Freeview: Darvel (East Ayrshire, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter
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Full Freeview on the Darvel (East Ayrshire, Scotland) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth55.579,-4.291 or 55°34'45"N 4°17'26"WKA16 9LS

4G at 800MHz (at800) Freeview reception issues

When 800MHz 4G mobile broadband services start there will be 2 multiplexes in the higher risk range (C21-23, C30, C59-60): C23: SDN, C22: BBCA
See How do I know if the 4G broadband will overload my Freeview? and Full UK map of 4G issue areas for details.

This transmitter has no current reported problems

The BBC and Digital UK report there are no faults or engineering work on the Darvel (East Ayrshire, Scotland) transmitter. Click to recheck

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The symbol shows the location of the Darvel (East Ayrshire, Scotland) transmitter which serves 150,000 homes.

Other maps:Darvel DABDarvel AM/FMDarvel regionBBC ScotlandSTV Central (Glasgow 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.


List by multiplex|List by channel number|List by channel name|See terrain plot

Darvel 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.

MuxAerial positionFrequencyHeightModeWatts
PSB1
BBCA
 horizontal max
C22- (481.8MHz)446m64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		20,000W
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

PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal max
C25 (506.0MHz)446m64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		20,000W
Channel icons
3 STV (STV Central (Glasgow 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),

PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal max
C28 (530.0MHz)446m256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s DVB-T2 MPEG4		20,000W
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

COM4
SDN
 horizontal -3dB
C23 (490.0MHz)446m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		10,000W
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

COM5
ArqA
 horizontal -3dB
C26 (514.0MHz)446m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		10,000W
Channel icons
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

COM6
ArqB
 horizontal -3dB
C29 (538.0MHz)446m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		10,000W
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



Regional news from the Darvel transmitter


BBC Reporting Scotland 2.4m homes 9.2%
from Glasgow G51 1DA, 31km north
to BBC Scotland region - 230 masts.

STV News 1.3m homes 4.8%
from Glasgow G51 1PQ, 31km north
to STV Central (Glasgow) region - 94 masts.

Self-help relays

Craigie GardensTransposer1 homes 90 caravans
InversnaidActive deflector35 km N Dumbarton8 homes Hotel caravan park

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1984-971997-981998-20112011-132013-182013-182019-
aerial groupA KA KA KA KA KA KA K
C22-1-BBCA-BBCA-BBCASDN
C23ITVITVITVSDNSDNSDNBBCB
C25-2D3+4D3+4D3+4ArqA
C26BBC2BBC2BBC2ArqAArqAArqAD3+4
C28-BBBCBBBCBBBCBArqB
C29C4C4C4ArqBArqBArqB
C30+ClocalBBCA
600C32-A
C33BBC1BBC1BBC1
C34D
C35C5C5

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 11th May and 25th May 2011.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Ayr including Kilmarnock could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Darvel transmitter using C30

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-5 100kW
BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 20kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-10dB) 10kW
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*(-14dB) 4kW
Mux C*, Mux D*(-17dB) 2kW

History of Channel 3 in the Darvel transmitter area

Aug 1957-Dec 2014Scottish Television
Feb 1983-Dec 1992TV-am•
Jan 1993-Sep 2010GMTV•
Sep 2010-Dec 2014ITV Daybreak•
• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Darvel 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  ◊  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.

craig
Tuesday 28 July 2009 10:41AM
Postcode ka152bz. beith,north Ayrshire. i've lost itv1,ch4,ch5,sky3 and some other channels on Freeview only in the last 4 months. i have a 52 element high gain aerial pointed to the darvel transmitter which was functioning quite reasonably for my needs.would i be better now fotting a wide band aerial and if so what are the choices?
thanks.
Briantist
Tuesday 28 July 2009 2:02PM
craig: No, a wideband aerial will not make any difference, the transmissions are all "in group", group A.

Please can you see www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 for some suggestions.
DAVID BRENNAN
Sunday 2 August 2009 8:26PM Kilbirnie
POSTCODE KA25 7eq. kilbirnie,NORTH AYRSHIRE. I'VE LOST ITV1,CH4,CH5,SKY3 AND SOME OTHER CHANNELS ON FREEVIEW ONLY IN THE LAST week. I HAVE A 52 ELEMENT HIGH GAIN AERIAL POINTED TO THE DARVEL TRANSMITTER WHICH WAS FUNCTIONING QUITE REASONABLY FOR MY NEEDS. WHAT'S GOING ON. AND WHAT CAN I DO?
ACCORDING TO DARVEL THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS OR ENGINEERING WORKS ON GOING.SOMEBODY MUST KNOW SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE SIGNAL STRENGTH
IS VERY LOW FOR ALL ITV STATIONS.
Briantist
Monday 3 August 2009 8:41AM
DAVID BRENNAN: There are no reported problems with the transmitter. Remember that multiplex 2's 64QAM mode means it will disappear first if you have any problems... can you please see www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 for help.
laurence
Thursday 3 September 2009 6:44PM
For the last couple of weeks we have had very weak reception (less than 30% strength)on Channel 25 which covers itv/itv2/itv3/CH4.I've tried re-tuning but have had no joy. All other channels (mainly bbc)are perfectly fine. The recetion is worst from 18:00-21:00. What's causing this?
Briantist
Saturday 5 September 2009 4:15PM
laurence: Please can you see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 for some suggestions?
Kate
Monday 21 September 2009 1:34AM Glasgow
I have installed a PVR with Freeview, however, I am only able to get Mux D channels, I tried a manual installation and it turns out I am getting Mux D from Darvel but all the other Mux channels came up with no signal at all from Darvell or any other transmitter. Any suggestions as to what I need to do?

Briantist
Monday 21 September 2009 6:32AM
Kate: Please can you see the list of suggestions on the www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 page?

However, I think you may be using the local Glasgow repeater for analogue, so you may need to change your aerial to get all the digital channels.
Trevor Goodenough
Monday 21 September 2009 8:19PM
It would seem that the terestrial digital signal is not as robust as we think. My daughter lives in a wooded part of Kilmarnock and the Darvel mast can be seen from her bedroom window. She has a 48 ele aerial masthead amp and 48 strand & copper sheathed 75 ohm coax, a quality install. Analogue is good with a slight trace of noise on channel 5, Freeview though is very poor all the MUX's show good signal levels but low quality. i was always under the impression that COFDM coding should "help" in poor areas, I doubt on changeover day there will be an improvement.
Bring back 405 lines on VHF.
Iain Davies
Tuesday 22 September 2009 3:51PM Kingsbridge
Too much signal! Get rid of the amp and use a group A aerial if not using one.
Trevor Goodenough
Friday 25 September 2009 5:02PM
Hi
The area is noted for poor signal hence the 48 ele aerial and of course its a group "A". In fact the pictures are better than most in the street.
I am a TV engineer of some 40 years and one that still does some work in the trade.
Cheers
Briantist
Tuesday 29 September 2009 9:20AM
Trevor Goodenough: I suspect that you are going to be impressed. Once the COFDM signals are at their full power level, and without the interference caused by analogue signals, the digital coverage is much, much better than analogue. This is mainly down to the digital transmission providing everyone in the coverage area with perfect reception, rather than those close to a transmitter.
Briantist
Tuesday 29 September 2009 9:28AM
Iain Davies: Good advice.
william fraser
Wednesday 30 September 2009 7:23PM Kilmarnock
already posted
Briantist
Wednesday 30 September 2009 8:42PM
william fraser: Sorry, what is?
david brennan
Saturday 24 October 2009 10:58AM Kilbirnie
How come when an airliner flies overhead my freeview freezes?
Alastair
Monday 14 December 2009 6:34PM
Hi
We have recently had trounble with reception from Darvel and its getting worse all the time. The aerial is quite new and I even got a new set top box but to no avail. We live in an area of Bearsden that cannot get good reception from Blackhill. Is it that windfarm?
Briantist
Monday 14 December 2009 9:34PM
Alastair: It might be, but I would check things closer to home first - Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV + switchover advice, since 2002
Alastair
Tuesday 15 December 2009 1:56PM
Thanks for the link to the checklist. I will let you know how I get on.
Transmitter engineering
Monday 11 January 2010 11:09AM
DARVEL transmitter - Over the next week analogue TV is liable to interruption. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Monday 11 January 2010 11:09AM
DARVEL transmitter - Over the next week analogue TV is liable to interruption. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 12 January 2010 2:34PM
DARVEL transmitter - BBC Two Failure - From 1406 [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 12 January 2010 2:34PM
DARVEL transmitter - BBC Two Failure - From 1406 [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 12 January 2010 4:09PM
DARVEL transmitter - BBC Two Failure - 1406-1510 [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 12 January 2010 4:09PM
DARVEL transmitter - BBC Two Failure - 1406-1510 [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 2 February 2010 8:47AM
DARVEL transmitter - Over the next week Darvel main transmitter: TV (analogue) Possible weak signal, TV (digital) working normally, Radio (analogue) Possible weak signal, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 2 February 2010 8:47AM
DARVEL transmitter - Over the next week Darvel main transmitter: TV (analogue) Possible weak signal, TV (digital) working normally, Radio (analogue) Possible weak signal, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Linz
Monday 8 February 2010 9:02AM
Last few days Signal going off displays "bad signal" or "weak signal" recorders are needing retune done and also after retune done it wants it redone again is this all the same thing is work going on at Darvel.
This is happening with different manufacturers sets.
Would be nice if apology was to be displayed on screen about this
Briantist
Monday 8 February 2010 9:05AM
Linz: There is no work going on the digital service, please can you see www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV + switchover advice, since 2002 for help.
Maureen Hall
Thursday 11 February 2010 9:43AM
Why are we having picture breakup on BBCand ITV freeview digital channels? Also frequently no signal for periods of time? Analogue seems OK
Transmitter engineering
Sunday 21 February 2010 2:09PM
DARVEL transmitter - Over the next week Darvel main transmitter: TV (analogue) Possible weak signal, TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) Possible weak signal, Radio (digital) Possible weak signal. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Sunday 21 February 2010 2:09PM
DARVEL transmitter - Over the next week Darvel main transmitter: TV (analogue) Possible weak signal, TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) Possible weak signal, Radio (digital) Possible weak signal. [DUK]
John Semple
Wednesday 24 February 2010 4:24PM
I am in Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre and I can pick up the strong signal channels here, must be Darval
Bill
Monday 22 March 2010 8:34PM
Do you require a special aerial to receive freeview Craig Tara Caravan Park (Ayr), signal strength very weak, TV breaking up.
Briantist
Wednesday 24 March 2010 10:13AM
Bill: Can you provide a postcode please?
Bill
Wednesday 24 March 2010 6:25PM Ayr
Dear Briantist,
Thanks for the help.
Craig tara info
Craig Tara Holiday Park
Dunure Road, Ayr, Scotland KA7 4LB
Many thanks
Bill
Briantist
Wednesday 24 March 2010 11:11PM
Bill: You shouldn't need anything other than a standard "Yagi" aerial, but you need to put it on a reasonable long pole away from the body of the caravan to ensure the best possible signal.
brian
Saturday 27 March 2010 11:06PM
The map for digital services from Darvel show that the area for Troon is no colour at all, suggesting that there is no digital reception in this area. Please advise if this is correct or, supply signal strength details. Also can you confirm the switchover date as the Arqiva site indicates a 2010 changeover.
Many thanks
Briantist
Monday 29 March 2010 7:42AM
brian: As it says above, November 2010 is the switchover date for this transmitter.
Mo
Tuesday 4 May 2010 6:57PM
Live in Bearsden and asm getting no ITV channels through my Freeview Television.. It started 2 weeks ago - any ideas??
adrian
Thursday 13 May 2010 10:04PM
i have lost ITV, ch4 etc from the darvel transmitter in the last 2 days.
Any ideas?
Briantist
Thursday 13 May 2010 10:07PM
adrian: Please have a look at Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for some suggestions.
Mike Dimmick
Thursday 13 May 2010 11:45PM Reading
adrian: well, Keelylang Hill and its relays began switchover yesterday, but I can't imagine that had a particular effect on your reception in Darvel. I do note that BBCA at Keelylang Hill itself is on C46 (674MHz) while Mux 2 at Darvel is on C26- (506MHz) which is quite close to a ratio of 4:3, which is close to a perfect fourth. Harmonics could be a problem for these transmissions.

You'd have to have a very high-powered aerial and be in an extreme fringe area for this to be a problem, though, I would have thought. Signals from Keelylang Hill just shouldn't carry that far.

Where are you, exactly?
BOOBOOCOO
Friday 4 June 2010 1:24PM
I live in Kirkconnel and "recieve" ,ha ha that's a joke, from Darvel , the signal has always been substandard or none at all and whenever I check to see if repairs are going on it always seems there are not ??? My equipment for terrestrial is tuned and positioned for the best possible signal.Is there any way I can claim a discount or compensation for this dire service. I only watch BBC channels and have no desire at all to watch commercial TV due to its homogenised entertainment,surely my publicly allocated taxes toward the BBC require an equal service.
Briantist
Friday 4 June 2010 2:08PM
BOOBOOCOO: Yes, the service is limited, and will only improve on 25th May 2011, the signals will be 4 times stronger.

The low power pre-switchover digital service is as provided by the law, so that is what the BBC must provide.

You might want to go for Freesat, this has excellent BBC services, including the HD channel. www.ukfree.tv link icon How much is it going to cost to get High Definition TV? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
booboocoo
Saturday 5 June 2010 2:51PM
Briantist Hi there, your advice is non biased, very accurate and I am not in any way directing my annoyance toward you or this forum site, I just feel a tad taken to the cleaners when my cash is used to improve office apartments and services for executives working for a public service and then am told for me to receive it I must go to a private commercial concern and pay them for a long term contract ! It just smacks of exclusion to those of a low income, which is more than likely in remote areas with high unemployment!
Briantist
Monday 7 June 2010 7:11AM
booboocoo: It was actually the previous government in the form of Tessa Jowell who decided to delay the switchover process, not the BBC. The BBC were ready to have the process done by 2010.

Freesat is not a "private concern" it is a public service not-for-profit company set up by ITV and BBC.
booboocoo
Wednesday 9 June 2010 1:38AM
Sorry Brian ,
this is the first I've heard of Freesat , I see it now though , excellent I'm not wurried about buying an dish and freesat box , I only looked at skybox as my only satelite option. It's a one of payment "spot on" . All cushty and made up now , take care and thanks for the pointer.
Briantist
Wednesday 9 June 2010 6:52AM
booboocoo: Good luck with Freesat.
Frank McCabe
Wednesday 23 June 2010 5:46PM Paisley
I can receive all stations except those using MUX D. Is there any way to overcome this problem?



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.

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