Freeview: Wenvoe (Cardiff, Wales) full-Freeview transmitter
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Freeview on the Wenvoe (Cardiff, Wales) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth51.460,-3.282 or 51°27'35"N 3°16'57"WCF5 6SA

Transmitter fauls and engineering works



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The symbol shows the location of the Wenvoe transmitter which serves 360,000 homes.

Other maps:Wenvoe DABWenvoe AM/FMWenvoe regionBBC WalesWales

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.

Wenvoe 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 Wales, 2 BBC Two Wales, 7 BBC Three, 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 C41+ (634.2MHz) from 384m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
Channel icons
3 ITV (Wales), 4 S4C, 5 Channel 5 Part Network ads, 6 ITV 2, 8 Channel 4 South ads, 13 Channel 4+1 South ads, 14 More 4, 33 ITV +1 (Wales),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C44 (658.0MHz) from 384m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal
Maximum256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		100,000
Channel icons
101 BBC One HD Wales, 102 BBC Two HD (England), 103 ITV HD (ITV Central West), 104 Channel 4 HD South ads, plus 1 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C47 (682.0MHz) from 384m datum.
COM4
SDN
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
Channel icons
10 ITV 3, 20 G.O.L.D. (not free), 25 Dave ja vu, 26 Home (not free), 27 ITV 2 +1, 28 E4, 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 C42+ (642.2MHz) from 384m datum.
COM5
ArqA
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
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 C45 (666.0MHz) from 384m datum.
COM6
ArqB
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
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 C39+ (618.2MHz) from 384m datum.


Regional news from the Wenvoe transmitter


BBC Wales Today 1.2m homes 4.7%
from Cardiff CF5 2YQ, 6km northeast
to BBC Wales region - 205 masts.

ITV Cymru Wales 1.2m homes 4.7%
from Cardiff CF5 6XJ, 1km east-northeast
to ITV Wales region - 205 masts.

Self-help relays

AbergwesynActive deflector7 km N Llanwrtyd Wells20 homes
BarryTransposer10 km SW city centre300 homes
Celtic ManorTransposer5 km E Newport80 homes
PentrebachTransposer3 km S Merthyr Tydfil100 homes
YstradfellteActive deflector30 km NE Port Talbot20 homes

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1950s~851984-971997-981998-20102010-1323/1/13-2013-18
aerial groupVHFB EB EWB EB E KW
C5BBCtv
C301
600C31com7
C342
C37com8
C39 ArqBArqB
C40-A
C41ITVITVITV+BBCA+BBCA+BBCA
C42+SDN+SDN+SDN
C43-C
C44BBC1BBC1BBC1D3+4D3+4D3+4
C45ArqAArqAArqA
C46-D
C47C4C4C4BBCBBBCBBBCB
700C49+ArqB
C50-B
C51BBC2BBC2BBC2local

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 3rd March and 31st March 2010.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Cardiff including Newport, Bridgend could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Wenvoe transmitter using C51
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16. COM7 and COM8 to operate as Kilvey Hill,Pontypool, Wenvoe SFN.

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 500kW
com7, com8, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 100kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-10dB) 50kW
Mux 1*(-17dB) 10kW
Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*(-20dB) 5kW

History of Channel 3 in the Wenvoe transmitter area

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

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.

CCob
Monday 29 April 2013 3:22PM
Hi. I am looking to install a new aerial at my property, but would rather connect to Wenvoe as opposed to Llanharan.

Looking at the terrain between the property and the transmitter am I likely to get a decent enough signal?


Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location

Thanks for the help
Dave Lindsay
Monday 29 April 2013 3:33PM
CCob: The only exact answer is to try it out.

However (I speak as someone who isn't an aerial installer) it would seem not too bad. Digital UK suggests you might be in with a shot and Streetview shows aerials pointing to Wenvoe (have you looked around at neighbours' houses?).
CCob
Monday 29 April 2013 3:39PM
Dave Lindsay: I'll take a look at neighbours houses later when I get home.

I Didn't want to splash out on the correct B type antenna for Wenvoe as Llanharan uses the A frequencies. Would a simple indoor aerial work for the test?

Thanks
Dave Lindsay
Monday 29 April 2013 4:17PM
CCob: You can always try it and see what you get. As I say, I'm not a professional so wouldn't want to go too far as I don't have experience.
jb38
Monday 29 April 2013 9:31PM
CCob: Whether a simple indoor aerial would be OK for a test or not is dependant on if it can be tried out along with a TV in an upstairs location, and if it can then to aid aerial positioning go into your TV or boxes "manual" tuning menu and enter Wenvoe's BBC on mux Ch41 but do NOT press search or scan, because if any signal is being received it should be shown on the strength / quality indicator after you entered Ch41.
CCob
Tuesday 30 April 2013 9:43AM
jb38: Trying it up stairs shouldn't be an problem, In fact I can probably get up the attic where all the coax cable is coiled up ready for the aerial and attach it directly to one of them.

Dave Lindsay: Checked some of the neighbours houses, some appear to be pointing at Wenvoe the others at Llanharan, so it looks like I could be in with a shot.

Thanks both for your help
jb38
Tuesday 30 April 2013 9:30PM
CCob: Although aerials being seen facing different directions can simply be down to the fact that some have been installed prior to a station having switched over to high powered operation and are likewise facing another transmitter, whereas the others have been installed since this event and are taking advantage of a better signal, but though it can also be an indication of residing in an area where signal strength levels can vary over relatively short distances, because as you will no doubt have seen on your link to the terrain indicator the signal from Wenvoe is being obstructed from within 1 mile from your location, something with can sometimes cause the type of problem referred to.

I did try a check to see what like the signal would be from the Mendip transmitter to your location as all of its six muxes radiate on 100Kw, unlike in the case of Wenvoe where only its PSB channels are on this power the commercials being on 50Kw, however the signal from Mendip also suffers from a couple of obstructions from about 4 miles out, although purely for test purposes you could always try a "manual tune check" using the previously mentioned procedure (NOT pressing search or scan) and entering mux Ch49 (Mendips BBC), maybe also trying mux Ch56 Mendips ArqA (Pick TV / Sky news etc).



Jon Rhys
Sunday 12 May 2013 1:52AM Bridgend
Hello there. Reading through your interesting and very helpful site, thought I would also like to ask a question if I may.

My elderly Parents live Brackla, Bridgend and have an extended pole roof top mounted arial facing Wenvoe. Their picture was always perfect on all channels UP TO (they believe) around January/February this year but since this time various channels have become unwatchable, mainly channel 3, ITV3, Quest due to pixelation with a poor or even complete loss of signal.. other channels also affected but not so bad. ~ Therefore 2 weeks ago, parents decided to upgrade arial and had a brand new Arial installed (horizontal) with new booster, yet no difference in quality of channels. Installer was duly called out again but was unable to resolve only suggesting they maybe purchase another even bigger arial. I visited parents 3 days ago and re-tuned set but no difference in quality, I checked connections etc as best I could and all appeared ok. Was wondering if 4G testing etc could be implicated in any way from the start of this year?. Any thoughts gratefully received. Regards, Jonathan
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 12 May 2013 11:54AM
Jon Rhys: Did the deterioration coincide with the erection of a new building?

The Megalithia terrain plot also provides a map with a line linking the transmitter and receiver (click the link "view a map of area..." below the plot. The terrain plot shows that about a mile away the ground drops a bit:


Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location

The line goes through the east end of Bridgend Industrial Estate. This is what made me wonder if this is a new industrial building.

Looking at Streetview photos, it's quite clear that there are trees that may be difficulty for at least some residents. Add to that the fact that it is on a slope which means that the tops of buildings going upwards are higher.

It might be worth checking that they are tuned to UHF channel 42 for COM4 (ITV3) and not UHF channel 48 which is Mendip. Mendip is only nine degrees clockwise of Wenvoe.

If it is tuned to Wenvoe, they may be lucky and be able to receive COM4 from Mendip and the rest from Wenvoe. This may be a long shot but its free so it's got to be worth a try.
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 12 May 2013 12:27PM
Jon Rhys: It is not necessarily a building along the line, but one off at an angle to the receiving aerial.

The 800MHz 4G tests are certainly not an issue as they are a long way away.

Unless the receiver is tuned to the wrong transmitter or the desired transmitter has changed then nothing will be achieved by retuning. A receiver will lock on to the signal if it is there. Retuning cannot make a signal that is not there or is poor, appear or improve.
Jon Rhys
Monday 20 May 2013 12:33AM Bridgend
Hello all. Very many thanks to all for taking time out to come back with your support. I will most certainly pass your helpful suggestions onto parents so they can put them to the installer when he's recalled back out. Obviously my hunch of 4G interference was incorrect, yet I hadn't considered a building or one at an angle affecting the signal, this could well be the source of the problem as a building further up the slope has had a large roof extension built.. so if vision can't be improved then maybe freesat may be the easiest way forward.
Thanks for running a super site, shall certainly recommend, Regards Jon
jb38
Monday 20 May 2013 5:19PM Bridgend
Dave Lindsay: Although its neither here nor there now but the situation is even worse as far as reception is concerned, because using an actual Brackla post code (CF31 2PQ) for the terrain checker indicates the signal path is obstructed from roughly 0.75 miles from the destination, although it could even suffer problems from 2.6 miles out should trees exist in that area.


Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location


Dave Lindsay
Monday 20 May 2013 5:38PM Bridgend
Jon Rhys: I assumed the location in question to be CF31 1TL as that is the postcode associated with your posting. jb38 has taken another, sample, location.
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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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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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