Freeview: Mendip (Somerset, England) Full Freeview transmitter
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Full Freeview on the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth51.237,-2.626 or 51°14'12"N 2°37'33"WBA5 3LB

This transmitter has no current reported problems

The BBC and Digital UK report there are no faults or engineering work on the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter. Click to recheck

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The symbol shows the location of the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter which serves 720,000 homes.

Other maps:Mendip DABMendip regionBBC WestWest

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.


List by multiplex|List by channel number|List by channel name|See terrain plot

Mendip 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.

MuxAerial positionFrequencyHeightModeWatts
PSB1
BBCA
 horizontal max
C49 (698.0MHz)591m64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		100,000W
Channel icons
1 BBC One 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

PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal max
C54 (738.0MHz)591m64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		100,000W
Channel icons
3 ITV (West), 4 Channel 4 South ads, 5 Channel 5 Part Network ads, 6 ITV 2, 13 Channel 4+1 South ads, 14 More 4, 28 E4, 33 ITV +1 (West),

PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal max
C58 (770.0MHz)591m256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s DVB-T2 MPEG4		100,000W
Channel icons
101 BBC One HD (England no regional news), 102 BBC Two HD (England), 103 ITV HD (ITV Meridian Southampton), 104 Channel 4 HD South ads, plus 1 others

COM4
SDN
 horizontal max
C48 (690.0MHz)591m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		100,000W
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

COM5
ArqA
 horizontal max
C56 (754.0MHz)591m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		100,000W
Channel icons
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

COM6
ArqB
 horizontal max
C52 (722.0MHz)591m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		100,000W
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



Regional news from the Mendip transmitter


BBC Points West 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Bristol BS8 2LR, 25km north
to BBC West region - 60 masts.

ITV West Country News (East) 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Bristol BS4 3HG, 23km north
to ITV West region - 61 masts.

Self-help relays

CheddarTransposer15 km E Weston-super-Mare1674 homes
LuccombeActive deflector6 km w Minehead38 homes

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1984-971997-981998-20102010-1327/3/13-2013-182019-
aerial groupC/D EEEC/D EC/D EWK
C22SDN
C25ArqA
C28ArqB
600C33com7
C35com8
C37C5C5
C40BBCB
C43D3+4
C46BBCA
C48SDNSDNSDN
700C49 BBCABBCA
C51local
C52ArqBArqBArqB
C54C4C4C4D3+4D3+4D3+4
C55+2
C56+CArqAArqAArqA
C58BBC1BBC1BBC1BBCBBBCBBBCB
C59+1
800C61ITVITVITVBBCA
C62+A
C64BBC2BBC2BBC2
C65+B
C67D

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 24th March and 7th April 2010.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Bristol could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Mendip transmitter using C51
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16. COM7 and COM8 to operate as Bristol Ilchester Crescent,Bristol Kings Weston, Mendip SFN.

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 500kW
Analogue 5(-6dB) 126kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB, com7, com8, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 100kW
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*(-17dB) 10kW

History of Channel 3 in the Mendip transmitter area

Jan 1958-Jul 1968Television Wales and the West
Jul 1968-Dec 2014Harlech Television
Feb 1983-Dec 1992TV-am•
Jan 1993-Sep 2010GMTV•
Sep 2010-Dec 2014ITV Daybreak•
• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Mendip 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.

Fred Wheeler
Monday 31 January 2011 9:35AM
Of course Bruce Randall is right. Only when you live in a very strong signal area shoud you mess about with loft aerials. The atenuation by tile and similiar roofing can be imence. So spend a bit of money and be assured of a good signal with a correctly insralled outside aerial
bruce
Monday 31 January 2011 1:18PM
monday 31st we have channel 1 on freeview channel 20 tuesday 1st no channel 1. is yet another retune necessary as we appear to have gained challenge freeview channel 46?????
Malcolm Riches
Monday 31 January 2011 8:30PM Fordingbridge
All except Mux 3 gone off-line.
Anyone else having a problem this evening?
Fordingbridge area.
Briantist
Monday 31 January 2011 8:33PM
Malcolm Riches: There are no transmission problems, can you please see Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?
Briantist
Monday 31 January 2011 8:40PM
a.spiers: Yes, that can happen.
Briantist
Monday 31 January 2011 8:57PM
sbmarlborough: The information you have is correct. Digital UK are responsible for the SWITCHOVER and the BBC are responsible for RECEPTION PROBLEMS, taking over from Ofcom. See www.ukfree.tv link icon Broadcaster complaints details | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Gareth Smart
Tuesday 1 February 2011 9:55AM
Mike Dimmick: Thanks Mike I shall definately give that a try.

Kind Regards
Mike
Tuesday 1 February 2011 10:16PM
I used to have "yesterday", and "film 4" and other associated channels.It has been four weeks that I have not received these channels. I notice the power is on very low for that mux. But it looks like there are no plans for it to be reinstated to its previous power. i.e. no maintenance in progress as I thought. Is this how it is going to remain?
Mereites
Tuesday 1 February 2011 11:11PM
We live in Mere and we are also experiencing reception problems and have done so for the past 3/4 weeks and it only seems to be affecting some channels. Timing also seems to be a factor in that sometimes the channel is fine and then at others it is so pixelated and ghosted that the channel is unwatchable. What is most annoying is that it is the channels I watch more often than not, ie channel 15 and 24 but obviously others are affected.
Victoria
Tuesday 1 February 2011 11:19PM Chippenham
Our freeview signal completely disappeared last night at about 9.30pm and hasn't returned. There is absolutely no signal on either of our TVs. Nothing. Not even the very grainy analogue signal that we used to get. We've checked the fuse in the booster box, and looked in the loft for any loose wires and can't see anything obviously wrong.
The frustrating thing is that I can't find any helpline or anyone that we can call, bar the TV arial guy who will charge a call-out fee.
I live in Marshfield (near Bath) and we have a loft arial with a booster box.
Any ideas or suggestions much appreciated!
Briantist
Wednesday 2 February 2011 9:25AM
Mike: "NOTE: Mendip COM multiplexes will temporarily operate on channels 62+ for SDN, 56+ for Arqiva A, and 59+ for Arqiva B (all at 10kW ERP) until Autumn 2011. Final DSO channels will then be adopted, though ERP levels will remain limited until early 2012. "
Miss Moppet
Thursday 3 February 2011 9:56AM
After months of fiddling we called an aerial erector in who confirmed that we do NOT need an outside aerial but changing my existing co-ax cables just from the wall socket to the set has produced the missing channels (Ch 10 and 24: ITV 3 & 4). He used thicker double sheathed cables. Has made all the difference. Why just changing this short length when the cable from the aerial down through wall remains normal I have no idea.
PeteGreen
Thursday 3 February 2011 2:03PM
Miss Moppet

I your old was a ready made one with moulded connections they were made with poor co-ax and signal loss was very high.

Pete.
Briantist
Thursday 3 February 2011 2:23PM
Miss Moppet: Right, and your wall socket connects to ... oh yes, an outside aerial...
David Pickering
Thursday 3 February 2011 7:22PM
As has been said so many times down leads are as important if not more important than your aerial.
TX100 OR EQ.min
Dont think just because you have a nice looking aerial mounted on a wall bracket that is drilled on your chimmney stack, that shouldnt have been mounted there in the first place is meaning your reception is A1, because your proberly wrong.
1st A wall bracket is designed to be mounted on a wall.
2nd a chimmney mount is lashing wire thats wound round a chimmney stack with a bracket thats held by the wires, reasons for this are to balance the strain on the stack, because its a single brick assembly thats acually not that strong.
Maybe people like the CAI should look at these simple things because many members of there memberships dont seem to know the difference between the two.
I mean after all just check a advert on the top of this page, a lovely picture of the royal crescent, then another click... and what do we have, a rigger mounting a wall bracket on a chimmney pot of a listed building, made of no less than soft Bath stone, that says it all.
To be honest im so suprised that even the most basics of skills that i teached so many years ago have been negelected.
I personally do alot of work for trusts in Bath and would be kicked off site if i produced some of the workmanship i see today.
Regards
Dave
Briantist
Thursday 3 February 2011 8:01PM
David Pickering: Yes indeed, excellent points.
David Pickering
Thursday 3 February 2011 8:11PM
You do a good job here Brian, I take my hat off to you.
All the best mate
Dave
Briantist
Friday 4 February 2011 8:36AM
David Pickering: Thank you very much.
John
Friday 4 February 2011 7:48PM
I am getting very variable signal strength on the BBC multiplex at 7:45 tonight watching the England-Wales rugby programme. Normally the quality is rock steady at 100% but while it is at 100% mostly, it is dropping to 30% or 40% for a second every now and then. Strength is 58 to 60%.
Strangely, all the other multiplexes, including the low power ones, are absolutely fine, with rock steady 100% quality (eg ITV is 62% strength, 100% quality).
It is very windy but I have checked and my aerial is not moving in the wind.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Tracy
Friday 4 February 2011 8:05PM Shepton Mallet
Since yesterday we have been unable to watch any of the bbc channels, all of them are blocky and keep on freezing. Its been very windy today but yesterday it wasn't like that.
Briantist
Saturday 5 February 2011 8:34AM
John: There is a weather front moving over the UK causing tropospheric ducting aka What is the Inversion Effect and why does it effect my Freeview TV reception?
| ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
PeteGreen
Saturday 5 February 2011 11:18AM
When I check my terrain to the transmitters it shows my alitude as 79 meters. Google earth shows 6 meters which is correct. Is it possible to to change this. Pete.
Chris.SE
Saturday 5 February 2011 11:39AM
Briantist:
Hi Brian, an update to the "Transmission frequencies" section (just above "Notes") on this page would be a nice idea to resolve some confusion.
In the Note below "After Wednesday 7th April 2010" it still mentions C59+ for ArqB now on C67 until 28 Sep 2011, when it moves to C52. On the same date SDN moves to C48.
Also C48 and C52 are missing from the "After Wednesday 7th April 2010" mux list row.
Regards, Chris.
Briantist
Saturday 5 February 2011 1:27PM
PeteGreen: At some point there will be a new database, but I never get chance to implement it due to answering peoples questions.
Briantist
Saturday 5 February 2011 1:28PM
Chris.SE: Sorry, Mendip is a little unusual, I have to keep making manual changes to the database. I've still got to go through all the Ofcom updates. Apologies for the delay.
Briantist
Saturday 5 February 2011 1:49PM
Tracy: I would hang on, there is reports of What is the Inversion Effect and why does it effect my Freeview TV reception?
| ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice due to the front moving over the UK at the moment.
Michael Bane
Saturday 5 February 2011 9:49PM
Briantist: Thank you for answering all my questions.....I'll try not to ask you any more for a bit so that you can crack on with your mundane updating etc.
John
Monday 7 February 2011 9:16PM
Briantist
Thanks for you reply "There is a weather front moving over the UK causing tropospheric ducting ... "

I thought it must be something like that - and you have stopped me from trying to fix summat wot ain't broke!
Briantist
Monday 7 February 2011 9:45PM
John: As they used to say "do not adjust your set".
Tracy
Tuesday 8 February 2011 7:04AM Shepton Mallet
Hurrah, all my bbc channels are back to normal, now all I need is to be able to get all of the freeview channels.
Briantist
Tuesday 8 February 2011 7:08AM
Tracy: Freeview reception has changed? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice is always the best place to start.
G.L.Young
Wednesday 9 February 2011 11:41AM
I have 2 televisions, one in the sitting room and one in the dinning room, both on the same arial, the sitting room tv cannot pick up freeview, film 4, or yesterday channels whereas the one in the dinning room does. can you give a reason for this?
Briantist
Thursday 10 February 2011 8:29AM
G.L.Young: Please seehttp://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051307 .
Michael Bane
Friday 11 February 2011 2:38PM
Briantist: According to a report in the "Independent" the YouView set top box has been delayed until next year...is this correct?
Sorry to badger you again!
Briantist
Friday 11 February 2011 2:39PM
Michael Bane: Yes, that is correct. I has been in the Newsbucket for some days now. See UK Free TV Newsbucket - daily recommended reading, podcasts and feeds | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Michael Bane
Friday 11 February 2011 5:12PM
Briantist: Thank you....I have bookmarked this page.
m glendinning
Saturday 12 February 2011 8:26PM Bridgwater
can you give me manual codes for programming DTV on my television. Auto tuning only picking up bbc channels. post code ta5 2bt
Briantist
Saturday 12 February 2011 8:52PM
m glendinning: They are listed at the top of the page.
David S.
Sunday 13 February 2011 11:18AM Warminster
Another minor irritation here in BA12 9LT : the upper floor digital television can pick up Ch.11 (Sky 3), in the sitting room the new Panasonic television, the new Humax box and the Sony dvd recorder cannot.
Briantist
Sunday 13 February 2011 11:19AM
David S.: Please see the Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page in relation to the "other" devices.
John I
Sunday 13 February 2011 1:31PM
can you please advise as i cant seem to find DAVE, i,ve retuned using 54,56,59,61,62, and 67 but to no avail please help
John I
Sunday 13 February 2011 1:39PM
whoops post code ta9
Bev
Tuesday 15 February 2011 9:09PM
Why does channel 12 vary in output. I live within line of site of the Mendip transmitter and all other channels work well. Also my digi box keeps putting Stockland Hill stations in the low channel positions. How do I overcome this problem?
Briantist
Tuesday 15 February 2011 9:15PM
Bev: The ARQD multiplex is on low power until 2012. Most Freeview boxes put the channels on the lower frequencies in the proper places.

If you don't want this, clear all the channels and manually add in the above frequencies.
Ross
Thursday 17 February 2011 12:19PM Bristol
Can someone advise me please? Am at Bristol area. Can no longer receive Freeview Channel 59 (Yesterday). Get 'No Signal' message. Have performed recommended retune procedure (less RF-In, with RF-In coax)on my Humax PVR.
Thank You. Ross
BRD
Thursday 17 February 2011 2:21PM Corsham
Ross: Until recently I suffered extremely variable reception from Mendip (SN13).
This site provides lots of useful information on DTV reception. Howevee I called in an aerial expert who advised that in his opinion Humax boxes (which I have) attenuate the signal significantly. He said that a "mast head amp" would solve the problem and was so confident that he would fit it for no charge if it did not work.
All reception has been excellent since fitting; even in some extreme weather conditions.
Briantist
Thursday 17 February 2011 2:39PM
Ross: Also, I would see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .



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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