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  ◊  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.

Briantist
Thursday 8 April 2010 10:58AM
robert: You should be able to get them all, so yes, you probably need a replacement aerial.
mary
Thursday 8 April 2010 3:26PM Pentre
cant get itv 3 and 4 am using an aerial and freeview+ digibox in the rhondda area any ideas? can get most other chanels ok
H.ATTWOOD
Thursday 8 April 2010 5:07PM
I receive the digital signal from the Chilfrome relay, thus I cant get ITV3. I believe ITV3 is more popular than ITV2 or ITV2+1.
Therefore if the number of programmes is limited from a relay transmitter then ITV or the PBS (whoever decides these things)should consider swapping these over so that ITV3 replaces ITV2 or ITV2+1
Briantist
Friday 9 April 2010 8:38AM
mary: You are using a public service transmitter, and this does not carry ITV3 or ITV4.
mary
Friday 9 April 2010 3:02PM
i have the chanels eg itv 3 and 4 and virgin on my programe guide on the tv but when i try to view them it says programme scrambled or unavailable how can i get round this ?
Ross
Friday 9 April 2010 11:36PM Bristol
I cannot receive BBC One West channel 61 from Mendip but get BBC South West channel 26 from Stockland instead. Please, how do I get the correct channel 61?
KMJ,Derby
Saturday 10 April 2010 10:22AM
Ross: look in the channel list in the 800's for additional variants of stored channels.Because C26 is found first when scanning this Mux is stored in the LCN slots, C61 would then be stored as a regional variation. Clear the channel list then enter required channels manually - enter C61 first to put BBC West in LCN slots.Otherwise start the scan with the aerial unplugged, plug it back in after C26 has been passed to miss it out.
Ross
Saturday 10 April 2010 12:03PM
To KMJ, Derby - Ref C61 BBC West query. Many thanks for reply. Will try soonest. What does 'LCN' mean?
KMJ,Derby
Saturday 10 April 2010 12:55PM
Ross: "logical channel number" 1=BBC1 etc
M Sadler
Sunday 11 April 2010 10:59AM Usk
Before the latest switch over I had no problem receiving all digital programmes from wenvoe. Now after retuning my televisions and freeview plus boxes I am unable toreceive anything on the com4 frequency so cant receive channel 10 etc.I live near Usk and am disapointed with the situation. Thanks M J S
chantakan
Sunday 11 April 2010 9:02PM
Receive both Wenvoe & Mendip. ALL MUX being received BEFORE Mendip full upgrade. Now lost COM6 Arqiva b - Film 4 et seq. Sometimes receive the mux in the morning,plus EPG, but by afternoon, lost it again. What is going on that we are not being told about? UK Digital emailed - total waste of space! Using Triax Unix 100 wideband, masthead amp and mains amp plus 1 yrs old Philips TV with integral freeview receiver. Anyone else out there suffering the same phenomenon?
Ross
Sunday 11 April 2010 11:23PM
To KMJ, Derby: Ref C61 BBC West query. Problem cured by inserting aerial after C26 has been skipped during channel scan. Many Thanks.
Eugene Brennan
Monday 12 April 2010 8:42PM
Can anyone advise me on the best areal to install to receive digital. I can receive this cuerrently but not sure if I can get better. I have 2 TV and one keeps loosing signal?

Eugene, in Pontprennau, Cardiff.
Briantist
Monday 12 April 2010 8:43PM
Eugene Brennan: The aerial may be fine, perhaps your cables are at fault? Can you see www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for some ideas?
M G Price
Tuesday 13 April 2010 11:56AM
why can't i recieve any programs on channel 40 multiplex A.i live in aberfan merthyr tydfil and i cannot get programs like fiver, five usa, gold, quest etc.
M G price
Briantist
Tuesday 13 April 2010 12:37PM
M G Price: The Merthyr Tydfil transmitter only carries the public service channels, not the commercial multiplexes.
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Tuesday 13 April 2010 4:02PM
Hi,
The ynysowen transmitter serves almost all of aberfan, its a freeview lite transmitter
& so does not transmit fiver etc. Wenvoe does transmit those channels but I believe they are on channel 42 not 40, most of aberfan cant get reception from wenvoe as it requires a very good aerial etc.

Mark Aberfan Aerials
chantakan
Tuesday 13 April 2010 9:21PM
Re my last concerning loss of arqiva b since Mendip full switchover etc. Thinking of removing the Triax Unix 100 and masthead amp and p/supply and replacing with a log periodic wideband with integral amp compliant with my psu. What might be the best? 22 miles NNE from Wenvoe approx. Can`t remember how far from Mendip though! NOT in river valley but on high point!
Briantist
Wednesday 14 April 2010 7:14AM
chantakan: What is your postcode please?
chantakan
Wednesday 14 April 2010 11:37AM Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1JT Brian - in a high spot which receives both Wenvoe and Mendip and have had Freeview since the days of Ondigital - in theory - should never have happened - but it did! Do not use any of the local relays which only carry part mux.
Briantist
Wednesday 14 April 2010 2:29PM
chantakan: I see that, at the moment, you can also get channels from Carmel that use the same frequcneis as Mendip (C58, C61).
chantakan
Wednesday 14 April 2010 6:18PM
Thanks Brian - went up on the roof to check if all cables intact, right direction, no water ingress etc. - all o.k.
Would a SIPSI DATA problem cause this? Perhaps there is something in ` line of sight` causing the mux to become non existent!
Anyway, have ordered an Antiference Log Periodic LP28 Active wideband with new PSU from Farnell and I`ll recable again. Keep you posted and update when fitted.
Briantist
Wednesday 14 April 2010 6:45PM
chantakan: Thanks, I will be interested to hear how you get on.
michael
Thursday 15 April 2010 8:40AM
chantakan : if your elevation is high, you
may be getting CCI from Huntshaw Cross, which seems to carry to some far locations in South Wales.
chantakan
Friday 16 April 2010 11:34AM
Thanks Michael for the above. Brian - have now installed the Log Periodic Active wideband with new psu. Recabled it all again. This aerial is very directional and yes - now receiving all from Arquiva B. Thanks for all your assistance.
Briantist
Friday 16 April 2010 3:05PM
chantakan: I'm pleased to hear that worked for you. Happy Freeviewing!
Ted
Tuesday 20 April 2010 7:58PM Caerphilly
Why should we get reduced Freeview from the boosters?

We pay our licence for BBC and pay for commercial TV by buying goods advertised.
Briantist
Tuesday 20 April 2010 8:47PM
Ted: Yes - it seems strange people don't know this.
Pete
Tuesday 20 April 2010 9:03PM
Unless we have a recorder which speeds through the adverts and saves us about 15 mins of boredom per hour !!
Briantist
Tuesday 20 April 2010 9:04PM
Pete: And that makes the TV Licence pay for those channels?
Dave
Friday 23 April 2010 9:59AM Monmouth
Hi, regarding the note 'SDN at Wenvoe is expected to operate temporarily on channel 51, and Arqiva A on channel 30' (presumably because of interference with Ridge Hill) do you know when that switch is expected to happen, or has it happened already? Many thanks.
Clive B
Friday 23 April 2010 3:00PM
Before switchover received all Freeview channels albeit with variable quality.

Since switchover receive all stations with strength 9 or 10 APART FROM ALL Channel 45
programmes Dave,Sky 3 etc. Manual tuning indicates no signal at all on 45.

Area Porthcawl.

Local tv shop is going crazy with Freeview faults since switchover
Mike Dimmick
Friday 23 April 2010 5:23PM Reading
@Clive B: check whether your box has a UHF modulated output, for TVs that don't have a SCART input. If it does have one, it may be interfering with reception of UHF channel 45. Check if you can switch the feature off, or at least move it to a channel where it won't interfere with reception.

You may also have other equipment such as a video recorder that outputs on C45 or a conflicting channel. Conflicting channels are those five or nine channel numbers up or down.
Mike Dimmick
Friday 23 April 2010 6:13PM Reading
@Dave: the note comes from page 15 of Ofcom's document "Digital Switchover Transmitter Details - Wales, Issue 3.0" of March 2009. I expect that this plan was put into practice when the analogue signals were switched off on 31 March 2010 (couldn't have been sooner as BBC Two analogue was on C51).

Interference with Ridge Hill Mux D (on C45) could well be the reason. Ridge Hill will revert to a Group A configuration, channels 21-30, at switchover and then they'll move COM4 and COM6 to their final frequencies (and you'll have to rescan).

@Clive: I've just noticed the comment about C45 not transmitting until next year. You'll find those channels currently on C30, which I note is out of group and your aerial's performance may not be good enough in that range. If you previously had trouble with BBC channels on Freeview, you probably have the same problem now. I wouldn't muck about with the aerial though, unless it's a contract type (with a stamped reflector, they're rubbish) as it will only be in use for a year.
Iain Davies
Friday 23 April 2010 10:46PM Weston-super-mare
Back again! your site is too good to leave alone, S4C HD on test showing S4C programmes with a "Test Transmission" banner.
Michael Geoffrey
Monday 26 April 2010 6:14PM Monmouth
I have noted that those viewers who receive a digital signal from a relay transmitter, are (going by this web site) generally dissatisfied with the number of channels they are receiving, compared to those being transmitted from the "main parent transmitter!". There also appears to be a number of complaints about the quality of the signal. I am in Monmouth (post code NP25 3NN) and we have experienced short but significant periods of a completely blank screens and occasionally periods of poor reception of a couple of signals Sky News, Sky "sports" but not all (70% signal strength) - and the weather coditions have been OK during these periods!
My queries are these:-
1. Did Ofcom communicate to the viewing public that those receiving a "Relay signal" were NOT going to see the same number of staions as those receiving from a Parent Transmitter?
2. Who now does the viewer complain to about a poor signal/possible faulty transmitter?
3. Is there a growing groundswell of opinion amongst the public that something needs to be done about 1. above - on (a) grounds of fairness to the License payer and (b) lack of competition where the Public cannot receive Top Up TV.
ps. I not sure how concerned Top Up TV is, as so far they couldn't be bothered to reply.
Regards, Michael Geoffrey
Briantist
Monday 26 April 2010 8:59PM
Michael Geoffrey: 1) Yes, often, the offer of frequencies ran for several years, see www.ukfree.tv link icon No new full Freeview transmitters | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .

2) You can complain to Ofcom, see the www.ukfree.tv link icon Broadcaster complaints details | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page for the link;

3) On the grounds of (a) no, the Licence Fee pays for the BBC services, everyone has them all; (b) TopUpTV has always run a service that was not universal, as per the licence it has to broadcast.
Briantist
Monday 26 April 2010 9:14PM
Iain Davies: Welcome back!
alan edwards
Wednesday 28 April 2010 9:41AM
as a freeview lite sufferrer in merthyr i can tell you that OFCOM did NOT inform the public that they'd only get freeview lite. the offer might have ran for years but the viewing public were misled into thinking they'd get all the channels. its also easy to say the license fee only pays for the beeb, but when you have no choice but to pay it, then IMHO its a universal charge so covers all the free channels.
Iain Davies
Wednesday 28 April 2010 9:59PM Weston-super-mare
As I have said, many many times before a TV Licence ONLY allows you to install receiving equipment in your home it DOES NOT give you the right to a TV service!
Briantist
Thursday 29 April 2010 6:39AM
alan edwards: I would be very interested for you to provide some evidence for that, given that everything that Ofcom, Digital UK and the government has ever publish says "not all services are available in all areas". Please can you post a link?

Also, as I have said many times before, the TV Licence pays for the BBC and the BBC alone, and you get all the BBC services with Freeview Lite.
alan edwards
Thursday 29 April 2010 9:45AM
briantist: how am i supposed to prove a negative? its impossible to prove a negative!
i can tell you the local situation, the digitalUK help scheme contacted me, (i am disabled and qualify for their help scheme) they informed me that their records show my postcode can get all channels as i'm serviced by wenvoe. i explain to them that i CANNOT receive wenvoe. they insist that i can as their records clearly show my postcode can receive wenvoe. the idiot i speak to even insists that as merthyr is a group A service i can simply rotate my existing aerial to face wenvoe and get all the channels.
strangly enough even with a high gain philex aerial and 26db masthead amp i am unable to receive wenvoe as there's the little matter of a mountain in the way.
the local shops, right upto final changeover date, were informing customers that by simply buying a digibox that they'd get 60+ channels.

its all well & good putting a disclaimer saying that not all areas will receive all channels. how about putting it in the local press months before changeover exactly what you will receive. or in the multitudes of junk mail they (digitalUK) send out simply have two different mailshots, one for freeview lite and one for full freeview.

brian i know you mean well but you trump out OFCOMs figures that 360k homes are served by wenvoe (and the same for the other full transmitters in wales) but the simple matter is that most of those 360k+ can't pickup directly from wenvoe because of the topology. the figures are a sham. radio wales carried the true figures in that 90% of wales gets freeview lite
Briantist
Thursday 29 April 2010 10:10AM
alan edwards: Here's a leaflet from Digital UK.

www.digitaluk.co.uk link icon http://www.digitaluk.co.u….pdf

Page 16

"Which channels will I get with digital TV?

The exact number of channels will depend on where you receive your TV service from.

If your home receives its TV signal directly from the Kilvey Hill, Carmel, Preseli, Llanddona, Moel y Parc, Blaenplwyf, Wenvoe, Pontypool or Aberdare transmitter you will get more
than 40 Freeview channels, plus text services.

If your home receives its signal from any local relay transmitters or from Long Mountain, you’ll get around 15 of the most popular Freeview channels plus text services. Visit our postcode checker† to see if you could get more channels from an alternative transmitter."

They didn't need to do different leaflets, they very clearly in big letters said what the situation is. If you chose to ignore it, then that is your own look out, please stop blaming others.
alan edwards
Thursday 29 April 2010 12:51PM
the biggest leaflet i've had from digitalUK is a 2 page "advert" for freeview. i've certainly not had that one.
but as you say i should stop blaming the people who are responsible for transmitting the channels, the people responsible for regulating what channels they can/can't receive, and instead blame myself for living in a part of the country that gets a 2nd class service, along with 90% of the rest of my country. thanks for the "help" brian.
Briantist
Thursday 29 April 2010 1:56PM
alan edwards: Perhaps you should have taken a bit more interest, can you show me that the leaflet said all Freeview channels would be aviliable to you?

Hardly "90% of the rest of my country" - it is 34% if you mean Wales, 8.5% of the UK. www.ukfree.tv link icon Where are the public service (Freeview Lite) transmitters? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
alan edwards
Thursday 29 April 2010 3:16PM
brian: do you actually read the posts? i've already told you that the only leaflet i've had was a 2 page advert, the digitalUK helpline who called me told me that i'd receive all channels. they were probably going from the same database as you. wenvoe may well serve 360,000 homes, but the vast majority of the 360,000 homes in the area your own map shows it covering are forced to use the relay transmitters instead. you show it covering the entire south wales valleys area, (merthyr included) yet this is the area of wales most affected by freeview lite. if your map is correct then we should all be pointing our aerials at wenvoe and getting full freeview. but we're not. why? because we can't see wenvoe from here. the higher parts of the valleys can and do receive from wenvoe, but most don't. the figures are meaningless because of this. just walk around this area and look at the aerials and nearly every one you'll see is NOT pointed at wenvoe. mark from aberfan aerials could back me up on this one. nearly every aerial is vertically polarised. its pointless trying to have a discussion with you as you continuously trump out the party line from OFCOM and ignore the numerous posts here from people who are both suprised and dissapointed to be getting freeview lite. a lot of them supposedly served by wenvoe according to OFCOM
Briantist
Thursday 29 April 2010 6:16PM
alan edwards: Yes, I read your rant. Shame really. Bye.
Iain Davies
Friday 30 April 2010 8:09PM Weston-super-mare
Wenvoe S4C HD on CH47 programmes proper have now started!
chantakan
Friday 30 April 2010 8:41PM
alan edwards - you can pick up wenvoe direct and the full mux if you have the appropriate aerial and alter the polarity from vertical to horizontal - but you need to be on the high ground! Heolgerrig and surrounding area - the upper half, parts of Penydarren and Dowlais can also receive. If you live on the lower ground you cannot!You basically need a line of sight, without obstruction ,down the river valley.Your alternative - a FTA receiver and dish pointing to Astra 2 ( like Sky )!Ask Brian to assist. No doubt you`ve been told that your VCR is redundant too, and that if your T.V. has no scart socket, then you`ll have to buy a new one, and if you want satellite , you`ll have to subscribe to Sky. Oh dear ! - don`t believe the sales hype. Heard these comments from so many now. All are ` urban myths`!
M Wynne
Monday 3 May 2010 8:44AM Pentre
What do I have to do to receive more digital channels I only have 37 channels



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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