were relatively new also - 4/5 years.)

I was "door-stepped" also, and heard "the speil". That - beyond anything - made me shut the door.

Dunno all the facts and measurements of signal strength but £170 for a wall-mounted mast aerial on a low-height 1950's house (and fixed by ladder) sounds akin to a lot of money to me...

Being forewarned is forearmed. D.
Howard Moore
Wednesday 15 June 2011 6:35PM Stockport
I am having major problems in receiving certain Freeview channels from the Winter Hill transmitter. The digital channels which are transmitted on UHf channel 55 (including Film 4. Magic-Radio and Smooth Radio) are frequently unobtainable, sometimes for weeks on end. I even from time-to-time have a similar problem with the B.B.C. channels which are transmitted digitally on UHF channel 62. All the other channels are generally fine.

Does anyone have any idea what might be the cause of problem, please?

Many thanks,

Howard Moore
jess
Friday 17 June 2011 4:41PM Tiverton
Have had major problems with picture and sound breaking up here in Devon, despite being only 1.8 miles from the transmitter. Signal strength is constantly between 78 -82 % max and is obviously not good enough to supply programmes. What to do ? All ready have an aerial booster. How to fix please ?
Sheila
Friday 17 June 2011 5:18PM Anstruther
Many Chanells are missing at KY10 2QN Scotland including ITV3. Why?
Graham Ellery
Friday 17 June 2011 5:52PM Anstruther
Sheila.

I have posted on a number of threads on this website.

www.ukfree.tv/showuserposts.php?n=231446559

Basically Anstruther has lost out due to the digital switch over. Technical requirements by the transmitter operators mean that even if you had good digital before the switch you may have lost many channels now. I had good reception now most of 3 multiplexes have gone. There may be a glimmer of hope in that we might have been receiving signal from Black Hill transmitter previously and that is mid way through its switch (22nd june is stage 2).If you study the yellow/green sectors on maps you can see we receive better from Black Hill due to it beaming up the middle of the Forth Estuary. As far as Craigkelly is concerned the DigitalUK people are suggesting wideband aerial on roofs but if I understand correctly no guarantees.
KMJ,Derby
Friday 17 June 2011 6:37PM
Howard Moore: Mux ArqB from Winter Hill is transmitted on C55 and is currently subject to a power restriction to protect MuxD from Sutton Coldfield which is co-channel. The good news is that on 21st September 2011 the power of this mux at Winter Hill will be raised to the same level as the other muxes. Your present problems with Mux ArqB could be caused by the Sutton Coldfield signal blocking reception from Winter Hill. It could also be single frequency interference from another source or deterioration in the condition of the aerial/faulty cable or connectors which causes the weakest signal to drop out first. Regarding C62, single frequency interference or aerial problems could also apply, but in addition (ironically) if you have any amplification on the aerial too much signal can also cause freezing or "No signal" messages.
John Child
Monday 27 June 2011 10:08AM Solihull
For approximately the past two weeks, I have been unable to receive BBC HD programmes via Freesat, although I can receive ITV HD. Reception of all other programmes is fine. This suggests that there may be a problem with the BBC transmission rather than with my set or aerial. Can anyone enlighten me about this problem? I live in Earlswood, postal area B15.
Dee
Tuesday 28 June 2011 10:43PM Brampton
What do the green and yellow colours on the map mean? It looks as if CA8 7lB is just out of reach of any transmitter if yellow means OK and green something else.
KMJ,Derby
Wednesday 29 June 2011 10:14AM
Dee: Basically the yellow areas are those within coverage where that particular transmitter is expected to provide the strongest signal, the green areas are those where an alternative transmitter might give a stronger signal.For accurate (predicted) information regarding reception at a particular location enter the postcode into the Digital UK postcode checker and tick the trade box or click on the link for "Digital UK tradeview" when available. Your postcode is served by the Haltwhistle relay, a Freeview Lite transmitter giving the PSB muxes only.
Mike Dimmick
Wednesday 29 June 2011 2:40PM
John Child: The BBC recently changed their HD transmissions to use a new mode. Try unplugging your Freesat receiver for 10 minutes, and plugging it back in. If that doesn't help, see if there is a Retune option somewhere in the menus.

Receivers are supposed to pick up the changes from the information carried on the Freesat EPG transmissions, but they don't all seem to be doing this properly.
Mike Dimmick
Wednesday 29 June 2011 2:54PM
Dee: In this particular case, the Sandale transmitter and its coverage area should no longer be shown, as it no longer broadcasts TV signals. It was formerly used for the BBC's Scottish service.

ukfree.tv was originally designed for pre-switchover Freeview and very few of the relays show up. As far as the prediction system here goes - which doesn't have as much detail as Digital UK's - Haltwhistle only covers a couple of pixels and they're all predicted to be served better by something else. A particular weakness of this site's system is that the terrain data is very coarse, so it can't tell that - in this case - Cold Fell is blocking reception from Caldbeck.
dave
Saturday 2 July 2011 6:20PM Newcastle
I an having trouble loading the map using the WII OPERA 9 BROWSER can you fix the problem
lesnicol
Saturday 2 July 2011 7:33PM
John Child- Mike Dimmick - The BBC have issued an apology for giving insufficient notice of the change from DVB-S to DVB-S2. The upgrade to the more efficient DVB-S2 modulation format was brought about to enable the BBC to broadcast the Wimbeldon Tennis Toutnament in 3D.

There were problems with Channel 4HD earlier in April with Harvard Group receivers eg:- Grunding, Bush, etc were in not being up to specs set by "Freesat" and being unable to manage as they should have been the DVB-S2 modulation. More recently with changes in modulation brought in by the BBC Panasonic receivers had problems but this was dealt with satisfactorily with instructive support from Panasonic ie_ putting into standby or re-tuned.
jAS GRACIE
Friday 8 July 2011 10:34AM Ayr
what is the best type of aerial to receive a good signal at my post code (ka6 7rw). a new multi purpose was fitted would I be better with a c/d type?
jb38
Friday 8 July 2011 11:45AM
jas Gracie: Indications are that Freeview reception at your particular location is limited to the Lethanhill transmitter, its channels being on Ch60-Ch57-Ch53, the latter being the HD Mux.

As you are only 4 miles away from the transmitter I would say that nothing more than a standard log periodic aerial would suffice, this being mounted vertically, as "if" you have any obstructions between yourself and the location of the transmitter larger aerials make no difference whatsoever, and in many cases make the situation worse, this just being mentioned in case you are thinking along this line, as its a common mistake made by many!

Just out of interest maybe you could come back with the signal / quality indications you are getting on the channels mentioned.

James Compton
Sunday 10 July 2011 6:22PM Eye
Hello all

we live in Eye north Suffolk we presently receive TV signal from Tacolneston transmitter the problem is most of the time in the last two days our tv picture mainly on BBC1 keeps locking up the audio is spitting and sputting so much so it makes it near impossible to watch tv. is this down to the new digital switchover or have we got something wrong our end?


Jim
John
Tuesday 12 July 2011 11:42AM Ellesmere
Hi
I have a inbuilt freeview TV plus a second TV with a External Freeview box.
My area (north Shropshire) transitting from Wrerkin went digital in April.
Signal strength 90% direction spot on.
I can not get ITV4 on either set, I can get ALL other stations (reqd for tour de France)
My neighbour 100m away, can.
please help me no one else has been able to.
Brian Gregory
Tuesday 12 July 2011 3:44PM Sandown
New predicter seems to work great for my home location -- RG6 5TJ. However for my grandmothers house - PO36 9EG it goes all weird and won't tell me anything at all.
jb38
Tuesday 12 July 2011 4:38PM
Brian Gregory: The code referred to indicates that at this present time the reception from Rowridge should be reasonably good, although not sparkling on Mux1 (Ch24) and with no HD reception being available.

This is forecast to continue until March 2012 when the situation with Mux1 (BBC A) improves reception wise, but its not until further changes take place on April 18th 2012 that all six Mux's should be receivable.
KMJ,Derby
Tuesday 12 July 2011 4:54PM
John: This is probably a case of single frequency interference. The Mux ArqB signal could be being blocked by an analogue signal from the RF modulator of a VCR or Sky box set around C53, or it may be that you are receiving a low level signal from Cefn Mawr which also uses C53. A power restriction is currently in force at Cefn Mawr to help protect viewers to The Wrekin from interference, but as you are predicted to receive signals from Cefn when the power is raised in September (after The Wrekin COM muxes change frequency) it is possible that your aerial is, by chance, positioned where it receives a signal now. The Digital UK postcode checker predicts a full Freeview service to be available from Winter Hill, this being the best option for the COM muxes in 2013.
John
Thursday 14 July 2011 5:36PM Ellesmere
To KMJ,Derby
Many thanks for your time. I re-tuned without recorder, phone and etc. no change.
I am not an avid TV viewer, in fact my only interest was to get ITV4. I got a print out of the chanels that I could receive and matched that against those that I had. Result: my missing chanels had a common poor transmision. Today I purchsed a new arial and I am now firing on all channels. Thanks again.
KMJ,Derby
Thursday 14 July 2011 6:03PM
John: Glad you managed to sort out the problem
Steph Leckey
Monday 18 July 2011 7:35PM Portrush
Hi I live in Portrush Northern Ireland and over the past few weeks we have been getting a 'NO signal' coming up on UTV, C4, C5 and other ITV channels. We have built in freeview in the tv's so not sure what is going on. thought maybe it was the Limavacy transmitter as out next door neighbours is the same. Please fill me in on what has happened.
Briantist
Tuesday 19 July 2011 7:52AM
Steph Leckey: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for help.
Barny Otoole
Tuesday 26 July 2011 2:07PM Antrim
According to your predictor BT41 is some 600 and odd miles from the Divis transmitter, I doupt if it is more than 16. I think you have an error in your software.

Barny
Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 26 July 2011 4:00PM
Barny Otoole: It's actually quite a tricky problem, because the island of Ireland uses a different grid reference system to that of Great Britain and the minor British Isles. It's based on a projection from a different point - a different way of displaying the curved surface of the Earth on a flat piece of paper. The maps are then displayed by Google Maps, which requires points in GPS co-ordinates, based on a third different projection and even a different model of the Earth's shape.

I suspect the part of Brian's software that gives the distance treats IJ163867 (which nearby.org.uk gives as the Irish Grid containing the centre of your postcode) as square IJ of the Ordnance Survey GB National Grid, which is actually just off the west coast of Norway. This would produce an error of 1,063km from the south-west corner of OSGB square NW to the south-west corner of 'IJ'. It should instead say I = Irish and use the OSNI transformation to GPS co-ordinates.

Digital UK's predictor - which I hope is based on the correct information, since it displays the OSNI logo - shows that you are 16km (10 miles) from Divis.
Briantist
Wednesday 27 July 2011 7:39AM
Mike Dimmick: The code should interpret "I" as the start of an Irish Grid code, if it's not doing that I will need to look into it. The code is in there...
Briantist
Wednesday 27 July 2011 8:33AM
Barny Otoole: My apologies, I will look into this.
Dave Bell
Sunday 31 July 2011 10:21PM Barnetby
I'm not sure that the results are as detailed as one might think. My postcode is a street which just doesn't have a line of sight to Belmont: there's a gig hill in the way. Move a little west, still in the village, and the coverage opens up. It's likely more useful to have a look outside at where the neighbours are pointing their TV aerials, and then sort the signal estimates by direction.
jb38
Monday 1 August 2011 10:37AM
Dave Bell: Reception predictions can never really be anywhere near 100% accurate, and this especially so in the frequency bands used for Freeview reception, as just as in the case with the mobile phones where moving a few feet away can make a signal suddenly come up in strength (or vanish!) Freeview signals can do exactly the same, this being the problem with roof aerials in many areas, as the usual mounting position of the chimney stack is not necessarily the best spot for reception, this being where gutter mounts score as they can be easily moved to obtain the best signal strength.

Another problem with predictors being that some people take as the gospel what a predictor might show as being possible, especially if its classed as a trade version, whereas in reality although it shows predictions for each individual multiplex this doesn't make it any more accurate, as all this does is to make it capable of giving a more complex version of potentially misleading information to the unwary.

This being said with particular reference to the DTG group trade prediction system.
Ben
Wednesday 3 August 2011 9:38AM Pulborough
Ok, yesterday I put a comment saying that I had lost 20 or so freeview channels and attempted to gain them back by following the step by step guide, including checking all the wires etc. Gave up at about 1am this morning as I could not find anything wrong. So I turned off the box at the wall and went to bed. This morning I tried again and my channel list is back up to 45 tv and 21 radio which is what I originally had before losing the signals. Checking my transmitter yesterday (heathfield) it stated a low signal on bbc2 only from 3pm to 10 past roughly...still showing the same fault this morning, so this issue was NOT the reason why I had lost my channels. Shame that some of these channels were not lost forever, programs like Rabbit,Gayrab,TVx and the like!! No reply needed thanks.
myk eccles
Friday 5 August 2011 9:56PM Sheffield
about 1 month ago my new communal aerial provided by sheffield city council came operational since then bbc4 has not been availble and itv3 and quest have been unwatchable. is this temporary until full switchover or an aerial fault?
jeff grundy
Sunday 7 August 2011 12:13PM Grange-over-sands
I get my signal from kendal and cant get many channels incl. itv3 which we got at the initial changeover 2 years ago. When can we get it back? Also during the 6pm news we get it changing between itv nw news and border news and have be getting a lot of picture breakup on itv
Briantist
Monday 8 August 2011 7:59AM
myk eccles: I would wait until Wednesday, when the Sheffield transmitter starts switchover to see if you get BBC FOUR then. If it does not you may have a problem with the communal aerial.
Gordon H
Thursday 11 August 2011 12:47PM Lincoln
I live NE of Lincoln and tuned to the Emley moor Transmitter as Belmont is out of sight.
Signal strength is normally around 7 but since Sunday 7th Aug reception on most freeserve channels is intermittent (strength 1) making it impossible to view. I can still receive Sky 1 & 2 at strenth 7. According to the engineering report for Emley, no problems have been reported so what is happening? Presumably it is connected to the switch-over but will the Tx power be restored?
Briantist
Thursday 11 August 2011 8:16PM
Gordon H: Can you please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?
Briantist
Monday 15 August 2011 8:07AM
jeff grundy: Can you please see www.ukfree.tv link icon Digital Region Overlap | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

ITV3 is not provided on the Kendal ("Freeview Light") transmitter - if you want it, you will need to use Freesat - please see www.ukfree.tv link icon Compare Freeview Light and Freesat TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
pridgeon
Wednesday 17 August 2011 12:39AM Lincoln
i just lost all my channles
Mike Dimmick
Wednesday 17 August 2011 1:23AM
pridgeon: Yes, this is because switchover is completing tonight at the Belmont transmitter and its relays. Retune your box after 6am.

If you're using East Midlands services, Waltham is also off-air at the moment as this is its first stage of switchover. Again, retune after 6am.
Malcolm Precious
Wednesday 17 August 2011 8:22PM Hull
Why Have I lost Film 4 off the Freeview when I retuned?
Malcolm Precious
Wednesday 17 August 2011 8:23PM Hull
Malcolm Precious
Wednesday 17 August 2011 8:25PM Hull
Why did I loss Film 4 off freeview when I retuned today
Briantist
Thursday 18 August 2011 8:03AM
Malcolm Precious: Assuming you are using the Belmont transmitter, you should have all services. I would try doing this www.ukfree.tv link icon My Freeview box has no EPG, is blank on FIVE, ITV3, ITV4, ITV2+1, has no sound or the channel line up is wrong | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Graham
Sunday 21 August 2011 11:40AM Norwich
Since the re-tune of Freeview channels during the week, I've now lost several BBC stations, in particular BBC4, BBC Parliament, etc., but continue to get 1,2 and 3 well enough. I notice ALL the BBC radio stations through Freeview have disappeared also. The transmitter serving Norwich - which is where I am of course - is Tacolneston. Anyone tell me what is going on - and will I be able to get these BBC stations back?
tim harrison
Monday 22 August 2011 9:50AM Ashbourne
I have always recieved east midland news but since work has been carried out I am recieving look north with good reception and dont seem to beable to change this to east midland at all ,I rang the call station help line they said go on manual change to 41 meg and it will be on this is rubbish and I still cannot get the programme I require I have a slimline hd ready tv and digital arialand fed up at 72 running up and down ladders, because the bbc cant get it right
Briantist
Wednesday 24 August 2011 4:41PM
tim harrison: Please see Digital Region Overlap | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Mike Dimmick
Thursday 25 August 2011 1:31PM
tim harrison: For Waltham, *East* Midlands news, you need to tune into C61, 794 MHz, not C41. C41 is Sutton Coldfield.

There is a large overlap between Belmont (the Look North service) and Waltham. Older boxes and TVs were often not designed to handle receiving signals from more than one transmitter, and they often store the first version found at the advertised channel numbers, rather than the best quality version (which should be the one your aerial is pointing at).
Mike Dimmick
Thursday 25 August 2011 1:40PM
Graham: The Tacolneston retune affected Mux B and C, which moved to new frequencies - C66 and C68 respectively. BBC Four, CBeebies and the radio channels are on Mux B. Check whether you have any equipment, such as a Sky box or VCR, that outputs on C66, C67 or C68, and if so, retune it to another location.

You do need to do a 'first time installation'/default setting/full retune when these retunes occur, because some receivers will not store channels that they think they already know about.

There is a possibility that your box might store channels from Sudbury/Rouncefall if you do a full retune - Digital UK's postcode checker (trade view) shows that they should be strong enough for reliable reception if the aerial is pointed in that direction, which means it could store them even though the aerial points in a different direction. If you find that the BBC channels have all become unreliable after you do a full retune, see Digital Region Overlap.



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