Full Freeview on the Midhurst (West Sussex, England) transmitter
This transmitter has no current reported problems
The BBC and Digital UK report there are no faults or engineering work on the Midhurst (West Sussex, England) transmitter.
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The symbol shows the location of the Midhurst (West Sussex, England) transmitter which serves 94,000 homes.
What do the colours on the map mean?
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 plotWhich Freeview channels does the Midhurst transmitter broadcast?
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.
| Mux | Aerial position | Frequency | Height | Mode | Watts |
PSB1
BBCA | horizontal max | C55 (746.0MHz) | 299m | 64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2 | 20,000W |
| 
1 BBC One South, 2 BBC Two England, 7 BBC Three, 9 BBC Four, 70 CBBC Channel, 71 CBeebies, 80 BBC News, 81 BBC Parliament, 301 BBC Red Button 1, plus 12 others 200 BBC Red Button, 700 BBC Radio 1, 701 BBC Radio 1Xtra, 702 BBC Radio 2, 703 BBC Radio 3, 704 BBC Radio 4, 705 BBC Radio 5 Live, 706 BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, 707 BBC Radio 6 Music, 708 BBC Radio 4 Extra, 709 BBC Asian Network, 710 BBC World Service,
|
PSB2
D3+4 | horizontal max | C56 (754.0MHz) | 299m | 64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2 | 20,000W |
| 
3 ITV (Meridian (East micro region)), 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 (Meridian south coast),
|
PSB3
BBCB | horizontal max | C58 (770.0MHz) | 299m | 256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s DVB-T2 MPEG4 | 20,000W |
| 
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, 303 BBC Red Button HD, plus 1 others 232 The Space,
|
COM4
SDN | horizontal -3dB | C54 (738.0MHz) | 299m | 64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2 | 10,000W |
| 
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 21 others Bluebird 1, ADULT Playboy, 16 QVC, 23 Bid TV, 49 The Jewellery Channel, 170 ADULT Section, 171 Television X, 180 XxXpanded TV, 201 Teletext Hols, 202 Rabbit, 203 Gay Rabbit, 204 1-2-1 Dating, 228 Christian, 229 CONNECT 2, 230 VISION2, 234 CONNECT 4, 235 God TV, 236 Sony SAB TV Asia, 724 Capital FM, 727 Absolute Radio, 728 Heart,
|
COM5
ArqA | horizontal -3dB | C59 (778.0MHz) | 300m | 64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2 | 10,000W |
| 
11 PICK TV, 12 Dave, 17 Really, 29 E4+1, 32 Movie Mix, 46 Challenge, 48 Food Network, 82 Sky News, 87 Community Channel, 302 BBC Red Button 2, plus 9 others 36 Create and Craft, 37 Price Drop TV, 43 Gems TV 1, 173 ADULT smileTV3, 175 ADULT PARTY, 176 ADULT Blue, 177 Babestation Xtra, 206 SkyText, 723 talkSPORT,
|
COM6
ArqB | horizontal -3dB | C50 (706.0MHz) | 300m | 64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2 | 10,000W |
| 
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 22 others heat, 0 Argos TV, 22 Ideal World, 35 QVC Beauty, 40 Rocks and Co 1, 172 ADULT smileTV2, 174 Babestation, 199 ADULT Section, 225 VISION, 226 CCTV, 227 Sports, 231 Racing TV , 306 Channel Zero, 711 The Hits radio, 712 Smash Hits!, 713 Kiss, 714 KISSTORY, 715 Magic, 716 Q, 717 Kerrang!, 718 Smooth radio, 725 Premier Radio,
|
Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Midhurst transmitter?
How will the Midhurst (West Sussex, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| years | | 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2012 | 2012-13 | 3/10/12- | 2013-18 | |
| aerial group | | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | C/D E | |
| 700 | C50 | | | | | ArqB | ArqB | ArqB | |
| C54 | | | | | | SDN | SDN | |
| C55 | | BBC2 | BBC2 | BBC2 | BBCA | BBCA | BBCA | |
| C56 | | | | +1 | | D3+4 | D3+4 | |
| C58 | | ITV | ITV | ITV | BBCB | BBCB | BBCB | |
| C59 | | | | +B | ArqA | ArqA | ArqA | |
| C60 | | | | +D | | | | |
| 800 | C61 | | BBC1 | BBC1 | BBC1 | D3+4 | | | |
| C62 | | | | +A | SDN | | | |
| C64 | | | | -C | | | | |
| C65 | | | | +2 | | | | |
| C68 | | C4 | C4 | C4 | | | | |
| orange background for multiplexes names more | green background for transmission frequencies | lilac background for power levels in watts | 800MHz band: 4G mobile to start in 2013 | 700MHz band: possible 4G in 2019 more | 600MHz band: new or moved digital TV services more |
Notes:
+ and
- denote 166kHz offset; aerial group are shown as
A B C/D E K WItalics for
analogue, digital switchover was Wednesdays 29th February and 14th March 2012.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 100kW | |
| BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 20kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB | (-10dB) 10kW | |
| Mux C* | (-16dB) 2.5kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B* | (-17dB) 2kW | |
| Mux D* | (-20dB) 1000W | |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Midhurst transmitter area
| Aug 1958-Jan 1992 | Southern Television |
| Jan 1982-Dec 1992 | Television South (TVS) |
| Jan 1993-Feb 2004 | Meridian |
| Feb 2004-Dec 2014 | ITV plc |
| | Feb 1983-Dec 1992 | TV-am• |
| Jan 1993-Sep 2010 | GMTV• |
| Sep 2010-Dec 2014 | ITV Daybreak• |
|
• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Midhurst 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
First comments 
Earlier comments ◊ Later comments
Latest 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.
K
kcTuesday 17 April 2012 10:48AM
However, I cannot pick up any HD channels, even though I done a manual scan.H
Harry ButlerWednesday 18 April 2012 11:09AM
Burgess HillHarry Butler: On that date ArqB (Yesterday etc) on C50 will go up to full final power. If you presently get Yesterday, or it is intermittant or at least given in your receiver's channel listing, then you probably won't need to retune.
If it's not listed at all, then try manually tuning to C50. If it you can't pick it up now, then manually tune on 25th (as opposed to a full retune) and this should add it. J
john mcmanusMonday 23 April 2012 10:22AM
Hassocksjohn mcmanus: The transmission power of ArqB from Midhurst will increase to its full final power on Wednesday. There is no channel change, so if your receiver has picked it up and put it in its services in its listings, then you will not have to retune. B
brian mTuesday 24 April 2012 9:35AM
H
HomesteadWednesday 25 April 2012 8:08AM
Pulborough
I still don't seem to be able to receive ArqB from Midhurst. Does anyone know what time of day today (Wednesday) the power will be increased?J
john josephWednesday 25 April 2012 12:07PM
PetersfieldA
AnnWednesday 25 April 2012 1:19PM
I really would like to watch Film 4 and Yesterday.A
AnnWednesday 25 April 2012 1:25PM
Ann: Have a look in the 800s; you may find Midhurst's ArqB services in there.
Depending on the design of the receiver, it may be that C50 has been picked up in the past and put in the 800s. When you manually tune to C50, it may do nothing because as far as the receiver is concerned, it has that channel stored in its memory.
A rescan may be in order to rectify the problem. A
AnnWednesday 25 April 2012 5:20PM
Incidentally, I rang Arqiva and was told that the work was carried out overnight and that ArqB is now on 10kw. Assuming ArqA is still on 5kw, which we can pick up fine, it does seem very strange.A
AnnWednesday 25 April 2012 6:24PM
Ann: I found your post code on a previous posting of yours and the Digital UK Tradeview predictor doesn't even make mention of Midhurst at your location. Hordean transmitter is predicted as being excellent for you so I expect that it will wipe out any chance of reception of C50 from Midhurst, even though they are different polarisations.
Why does your aerial not point to Rowridge? According to the pages for Midhurst and Rowridge on this website, the BBC and ITV regions are the same for both, so changing wouldn't affect the regional programmes that you get.
The thing with Rowridge is that it now transmits horizontally and vertically. The Commercial channels are stronger vertically than horizontally (200kW vs 50kW); the Public Service channels are the same in both planes (200kW). So if you have an aerial installed for Rowridge, then it should be vertical. A
AnnWednesday 25 April 2012 8:47PM
If C50 from Horndean is so good, why are we not picking up anything from it - or the other Horndean Muxes (C50 and C56)? Our D3+4 Mux (C61) is coming from Midhurst - presumably, the stronger signal.
When I say, I can't get any signal on C50, I mean that the signal strength is ok but the signal quality is non-existent.Ann: If you can pick up one of the muxes from Rowridge off the back of your aerial, then perhaps it isn't so bad. As I said, Rowridge's COMs are weaker horizontally than vertically
As for not getting anything on C50, your aerial is most sensitive in the direction that it is facing and the polarisation it is set for. Clearly it is picking up too much signal from Horndean and this is trashing the Midhurst signal. The interfering signal does not have to be at such a level as to be useable if the Midhurst one wasn't there, which is what I think you may have been expecting by attempting to tune in C56 from Horndean.
If your aerial were to face Horndean, and it was vertical, it would get more signal from it and the level of rejection of Midhurst's C50 would be much greater than it is now which means that you may well be able to receive C50 from Horndean.
One of the problems you've got is that to get a good signal from Midhurst, I guess that the aerial needs to be high. But that's exactly where the stronger interfering signal from Horndean is likely to be!
I can see the tree-covered hill on Streetview from Hawthorn Road where there are quite a few large aerials on Rowridge. Clearly you are closer to the foot of that slope than they are, which is why your chances of reception are lower. D
Dave HardyWednesday 25 April 2012 11:12PM
HorshamA
AnnWednesday 25 April 2012 11:52PM
Unfortunately, Horndean only has 3 Muxes, one of which is HD, so I cannot see why they have bothered keeping it, to be honest, especially if it is interfering with other signals.
The irritating thing is that we could receive the missing channels perfectly before switch-over - although the BBC channels were rubbish. I suppose we can't have everything!
I wonder if it is worth complaining - but to whom?K
KMJ,DerbyThursday 26 April 2012 9:57AM
A
AnnThursday 26 April 2012 11:21AM
We have a wide-band aerial, btw. Would that be ok for Rowridge?Ann: This has happened in other areas. People who could receive the full Freeview service before switchover (and therefore on low power) found that a relay transmitter adjacent to them which they do not use wiped out any chance of receiving the Commercial channels (which the relay doesn't transmit anyway) when it came on air at switchover.
As an example, Steyning transmitter relays Midhurst's Public Service channels and rebroadcasts them on the same channels as Midhurst uses for its Commercial services. So those living in places where they can receive directly from Midhurst but close to Steyning transmitter will probably find that they can no longer get the Commercial services from Midhurst.
The reason that it's like this is because of scarcity of frequencies and the requirement to fit it more services, albeit that they (the Commercial services) are quasi-national.
In the days of analogue, all transmitters had four channels each. Now the main ones that serve large areas have six and the "filler-in" relays have three.
Midhurst is one of those where the transmission power of the three Commercial channels are lower than that of the Public Service channels. The "re-use" of these channels in closer proximity to the re-use of the Public Service ones is probably the reason for this.
As KMJ,Derby says, a wideband aerial isn't the best for Rowridge in poor reception areas. The sensitivity of these aerials is lower at Group A (bottom third) channels which Rowridge uses exclusively. See these plots:
Gain (curves), Again
See also:
Rowridge Transmitter A
AnnThursday 26 April 2012 12:54PM
Why is C50 from Horndean not picked up, though - not that I want it, as it is D3+4 and not ArqB (as from Midhurst).
My husband wondered if an attenuator would be sufficient to stop the Horndean interference as it is only 5w. What do you think?Ann: You aren't picking up C50 from either because they are corrupting one another. Your aerial faces Midhurst and so picks up some of its C50 signal. However, even in that position, evidently, it picks up enough of Horndean's C50 to render either unuseable. In essence what you have coming down your aerial lead is the sum of both signals.
Remember that the aerial is most sensitive in the direction to which it faces, and is less so in other directions. However, it is probably in such a location that the unwanted signal is so strong that the lesser sensitivity in that direction (than forward facing) is still sufficient to pick up that signal.
I doubt that attenuation would help. The problem is that you would be reducing the level of everything coming down your aerial lead. So now have you a "large" poor quality/corrupted signal. Attenuating it will give you a "small" or "smaller" poor quality/corrupted signal. T
TrevorTSaturday 28 April 2012 1:04PM
I have followed your advice about removing the aerial whilst tuning through unwanted channels and the result is fantastic. We receive all the correct channels perfectly. Thanks J
John HutchinsonSunday 29 April 2012 4:29PM
Haslemere
What should I try next?A
AndrewMonday 30 April 2012 9:49PM
K
KMJ,DerbyMonday 30 April 2012 10:27PM
T
Tom,HorshamTuesday 1 May 2012 4:59PM
HorshamTom,Horsham: Not receiving C50 does not necessarily contradict KMJ,Derby as he did not say that you would be able to receive. It is, according to information from the powers that be, a fact that C50 is now up to its full final power of 10kW.
Before switchover, Midhurst's lowest channel was 55. I therefore wonder if your aerial system has a filter in place that is preventing C50 from going through it from the Midhurst aerial.
Below 55, there is only C50, so perhaps there is a filter that cuts off signals somewhere between the two. Andrew.Difficult to say without a full postcode or nearby location as such.The answer is no to the question you asked depending on which main transmitter or relay mast you are on. A
AndrewTuesday 1 May 2012 10:23PM
SteyningAndrew,Steyning.Yes that is correct in what you have now specified relating to the lower signal strength DSO commecial multiplexes on Midhurst main transmitter you are currently experiencing with.
Currently SDN on 10kw,ArqA on 5kw and ArqB on 1kw,SDN multiplex is now already broadcasting on its final 10kw power output,while ArqA and ArqB ultimately will increase in power to 10kw apiece also their final power output around possibly Wednesday 27 June 2012 when the last three remaining South East England main transmitters,Heathfield (DSO1 Wednesday 30 May 2012,DSO2 completed Wednesday 13 June 2012),Bluebell Hill and Dover (DSO1 Wednesday 13 June 2012,DSO2 completed Wednesday 27 June 2012) complete both their analogue TV/lower powered pre-digital TV switch off/and their post higher powered digital TV switch on takes effect.
You may have to wait until around Wednesday 27 June 2012 for the commercial multiplexes to increase strength to 10kw altogether their final outputs to receive all the channels you are hopefully waiting for. Andrew: The power of the COMs from Midhurst will not increase in power.
I fear that your problem isn't so much low power signal from Midhurst, but the Steyning relay transmitter which is on King's Barn Lane adjacent to Broadfield Stables.
The transmitter doesn't broadcast its signal omnidirectionally. Whilst the powers that be won't release the radiation pattern under FOI, examination of photographs of the transmit antennas on the mast leads me to believe that it beams its signal in your general direction, as well as that of Steyning. (The radiation pattern is the plot of how much signal it throws out in each direction.) Whilst it is vertically polarised, at such close proximity it's probably not surprising that a horizontal aerial picks it up to a degree.
Steyning transmitter broadcasts only the Public Service (PSB) channels (i.e. it doesn't carry the COMs you're having difficulty with). But the three channels that it uses are the same as those used by Midhurst for its COMs. A similar situation exists in Horndean and in some other cases elsewhere that are near to low power relays like Steyning. This is obviously one of the reasons that Midhurst's COMs are restricted in power with respect to the PSBs.
In October of this year the three channels used by Steyning will change and one of Midhurst's COMs will do as well. At this time some of Midhurst's services will cease being co-channel with Steyning's.
I see that there are quite a few aerials on your road that appear to be on Crystal Palace. This may give you the Commercial channels.
I sympathise that you may have a decision to make; to do nothing now and wait until October or spend money making changes to your aerial(s) so as to receive the COMs from another transmitter until October. A
AndrewWednesday 2 May 2012 10:11PM
SteyningAndrew,Steyning.Pleasure to assist you ! D
DeepSaturday 12 May 2012 10:57AM
Burgess Hill
I am not recieving com6 channels such as Film4, ITV4 etc. I tried the reset procedure and still no help.
I use a community antenna and I have brand new TV and I know a friend of mine who has a similar tv and can view these channels. So it is not a problem with the TV.
Please advice.
Thank you,Deep: It might be worth noting that COM6 is on channel 50 from Midhurst. It is the lowest channel number that is used now.
Before switchover, the lowest one was 55 which is now the second lowest.
Perhaps your aerial system is filtered so as to only allow channels or a range of channels used by the designated transmitter. If this is the case, then it will need adjustment in order to let the COM6 signal through. D
DeepSaturday 12 May 2012 1:10PM
Burgess Hill
Thanks again for your help.Deep: You need to think about how you might prove (with good certainty at least) whether the problem is the aerial system.
Some ideas:
- Do you have other receivers (TVs with in-built Freeview, PVRs etc) that won't pick up C50? Try manual tuning to C50 for those that allow. They may (it depends on design) give you an indication of signal strength when you do this. It may indicate a low signal, and not one that it high enough to produce a picture.
- Ask you neighbours if they have the same problem. Bear in mind that some may not use the terrestrial aerial system, if they use a satellite service. This will perhaps provide the most positive proof, although, they need to be certain that they are missing these services.
- If you have a set-top aerial, try it. The aim is to prove if you *can* receive C50; a negative result isn't necessarily helpful. If you have all other channels (except C50/COM6) tuned in correctly, then use manual tuning to add it; don't do a full retune. Once you have it stored, then don't retune as your problem is lack of signal and not incorrect tuning. Having tuned it in, connect it to the aerial system and see if it works.
You then need to contact the organisation responsible for the aerial system. In a block of flats, this is probably the landlord. R
ROBERT WORLEYMonday 14 May 2012 6:30PM
Horsham
Sincerely ROBERT WORLEY (Tel: 01403 264340).MIDHURST transmitter - hurst Transmitter works 16 May 2012: Engineering transmitter work will take place between 00:01hrs and 06:00hrs. TV services that will be disrupted: Analogue services - n/a Digital services - PSB1, PSB2, PSB3, COM4, COM5 and COM6 will be subject to periods of shutdown. [DUK] Over the next week Midhurst main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, no digital radio. [DUK] MIDHURST transmitter - hurst Transmitter works 16 May 2012: Engineering transmitter work will take place between 00:01hrs and 06:00hrs. TV services that will be disrupted: Analogue services - n/a Digital services - PSB1, PSB2, PSB3, COM4, COM5 and COM6 will be subject to periods of shutdown. [DUK] Over the next week Midhurst main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK] A
AlanTuesday 15 May 2012 10:51AM
Billingshurst
I can receive all Midhurst channels 55,61,62,59,50 but not the HD channel 58.
Is this currently up?J
jb38Tuesday 15 May 2012 11:06AM
I only highlighted "if" just in case you are initially tuning the TV and its an HD Ready type of set, as these cannot receive an HD signal and can only display it via an external HD box.
01:16
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