Freeview: Ilchester Cresent (City of Bristol, England) full-Freeview transmitter
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Freeview on the Ilchester Crescent (City of Bristol, England) transmitter

Google mapBing mapGoogle Earth51.427,-2.610 or 51°25'39"N 2°36'35"WBS13 7HU

Transmitter fauls and engineering works



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The symbol shows the location of the Ilchester Crescent transmitter which serves 25,000 homes.

Other maps:Ilchester Cresent AM/FMMendip regionBBC WestWest

Radiation patterns

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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.

Bristol Ilchester Crescent 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
 vertical
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		200
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
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C41+ (634.2MHz) from 96m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 vertical
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		200
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),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C44 (658.0MHz) from 96m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 vertical
Maximum256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		200
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
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C47 (682.0MHz) from 96m datum.
COM4
SDN
 vertical
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100
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 C42+ (642.2MHz) from 96m datum.
COM5
ArqA
 vertical
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100
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 96m datum.
COM6
ArqB
 vertical
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100
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 96m datum.


Regional news from the Bristol Ilchester Crescent transmitter


BBC Points West 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Bristol BS8 2LR, 4km north
to BBC West region - 60 masts.

ITV West Country News (East) 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Bristol BS4 3HG, 4km east-northeast
to ITV West region - 61 masts.

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1984-971997-981998-20102010-1327/3/13-2013-18
aerial groupB EB EB EB EB E KK
C30local
C392 ArqBArqB
C40BBC1BBC1BBC1
C41+A+BBCA+BBCA+BBCA
C42+SDN+SDN+SDN
C43ITVITVITV
C44+BD3+4D3+4D3+4
C45ArqAArqAArqA
C46BBC2BBC2BBC2
C47+CBBCBBBCBBBCB
700C49-1+ArqB
C50C4C4C4
C51+D

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 Bristol Ilchester Crescent transmitter using C30

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 500W
BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-4dB) 200W
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-7dB) 100W
Mux A*(-11dB) 40W
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*(-14dB) 20W

History of Channel 3 in the Mendip transmitter area

• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Bristol Ilchester Crescent 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


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.

Pete
Thursday 9 November 2006 12:32AM
Confused. I receive a signal from Ilchester Crescent. I clearly receive the programmes on channels C 39 and C49, but get only very broken reception of C47 and C51 and nothing for C41 or C44. Assuming they are all transmitted from the same location, Ilchester Crescent, why the differing levels of reception?
Briantist
Thursday 9 November 2006 11:07AM
Without knowing your postcode it is difficult to know exactly, but there could be interference from another transmitter, you may have an aerial of the wrong group. Also, your aerial may not be pointing direcly at the transmitter or you may be using a booster that is damaging selected frequencies.
Transmitter engineering
Sunday 21 February 2010 2:09PM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Over the next week Bristol Ilchester Crescent main transmitter: TV (analogue) Liable to interruption, TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Ken Davies
Sunday 4 April 2010 12:12PM Bristol
I live at BS14 9PU what TV will I not receive, and when will Ilchester crescent be upgrade to provide full Digitial services output.
Briantist
Monday 5 April 2010 7:11AM
Ken Davies: The list of services provided by this transmitter is listed above, you will get them all from Wednesday.
Jez
Thursday 8 April 2010 6:08PM Bristol
My postcode BS8 4NQ. I am getting signal on ch 41, 42, 44, 45, 49, but not 47 and 51. I have a HD ready Technika 22 Freeview TV, but cannot get the HD channels, getting all the channels that I had before switchover
Briantist
Friday 9 April 2010 8:44AM
Jez: You need a Freeview HD set-top box, your TV does not support DVB-T2.
Darryl
Monday 24 May 2010 10:48PM Bristol
BBC HD Freeview has a sound problem. It is like super expanded stereo - like the echo effect you get with announcements in railway stations. It only happens on the BBC freeview HD channel.
ITV 1HD and CH4 HD are good.
The decoder i am using is a Philips HDT 8520, can anyone please respond.
Post code BS3 2DJ
Briantist
Wednesday 26 May 2010 6:35PM
Darryl: As I posted elsewhere, it sounds like you are using a 5.1 to stereo mixdown of some sort.

Either select "2.0" or "stereo" on your set-top box, or attach the receiver to a 5.1 sound system.
fran
Saturday 30 October 2010 4:46PM
I live in BS14 - have two other freeview TV's picking up all channels ok from Ilchester Cres (unable to pick up Mendip as very near to Dundry Hill)On daughters TV(Acoustic Solutions) very poor broken signal (since switchover)on mux groups 41(BBC's) and 44 (ITV's) done everything to resolve (moved to different rooms etc - still no joy - please help TV only about 18mths old perfect before switchover - other mux perfect.
Briantist
Wednesday 3 November 2010 7:49AM
fran: I would suspect you probably have too strong a signal.

If you have a booster or amplifier, remove it from your system.

If you don't, try fitting an attenuator (about £5).
mandy
Sunday 27 March 2011 8:49PM Bristol
my aerial is in the loft keeps breaking up and saying no signal
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Sunday 27 March 2011 9:39PM
Hi Mandy,

In many areas a loft aerial isnt good enough to recieve all channels all the time, you would be better off with a aerial mounted outside.

Mark Aberfan Aerials
j r randall
Wednesday 20 April 2011 5:02PM Bristol
reception for itv 3 keeps coming and going.very good reception when on
Briantist
Wednesday 20 April 2011 5:11PM
j r randall: Please see Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for some suggestions.
jade
Tuesday 5 July 2011 1:55AM Bristol
im getting duplicate channels problem is the weaker ones are stored in the correct places and the stonger ones are stored in the 800s i do i resolve this
jb38
Tuesday 5 July 2011 7:58AM
jade: You appear to be in one of those locations where the possibility of receiving multiple channels from different sources exist, as although Ilchester Crescent shows as your best option local circumstances as well as your TV's tuning system dictates what is stored in 1,2,3 etc,etc.

To be able to give more accurate assistance, go into your TV's tuning menu signal check area and check if BBC1 is showing as Ch41 on your EPG1 position, then do the same test on BBC1 in the 800 ranges and come back with the result of the test.

Further info will be dependant on what you find, as manually storing channels "might" be the only successful method in your location, or possibly another tick involving "partially scanning with the aerial removed" doesn't work.
jade
Tuesday 5 July 2011 12:48PM Bristol
hi jb38, thanks for the reply its showing 43 for the bbc1 stored on channel 1, and 41 for the the bbc1 stored in the 800s, how would i go about manually tuning i i can make head or tales of the manual tuning menu

ps i believe its because im pointing a directly 2 transmitters
as i live in the bs13 area

many thanks
jb38
Tuesday 5 July 2011 4:46PM
Jade: Its a bit surprising that 43 has shown as BBC1, as according to the trade predictor I am looking at 43, which is Bristol - Kings Weston Hill @ 6miles away, isnt shown as operational on that channel.

However, the procedure to use for manual tuning of the strongest signals you have mentioned (Ilchester Crescent @ 1 mile away) is to first of all remove the aerial, then follow this action by carrying out a complete re-scan. Obviously nothing will be received but this procedure is to blank the memory of anything stored.

Once completed, re-connect the aerial and go into the tuning menu again selecting "manual scan or tune", after which enter the first channel on the list (Ch41), click "scan" and once the channels are found dont forget to store them.

Use this exact procedure on each of the channels listed in turn, doing the same as applied to the first after each scan is completed, i.e: storing them.

The only thing to note is, that the tuning menu system isnt the same on each brand of set and so slight variations can exist, so if after you have scanned and stored your first on the list and you try a second scan and get a warning that anything saved will be erased, just use the "add channels" option for each of the subsequent scans rather than the normal manual scan. (it all depends on the TV's menu!)

Individual scan channel list:- 41 - 44 - 47 - 42 - 45 - 49

jb38
Tuesday 5 July 2011 9:22PM
jade: Just in addition to what was said, "if" you find that some of the lesser EPG channels (not main BBC / ITV etc) are a bit weak make a note of the actual programme EPG number that's affected then come back on it, as some of the MUX channels you are entering are only on half the power of the others, MUX channels referred to being 42 - 45 - 49, as although not appearing as such on the predictor it still might be found that better results could possibly be had by substituting the three mentioned for 53 - 57 - 60 , these being from Kings Weston.

This problem is only occurring because your two choices of transmitter are virtually in the same line as each other, auto scans not really coping that well in these type of situations dependant on the receiver being used. (Maybe you could mention the brand of your TV or box being used)

jade
Wednesday 6 July 2011 12:23PM Bristol
jb38, im using a humax hdr fox t2

sorry for the delayed reply
jade
Friday 8 July 2011 6:24PM Bristol
jb38, thanks so much its all working now, thanks for explaining the manual tuning for me, its all up and working no more duplicate channels ;-)
jb38
Friday 8 July 2011 9:54PM
jade: Thanks for the update, pleased to hear you sorted the problem out OK, the main thing to remember being, that "if" any problems should occur at any time with your reception, like some channels dropping out etc, try and resist the temptation to carry out a retune, as its a mistake commonly made by most people!

The reason for "not" doing being, that all a person effectively does by carrying out a re-tune is to store the problem situation into their box, as even although channels might drop out now and again its 99% of the time nearly always due to external reasons as they are "still" stored in the box, and as such will return automatically when the reason for the drop out clears, that is if nothing is altered tuning wise.

That said excluding re-tunes after transmitter upgrading sessions, then re-tuning is necessary.
jade
Saturday 9 July 2011 1:18AM Bristol
well thanks a lot jb38, i was getting very bad reception problems and didnt know what was wrong the one day i took a look at the connection on the end of the aerial and found it had rusted up, so i changed it and stupidly did a rescan witch resulted in not just getting a better signal but also getting the unwanted signal from the other transmitter, but i wont be rescanning unless told too buy the bbc ect, and at least i know how to do the manual scan when i need to do so,
Transmitter engineering
Monday 25 July 2011 9:41AM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Over the next week Bristol Ilchester Crescent relay: TV (analogue) working normally, TV (digital) Service Shutdowns, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Wednesday 7 September 2011 11:29AM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Freeview HD Digital TV Off Air from 10:19 today [BBC]
Mac
Sunday 15 April 2012 8:45PM Bristol
I live in Long Ashton (Bristol) and since the changes made on the 7th April channel reception from ArqB, ie ITV4,breaks down from time to time. This was not the case before the change.
richard
Wednesday 27 June 2012 11:35PM Bristol
Why are the c42,c45 and c49 always at less power and when they are being worked on or turn down even more it does not tell you on here
Mark Fletcher
Wednesday 27 June 2012 11:56PM Lytham St. Annes
Richard,Bristol.Most minor and major relay masts as well as most main transmitters always tend to halve the power levels of the commercial multiplexes SDN,ArqA and ArqB to that of the public service multiplexes BBCA,D3+4 and if received on suitable equipment BBCB (HD).
Basically it is because the PSB multiplexes carry the core (main) services for the majority populus,while the COM multiplexes more or less are the opposite.
Transmitter engineering
Saturday 22 September 2012 9:10AM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Over the next week Bristol Ilchester Crescent main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 28 September 2012 7:55PM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Weak Signal from 10:11 on 26 Sep to 14:41 yesterday HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 10:11 on 26 Sep to 14:41 yesterday [BBC] Over the next week Bristol Ilchester Crescent main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Saturday 29 September 2012 4:54AM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Weak Signal from 10:11 on 26 Sep to 14:41 on 27 Sep HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 10:11 on 26 Sep to 14:41 on 27 Sep [BBC] Over the next week Bristol Ilchester Crescent main transmitter: TV (digital) Possible weak signal, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Monday 1 October 2012 10:54AM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Freeview BBC Digital TV Weak Signal from 10:11 on 26 Sep to 14:41 on 27 Sep HD Digital TV Weak Signal from 10:11 on 26 Sep to 14:41 on 27 Sep [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Monday 5 November 2012 10:49AM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Over the next week Bristol Ilchester Crescent main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 15 January 2013 8:02PM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Freeview - No reported problems -. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Tuesday 15 January 2013 8:59PM
BRISTOL ILCHESTER CRESCENT transmitter - Freeview No problems on any service. [BBC]
s savage
Tuesday 16 April 2013 11:59AM Bristol
both myself and my neighbour from bs14 9eb have no signal on our tv is there a fault in our area. thanks
Michael
Tuesday 16 April 2013 1:03PM
s savage: Digital UK's engineering works page says Mendip (and thus its relays) may be liable to interruption. www.digitaluk.co.uk link icon 
Digital UK - Planned Engineering Works

You should not retune, just wait for the channels to come back.
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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.

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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