Freeview: Tay Bridge (Fife, Scotland) digital TV transmitter
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Tay Bridge (Fife, Scotland) digital TV transmitter

Google mapBing mapGoogle Earth56.444,-2.926 or 56°26'39"N 2°55'34"WDD6 8QX

Transmitter faults and engineering works



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The symbol shows the location of the Tay Bridge transmitter. The Tay Bridge transmitter covers 27,000 homes.

Other maps:Tay Bridge DABTay Bridge AM/FMAngus regionBBC ScotlandSTV North (Dundee micro region)

Radiation patterns

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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.

Tay Bridge transmitter Freeview broadcasts

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. The rating shown takes in account the output power level and the various Freeview transmission modes and do not indicate an ongoing fault.

MuxEffective power level, aerial positionRatingModeWatts
PSB1
BBCA
 vertical
Below average64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100
Channel icons
1 BBC One Scotland, 2 BBC Two Scotland, 7 BBC Three, 8 BBC Alba, 9 BBC Four, 70 CBBC Channel, 71 CBeebies, 80 BBC News, 81 BBC Parliament, 301 301, plus 14 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C41+ (634.2MHz) from 148m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 vertical
Below average64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100
Channel icons
3 STV (STV North (Dundee micro region)), 4 Channel 4 Scotland ads, 5 Channel 5 Scotland ads, 6 ITV 2, 13 Channel 4+1 Scotland ads, 14 More 4, 28 E4, 33 STV+1 (STV Edinburgh),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C47 (682.0MHz) from 148m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 vertical
Below average256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		100
Channel icons
101 BBC One HD Scotland, 102 BBC Two HD (England), 103 STV HD (STV West), 104 Channel 4 HD Scotland ads, plus 1 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C44 (658.0MHz) from 148m datum.


Looking for these 26 channels?



The Tay Bridge (Fife, Scotland) mast is a public service broadcasting (PSB) transmitter, it does not provide these commercial (COM) channels: 4Music, 4seven, 5*, 5USA, Al Jazeera English, Challenge, Channel 5 +1, CITV, Community Channel, Dave, Dave ja vu, E4+1, Film 4, Food Network, ITV 2 +1, ITV 3, ITV 4, Movie Mix, PICK TV, Quest, Really, RT English , Sky News, The Zone, VIVA, Yesterday.

If you want to watch these channels, your aerial must point to one of the 80 Full service Freeview transmitters. For more information see the will there ever be more services on the Freeview Light transmitters? page.

Regional news from the Tay Bridge transmitter


BBC Reporting Scotland 2.4m homes 9.2%
from Glasgow G51 1DA, 107km southwest
to BBC Scotland region - 230 masts.

STV News 0.2m homes 0.8%
from Dundee DD1 4QB, 3km west-northwest
to STV North (Dundee) region - 24 masts.

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1984-971997-981998-20102010-132013-182013-18
aerial groupB EWWB E KB E KB E
600C34C5C5
C41ITVITVITV+BBCA+BBCA+BBCA
C44BBC2BBC2BBC2BBCBBBCBBBCB
C47C4C4C4D3+4D3+4D3+4
700C51BBC1BBC1BBC1local

orange background for multiplexes names moregreen background for transmission frequencieslilac background for power levels in watts800MHz band: 4G mobile to start in 2013700MHz band: possible 4G in 2019 more600MHz band: new or moved digital TV services more
Notes: + and - denote 166kHz offset; aerial group are shown as A B C/D E K W
Italics for analogue, digital switchover was Wednesdays 4th August and 18th August 2010.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Dundee including Arbroath, Perth could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Tay Bridge transmitter using C51

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 5 4kW
Analogue 1-4(-9dB) 500W
BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-16dB) 100W

Self-help relays

DundeeTransposerLadywell Avenue100 homes

History of Channel 3 in the Angus transmitter area

Sep 1961-Jun 1997Grampian Television
Jun 1997-Dec 2014STV plc
• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Tay Bridge was not an original Channel 3 VHF 405-line mast: the historical information shown is the details of the company responsible for the transmitter when it began transmitting Channel 3.


Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

firstFirst comments prevEarlier comments  ◊ 

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.

Transmitter engineering
Sunday 18 March 2012 1:30PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Wrong Region from 11:16 today to 11:23 today HD Digital TV Wrong Programme from 11:16 today to 11:23 today [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Monday 19 March 2012 4:31AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Wrong Region from 11:16 yesterday to 11:23 yesterday HD Digital TV Wrong Programme from 11:16 yesterday to 11:23 yesterday [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 20 March 2012 4:30AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Wrong Region from 11:16 on 18 Mar to 11:23 on 18 Mar HD Digital TV Wrong Programme from 11:16 on 18 Mar to 11:23 on 18 Mar [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 15 June 2012 10:29AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Off Air from 13:51 on 13 Jun to 13:57 on 13 Jun BBC Digital TV Off Air from 16:38 on 13 Jun to 17:01 on 13 Jun HD Digital TV Off Air from 13:51 on 13 Jun to 13:57 on 13 Jun HD Digital TV Off Air from 16:38 on 13 Jun to 17:01 on 13 Jun [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 15 June 2012 4:29PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Off Air from 16:38 on 13 Jun to 17:01 on 13 Jun BBC Digital TV Off Air from 13:51 on 13 Jun to 13:57 on 13 Jun HD Digital TV Off Air from 13:51 on 13 Jun to 13:57 on 13 Jun HD Digital TV Off Air from 16:38 on 13 Jun to 17:01 on 13 Jun [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 15 June 2012 5:28PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Off Air from 16:38 on 13 Jun to 17:01 on 13 Jun BBC Digital TV Off Air from 13:51 on 13 Jun to 13:57 on 13 Jun HD Digital TV Off Air from 16:38 on 13 Jun to 17:01 on 13 Jun HD Digital TV Off Air from 13:51 on 13 Jun to 13:57 on 13 Jun [BBC]
Cherry White
Wednesday 4 July 2012 3:55PM
A friend of mine who gets his TV from the end of the Tay Bridge says he gets ITV4 which allowed him to watch the French Open earlier this year. Looking at the list of transmissions this does nor appear to be the case. He gets his tv through a Freeview box whereas I have a Panasonic Freeview ready TV. Would I get more channels if I had a freeview box?
Mark Fletcher
Wednesday 4 July 2012 4:50PM Halifax
Cherry White.A full postcode preferably or a nearby location as such is required to ascertain the reception possibilities in either your location or yer friend's locality.
As your Freeview Ready TV is not HD compatible hence no DVB-T2 tuner necessory to receive the BBCB (HD) multiplex from either the Tay Bridge relay or Angus main transmitter on your HD Ready TV,the answer is yes you do need a separate set-top box preferably a Freeview HD (normally a single tuner) or Freeview +HD (with twin/double tuners) to receive HD broadcasts from any BBCB (HD) multiplex from any relay mast/main transmitter as such.
But bear in mind your HD Ready TV which will normally be up to 720p even with a Freeview HD or Freeview +HD box will not display Full HD 1080p pictures on your TV screen,but will display over twice more clarity than the present 350p SD pictures especially on the BBCB (HD) multiplex if you purchase the right equipment which i suggested above,namely Freeview HD or Freeview +HD set-top box alongside your current HD Ready TV.
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 5 July 2012 12:35AM
Cherry White: Tay Bridge does not broadcast ITV4 or any of the Commercial channels, thus he is not receiving them from it. He is probably picking up from a different direction to which his aerial faces and is therefore "lucky" to get any signal.

Different receivers have differing sensitivities, so some may get and some may not when the signal level is borderline.

It "may" be the case that if he had an aerial directed to the transmitter which he is receiving it from that the signal level would be much improved and therefore would be available on all of his receivers. It would also reduce the likelihood of intermittent reception which could ensue because he is using his aerial to receive a signal which it was not installed for.
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 5 July 2012 12:40AM
Cherry White: As Mark says, an idea of your location may allow us to gauge as to how likely you might be to receive from a transmitter that carries all Freeview channels. Tay Bridge does not and will never carry all channels.
Kevi Fagan
Saturday 28 July 2012 10:44PM
Hi, since Thursday 26th July, I have been getting pixelation on the HD channels from the bridge. Signal is 78% but error bit rate fluctuates from 200 to 2000, is this a transmitter issue?
I have tried retunning.
Mark Fletcher
Saturday 28 July 2012 10:59PM Halifax
Kevi Fagan.If ya leave yer full postcode,then we will be able to equip you with valuable help and advice as such.
Kevi Fagan
Saturday 28 July 2012 11:05PM Dundee
Dd2 1bs
Mark Fletcher
Wednesday 1 August 2012 1:48PM Halifax
Kevi Fagan.Dundee,DD2 1BS.
Sorry for my delayed response upon you providing your postcode as such.
Is your aerial polarised vertically facing Tay Bridge relay,and as such is it a group B antenna coloured yellow at its tips.As you are located (1-2 miles west of Dundee City Centre) only 3 miles from the (100w) Tay Bridge relay one likelyhood here is you may have too much signal and most commonly the BBCB (HD) multiplex being more sensitive than SD multiplexes are occasionally more prone to pixellating as such in certain circumstances.You may have to perform a total reset procedure to erase the previous memory or possibly fit an attenuator if the signal is a wee bit successive.
There is a possibility that you could receive the main Angus,Craigkelly or Black Hill transmitters in your locality as alternatives and receive the full freeview package as such.
Finally i think it is highly unlikely that it is a mast issue in what you implied in your earlier text as such in relation to the wee difficulty in the HD transmissions from the Tay Bridge relay,but if the problem still persists then do not hesitate to recontact this valuable forum and the proper pros on here (im not a pro myself just a wee amateur) will distribute further advice and help to you !
Kevin Fagan
Wednesday 1 August 2012 4:48PM
Thanks. My aerial is a flat low gain type, this was because of ghosting on the old system. After the switch over it has worked perfectly. The signal showing is 78%. How do I do a 'full reset'?
Mark Fletcher
Wednesday 1 August 2012 5:39PM Halifax
Kevin Fagan.The flat low gain type aerial you specified will most certainly be a group W wideband black coloured tipped Log type aerial designed for strong signal areas between 0-15 miles from abode to mast.
To perform a full reset,unplug the appliance concerned (set-top box or TV) for over 1 minute,disconnect the aerial plug from the appliance affected at the same time,now replug the appliance affected back into the mains socket but keep aerial plug disconnected for now and perform a full automatic scan of either yer set-top box or TV that is affected from start to finish,ya will find it will store zero channels yet at the same time clears your appliance's previous memory,now once this stage is reached replug the aerial back into your appliance which is affected as such then if it allows perform preferably a manual scan of the frequencies if you know them (if yer receiving from Tay Bridge relay BBCA is on frequency 41,D3+4 on frequency 47 and the BBCB (HD) multiplex on frequency 44.If yer appliance only performs automatic scan then take care that it does not pick up other frequencies than those of Tay Bridge relay which is 41,44 and 47 in ascending order.Hopefully this should do the trick.
Let us know of the outcome in due course !
Kevin Fagan
Friday 3 August 2012 10:37AM
Hi, did the reset, still the same. Signal is back at 78% but the error bit rate keeps moving all the time!
Mark Fletcher
Friday 3 August 2012 5:13PM Halifax
Kevin Fagan: One possibility is to check yer neighbours whether they are having the same problem as you are on the HD BBCB multiplex from Tay Bridge.If they do,then it could be an issue relating to that relay mast,if they (neighbours) dont then the fault will most likely come from yer end.
Also look up single frequency interference as a possible cause ?
KMJ,Derby
Friday 3 August 2012 6:45PM
Kevin Fagan: Further to what Mark Fletcher said above about single frequency interference, it is possible that ArqA from Black Hill is strong enough at your location to interfere with PSB3 from Tay Bridge. If this is the case, a different aerial position could offer a solution to the problem. This could mean as little as a few inches lower/ higher or to either side. Alternatively, if you have a reasonable line of sight to Angus to the North of your location, you might be able to receive a full Freeview service from there.
Kevin Fagan
Saturday 4 August 2012 2:16PM
Hi KMJ, I cannot get to the angus transmitter because of location. I will try moving the aerial position.
Why would it have been okay for months and just start last week? I thought it could be something to do with the additional channels that the BBC are operating just now, more/less power? Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.
Kevin Fagan
Saturday 4 August 2012 2:18PM
Hi Mark, thanks I will check with some neighbours.
Kevin Fagan
Sunday 5 August 2012 3:46PM
Hi, the pixelation is now on all the channels, does this mean something else?
jb38
Sunday 5 August 2012 4:00PM
Kevin Fagan: Just out of interest I was wondering if you have made a visual check on your aerial? the purpose of just to ensure that nothing physically has happened to it.

The other little point which you could maybe confirm as "not" applying being, that when you had mentioned in an earlier reply to Mark Fletcher of your aerial being of the "flat" low gain type, I take it that it doesn't look that way where its installed? as obviously it should be mounted "vertically" for Tay Bridge.

Kevin Fagan
Sunday 5 August 2012 4:59PM
Hi JB, aerial looks okay and is mounted on the vertical. All the other TV's are okay, there are 4 in regular use? I have done the picture test on the one that is pixelating and it's no problem.
jb38
Sunday 5 August 2012 8:11PM
Kevin Fagan: I was having a look back at the questions asked / replies given so as not to duplicate something that's already been covered, but though now you have mentioned that you are using four other TV's I was wondering what method you are using to split the aerial between them, insomuch is it via a powered or non powered splitter?

The reason for asking being that it should really be done by using a powered splitter when so many sets are involved, although maybe it is? but I would have expected the signal strength indication of 78% to have been higher than that judging by where you are located Vs the height of your aerial, that is "if" its on the roof? as some TV's (I think it was Samsung? but poss LG) require 80% min for satisfactory HD operation otherwise the result of "not" being is exactly what you are experiencing.

However now that your latest report has indicated all as appearing to be OK again, (maybe for time being?) and without knowledge of the brand of device you are using (model number appreciated) then what level of signal are you now getting? and has the bit error rate stabilised to just an occasional glitch being seen?

Fluctuations in a signals quality coupled to bit error rate jumping is to be quite honest about it something that in most cases is out with a viewers control, as it can be caused by numerous things like tree branches (especially when wet) blowing about, possible problems at the transmitter, or by the signal data received being corrupted by interference by some distant station on the same channel clashing with your local transmitters signal, the distant station being received purely though freak conditions etc, but though on the other hand it "can" be caused by either the signal level received by the tuner not being far enough above the receivers reception threshold cut off point whereby the natural up/down variations in signal strength (albeit slight) that occurs most of the time can cause intermittent problems when in the down sense, "or" and misleadingly for some, by the reverse situation applying whereby the signal level received is on the verges of being too high and causing slight instability to occur in the tuner, false strength indications in a negative strength sense always being seen, but the point is that both sets of conditions result in identical symptoms to the viewer.

Maybe you could give an update re: splitter question / model number of TV / the present signal strength / quality seen indicated, provided reception is still OK!
Kevin Fagan
Monday 6 August 2012 9:42AM
Hi JB, Splitter is powered, fitted in the loft, 1 input/6 output. TV is Samsung UE40D6510W LED 3D TV, 40", Freeview HD, Wi-Fi. Signal is still 78% error bit rate continues to fluctuate. Aerial is fitted at roof height on a two storey house but we are at river level. Thanks.
Sirena
Friday 12 October 2012 11:00AM Dundee
I am in post code DD1 2PQ.
I am on the first floor of a 3 flat building.
My freeview box is in the lounge, 4 inches from my french doors and facing the Tay Bridge.

I have no problem with my reception, and am actually rather pleased with the variety of channels I am getting.

My problem is for the last week, we've lost any information for the guide. Now when we open the guide to see what's on other channels, all it shows is "No Information Available". I've done all the possible updates with my freeview box and wonder if I'm missing something, or if this is a problem for several freeview receivers now.
jb38
Friday 12 October 2012 5:08PM
Sirena: You should try resetting your box by carrying a "factory reset" or "default setting" as this will delete the tuners memory store, then once complete carry out a normal auto-tune then check if the problem has vanished.

If though the problem is still there then please indicate the model number of the device in question.
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 27 November 2012 10:50AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 today HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 today [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 27 November 2012 4:49PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Off Air from 12:38 today to 12:55 today BBC Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 today to 12:38 today HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 today to 12:38 today [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Wednesday 28 November 2012 4:50AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Off Air from 12:38 yesterday to 12:55 yesterday BBC Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 yesterday to 12:38 yesterday HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 yesterday to 12:38 yesterday [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Thursday 29 November 2012 4:49AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Off Air from 12:38 on 27 Nov to 12:55 on 27 Nov BBC Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 on 27 Nov to 12:38 on 27 Nov HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:01 on 27 Nov to 12:38 on 27 Nov [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 15 January 2013 8:02PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview - No reported problems -. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 15 January 2013 8:59PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview No problems on any service. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 22 January 2013 10:31AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:12 today. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 22 January 2013 1:31PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:12 today to 11:27 today. DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 09:12 today to 11:32 today. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Wednesday 23 January 2013 4:31AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:12 yesterday to 11:27 yesterday. DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 09:12 yesterday to 11:32 yesterday. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Thursday 24 January 2013 4:31AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: HD Digital TV Off Air from 09:12 on 22 Jan to 11:27 on 22 Jan. DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 09:12 on 22 Jan to 11:32 on 22 Jan. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Sunday 17 February 2013 10:31AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: BBC Digital TV Wrong Region from 22:29 yesterday to 23:18 yesterday, HD Digital TV Wrong Region from 22:29 yesterday to 23:18 yesterday. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Monday 18 February 2013 7:32AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: BBC Digital TV Wrong Region from 22:29 on 16 Feb to 23:18 on 16 Feb, HD Digital TV Wrong Region from 22:29 on 16 Feb to 23:18 on 16 Feb. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Thursday 28 February 2013 7:31PM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: BBC Digital TV Off Air from 15:18 today to 15:21 today, HD Digital TV Off Air from 15:18 today to 15:21 today. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 1 March 2013 4:31AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: BBC Digital TV Off Air from 15:18 yesterday to 15:21 yesterday, HD Digital TV Off Air from 15:18 yesterday to 15:21 yesterday. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Saturday 2 March 2013 4:31AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: BBC Digital TV Off Air from 15:18 on 28 Feb to 15:21 on 28 Feb, HD Digital TV Off Air from 15:18 on 28 Feb to 15:21 on 28 Feb. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Wednesday 17 April 2013 4:32AM
TAY BRIDGE transmitter - Freeview: BBC Digital TV Off Air from 03:45 today. [BBC]
Graham T Jones
Saturday 20 April 2013 7:11PM Dundee
I bought a new Tv on Monday 15th of April and tuned in my set. A notice came up on screen saying that I would have to retune after the17th. This I did I now have fewer channels , only BBC and only radio 6 radio.
My location is DD5 2SG and I am taking my signal from the Taybridge aerial .
Can you help me?
Dave Lindsay
Saturday 20 April 2013 8:32PM
Graham T Jones: There was no retune required for viewers of Tay Bridge. The message was put out by Angus transmitters and therefore its relays, of which Tay Bridge is one. The message here in Yorkshire was that viewers may need to retune, owing to the fact that not all transmitters were due to have changes that required it.

If you are receiving from Tay Bridge and you have BBC services and you are missing some then you can only be missing STV, Channel 4, Channel 5 etc, so manually tune UHF channel 47. If this is a HD set then those services are on UHF channel 44.
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Please post a question, answer or commentIf you have Freeview reception problems before posting a question your must first do this Freeview reset procedure then see: Freeview reception has changed, Single frequency interference, and Freeview intermittent interference.

If you have no satellite signal, see Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fault'

If you have other problems, please provide a full (not partial) postcode (or preferably enter it in box at the top right) and indicate where if aerial is on the roof, in the loft or elsewhere.

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