Freeview: Winter Hill (Bolton, England) full-Freeview transmitter
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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 fauls 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
Want to better understand the current TV faults? See the all new UK Free TV page


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The symbol shows the location of the Winter Hill 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  ◊  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.

Corin
Sunday 19 December 2010 6:18PM
Briantist: Thanks for the link to that page which is a very usefuly summary of the planned changes.

Presumably if the shuffle does go ahead in 2013, it will not be done nationally all on the same day because of the number of transmitters involved.

Will manual intervention at the relays of affected transmitters also be necessary, or do these all use log periodics so no hardware should need to be changed?
Briantist
Tuesday 21 December 2010 7:31AM
Corin: I'm not sure if it will happen in 2013, or at some point beforehand.

It depends on how the relays are fed and controlled, they are not all the same.
Tina
Tuesday 28 December 2010 9:11PM Chorley
Hi,

Just bought a new tv with Freeview, but for some reason we can't get any BBC channels - we're in Chorley so I think we're on the Winter Hill transmitter.

Any help would be really appreciated.
Briantist
Tuesday 28 December 2010 9:16PM
Tina: Are you getting English or Welsh channels?
Tina
Tuesday 28 December 2010 9:22PM Chorley
Hi Brian,

English channels.
Briantist
Tuesday 28 December 2010 9:24PM
Tina: OK, can you see the Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page for thing to check?
Tina
Tuesday 28 December 2010 9:29PM Chorley
Yep, I've gone through all that.
Briantist
Tuesday 28 December 2010 9:34PM
Tina: Have you removed any booster or similar from your system?
Tina
Tuesday 28 December 2010 11:02PM Chorley
No, I haven't removed anything.
I've just realised that the aerial cable has a connector thing in the middle, so the cable must not have initially been long enough to reach where it is now. Just out of interest I unplugged the connector thing, took the tv over and plugged the cable straight in, and when I did a channel search again it brought up the BBC channels perfectly. So I connected the other cable back up and connected the tv as it was before, and it couldn't find any BBC channels again.

Do you think that this is caused because the aerial cable has a connector in the middle of it? Or do you think it's because something is faulty?
Briantist
Wednesday 29 December 2010 7:10AM
Tina: Thanks, an excellent peice of diagnostic information.

I would suspect that you have a damaged extension cable. They are often quite cheaply made and easily damaged.
Tina
Wednesday 29 December 2010 10:46AM Chorley
Thanks Brian, we'll try a new one.
Ben
Wednesday 29 December 2010 9:00PM Liverpool
hi i have a tv with built in freeview hd but i am unable to find any hd channels when doing auto search or manual search. i am able to pick up about 79 normal freeview channels with a very strong signal and strength but when i manually search on channel 54 the signal goes from very strong to no signal at all and can not find the hd channels. i live in liverpool.
Briantist
Wednesday 29 December 2010 10:17PM
Ben: Are you sure you have a Freeview HD set, and not just a HD TV with Freeview? www.ukfree.tv link icon What does "Full HD Ready" actually mean? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Ben
Wednesday 29 December 2010 10:27PM Liverpool
Hi, yes its a 2010 panasonic model TX-P42S21B with dvb t2 tuner built in. i am going to borrow my friends freeview hd box to see if its a problem with my aerial.
Briantist
Wednesday 29 December 2010 10:34PM
Ben: OK, all the transmitters you can use have Freeview HD at full power. There are suggestions on the www.ukfree.tv link icon Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page.
Neil
Monday 3 January 2011 11:03AM
Hi guys I'm after a bit of help, I have a philips freeview box that will pick up all channels, next to that I have a pc which I decided to get a freeview tuner for as my monitor is bigger than the tv, the pc tuner only picks up 45 channels (a mix of radio and tv), but not Dave, it has loads of setting options prior to scanning which don't mean a lot to me, I'm using Blaze HDTV Deluxe software, any ideas?
Regards Neil
Briantist
Thursday 6 January 2011 8:13AM
Neil: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for suggestions.
louise
Saturday 8 January 2011 4:36PM
yesterday during bad rain my freeview channel itv and channel 4 kept going on and off saying no signal- this has happened before but always came back after i left an hour or so.
this morning i decided to re-install my freeview box and lo and behold ive now lost itv and all itv derived channels as well as channel 4 , and channel 5- yet all my other channels are fine- irratating :-s
Briantist
Saturday 8 January 2011 4:39PM
louise: Can you have a look at Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice - but you probably have some moisture getting into your cables.
louise
Saturday 8 January 2011 4:40PM
im not on the winterhill transmitter but just wanted advice on what the matter could be as apreciate the professional advice- cheers.
Briantist
Saturday 8 January 2011 4:42PM
louise: It is more likely to be the case if you are in a not-switched region.
Neil
Monday 10 January 2011 3:39PM
Briantist, sorry cross purposes!... The freeview box next to the pc is not in use when using the pc, the pc is to replace the freeview box and tv, therefore I'm removing the main aerial cable from the freeview box and using it in the pc tuner, I decided to use a booster, this has given me 'Dave', but now I'm missing 'Channel One'
As I said there are many settings that can be changed prior to scanning but no manual explains these settings or how to use them, it's the blaze software... I'm guessing the software is the cause because the freeview box gets all channels...any ideas?
Briantist
Monday 10 January 2011 4:01PM
Neil: Don't use the Blaze software, it is rubbish, use Windows Media Center instead. It's built into Windows 7.
Neil
Monday 10 January 2011 7:48PM
Lol ok no probs, only thing is I dont have windows 7 and my pc wouldnt cope with it, is there anything in windows xp pro?
Many thanks for your repies up to now ;-)
Briantist
Tuesday 11 January 2011 8:15AM
Neil: Windows 7 usually runs better than XP on the same hardware.
Hilary
Tuesday 11 January 2011 4:18PM High Peak
Help! I have tried to retune my TV today (as advised to do so on 11th Jan after 2pm) and now cannot get a signal and cannot see any channels listed...I have rung the manufacturer who were no help at all and am now not sure what to do?
alec
Tuesday 11 January 2011 6:48PM
I have a low signal strength 30% - 50% in the Ramsbottom area since updating today 11th January 2011. There is a repeater aerial on the Grants Tower hill that supplys part of the Ramsbottom area but my aerial points to the Winter Hill transmitter as this has always been ok. All channels are now blocky and freezing rendering my freeview box useless. Not happy as there was no broblem before we were told to retune today as itv2 was moving











ng channel.
alec
Tuesday 11 January 2011 7:30PM
Hi Briantist, thanks so much for your quick response. I followed the instructions in the link but it seems to have gone worse now as some channels are coming up with "unknown service" eg channels 1,2,7,9 and others. These channels only have 31% signal strength but even the 50% ones are blocky and freezing. I think Winter Hill has reduced the signal strength thinking that we'll be ok as this area has a repeater signal aerial. Perhaps I should try again tomorrow and hope they have sorted it out. Thanks again Alec
Briantist
Tuesday 11 January 2011 7:32PM
alec: The transmitter is not on "signal strength". Please check www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
roger barrow
Wednesday 12 January 2011 11:50AM
why do the bbc keep refering to the HD channel cant find it any place my tv is lg full hd not upscaling so i dont know where this hd channel is they keep refering to
Mike Dimmick
Wednesday 12 January 2011 3:06PM Reading
roger barrow: the BBC's HD channels are number 50 (BBC One HD) and 54 (BBC HD) in the EPG, if you have a compatible TV and it's properly tuned in.

Most likely your TV is marked 'HD Ready'. This means it can handle HD input signals from other equipment. However, most such sets were designed and manufactured before the standard for HD in the UK was finalized, and the final spec is not compatible. It must have the 'Freeview HD' logo to tune into HD broadcasts.

You will need a separate HD set-top box or PVR to receive HD broadcasts.
selina
Saturday 15 January 2011 8:16PM
Hivery new to this site so please excuse me if i havent posted in the right department.

I have just bought a LG42LD490 with built in HD. I have a normal ariel so i just ran automatic scan i thought this is the way i pick up the freeview channels but unfortunatly i only pick up 5 and they look pretty bad i get no channels for dtv at all
can someone help me please and tell me what ive done wrong
i also checked if i could recieve and thats says yes i am in birmingham
any help appreciated
chris balmer
Sunday 16 January 2011 2:39PM
Winter Hill transmitter don't cover Birmingham mate!
Check your signal strength, condition of cable, aerial and connectors and if the birdies hae knocked it in the wrong direction.
It needs to be pointing at Sutton coldfield.
Michael
Monday 17 January 2011 4:11PM
HD info is v confusing. Panasonic says the tv I bought last year is HD Ready, meaning that the television is able to handle a High Definition signal. It produces 720 lines of information across the screen which is not Full HD. It does not have a High Definition tuner built in, so the HD services would come from an external source such as a recorder with HD built in. This seems to mean, even with a HD recorder, I would not get HD, but that seems to make "HD ready" pointless. Am I wrong?
Richard
Friday 28 January 2011 1:49PM
Hello Briantist:

I recorded a programme on ITV2 today but it looks like its recorded ITV 1 unless the programmes were the same and it was the broadcast fault because on my recorder it says it was recorded ITV2 and on the title list its says ITV2 as well and the programme on it wht I wanted to recorded but its recorded an ITV 1 programme very weird does this happen occasionally!!!
Mat
Friday 28 January 2011 2:19PM
Richard: The first thing that springs to mind is that ITV2+1 is now ITV1+1...
Karen Ballington
Sunday 30 January 2011 1:04PM
I live in M26 postal code area and according to my tv signal strength is 100% Since switching to digital I get pixilating picture freeze and the no signal message constantly pops up for a second or two before programme resumes. I contacted digital uk and they have advised that I retune which I have done numerous times. I was also advised to buy an attenuator as my signal may be "too strong" (I can see Winter Hill from my bedroom!) but my local tv repair shop said this would do no good at all. My neighbour does not have any of the problems I have. Is my last resort to get a new aerial? The pic was perfect before changing to digital !! I am at my wits end and need help please !
Briantist
Monday 31 January 2011 6:33PM
Karen Ballington: Buy an attenuator, they only cost a fiver. I suggest you use another shop too.
fiona
Thursday 3 February 2011 9:44PM
Advice please? I live in the BB12 area, therefore receive via winter hill. Currently I have a roof aerial into my lounge via a freeview box with no problems. I wish to install a loft aerial and splitter to feed into bedrooms. I am at a loss as to what I should be looking for regarding spec?
chris
Thursday 3 February 2011 10:41PM Burnley
fiona

in case it's any use. I'm also in the BB12 area. You may find that you're actually getting your signal from Pendle Forest transmitter (it reports as Winter hill).
I use an outdoor aerial and if I want to add a TV in another room then I use a booster (similar to argos 5346147). I thought about getting a loft aerial but couldn't see the point as the old roof one works fine.
Charlie
Friday 4 February 2011 5:36PM
My (Wigan-based) indoor aerial used on a pc gives excellent results - except for certain channels, i.e., Yesterday, Russia Today and Film4 to name but three contained in C55 (746,0 MHz) and whose power output is shown on this page as 'very low'. I have recently been told by Arqiva that all six muxes are being transmitted from WH at their full and final powers. But I see on this very helpful page that Winter Hill Arqiva B will operate at 12.5kW until 2011. Does this mean that it will be reduced further and will get even worse for my little aerial to drag in? Reception of these channels is variable - ranging from rotten to awful - freezing, blocking and stuttering being the name of the game. Can you tell me what is due to happen? Many thanks.
Briantist
Saturday 5 February 2011 7:30AM
Charlie: as above "Winter Hill Arqiva B will operate at 12.5kW until 2011", specifically 21st September 2011.

A rooftop aerial is required for reliable Freeview reception.
Karen Ballington
Saturday 5 February 2011 12:48PM
Briantist - Any tips on where to buy attenuator. I have tried Currys etc but no joy
Briantist
Saturday 5 February 2011 12:59PM
Karen Ballington: Stores like Maplins have them.
Charlie
Saturday 5 February 2011 3:46PM
Briantist: Thanks for the warning about the Winter Hill Arqiva B date this year. But after that time does it mean that the mux will either shut down or output will plummet further? Getting a rooftop aerial for pc use, to me, is a last resort and I may need to forget about this approach. Why are some of those channels with the 'channel four' category so relegated?? Kind regards.
Briantist
Saturday 5 February 2011 4:06PM
Charlie: No, it goes UP to 100kW.
noryb nhoj
Sunday 6 February 2011 11:41PM
what has happened to ch20. my family miss enterprise



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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