Freeview: Black Hill (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) full-Freeview transmitter
Site settings
For an enhanced Freeview reception
prediction please enter your
full postcode, a national grid reference or
a UK latitude and longitude pair. 
Most popular
On other sites

Freeview on the Black Hill (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth55.861,-3.874 or 55°51'40"N 3°52'27"WML7 4NZ

Transmitter fauls and engineering works



map is loading, please wait...

The symbol shows the location of the Black Hill transmitter which serves 940,000 homes.

Other maps:Black Hill DABBlack Hill AM/FMBlack Hill 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.

Black Hill 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
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
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 C46 (674.0MHz) from 576m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
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),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C43 (650.0MHz) from 576m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal
Maximum256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		100,000
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 C40 (626.0MHz) from 576m datum.
COM4
SDN
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
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 C41+ (634.2MHz) from 576m datum.
COM5
ArqA
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
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 C44 (658.0MHz) from 576m datum.
COM6
ArqB
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
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 C47 (682.0MHz) from 576m datum.


Regional news from the Black Hill transmitter


BBC Reporting Scotland 2.4m homes 9.2%
from Glasgow G51 1DA, 26km west
to BBC Scotland region - 230 masts.

STV News 1.3m homes 4.8%
from Glasgow G51 1PQ, 26km west
to STV Central (Glasgow) region - 94 masts.

Self-help relays

Ardtornish ATransposer22 km NW Oban15 homes
BalquhidderTransposer12 km NW Callander42 homes
Benmore BActive deflector50 m WNW Glasgow7 homes
Blair DrummondTransposer5 homes caravan park
Blyth BridgeActive deflector30 km SW Edinburgh50 homes
GlendaruelActive deflector40 hotel40 homes hotel
Glendaruel BActive deflector12 homes (second level)

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1957~851984-971997-981998-20112011-132013-182013-18
aerial groupVHFB EB EEB E KB E KW
C10ITV
600C32com7
C35com8
C37C5C5
C40BBC1BBC1BBC1BBCBBBCBBBCB
C41+1+SDN+SDN+SDN
C43ITVITVITVD3+4D3+4D3+4
C44+AArqAArqAArqA
C46BBC2BBC2BBC2BBCABBCABBCA
C47+2ArqBArqBArqB
700C50C4C4C4
C51+Blocal
C55C
C56local
800C65D

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 8th June and 22nd June 2011.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Glasgow including East Kilbride, Motherwell, Paisley could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Black Hill transmitter using C51
  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Falkirk including Stirling could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Black Hill transmitter using C56
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16. COM9 UK-wide SFN

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-5 500kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB, com7, com8, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 100kW
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*(-14dB) 20kW
PreDSO-BBCB*(-17dB) 10kW

History of Channel 3 in the Black Hill transmitter area

Aug 1957-Jun 1997Scottish Television
Jun 1997-Dec 2014STV plc
• 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.

Scott
Monday 23 May 2011 6:38PM
Thanks. Can I ask the question in a different way. I am trying to work out if my friend is receiving signal from Blackhill or Darvel. The display says 'Central Scotland'. Is there any way of knowing which transmitter group the signal is coming from? Thanks
jb38
Monday 23 May 2011 8:55PM
Scott: The easiest way to verify where a signal is coming from is, whilst viewing the signal in question go into the tuning menu of either the TV or set top box being used and click on "check signal" or "signal condition" etc, as that section will also indicate the MUX channel number associated with that particular signal / quality indication.

You then crosscheck this number with the MUX channels used by the two transmitters you are querying, these obtainable on this or a multitude of other sites.
Scott
Monday 23 May 2011 9:41PM
Thanks. I'll do that. It seems pretty confusing to use the term 'Central Scotland' on screen when the booklet issued by Digital UK refers to the region as 'STV Central' and the transmitter groups as Torosay, Darvel, Rosneath, Craigkelly and Black Hill. A consistent approach to terminology would be useful.
ian
Thursday 26 May 2011 7:57PM
the apprentice on bbc hd is being broadcast in 1080p according to my sony 32ex403 tv. is this right? i thought freeview hd was all 1080i!
Briantist
Thursday 26 May 2011 8:12PM
ian: The BBC channels on Freeview HD use 1080i and 1080p automatically on a GOP ("group of pictures") basis automatically depending on source content.
ian
Thursday 26 May 2011 9:12PM Alloa
thank you briantist
Scott
Thursday 26 May 2011 9:49PM
Are there short interruptions in the sound between different sections of the programme when 1080p is used? That seemed to be the case at the start of 1080p.
Briantist
Thursday 26 May 2011 10:06PM
Scott: They are not there in the broadcast - the audio is carried as a separate stream from the video data, but some equipment, including Sony TVs are having problems - www.engadget.com link icon BBC HD quietly begins broadcasting in 1080p, but not all Sony HDTVs can handle it -- Engadget has some details.
Scott
Thursday 26 May 2011 10:42PM
Briantist: Yes, it's a Sony. Thanks for the link. Is this likely to be fixable by software upgrade?
Briantist
Friday 27 May 2011 2:06PM
Scott: Yes, it should be fixed by a software update. Keep an eye on the Freeview and Freesat set-top box updates | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page.
Scott
Saturday 28 May 2011 9:36AM
Briantist: Sony offer firmware upgrades and updates via their website. Is the type of upgrade needed to deal with the 1080p issue capable of being delivered via internet/USB or are you are saying it can only be done as an off-air download?
Briantist
Monday 30 May 2011 1:34PM
Scott: No, if you want to do it online or via USB that is OK, but the fixes will also be provided "over the air" too.
james Mulholland
Wednesday 1 June 2011 4:27PM
why can i not receive channels such as Film on 4 which i used to receive a few years ago. i have reset digi-box several times but still get no signal - can you help please?
KMJ,Derby
Wednesday 1 June 2011 5:47PM
james Mulholland: Film4 is on MuxD which is transmitted on C65 from Black Hill. As this is the highest frequency in use on this transmitter it is likely to be the first one to be affected by obstructions in the signal path (trees, tall buildings etc), deterioration in the aerial condition or faulty connectors/cables. It could also be a case of single frequency interference caused by the RF modulator of a VCR or Sky box blocking the required signal. At this stage it is probably not worth investigating the problem as switchover step 2 is on 22nd June 2011 when MuxD becomes MuxArqB on C47 at 100kW.
Michael
Wednesday 1 June 2011 7:51PM
I have a tv with built in freeview hd but i cant get any hd channels. when i search it returns 0 channels found. I thought it was just because of the switchover hasn't come to blackhill yet and it was not strong enough but recently my parents got a new tv also with freeview hd built in and they get all the channels. What could be wrong here
Scott
Wednesday 1 June 2011 10:22PM
Michael: look back though the thread. The HD multiplex is a temporary signal operating at 10 kilowatts from an aerial further down the transmitter mast. If you have driven along the M8 recently, you should have noticed a brand new transmitter alongside the existing one. On 22 June the HD signal will move to the new transmitter at a staggering 100 thousand watts* so your reception should improve then. Just be patient.

* Note: use of the word 'staggering' is poetic licence as it is not as simple as saying that the signal is 10 times stronger. I have been corrected on this point (10 dB increase).
Sam
Tuesday 7 June 2011 10:03PM
I'm sure I'm not the only one with this question BUT I can't find an answer for it anywhere on the internet.
Which ADULT channels are free on Freeview ?
(that is without any 'blocking' in place on your tv set).
I am the only parent in the house with youngish children but have to go to work at certain times so need to restrict this type of viewing.
Can you tell me clearly which Adult channels and channel nos are available for free on Freeview
Briantist
Wednesday 8 June 2011 7:57AM
Sam: Please see "Adult channels" at the bottom of www.ukfree.tv link icon All free-to-watch channels | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

Ofcom does not permit non-subscription adult services to appear on any platform.
Eleanor
Wednesday 8 June 2011 9:01PM Stirling
2 TV sets already fitted with Freeview settop boxes, show "No Signal" after running them all day. What shall I do?
Matt
Thursday 9 June 2011 8:29AM
Eleanor - Have you performed a factory reset or first time installation which is required for switch over?
John McCreadie
Friday 10 June 2011 10:12AM
John

Lost BBC1,2,3 and News 24 on this week's switchover. TV is Sony KV28D with in built freeview tuner. Have, on advice of BBC helpline, ran an auto tune without aeriel to clear memory and rerun with aeriel fitted, to no avail. Location Renfrewshire Transmitter Blackhill. Any suggestions
ian
Friday 10 June 2011 5:39PM
hi, has bbc freeview power on c46 really gone up 5x, because my sony tv is giving a lower signal strength than it was last week. ian in alloa
Scott
Saturday 11 June 2011 3:19PM
I wondered the same. There seems to be no power increase on the new multiplex. Thinking about it, it would make sense for the power increase to take place at stage two so as not to have one multiplex more powerful than the others. Does anyone know?
Scott
Saturday 11 June 2011 3:27PM
Does anyone know the detailed schedule for the switchover. Clearly, the ending of analogue television transmissions in Scotland will be a historic occasion requiring to be marked with appropriate solemnity. Will the switch-off occur exactly at midnight? Will there be on-screen messages in advance? Will there be a formal close-down? Will the First Minister be giving a speech? Or will it be Billy Connolly? When should the whisky be opened?
David
Monday 13 June 2011 12:22PM
Hi,
Cannot receive any BBC channels via free view box since switchover (Sat 12 June). Tried new installation several times to no avail. other channels missing include the most popular ones eg yeserday; film 4 etc.

Can anyone suggest a fix?
Mike Dimmick
Monday 13 June 2011 1:56PM
ALL: A common problem is that, if signal levels were already on the high side before switchover, the new signal levels are too high and cause distortion. Some boxes will not be able to read the distorted signal level properly and report a lower signal level. You will often get picture and sound break-up and in the worst cases the multiplex will not be decodable.

If you have a booster or amplifier, you should remove it or turn it down. In some cases you may have fitted, or had fitted, a new aerial with too much gain - in this case, add an attenuator. If you're using a communal aerial, your landlord or agent should be ensuring that the levels entering your property are appropriate.

The new multiplex is definitely running at the final power level - if it were not, the relays would not be able to receive it in order to retransmit it.

Another common problem is old onDigital/ITV Digital or early Freeview equipment that cannot handle the 8K mode used after switchover. Check if it's on the list at www.digitaluk.co.uk link icon http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/2kequipment . It also might not be able to handle the larger Network Information Table in use since 2008 - see www.digitaluk.co.uk link icon http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/splitnit . These lists are not complete, there may be other affected equipment not on them.
Bigdave
Monday 13 June 2011 7:18PM
The extra channels in the 800 range mean that Humax PVRs will not record any programs o the channels with the correct number for the identical channel. Retuning as suggested by Humax for similar problem last year seems not to work. The workaound is to leave the box on at the time you want to record and it then seems to record but not in standby. Hope it will go away after 22 June when 800+ channels disappear
Scott
Monday 13 June 2011 7:37PM
I have the HD version of the Humax box, which may work differently. However, what I did was to start an automatic rescan then immediately abort it. This left me with no channels at all. I then did a manual scan for each of the six Blackhill multiplexes (see top of page for details and remembemr to use the old numbers except for BBC-A which is the only multiplex to have moved). This seems to have worked perfectly. (If you have HD you need to change to DBV-T2 for channel 59 only.).
Briantist
Monday 13 June 2011 7:37PM
Bigdave: You get channel in the 800 range when you have failed to clear out the channel list before rescanning.
Scott
Monday 13 June 2011 7:51PM
Briantist: Would you not get the same problem if you receive multiple incidences of the same station during the scan? I seemed to BBC1 three times.
Matt
Tuesday 14 June 2011 12:00PM
Scott, what you say is true. one solution for this is to perform a factory reset or first time installation with no aerial connected so you clear the channel list. then manually tune only the frequencies from your local transmitter.
Scott
Tuesday 14 June 2011 6:27PM
Matt: Actually that is effectively what I did with my Humax box. I started the automatic scan then aborted it, leaving no stations at all. I then manually scanned each of the six multiplexes. Only problem was that the HD multiplex showed nothing, until I realised that the default setting was DVB-T and had to be changed to DVB-T2. Having said all that, I was speaking to a colleague on the train home and I asked him if he had picked up multiple transmitters and how did he go about selecting the correct one. He had no idea what I was on about and said that he had followed the instructions and carried out a full scan. How many people, I wonder, will now be left with their equipment tuned to a transmitter that is not the strongest signal? I have to say that until this all started I knew next to nothing about digital television, main transmitters, relays etc so this has been an interesting learning experience and diversion into a completely new field. I am now getting quite enthusiastic!
GCD
Tuesday 14 June 2011 6:48PM
Hi, i just recently bought a HD freeview box, and we live in a flat in the Castlemilk area surrounded by other buildings, so a communal aerial is the only way to get any pictures on the TV...but even with this i have not yet been able to get any HD channels even though the council installed just 2 years ago a new communal Ariel......do you think this power increase that's coming on the 22 of June will solve the matter.

I'm hoping it does because even getting another TV to run in the bedroom by splitting via a Ariel splitter is a nightmare as the signal just seems very weak at all times.

Thanks for any advice.
KMJ,Derby
Tuesday 14 June 2011 8:21PM
GCD: If you have a good analogue signal at present you should have no difficulty with Freeview after 22nd June 2011. All six muxes will be transmitted at the same power (100kW) and in group B which makes distribution easier than at present. Mux BBCB (the HD services) will be transmitted on C40, replacing analogue BBC1.
Gary
Tuesday 14 June 2011 11:09PM
Just back off holiday and seem to have lost signal to bbc 1,2,3 and alba. I have a new sony bravia widescreen with built in freeview and have tried the suggested solution of rescanning with and without aerial plugged in yet still nothing. Can anyone help? It's driving me mad
GCD
Wednesday 15 June 2011 3:55PM
KMJ, Derby:Thanks for the info, i have always had quite a poor analogue signal even after the council installed a new communal Ariel, I'm lucky if i can run 1 TV with a really short cable distance from the wall to the TV...so i was hoping this power increase thing they willbe doing on the 22 June will help sort these problems out.

The problem is that in the direction of the transmitter(Blackhill) I'm at the bottom of a hill while goes up like a 3 large steps and on each one council houses are built...

Its always been nightmare to get even one TV working completely on all free view channels which i have yet never been able to do without some channels breaking up badly.

But fingers crossed for June 22. ;).
Mike Dimmick
Wednesday 15 June 2011 6:40PM
GCD: See www.paras.org.uk link icon PARAS - Professional Aerial Riggers Against The Sharks for some thoughts about communal aerials. It's likely the council will have to have it recalibrated for digital next week.
Mike Dimmick
Wednesday 15 June 2011 6:43PM
Gary: Make sure you're doing a full reset? New TVs should come with a leaflet specifically telling you how to do a retune on the switchover dates.

Apart from that, my next best hypothesis is that you now have too much signal, for which the solution is to reduce signal levels. If you have a booster or amplifier, remove it or turn it down. If not, or that doesn't help, try adding an attenuator (a device that reduces signal levels).

If you previously had interference on BBC Two analogue, it could still be there and interfering with the BBC digital multiplex that replaced BBC Two last week. See Single Frequency Interference for suggestions.
Anne-MarieMcCormack
Wednesday 15 June 2011 8:13PM
why can't i get channels itv4 and five star and five usa today got new aerial and still cannot get them also bbc1 and two go away to sometimes and some of my other channels
KMJ,Derby
Wednesday 15 June 2011 8:36PM
Anne-MarieMcCormack: What is your postcode? (So a check can be made for what you should be able to receive). The installer should really have told you if some channels are not currently available, but will be after switchover stage 2 on 22nd June 2011.
Scott
Saturday 18 June 2011 11:00AM
Anne-Marie: Maybe you are receiving the BBC from more than one transmitter and the one you are watching is not the strongest version. Can you check that you are receiving channel 46? Providing your postcode as suggested by Mike would be a good idea as it would allow others to assist.
GCD
Tuesday 21 June 2011 12:41PM
Well the big switch off and power increase tomorrow, hopefully this will sort out my low signal issues and possibly even help me get these HD channels that i cant get at present.

Fingers crossed.
andrew1210
Tuesday 21 June 2011 9:16PM
Yes, hopefully, as mentioned before, I'm 1 mile away from Blackhill transmitter, and can't get the HD channels! Hopefully this will improve tomorrow. Anyone know if it's going to happen dead on midnight?.... or at least by morning...
Scott
Tuesday 21 June 2011 10:08PM
The last on-screen announcement I saw advised waiting until 6 am to retune (later for some relays) so I assume 6 am is safe if you are receiving from the main transmitter at Blackhill. Analogue switch-off around midnight. This of course marks the end of an era in broadcasting in Scotland so the people are becoming very excited. I myself will treat it with the same reverence as 'the bells' at New Year. I may not start phoning my friends though ...
edin
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:01AM
still waiting for HD any one know how long
the last part of the switch over will take.
Scott
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:16AM
Nothing seems to have happened yet.
andrew1210
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:20AM
Yeah just looked at DSO website there and they said 6am for completion on the the main transmitter, the lights are on in the buildings around the transmitter and flood lights are on, I assume it's only a matter of waiting now! I have actually switched on BBC1 Scotland on analogue to 'wait for the white nosie' lol
andrew1210
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:31AM
There she goes lol
andrew1210
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:31AM
Well BBC1 anyway
edin
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:45AM
All channels just gone off air
andrew1210
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:49AM
Yep, CH5 last to go (00:41) lol, suppose that's it :) rescanned there, 0 Analogue, end of an era lol
andrew1210
Wednesday 22 June 2011 12:51AM
and bbc alba now appeared on guide as CH8 on Freeview



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.

UK Free TV is here to help people. If you are rude or disrespectful all of your posts will be deleted and you will be banned.







Privacy policy: UK Free Privacy policy.