Freeview on the The Wrekin B transmitter

Works fine on West Wirral coast where otherwise you have to go for Welsh. However a masthead amplifier makes all the difference

My signal strength for all digital itv programmes is poor and interference on these channels seems to have increased recently, to the point of not watching these channels. BBC is ok. How do I get an adequate reception so I can watch these ITV channels? My postcode is tf91jz and I use same aerial I had for analogue tv. (map)

Paul Butterfield: Please can you see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 ?

Hello. up until the last three months i was getting nearly all the freeview channels , I live in a block of four flats with a comunial areal wich was fitted by the housing assotiation also a sgnal booster , The channels i cannot get are ch 15 ch12 ch28 and a few more others can you answere this problem Thank you kindly Richard (map)

We only receive relatively few Freeview channels far less than when we lived in East Lancashire. When can we expect to receive Sky News, Sky Sports News and Film Four just to name a few. Some time ago Film Four was replaced by More Four.

Our post code is DY6 0AL (map)

My postcode is SY10 8LF. Am struggling to determine whether I'll get a signal or not. Is it worth me getting a Freeview box? Thanks. (map)

we have lost signal on all Channel 4 and ITV,channels.Its very frustrating,can you please let me know if there is a problem from the transmitter.
thank you
Lidia Stan

We also have just lost signal on ITV and C4, Mux 2. RG9 6PJ (map)

Wayne: Please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 for help.

Lidia Stan: Please also see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002

If i changed from the Wrekin to Sutton Coldfeild transmitter would i get all freeview channels (map)

stuart sandell: Both transmitter broadcast all the multiplexes. You need a wideband aerial to get all the services from either transmitter.

Wrekin B transmits primarily,to the east of the digital service area,in group B(muxes 1,2,A,B)However in the Bridgnorth area and South East Shropshire,muxes C,D,have been nulled as not to interfere with CH4 and BBC1 analogue channels respectively(53 and 57)off thr Brierley Hill 10kw relay.Relegating,ITV3 and ITV4 to mux D,will mean alot of people losing these channels,and possibly very angry indeed!Two years is still a fair time to Digital switch over,in this area.

Hi - after the retune I can now channel 5 again however for the last 2 months I simply can no longer get channel 34 and am missing all of the ESPN football (map)

Ian Robinson: You are missing Multiplex A from your line-up. Can you please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV + switchover advice, since 2002 please?

Up until 2 wks ago I had no freeview reception problems from Wrekin B then when the Granada transmitter went to full power I now have interference that renders itv, ch4,5, itv2,3 etc useless. When wrekin B goes to switch over will this solve the problem or do i need to re=position my aerial again at considerable cost. My aerial is a high gain one fitted only 18 months ago.
Any advice welcome. I have re-tuned my tv on numerous occasions to no avail. (map)

Barry Roden: Winter Hill B closes at switchover and you will be provided a signal from the main Winter Hill transmitter. No changes to your equipment will be required. In the mean time, please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV + switchover advice, since 2002 for more.

Up until 2 weeks ago we had good freeview reception on Wrekin B, then we lost the Muxs on Ch 45 and 49. I notice that these chanels are also used by Moel-y-Parc which overlaps in coverage with Wrekin B and is in almost the same direction for us. Moel-y-Parc was cranked up to full power about 2 weeks ago. Is this why we have lost Ch 45 and 49 and will we lose Ch 42 when HD starts on Moel-y-Parc (map)

Richard S: In theory, the output of Moel-y-Parc should be restricted in your direction until The Wrekin switches over, but from what you are saying you are having a problem.

You might find that re-pointing your aerial at The Wrekin, or to Brierly Hill or Sutton Coldfield will fix the problem.

I've tried Sutton C, but there is a big hill in the way and Brierly Hill is no good either.

In theory, you say there is no problem, but in practice is this the reason and if so is the restrictor set up wrongly? (map)

Richard S: I'm saying that in theory, as regions switch over there are temporary restrictions put in place to stop non-switched regions being swamped.

I know this might sound mad, but you might be able to point directly at Moel-y-Parc to get the services.

Your area doesn't switch until late 2011.

I suspect that you are correct in your assumption that MYP is now causihg interference to muxA,muxB,mux2,respectively channels 42,45,49 off the Wrekin,particularly i imagine in northern areas of Telford,where MYP romps in

Aerialman: I thought the idea was that area was served by the main transmitter though.

Briantist,Wrekin B is prodominent in Telford,Wrekin A would interfere with Fenton analogue,Channels 21,24,27,31.Would you believe that Fenton Transmitter is being used by in small pockets of Telford,where the Wrekin analogue transmitter causes 'ghosting'
Correction to last post,MYP,BBCB,channel 42,i believe is not broadcasting yet,but would not be surprised if channels 45 and49 are affected.I haven't experienced any problems yet with MYP interference across Wrekin B.

Suddenly lost channels 22,24(ITV4),25,32,35,36,40,45 from Wrekin transmitter 11 am 15th December. The channel info. button shows but screen says 'no signal'. This is same on my freeview tv, my BT VISION box and freeview box. This has been off for 10 hours now. Any ideas please. Thanks.

Hello get tv channells via wrekin which is crap,could not watch properly the snooker last week from telford of all places,crap signal.
When is it going to improve?

Roger. (map)

On tuesday 22dec2009 the power dropped from the mux on chan57 so I lost it completely . Just before xmas it was followed by chan53 . On boxing day chan 31 while not showing a big power drop became so jumbled, two of my boxes could not decode it. Everything came back just after 9am on 28 december. Not a very merry christmas in this house. What happened ?

We recently fitted 12v LED replacement bulbs in bathroom and kitchen. When either is turned on we completely loose the MUX 1 signal from the Wrekin. Any ideas what can be done, other than reverting to the original Halogen lamps (map)

Terry Walsh - I've heard of faulty street lighting causing local interference but never lighting fixtures... Is there an open circuit or a junction box unshielded close to a masthead amplifier, saddle/ clamp splitter distribution amp. Also check some clever spark hasn't wired them both on the same run with insulating tape... If you have spot lights the roofing above in the attic will be fairly light beneath the joists so please be fairly careful if checking...

You are stating that the wrekin B transmitter is not going to be used post switchover ? How can this be?

Alan Smith: It is not required. The main Wrekin transmitter will provide the full coverage of the six digital multiplexes.

Owing to geographical positioning, I am only able to receive signals from the Wrekin B transmitter, with no other local repeater available. According to your timetable, from 30/08/2011 the Wrekin B will no longer transmit TV signals. Does this mean I shall be unable to receive Digital TV through an aerial, despite living within 13 miles of Birmingham city centre?

Alex Leary: After switchover the area currently served by The Wrekin B will be included in the area served by the new high power digital transmitters at The Wrekin.

I live in Shrewsbury and on the side of town I live in I can only receive a small amount of freeview channels compared to my mother, who lives the opposite side of town who receives just about all the Freeview channels. I have asked a number of my neigbours who said they also only receive a small amount of channels despite having upgraded their Freeview boxes, TV's and arials, I can't even receive Film4.... why is this ?

Max: It is very hard to say without a postcode.

Hi,can anyone tell me which transmitter is for Newport-Shropshire,The Wrekin B or The Wrekin,because when I scan the freeview box it comes up with West Midlands.My ITV1 (Central West),Channel 4, FIVE, ITV2,Channel 4+1, More4, E4,ITV2+1,are very bad or not at all,you can't watch them because the signal its low I guess.Any suggestions?

l.S : Put your postcode into the box at the top right please.

I own an old people's care home in Sambrook, 5 miles north of Newport. The ITV channels are now virtually unuseable after around 5pm despite my upgrading to a 3-pronged arial on the roof plus amplifiers. Please can someone advise ...
1. Is there anything else I can do
2. will the power go up after switchover
3. Can it be increased a bit now? <PlEASE> (map)

Neil Robson - From looking at the pictures of you building you've aerials looking at Sutton Coldfield and Fenton... Basically 3 problems, the aerials gain is too high and what i mean by that is, in the evening when the temperature drops the signal is refracted over the horizon rather than directly at your aerial. A masthead amplifier (A box usually found on the aerial pole) can interpret this simply as noise, up it further and wipe out your programming. You need to find out if you have a masthead amplifier and look at changing that for a variable amplifier, that will give you the opportunity to up and down the gain at will. This will also help at switchover by just reducing the gain using a screwdriver.

Other problem - We know some serious work is being carried out at Sutton Coldfield for the digital switchover. The mast may be lower powered than usual do the work being carried out on the existing mast. The power will go up considerably at switchover, you may be lucky in the coming months as the existing mast is brought back into service there will be extra gain from the new aerial but no major power increase until the date of DSO1...

Thank you for your very quick response - my aerial is however pointing directly at the Wrekin so I am confused why you think it is pointing at Sutton Coldfield? I inherited 2 aerials, however one was not in use and so was removed by the engineer in December - do you have an old picture? I'm happy to email you photos if it would help. I'm interested in you advice about too higher gain - please can you point me in the direction of an expert that can come and fix the problem (if it is fixable). My 28 residents love their TV's for evening entertainment and my efforts are failing them in this regard as many like ITV channels. I would also add that the problem is worsening(?). I run many of their digital TV's on analogue so that atleast they get a usuable picture.
Many thanks
Neil (map)

Neil Robson.I agree with Jordy that your Aerial system maybe over-amplifying through existing Distribution Amplifiers etc.Too strong a signal can cause break up in Digital signals,this manifests itself in cross-modulation of analogue signal/picture quality.
There maybe another issue concerning your location and use of either Wrekin A or Wrekin B signals/channels.
Finally depending how old your buildings are,the good quality of your coaxial cable downleads are also important.
The rule of thumb here,is if you can see the Wrekin,then there should be no difficulty in receiving good Digital signals

We do have a clear visual on the Wrekin. I have thrown good money after bad on this problem without success (3 different comanies over 5 years) and the reception problem is definately getting worse. Can anyone recommend an 'expert' who can come out and help us with this signalling problem. I know we at least one amplifier on site plus various distribution points and in some cases point of delivery amps.
Any help would be appreciated!
Many thanks
Neil (map)

Much as I hear the argument about over amplification (I don't profess to understand it) what I don't understand is why the system we have at Sambrook House is fine throughout most of the day but only deteriorates from about 4pm?
I guess I need to research radio aerials
Neil (map)

Neil Robson.There is a possibility that the poor reception of mux 2 channel 49,off the Wrekin,could be derived by inpulse electrical interference,
thermostat
amateur radio,burst through
Video camera rf position in a system,if present
Moel-y-parc,same digital channel use.

Neil Robson - Apologies i was trying to work out from those pictures on your website, i will assume those aerials are no more? Stick some of the current system photos on your website...

Basically there is such a thing as too much signal and that can be just as bad as too little. Where old analogue pictures suffered from over amplification they would show up as "Amp Spike" or fuzzy lines and contrast problems. With digital when the same occurs there is simply nothing for the tuner to resolve technically speaking this is called the digital cliff or cliff edge and at best picture break up or "legoland"... For the sake of argument lets say 50db of signal hits your aerial and is amplified (plus 6db is double - minus 6db is half the power received by your aerial) If you then have a distribution amplifier that's another kick then a delivery amp which could take the form of a tap off or set back amplifier is another kick and you're hitting problems.
My advice would be to find the signal input to the distribution amp direct from the aerial and test it using a small colour tv and set top box then work back through the system, get rid of any delivery amps, ensure any cable runs from the amplifier are clean runs i.e no amps, check wall plates, signal splitters or strange looking green boxes were the spiders tend to call home...

I much appreciate all the advice - I shall let you know how it pans out. (map)

Just to express my sincere thanks to all that responded and helped with our problem. It turned out to be exactly what everyone was saying - over amplification! The TV engineer removed out old 30dB amp with lots of buttons (?) and replaced it with a lowely domestic one and hey-presto the whole site works!
Your help in pointing us in the right direction has proved invaluable and my thanks also go to TVAerialsUK!
Best regards
Neil (map)