Freeview: Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter
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Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth53.625,-2.516 or 53°37'30"N 2°30'56"WBL6 6SL

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): C59: D3+4
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

WINTER HILL transmitter - Over the next week Winter Hill main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. Digital tick


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The symbol shows the location of the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter which serves 2,690,000 homes.

Other maps:Winter Hill DABWinter Hill AM/FMWinter Hill regionBBC North WestGranada

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.

Winter 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 North West, 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 C50 (706.0MHz) from 726m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
Channel icons
3 ITV (Granada), 4 Channel 4 North ads, 5 Channel 5 The North ads, 6 ITV 2, 13 Channel 4+1 North ads, 14 More 4, 28 E4, 33 ITV +1 (Granada),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C59 (778.0MHz) from 726m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal
Maximum256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		100,000
Channel icons
101 BBC One HD (England no regional news), 102 BBC Two HD (England), 103 ITV HD (ITV Granada), 104 Channel 4 HD North ads, plus 1 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C54- (737.8MHz) from 726m 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 C58 (770.0MHz) from 726m 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 C49 (698.0MHz) from 726m 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 C55 (746.0MHz) from 726m datum.
MEN
 horizontal
Very lowQSPK 8K 1/2
6.0Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		1,000
Channel icons
51 Movies4Men, 52 Movies4Men +1, 53 Sony SAB TV Asia, 56 Capital TV, plus 2 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C57 (762.0MHz).


Regional news from the Winter Hill transmitter


BBC North West Tonight 3.1m homes 11.7%
from Salford M50 2QH, 22km southeast
to BBC North West region - 90 masts.

ITV Granada Reports 3.1m homes 11.6%
from Salford M50 2EQ, 22km southeast
to ITV Granada region - 80 masts.

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1956~851984-971997-981998-20092009-1310/4/13-2013-182019-
aerial groupVHFC/D EC/D EC/D EC/D EC/D EWK
C9ITV
C12BBCtv
C22SDN
C25ArqA
C28ArqB
600C31com7
C37com8
C39BBCB
C42D3+4
C45BBCA
C48C5C5
700C49 ArqAArqA
C50 BBCABBCA
C54-BBCB-BBCB-BBCB
C55BBC1BBC1BBC1ArqBArqBArqB
C56+1local
C57MENMENMEN
C58SDNSDNSDN
C59ITVITVITVD3+4D3+4D3+4
C60+C
800C61ArqA
C62BBC2BBC2BBC2BBCA
C63+D
C65C4C4C4
C66+2
C67+B
C68+A

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 November and 2nd December 2009.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Manchester including Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Winter Hill transmitter using C56
  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Liverpool including St Helens, Widnes, Wigan, Wirral could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Winter Hill transmitter using C56
  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Preston including Blackpool could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Winter Hill transmitter using C56
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16. COM7 and COM8 to operate as Saddleworth,Storeton, Winter Hill SFN.

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 500kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB, com7, com8, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 100kW
Analogue 5(-16dB) 12.5kW
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*(-17dB) 10kW
MEN(-27dB) 1000W

History of Channel 3 in the Winter Hill transmitter area

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


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.

Dave Lindsay
Thursday 25 April 2013 7:39PM
Celia: If they are using satellite (Sky or Freesat) then it won't affect them.

This is an issue with the aerial system.

As Michael says, you have answered your own question.
jb38
Thursday 25 April 2013 9:17PM
Martin Brown: Many thanks for the comprehensive update on events and pleased to hear that you are now back to full operation, but though I am just curious as to whether or not the aerial engineer had made any reference to the group that your aerial belongs to? because "if" as I suspect its a C/D type, identified by a green blanking plug on the end of the horizontal boom that holds the elements, then changing it to a group E (brown end plug) would most likely have instantly lifted the BBC signal level.

The reason for saying this being, that prior to the recent retune Winter Hills six multiplex transmitters spanned from Ch54 to Ch62, this span being perfect for a C/D group aerials operating range of Ch48 to Ch68 as it allowed a good overlap margin at either end of the band, and in particular the low end which is more critical.

However that situation changed after the retune, as by Winter Hill now spanning from Ch49 to Ch59 this results in the BBC (Ch50) being picked up near the extreme end of the C/D aerials operating range, and something which is never good practice unless in a strong signal area, as the efficiency of any grouped aerial always tapers off from a few channels before the end of its operating range and why I was a bit amazed that the aerial engineer had not changed the aerial over to the group E aerial referred to, as its operating span of Ch35 to Ch68 would have offered an even better overlap margin than before the recent retune.

Still, its something to keep in mind should any problems crop up in the future, as signals being received over distances such as yours (33 miles) are usually always affected to a degree by seasonal changes to the terrain.
Jamie Clarke
Thursday 25 April 2013 9:58PM Manchester
Hi all, for the last few weeks I have lost BBC programmes on my in-built freeview. I have tried the resets and first time installations. I am in Failsworth M35, near the winter hill transmitter. I have tried to search through this website and others for the answer, and have read a lot about transmission groups etc and its all very confusing. From what I have read I gather its down to my ariel,not picking up the BBC group signals, would i need to reposition the ariel or replace it, or something different altogether. Thanks for your help.
Jamie Clarke
Thursday 25 April 2013 10:00PM Manchester
I should have also mentioned that when I try to manual tune into CH49 for the BBC channels it says signal 0%. I got a list of manual search channels, but have no signal on any of them. Cheers.
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 25 April 2013 10:35PM
Jamie Clarke: If you have a Sky box, or some other 'box' that may output an analogue TV signal (the type we used before digital), ensure that it is not outputting on or near C50.

Try connecting your TV directly to your aerial and then perform a manual scan of C50. Once you've entered or selected C50, don't press the button to scan immediately, but instead wait and see if it gives an indication of signal strength and/or quality.

BBC standard definition services from Winter Hill are now on C50.

COM5 (Pick TV, Dave etc) are now on C49 - do you have these?
jb38
Thursday 25 April 2013 11:48PM
Jamie Clarke: With regards to you having said that you are near the Winter Hill transmitter, indications suggest that you are located at just under 17 miles away from the station, and at a similar bearing from it (300 degrees) as some others who have also made complaints of the same the nature as yourself.
cake
Friday 26 April 2013 7:34PM
Finally sorted it out now. Basically an overseas satellite signal was going through Channel 50 and somehow blocking BBC et al. Reset 3 TVs to change the RF output to 62 and all is well. Thank to all for your help and advice.
Arrian Green
Saturday 27 April 2013 7:10PM
I live in Clitheroe (~ 30 miles North of Manchester), and presume the most relevant transmitter is Winter Hill. I have in built freeview into an LG TV, and for the last 1-2 weeks, I have a number of missing channels, in addition to very poor signal with patchy transmission on a few others. BBC certainly seems badly affected, as does ITV and a host of other intermittently. This is despite numerous automatic retunes, manual retunes and restoration of factory settings.

Channel Number (Frequency) 50 - No Signal
Channel Number (Frequency) 59 - No Signal
Channel Number (Frequency) 54 - No Signal
Channel Number (Frequency) 58 - 6% Signal Strength, 100% Signal Quality
Channel Number (Frequency) 49 - 4% Signal Strength, 13% Signal Quality
Channel Number (Frequency) 55 - 42% Signal Strength, 100% Signal Quality

I spoke to an aerial guy today who suggested contacting LG, which I suspect isn't going to shed a huge amount of light onto the problem. Does anybody have any other suggestions or thoughts on how to go forward and correct the problem?
Mazbar
Saturday 27 April 2013 7:56PM
Arrian Green: did the aerial man come out to check the aerial or did you call him ?
Arrian Green
Saturday 27 April 2013 7:59PM
Hi Mazbar... Thanks for getting back to me. Stopped into a local digital / aerial store and just spoke to him in person and explained the problem. He didn't actually come out and assess the aerial. Do you think it's worth getting somebody round to check the aerial / signal out? Cheers.
Mazbar
Saturday 27 April 2013 8:13PM
Arrian Green: you do need to check the aerial to know if it is working. Don't use 0800 numbers plus most aerial riggers are self employed and work from home to keep overheads down so if they have a shop all you are doing is paying there rent. Hope this helps
Martin
Sunday 28 April 2013 4:32PM
Arrian Green
You don't say whether you use a communal aerial system, as is likely if you live in a flat or similar. These usually need adjustment to the filters to allow the wanted signals through.
Is your aerial pointing directly at the Winter Hill transmitter? Are the main rods (not the boom they are mounted on) horizontal or vertical?
From your channels it looks like you are not getting any of the PSB services and a very poor signal for COM5 and a very weak COM4. That suggests that your aerial is perhaps not aimed at Winter Hill?
Mike
Thursday 2 May 2013 9:16PM
My Dad (in Sale, M33 5.. Winter Hill) has a Humax box that is reporting ~80% signal strength but the signal quality varies between channels. On the BBC (1,2,7,9) channels it stays steady at 100% but on the non BBC channels (3,4,5,6,7,10,11)it moves between 50 & 100%. Recently the picture becomes pixilated and the sound 'pops' from time to time. Next step is to check if the pixilation and 'pops' are limited to the non BBC channels, and to check the signal strength on the new Sony TV that is on the same aerial. Suspicion is that the TV works fine. Any ideas from the info so far? Thanks,
jb38
Thursday 2 May 2013 9:42PM
Mike: The signal indications seen on a Humax box is generally more accurate than on any other device, most either being sluggish or alternatively over the top by giving grossly inflated indications, and what you have reported suggests that the signal to your Dad's place of residence is suffering from problems cause by the signal passing over trees at some point along the way.

MikeB
Thursday 2 May 2013 10:44PM Peterborough
Mike: Just to add that the tuner on a Humax are known to be pretty sensitive,other tuners may be different.

My Sony recorder is not quite so sensitive as my digibox,for instance, but I generally have no problem with reception with the Sony (rock solid). The digibox is a slightly better picture, but is slightly more twitchy.
Kenmo
Sunday 5 May 2013 4:44PM
jb38 have sorted aerial cable, no picture or sound break up with or without phones. Thanks for your help
anthony
Sunday 5 May 2013 5:05PM Altrincham
It looks like something is overloading. I live not too far from you and also have a signal level of 80% on a Humax T2 so it is probably not the Humax itself. Have you got any amplifiers in circuit if so try bypassing them. There is also a powerful TETRA base station on top of a block of flats near Tesco's on Altrincham road not far from your area, these can also cause problems with aerial amplifiers.
jb38
Sunday 5 May 2013 5:15PM
Kenmo: Many thanks for the update and pleased to hear that you have managed to sort the problem out, I only included the additional info just in case nothing amiss was found when you checked the aerial input.
ColinB
Sunday 5 May 2013 6:13PM Sandbach
Hi : My mother lives in Sandbach CW11 3EL and after the switchover she can obtain all the channels but BBC1 is badly pixilated and unwatchable. From making various checks she is linked to Winter Hill. She has a Phillips TV with built in Freeview. Any suggestions to rectify the problem. Previously she has had no problems with reception or obtaining all the usual channels.
Thanks for any help
Colin
ColinB
Sunday 5 May 2013 6:40PM
Hi : just to add that my mother's next door neighbour is having the same problem.
thanks for any help
Colin
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 5 May 2013 6:43PM
ColinB: Have you confirmed that for BBC One her receiver is tuned to UHF channel 50, which is Winter Hill?

Haslingden is on C26 and is on roughly the same bearing, albeit vertically polarised.

I don't quite understand as you make reference to "switchover". This occured in 2009 and the frequency of BBC services changed 10 April this year. If there was no retune required on 10 April then she cannot be tuned to Winter Hill.
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 5 May 2013 6:44PM
ColinB: If it does turn out to be tuned to Haslingden then just have the aerial lead out for the first 30% of the scan to avoid picking it up.
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 5 May 2013 7:32PM
ColinB: The signal strength screen usually gives the tuned UHF channel (or frequency).
ColinB
Monday 6 May 2013 11:29AM
Thanks Dave, I'll check the channel as you suggest and, of course, I was refering to the change in frequency on 10th April.
Dave Lindsay
Monday 6 May 2013 11:54AM
ColinB: Having established that the TVs are tuned to C50 (for BBC), is there a Sky box or some other box that may be outputting an analogue signal and that this is set to C50 or near to?

Connecting the incoming aerial feed directly to the TV is a quick way of discounting that as a possibility.
Dave Lindsay
Monday 6 May 2013 12:21PM
ColinB: If any of the TVs only give tuned channels in MHz, then C50 is 706.0MHz and C26 is 514.0MHz.
ColinB
Friday 10 May 2013 2:34PM
Hi Dave. Thanks for your help.
I finally managed to sort the problem by taking out the aerial and going through the installation process which put the TV back to factory settings with no channels. I then plugged the aerial back in and installed the channels. Everything now working correctly including the problem BBC1 channel. Must have been a corruption from when the channels were first loaded.
All the best
Colin
rowie
Monday 13 May 2013 4:41PM
Hi hope someone can help us.

our freeview tv started playing up a week or two before the winterhill retune (we live in bl6/horwich). since then our tv will only pick up some of the channels and they are totally unwatchable.

we went out and got a new bigger wide band arial. This has improved things slightly but we still have no BBC and most of the channels are still very blocky.

we have tried retuneing/turning off & retuning/ manual tuneing again/ factory reset ect several times but this has not cured the problem either.

when we go through the manual retune we have a strong signal(80%) but the signal quality is very poor (0-10%) it also drops in and out a lot.

we have even got a spear tv down (was goin to put it in the kids room but maybe not now) to try and that tv will not even pick anything at all.

we have asked several people near us if they to have had a problem but they all say its been ok but they all have sky/virgin.

Do we need to get a filter or something. Our tv is only 18months old and cant really afford to get another one or sky..

Any advise you could give us would be helpful. Thanks.
andy
Monday 13 May 2013 7:30PM Chester
Rowie check BBC1 channel number should be channel 50 if its 45 its the Welsh transmitter Moel y Parc.
g gallagher
Saturday 18 May 2013 12:31PM Bury
i live at 82 holcombe rd bl8 4bt
i have no freeview signal for about 3 weeks
Dave Lindsay
Saturday 18 May 2013 12:47PM
g gallagher: If you use a powered amplifier (booster) then the first suspect must be that the amplifier has failed.
Transmitter engineering
Monday 20 May 2013 10:31AM
WINTER HILL transmitter - Over the next week Winter Hill main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
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Automatic update every 1 minute



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