Freeview: Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) digital TV transmitter
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Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) digital TV transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth52.130,-0.242 or 52°7'47"N 0°14'33"WSG19 2NH

4G at 800MHz (at800) Freeview reception issues

When 800MHz 4G mobile broadband services start there will be 1 multiplex in the higher risk range (C21-23, C30, C59-60): C21: BBCB
See How do I know if the 4G broadband will overload my Freeview? and Full UK map of 4G issue areas for details.

Transmitter faults and engineering works



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The symbol shows the location of the Sandy Heath transmitter. The Sandy Heath transmitter covers 920,000 homes.

Other maps:Sandy Heath DABSandy Heath AM/FMSandy Heath regionBBC CambridgeAnglia (West micro region)

Radiation patterns

Radiation patterns withheld

Map key

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.

Sandy Heath 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
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		180,000
Channel icons
1 BBC One Cambridge, 2 BBC Two England, 7 BBC Three, 9 BBC Four, 70 CBBC Channel, 71 CBeebies, 80 BBC News, 81 BBC Parliament, 301 301, plus 12 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C27 (522.0MHz) from 291m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		180,000
Channel icons
3 ITV (Anglia (West micro region)), 4 Channel 4 South ads, 5 Channel 5 Part Network ads, 6 ITV 2, 13 Channel 4+1 South ads, 14 More 4, 28 E4, 33 ITV +1 (Anglia east),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C24 (498.0MHz) from 291m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal
Above average256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		180,000
Channel icons
101 BBC One HD (England no regional news), 102 BBC Two HD (England), 103 ITV HD (ITV Meridian Southampton), 104 Channel 4 HD South ads, plus 1 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C21+ (474.2MHz) from 291m datum.
COM4
SDN
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		170,000
Channel icons
10 ITV 3, 20 G.O.L.D. (not free), 25 Dave ja vu, 26 Home (not free), 27 ITV 2 +1, 30 5*, 31 5USA, 34 ESPN UK (not free), 38 Quest, 39 The Zone, 44 Channel 5 +1, 72 CITV, plus 22 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C51 (714.0MHz) from 291m datum.
COM5
ArqA
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		170,000
Channel icons
 TV News,  TV Stars, 11 PICK TV, 12 Dave, 17 Really, 29 E4+1, 32 Movie Mix, 46 Challenge, 48 Food Network, 82 Sky News, 87 Community Channel, plus 9 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C52 (722.0MHz) from 289m datum.
COM6
ArqB
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		170,000
Channel icons
15 Film 4, 18 4Music, 19 Yesterday, 21 VIVA, 24 ITV 4, 41 Sky Sports 1 (not free), 42 Sky Sports 2 (not free), 47 4seven, 83 Al Jazeera English, 85 RT English , plus 21 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C48 (690.0MHz) from 289m datum.


Regional news from the Sandy Heath transmitter


BBC Look East (West) 1.0m homes 3.7%
from Cambridge CB4 0WZ, 29km east-northeast
to BBC Cambridge region - 4 masts.

ITV Anglia News 1.0m homes 3.7%
from Norwich NR1 3JG, 119km east-northeast
to ITV Anglia (West) region - 5 masts.

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1965~851984-971997-981998-20112011-132013-182013-18
aerial groupVHFA KKWWWW
C6ITV
C21C4C4C4+BBCB+BBCB+BBCB
C24ITVITVITVD3+4D3+4D3+4
C27BBC2BBC2BBC2BBCABBCABBCA
600C31BBC1BBC1BBC1
C32com7
C34com8
C39C5C5
C40+C
C42-1
C43+Alocal
C45-2
C46+D
C48ArqBArqBArqB
700C51SDNSDNSDN
C52ArqAArqAArqA
800C67B

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 30th March and 13th April 2011.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Bedford including Sandy could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Sandy Heath transmitter using C43
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16.

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 1000kW
com7, com8(-7dB) 200kW
BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7.4dB) 180kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-7.7dB) 170kW
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*(-17dB) 20kW
Analogue 5(-20dB) 10kW

History of Channel 3 in the Sandy Heath transmitter area

• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only.


Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

firstFirst comments prevEarlier comments  ◊  Later commentsnext Latest commentslast

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.

ALAN PEACHEY
Monday 28 November 2011 3:16PM
Just had a email from the dear old BBC. First they said there was no way I could get a signal from Crystel Palace from my postcode (CB10). Also they they said that 2 neighbouring tranmitters never share the same frequencies, so therefore, why do they both share Ch31? The BBC dont half talk a load bollocks sometimes dont they?
Mitesh Shah
Thursday 1 December 2011 1:33PM
At the start of switch over I was getting 141 DTV, 55 Radio, and 6 TV channels, after doing the last reset I only get 52 DTV, 20 Radio and 5 TV channels, WHY?
brian
Tuesday 13 December 2011 7:15PM March
It appears that the Tx'er info above is out of date ie: Sandy Heath Mux C is now channel 52 (frequency ? )
Brian
ALAN PEACHEY
Tuesday 13 December 2011 8:43PM
It was a chsnge of frequency from 67 to 52. I can assure you Channel 31 is still giving me a lot problems as it keeps breaking up because of the interference from Crystel Palace which uses the same channel 31 as well.


Briantist
Wednesday 14 December 2011 9:08PM
brian: Bug fixed, sorry about that.
JOHN MOTTRAM
Sunday 1 January 2012 7:11PM Rushden
I Wonder if you can help, I bought a Digital Television for my auntie last Oct from Comet,
22in Samsung, She as had a problem with it since, its just 2 channels BBC1 & 2, If she presses number 1 on the remote twice she looses
the channel same goes for BBC2, THE PICTURE GOES TO BLACK & WHITE & FUZZY, I've Re-tune the TV and when its finished it tells me there is 2 Analogue channels, I think she is receiving from Sandy Heath, If all Transmitters are all digital then why is my auntie's tv still as 2 analogue channels.
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 1 January 2012 7:30PM
JOHN MOTTRAM: If your auntie is receiving from Sandy Heath, then there is no analogue to tune in and, as such, the analogue part of the TV is redundant.

The likely answer is that the TV is picking up an analogue signal from another transmitter that has yet to switchover to digital only. This would also explain the poor picture on those analogue channels.
A. Rees
Monday 16 January 2012 7:56AM
Since yesterday I am unable to receive Sky Nrew on channel 82 from the Sandy Heath transmitter. I have done several retune scans aHave never had a problem before.nd it seems to miss out channel 82 altogether.
Tim McEwan
Thursday 19 January 2012 11:37AM Milton Keynes
I have been helping my ex with her Freeview setup, but am baffled by the distinct lack of HD programmes. Every channel except C21 booms in with excellent quality from Sandy Heath. Why no C21?? New, external, wide-band antenna @ MK10 9NE
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 19 January 2012 12:26PM
Tim McEwan: Some possibilities:

1. There is another device that is putting out an analogue signal on C21.

2. The TV is "HD Ready" which means that it can show HD pictures, but does not have the means to receive them off air.

What is the make and model of the TV?
Tim McEwan
Thursday 19 January 2012 1:54PM
Technika 42-8533D 42 inch Widescreen Full HD 1080p 3D LCD TV with Freeview & 8 x 3D Glasses is the model.

Im not aware of any analogue signal - at least the TV doesn't discover it in analogue mode....
Mike Dimmick
Thursday 19 January 2012 4:54PM
Tim McEwan: I'm afraid I can't find a detailed spec or manual for that TV online.

For Freeview HD, the TV has to support the newer DVB-T2 standard and the BBC's method of encoding the programme guide (this is a very rudimentary copy-protection measure). Equipment that supports both should have a Freeview HD logo on the packaging somewhere. You could check to see whether the manual mentions DVB-T2. If it only mentions DVB-T, I'm afraid you'll need an additional Freeview HD box.

If the TV definitely supports Freeview HD, not just 'HD Ready', the most likely answer is Short Reflector Syndrome: www.wrightsaerials.tv link icon http://www.wrightsaerials….pdf .

Wideband aerials aren't very good at the lowest frequencies, but you don't have much choice with Sandy Heath as the commercial multiplexes are in the middle of the frequency range, and a Group A aerial won't receive them. The cut-off is very sharp for frequencies above the range that the aerial is designed to handle.

If you can get into a manual tuning screen for the TV, it may be possible to show the signal strength for C21 and compare it to the strength for C24 and C27. If they're similar, it's the TV, not the aerial.
Adam B
Thursday 19 January 2012 5:39PM
Tim McEwan:

I'm afraid the TV does not have an HD tuner built in. If you go to the Tesco website to see this model, go down to the description info, and click on the tap marked features, and you will se that for Freeview HD it says NO.

direct.tesco.com link icon Technika 42-8533D 42 inch Widescreen Full HD 1080p 3D LCD TV with Freeview & 8 x 3D Glasses - Tesco.Direct

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings,
Adam.
Tim McEwan
Friday 20 January 2012 9:11AM
Thanks everyone - not the bargain she thought it was then!!
Freesat HD box on the horizon methinks......
Mike
Friday 20 January 2012 1:27PM Biggleswade
I have an M&S digital TV (yes I know I should stick to their food only), which used to have occasioanal lip-sync problems. Since Sandy Heath went fully digital this had got really bad with all channels (not just Freeview) experincing this. Put this down to a loft aerial but now have an outside one and still a problem, we are 4 miles from transmitter. Called M&S and they wont do anything as Sandy heath has a low signal apparently, however this is on Freeveiw channels only. They said this TV has small less sensitive tuner, are they telling porkies?
Frances Lawless
Saturday 21 January 2012 3:56PM
Reception is very poor between 6.00pm and 8.00pm. Pictures freezes and breaks every few minutes. No problems at all at other times of the day. I have an aerial.I'm in Milton Keynes
Mike
Saturday 21 January 2012 4:41PM Biggleswade
I am using a small Yagi aerial (7 bars, dipole and simple screen) bought from Homebase and formerly used in loft but now on high pole attached to shed pointing directly at mast (visible). Pefect picture all time from PC-TV tuner (USB widget) but M&S 1906F001 digi TV experiences breakup, bad sync all time, all channels, attentuator makes it worse. As I said, pre full digital not so bad. I suspect 3yold TV is actually rubbish.
jb38
Saturday 21 January 2012 6:09PM
Mike: Being located at only 4 miles away from Sandy you could possibly be suffering from severe signal overloading problems, your PC tuner not being because its liable to be insensitive compared to that in the TV.

My reason though for saying "possibly", is that in locations not too far away from a tall mast the signal received tends to be lower than that obtained from a position slightly further away, this due to the umbrella shielding effect, so a way to check the signal level received is to try a test set using a top aerial into your M&S TV, or if this not to hand try a short piece of wire (about 2/3 feet or so) pushed into the inner part of the TV aerials socket and see what results you get.

If you get OK reception by doing that then an attenuator of at least 20dB is required, and there shouldn't really be any need for your aerial to be mounted on a high pole either, unless that is you really are shielded!
Mike
Saturday 21 January 2012 7:08PM Biggleswade
jb38: Thanks, I also thought high signal strength might be the problem so I tried the tiny aerial that came with the PC-TV tuner in the M&S set. Result was no reception on freeview and very poor on the main channels (BBC1 etc). The PC tuner actually worked better with this little aerial. Also used an attentuator, variable up to 20dB but this just made it worse. Hence my suspicions that the TV is faulty but cannot understand why it got much worse after digital switchover - we always used it on digital before with limited problems.
KMJ,Derby
Saturday 21 January 2012 8:15PM
Mike: As a matter of interest how does the M&S set perform when ITV3 or QVC are selected? I make this suggestion as the SDN mux is still in its pre-switchover state, ie 2k mode at 20kW.
jb38
Saturday 21 January 2012 8:39PM
KMJ,Derby / Mike: A very valid point KMJ, as the power / 2K operation could be the main factor that's causing the problem.

Mike: I tried but failed, to find out some technical details about the specification of your set, as all I seemed to see were somewhat derogatory comments being made of not only your model but also another 26" version, so your assessment of the device could well be spot on.
Dave Lindsay
Saturday 21 January 2012 8:50PM
jb38, Mike: I wondered if the "M&S 1906F001" might be found by dropping the 001 suffix. There is a model made by Murphy: TP-1906F

A manual for this model is here:

http://www.contrast-uk.ne….pdf
jb38
Saturday 21 January 2012 9:27PM
Dave Lindsay: Yes, it looks as though that might be the device in question, although as you will obviously see on looking at the manual the absolute minimum spec is listed, and the idea of a service manual is quite out of the question, not of course that any of these type of devices are really repaired as such because in most cases anything under guarantee is just really replaced as a complete unit as parts aren't imported, with any that are seen advertised in places such as e-bay or wherever being boards that have been removed from complete TV's that have been damaged in one way or another.

This applies to most obscure brands of audio / video devices, and in some cases not so obscure!



Mike
Sunday 22 January 2012 6:03PM Biggleswade
KMJ,Derby: jb38: D Lindsey:
Many thanks for all your help. ITV3 is just as bad but BBC1, BBC2 etc are all showing issues and not part of the MUX system? I dont think electrical interference is an issue as there seems nothing close to the set that might emit a signal - timing seems to be random as well. The Murphy 'manual' is certainly near identical to the one I have so that is its origin. I too have found derogatory comments about the set on the web. It seems very likely that the TV is, if not faulty as such, just plain poor quality. I may persue this further with M&S and/or get a better set.
jb38
Sunday 22 January 2012 7:29PM
Mike: Many thanks for the update as is always interesting to know the result of anything tried, even although if it might well be in a negative sense! Just a pity you didn't have a normal Freeview box to try out on your aerial (box connected to your TV via a scart lead) as although I know you were using the PC's-TV tuner to judge against the tuner / receiver in the TV its not really the best of devices to use for comparisons, albeit that it might well be OK for the purpose intended.

I think though that the latter comment you made in the update is best policy, as although you will always get someone finding fault with something, it wasn't exactly easy to read anything other than derogatory comments about that particular model of TV, albeit on the face of it nothing would seem amiss, especially with it having an M &S tag on it.
barclay
Monday 23 January 2012 5:32PM
hi, im soooooo confused :-(
i live in far cotton northampton and should get all sandy channels.
i can today get bbca, d3+4 & sdn on ch 31.
this website states sdn should be transmitted at only 20,000 watts, i dont understand that i can get this but i cant get arqa or arqb which are supposed to be transmitted at 180,000 & 170,000 watts?
also i have gold but it isnt listed?
can anyone explain please?
Dave Lindsay
Monday 23 January 2012 5:47PM
barclay: The only thing I can see that could be the issue is that ArqA and ArqB are on Group B channels (higher up frequencies).

Have you had your Group A aerial replaced with a wideband one (or a second aerial fitted for higher frequencies)?

I'm not saying that this is the problem, but it is an observation of a possibility.

Have you tried manually tuning in these channels? Does the bar show any signal whatsoever?
barclay
Monday 23 January 2012 6:17PM
hi dave,
thanks for the reply, i had a good wideband in the loft but couldnt get sdn so ive just connected up the old ariel outside so you are probably right, i cant spend the money on replacing it as we are moving soon.
thanks
barclay
Dawn Bonham
Friday 27 January 2012 2:49PM
Why is it that I am unable to receive certain Freeview channels in Northampton NN3 that friends living in Wootton NN4 take for granted? Why? When considering BT Vision - out of the 72 Freeview channels available, there are apparently 53 channels I can't get. It does make Digital TV look a bit of a joke ! How can I progress ?
Dave Lindsay
Friday 27 January 2012 3:02PM
Dawn Bonham: Around 8% of the population can only get the Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) services because the commercial broadcasters don't wish to install transmitters to cover them.

However, I'm not convinced that this affects you as there are no small transmitters in your area that only carry the PSBs.

In order to give a more precise answer, an exact location is required. As too is the transmitter from which you are receiving your signal. If the transmitter is unknown, then the direction of the aerial along with the location should allow it to be worked out.

If it is the commercial channels that you are missing, then perhaps you are receiving from Oxford transmitter. I say this because its commercial services are on low power until 18th April. This is so as to avoid interference with another transmitter that has yet to switch over to digital and is therefore using the same frequencies until then.
Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 28 February 2012 9:57PM
Briantist: According to Digital UK Tradeview and Ofcom licences document V7, SDN will move to C51 on 9th May, and not 18th April as previously advised.
Briantist
Wednesday 29 February 2012 1:19PM
Dave Lindsay: Thanks, I had it on the www.ukfree.tv link icon Switchover events 2012
| ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page but it now shows in the notes above.
E Marriott
Wednesday 14 March 2012 10:58AM
Why can't I get ITV one today?
Scott austin
Monday 26 March 2012 1:55PM
Hi people does anyone know why we are havering probs in Northampton . It's every night at about 10 pm onwards.i am recovering 75db please help
mieke
Monday 26 March 2012 7:00PM
My tv has just stopped working altogether and it says ' connect aerial' - which is fully connected.

I live in Sandy. Anyone else got problems? (7pm).
jb38
Monday 26 March 2012 8:02PM
mieke: I assume that it must have been a very temporary break? as I checked the signal from Sandy a few minutes ago and it was as normal.

It has been published to expect interruptions to the service to occur at any time during this week, so if the screen is found to be blank at any time do not alter anything.
Colin Wray
Thursday 26 April 2012 5:06PM
I am getting a "Retune on 9th May" message popping up. My main txs are CP and OX, but I do get SH C27 but never watch it. None of these three txs have a 9th May change listed so what is going on ?
Adam B
Thursday 26 April 2012 5:39PM Dunstable
Colin Wray:

The SDN Mux at Sandy Heath moves on that date to its final frequency, C51 from C31, and its power will increase also. Probably because you can get C27 from SH the message appears.

Hope this helps,
Adam.
del
Tuesday 1 May 2012 10:54PM Stevenage
Anyone else having problems? No signal since I came home tonight, apart from an odd 10-20 minutes about 6.30pm. Have done all the box rebooting and all... Just want to know it's not my equipment (which is fairly new)
paul
Thursday 3 May 2012 10:10AM St. Neots
still no signal since 1st may getting pretty annoyed now as i am disabled and cannot get out so rely on my tv i have also done all checks to eradicate problem just need a signal thats all
Mark Fletcher
Thursday 3 May 2012 10:32PM St. Neots
Paul,PE19 1JP.I have checked and there are no problems whatsoever with Sandy Heath transmitter,only the reduced 20kw lower powered MuxA multiplex on frequency 31 which is switched off in the early hours of Wednesday 9 May 2012 and replaced by higher 170kw powered SDN multiplex which relocates to frequency 51 as such.
Mark Fletcher
Thursday 3 May 2012 10:35PM Halifax
Correction to my above post.My location is Halifax not St Neots.Apologises for my error of location.
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 8 May 2012 12:27PM
SANDY HEATH transmitter - dy Heath Transmitter works 9 May 2012: Engineering transmitter work will take place between 00:01hrs and 06:00hrs. TV services that will be disrupted: Analogue services - n/a Digital services - PSB1, PSB2, PSB3, COM4, COM5 and COM6 will be subject to periods of shutdown. [DUK] Over the next week Sandy Heath main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Derek Bradnam
Thursday 10 May 2012 12:16PM
Lost all of my BBC channels and my freeview box now will not scan above channel 32.
, this was after recomended re-tune.

Rf is set to channel 68 is this correct?

Before you ask I have unplugged and re-plugged as you have recomended.
Ashley
Monday 14 May 2012 7:53PM
Since the works on 9th May, I began to experience problems with Channel 21 (BBC) and as of today, there is hardly any signal at all. Are there still problems this week with the Sandy Transmitter?
steve
Tuesday 15 May 2012 10:25PM Luton
Since the sandy heath retune my tv reception has got terrible, I'm getting picture break up on pretty much every channel. Is there still work being done or could it be atmospherics?
Transmitter engineering
Saturday 2 June 2012 7:28PM
SANDY HEATH transmitter - Freeview HD Digital TV Off Air from 18:07 today to 18:15 today [BBC]



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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