Freeview: Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter
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Full Freeview on the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth52.130,-0.242 or 52°7'47"N 0°14'33"WSG19 2NH

4G at 800MHz (at800) Freeview reception issues

When 800MHz 4G mobile broadband services start there will be 1 multiplex in the higher risk range (C21-23, C30, C59-60): C21: BBCB
See How do I know if the 4G broadband will overload my Freeview? and Full UK map of 4G issue areas for details.

This transmitter has no current reported problems

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

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The symbol shows the location of the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter which serves 920,000 homes.

Other maps:Sandy Heath DABSandy Heath AM/FMSandy Heath regionBBC CambridgeAnglia (West micro region)

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

Sandy Heath 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 -0.5dB
C27 (522.0MHz)291m64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		180,000W
Channel icons
1 BBC One Cambridge, 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 -0.5dB
C24 (498.0MHz)291m64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		180,000W
Channel icons
3 ITV (Anglia (West 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 (Anglia east),

PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal -0.5dB
C21+ (474.2MHz)291m256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s DVB-T2 MPEG4		180,000W
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 -0.7dB
C51 (714.0MHz)291m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		170,000W
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 -0.7dB
C52 (722.0MHz)289m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		170,000W
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 -0.7dB
C48 (690.0MHz)289m64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2		170,000W
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 Sandy Heath transmitter


BBC Look East (West) 1.0m homes 3.7%
from Cambridge CB4 0WZ, 29km east-northeast
to BBC Cambridge region - 4 masts.

ITV Anglia News 1.0m homes 3.7%
from Norwich NR1 3JG, 119km east-northeast
to ITV Anglia (West) region - 5 masts.

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1965~851984-971997-981998-20112011-132013-182013-18
aerial groupVHFA KKWWWW
C6ITV
C21C4C4C4+BBCB+BBCB+BBCB
C24ITVITVITVD3+4D3+4D3+4
C27BBC2BBC2BBC2BBCABBCABBCA
600C31BBC1BBC1BBC1
C32com7
C34com8
C39C5C5
C40+C
C42-1
C43+Alocal
C45-2
C46+D
C48ArqBArqBArqB
700C51SDNSDNSDN
C52ArqAArqAArqA
800C67B

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 30th March and 13th April 2011.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Bedford including Sandy could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Sandy Heath transmitter using C43
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16.

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 1000kW
com7, com8(-7dB) 200kW
BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7.4dB) 180kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-7.7dB) 170kW
Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*(-17dB) 20kW
Analogue 5(-20dB) 10kW

History of Channel 3 in the Sandy Heath transmitter area

Oct 1959-Dec 2014Anglia Television
Feb 1983-Dec 1992TV-am•
Jan 1993-Sep 2010GMTV•
Sep 2010-Dec 2014ITV Daybreak•
• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only.


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.

stephen Hall
Sunday 1 May 2011 10:20AM Northampton
Prior to digital switchover I had intermittent picture breakup, pixalating and sometimes loss of signal. I understood that the digital signal was going to be substantially increased at switchover and assumed these issues would disappear. Sadly inspite of numerous re-tunes I still have the same reception problems! Has the signal actually been increased? I have a recent roof arial and live in nn4
John
Sunday 1 May 2011 11:07AM
I have a new Sony HD tv which showed the HD channels listings but when selected there was no service/pic.
I rang Comet who said do a factory reset since then I get no HD channels/listings for the HD channels I have tried several times and the result is still the same
John
Sunday 1 May 2011 11:13AM
I should have added I am in the Sandy Heath reception area and on all other channels the levels are 100%
Steve
Sunday 1 May 2011 2:41PM Wrexham
At a guess, the TV came having done channel selection somewhere else where there was a HD signal, but where you are there isn't.

So when you reset the listing disappeared too.

Are you on the main tx? Not a local relay etc.?

Stick your postcode in top right and see what Brian's predictor link says.
Steve
Sunday 1 May 2011 2:44PM
... UK digital TV reception predictor

try this too. (LL145HD)
John
Sunday 1 May 2011 3:14PM
I am getting somewhere I used a set top aerial did the reset/retune and I now have all channels I didn't realise I had lost radio channels as well! I put the outside aerial in back in and the HD disappears so what I have is too strong a signal and the Sony can't cope with it!
Steve
Sunday 1 May 2011 5:16PM Wrexham
John - sounds good!
Does the wolfbane link say you need only set-top? It is notoriously pessimistic.
Are you sure there is no amplifier on your rooftop?
If you want to continue using it you can get attenuators. Or you could play by simply holding the plug near but not touching the socket! Works for a good analogue signal - not tried on digital.
John
Sunday 1 May 2011 6:12PM
Further update bypassed the Sky HD Digibox and now the Sony works on all Channels so somehow the box is causing corruption! at least the problem has been solved.
I can get all the HD channels on my finger Steve and we are 40 plus miles from the transmitter!
Steve
Sunday 1 May 2011 8:01PM Wrexham
John - Was your RF (aerial) input going through the Sky box? If so, might conflict, or even just be overamplified.

Just SCART leads should not affect your tuning AFAIK.
John
Sunday 1 May 2011 8:36PM
Through the box Steve but when I got to the status of no picture I went to look at the signal the level was 100% but the quality was zero!!
James
Monday 2 May 2011 10:23AM Norwich
Why does the picture on ESPN look poor compared with Sky Sports 1 & 2 on Freeview?
Yet Sky Sports 1 & 2 are on a similar mux which even more channels?
James
Monday 2 May 2011 10:25AM Cambridge
Sorry previous post should be Sandy Heath transmitter in Cambridge
Steve
Monday 2 May 2011 11:10AM Wrexham
John - suspect it is what they plug in that is poor, not the trransmission - seen other complaints about ESPN.

John - Could be that the Skybox is overamplifying the RF input. Or could be that the channel it is using to output its own signal is in conflict with one you need.

But can't see a need to have RF in or out of the skybox anyway.
John
Monday 2 May 2011 12:18PM
Without a Signal Level Meter it is an impossible task on the levels Steve but I suspect the Sky box will give no gain, and I strongly suspect the Sky box is corrupting the signal.
Steve
Monday 2 May 2011 12:54PM Wrexham
If the sky box is designed to take the main feed from the aerial then pass it on to the TV it almost certainly will amplify it as well, as if not it might attenuate unacceptably.

Indeed if the box was unpowered that could be the problem.

If you want to experiment, try powercycling the skybox and see if it has any effect. Esp. on analogue channels if you still have any.

And see if you can find out what RF the skybox usses. This page will show "safe" channels if you input your postcode.
John
Monday 2 May 2011 1:42PM
I tried several compilations Steve, the box doesn't provide gain I put the set top aerial in and the signal strength was the same to the TV with the box in or out! same symptoms on the quality level "None" I may just have a rogue box? I will try and borrow one from a friend.
Steve
Monday 2 May 2011 2:11PM Wrexham
Well if the strength was 100% it could show no higher!

It is conceptually feasible that something in the boxes RF handling circuits spoil the QAM, but I know nothing of this.

But surely you have no need to put RF into or out of the skybox anyway?
John
Monday 2 May 2011 5:11PM
The Aerial ins and out have been the same for a couple of years the only thing that has changed is the TV and you are correct I don't need the through path of the Sky box so the cause was found that's the main thing!
JohnB
Monday 2 May 2011 5:18PM Peterborough
Steve/John
Does a Sky box put an analogue signal out on the rf output. I beleive this is how I get Sky signals to other teles via an distrib.amp.
I was hoping BTVision box would do the same but have had no luck.
John
Monday 2 May 2011 5:25PM
Steve I forgot to add the set top aerial was attenuated a lot by placing it on the floor in the wrong direction so I got 70% signal before the box and it was the same through the box apart from no quality showing and yes JohnB it will pass through no problem mine has for a couple of years.
Steve
Monday 2 May 2011 6:22PM Wrexham
JohnB - I am no expert on Skyboxes, but IIUC the "RF Out" from a skybox would be whatever came into its "RF In" PLUS a simulated RF signal of whatever the Skybox was receiving/replaying. Obviously the Skybox needs to be set to use a "Spare RF" channel - as suggested by top right of this page - which does not conflict with any broadcast channel used locally.

But if your TV has SCART it is better to use that as it avoids adding and then removing the RF carrier.

So as TVs have to be VERY old not to have SCARTs few modern boxes provide RF outputs. You can get it for freeview - and as you suggest it is compatible with much existing in-house cabling.
Sally
Tuesday 3 May 2011 10:38AM Letchworth Garden City
Lo and behold, my freeview box automatically went into updating last night and guess what, all my BBC channels have returned! Really don't know what was going on, but thankful that it's all working properly again.
Debbie
Tuesday 3 May 2011 6:19PM
I don't want to wait until Sept 11 to get Film 4, Yesterday, etc back. My TV has built in Freeview, which is connected to a shared digital aerial in my block of flats. If I buy a Freeview or Freesat set top , will I get any more channels than I do now? Thanks
Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 3 May 2011 6:29PM
Debbie: Talk to the landlord or agent about getting the communal system checked. Make sure the system was properly reconfigured on the switchover days, and that they're aware that some services are on temporary frequencies. Perhaps print out this document:

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

I can't really offer any more advice without a full postcode, so we can check the predictions - whether there is something preventing the Arqiva B multiplex from working.

It's very unlikely that you would get better reception from a set-top than from a properly set-up communal system. Satellite signals are so weak that the dish must be mounted outside with a clear view of the southern horizon. Again, a threat to have a dish installed could be an incentive for the building management to get the communal aerial sorted out.

It is worth checking whether the building already has a communal satellite dish, in which case you could buy a Freesat box to replace the Freeview box - although the channel line-up is different, and the services you're missing mostly require a Sky subscription.
Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 3 May 2011 6:39PM
Stephen Hall: You're in an awkward location that's between three main transmitters, but the terrain blocks line of sight to all of them.

Your best option will be Sutton Coldfield once it switches over in September. Sandy Heath is expected to continue to be poor, for you.

You're quite close to the Dallington Park relay, but again it's the wrong side of a hill, and the radiation pattern is restricted in your direction.

If you're currently without TV at all, you could try Sutton Coldfield now. You're unlikely to get reliable digital service, but you should get reasonable analogue pictures: the problem here is that digital power levels are relatively low at Sutton Coldfield (and at Oxford, the other alternative).

If you're insistent on Anglia news, you'll probably have to look into satellite.
Ian
Wednesday 4 May 2011 11:35PM
I retuned my freeview box on the morning of 13th April and I was delighted to see that I could receive Yesterday and ITV4 perfectly. However, when I returned home in the evening these channels had gone, i.e. no signal. I just wondered why these worked fine in the morning and had disappeared by the end of the day.
Briantist
Thursday 5 May 2011 5:44AM
Ian: You are probably on the fringe of the reception are for ArqB, due to the low power output until 14th September 2011.

But, also see www.ukfree.tv link icon Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Mick
Tuesday 10 May 2011 1:43PM Wellingborough
Hi, NN9 5ND
Have retuned my tv (which has Freeview tuner built in) several times and the strength and quality of the signal is fine, as is the picture.
My only problem is that I am not receiving the Freeview HD channels.
I see on the channel guide on my tv that channel 52 is yet to be allocated.
Can anyone help as to if the HD channels are being broadcast or do I have an equipment problem.
Regards

Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 10 May 2011 4:07PM
Mick: The HD channels are being transmitted. Most likely you have an 'HD Ready' rather than a 'Freeview HD' TV. Please see www.ukfree.tv link icon What does "Full HD Ready" actually mean? | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for more information.
Maz
Thursday 12 May 2011 6:17PM Bedford
Hi....
Could anyone tell me if the the power output of the 20kw frequencies on the sandy heath transmitter will be upgraded to 180kw in the future.

regards
Maz
Briantist
Thursday 12 May 2011 6:38PM
Maz: As above "The commercial multiplexes at Sandy Heath will remain on their pre-switchover channels and powers for a period after digital switchover. SDN will then temporarily move to channel 31 (at 20kW ERP) on 31 Aug 2011, before adopting its final allocation of channel 51 on 18th April 2012. Arqiva A will adopt its final allocation of channel 52 on 23 Nov 2011. Arqiva B will temporarily move to channel 67 (at 20kW ERP) at switchover and then it will adopt its final allocation of channel 48 on 14 Sept 2011"
Andy Hicks
Tuesday 17 May 2011 11:08AM
We have experienced "sound drop" on some freeview boxes (metronic) since the "Switch over" can you advise if this is down to various tests and changes over this period as we have consumers complaining that there products appear to be faulty.
Please can you advise officially what the status is and when things are going to be "set"
Thanks in advance
Andy Hicks
Briantist
Tuesday 17 May 2011 11:20AM
Andy Hicks: I would see www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice but the most likely explanation is you have too much signal.

If you have any boosters or amplifiers, remove them from your system. If you don't you may have to fit an attenuator.
Steve
Tuesday 17 May 2011 12:27PM Wrexham
Why are tuners not equipped to recognise and deal with a strong signal?
Briantist
Tuesday 17 May 2011 12:39PM
Steve: Because they are built to a specification of what a reasonable signal level will be. Attenuators cost only a few pounds, much easier to provide the correct signal level to your equipment.
Steve
Tuesday 17 May 2011 1:12PM Wrexham
But it would probably only cost a few pence to add circuitry to cope with the highest likely signal strengths.

And why is there no effort to publicise this problem? I don't recall seeing it on ads re changeover, or in manuals for tuners.

I am far more technical than the average viewer, and I am only aware of the problem from you posting about it!
Briantist
Tuesday 17 May 2011 3:37PM
Steve: OK, you seem to know best.
The information is included in ALL switchover documentation. For example Digital UK's www.digitaluk.co.uk link icon Anglia Aerial Installer Newsletter :
"DSO provides for substantial DTT power increases at all UK transmitters when analogue services end, to enable Ofcom's
condition of matching the 98.5% UK analogue coverage figure. Power increases for individual muxes vary. The average is a
ten-fold increase that provides a further 10dB gain into the Freeview receiver. We will notify you of the transmission power
increases for Sudbury and Talconestion and their relay transmitters in future newsletters.
Amplifiers
When transmission powers increase, homes with aerial amplifiers could experience service loss or picture and sound
disturbance due to the DTT receiver's tuner being overloaded. Old aerial amplifiers with poor filtering could cause video/
audio synchronisation problems where the receiver trying to read noise as a DTT signal. Removing the amplifiers should
rectify both issues. "
Steve
Tuesday 17 May 2011 7:44PM Wrexham
Brian - Yes, they have told YOU - the professional who probably knew already.

But I don't recall seeing the information in anything sent to the mass of viewers; or broacast on the TV.

Have I missed it?
Briantist
Tuesday 17 May 2011 8:06PM
Steve: Clearly you have until now. I've been going on about it for .. about a decade now.

Why are you so upset about having to spend a fiver?
Steve
Wednesday 18 May 2011 12:47AM Wrexham
Brian - I don't even have the problem. I'm upset on behalf of the people who have had the problem imposed on them.

Digital switchover is a pain - and a cost - for me. But at least I have a background to understand it.

I have just fought through the DSO process on behalf of a disabled person. It took 4 visits and a GREAT deal of me being VERY purposeful.

There must be tens of thousands of disabled people who do not have a me to fight for them.
Briantist
Wednesday 18 May 2011 7:37AM
Steve: I can see you have already fixed your opinion, and this forum is for assistance and you don't require any.
Steve
Wednesday 18 May 2011 9:39AM Wrexham
Fair enough.
Karen
Friday 20 May 2011 8:21AM
There is intermittent interference to the signal on all channels every few seconds visual and sound. This started yesterday evening. This is also affecting my digital radio....... Any ideas ? This is in Overstone Northampton looks like I may have to have a silent day !!
Dennis
Friday 20 May 2011 3:50PM Newmarket
I had perfect reception on all channels at all times prior to the full switchover, now from 7ish each evening I'm getting picture breakup on the ITV/4/5 channels most evenings. My signal strength is at the top during mornings and afternoons for these channels but drops to, at best good during the evening. Clearly everything works is there a drop in transmission power or relationship to more viewers in the evening. I'm loathed to splash cash when the majority of time I have strong signals which seems to indicate the problem is elsewhere.
Briantist
Friday 20 May 2011 3:51PM
Dennis: There is no change in output power for any transmitter at any time of day.

Please see www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview intermittent interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
dam
Tuesday 24 May 2011 9:39AM
NN81JN
Hi. Ive got same problem. On the 13Apr2011 I lost most of channels. Than by the end of the day more and more channels were appearing, but next day until now I still dont have Viva and 4music channel (and a couple of the other which I am not intresting in). Whats going on? Before the 13Apr2011 everything was perfect and suddenly the situation got worse.
Keith Couch
Tuesday 24 May 2011 10:57AM Leighton Buzzard
I have problems with reception on channel 43 650 Mhz since DSO No film 4 or ITV3 etc
Rooftop aerial with amplifier Postcode LU7 3XQ
Main BBC and ITV channels as well as HD are fine with plenty of signal and excellent quality
From previous posts it would appear that I am stuck with poor signal until September Is there any alternative?
Thanks
Briantist
Tuesday 24 May 2011 11:44AM
dam: As above "The commercial multiplexes at Sandy Heath will remain on their pre-switchover channels and powers for a period after digital switchover. SDN will then temporarily move to channel 31 (at 20kW ERP) on 31 Aug 2011, before adopting its final allocation of channel 51 on 18th April 2012. Arqiva A will adopt its final allocation of channel 52 on 23 Nov 2011. Arqiva B will temporarily move to channel 67 (at 20kW ERP) at switchover and then it will adopt its final allocation of channel 48 on 14 Sept 2011.".

Basically, you will ahve to wait for the 14th September 2011.
Briantist
Tuesday 24 May 2011 11:47AM
Keith Couch: As per the comment above, you will have to wait for the service to go onto full power on 14th September 2011.
Bob M
Sunday 29 May 2011 11:10AM Gloucester
Sandy heath channel 67 mux (Yesterday, film4 etc) has vanished completly here in Brandon - it was there most of the time a few days ago - anyone else lost it? All the rest, inc HD no problem at all.
steve willis
Monday 30 May 2011 12:18PM
Help please. My mum has a new panasonic viera with built in freeview. There were no problems before the switchover but now she is getting random 'no signal'. tv can be fine for hours then just loses signal. Her seperate box upstairs also cuts out at the same time. This made me think aerial but have checked and all seems ok. Local company that installed it have also said it's ok. TV has been returned - no faults found. There is an amplifier in the loft feeding 3 outlets. all cables and connectors have been replaced. Any ideas gratefully recieved as this is causing my OAP mum real frustration.. thanks in advance - oh software / retunes all completed.



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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