Freeview: Sudbury (Suffolk, England) full-Freeview transmitter
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Freeview on the Sudbury (Suffolk, England) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth52.005,0.786 or 52°0'17"N 0°47'8"ECO10 5NG

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): C60: ArqA
See How do I know if the 4G broadband will overload my Freeview? and Full UK map of 4G issue areas for details.

Transmitter fauls and engineering works



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The symbol shows the location of the Sudbury transmitter which serves 440,000 homes.

Other maps:Sudbury regionBBC EastAnglia (East 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.

Sudbury 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 East, 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 C44 (658.0MHz) from 229m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
Channel icons
3 ITV (Anglia (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 (Anglia east),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C41 (634.0MHz) from 229m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal
Maximum256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		100,000
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 229m datum.
COM4
SDN
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
Channel icons
10 ITV 3, 20 G.O.L.D. (not free), 25 Dave ja vu, 26 Home (not free), 27 ITV 2 +1, 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 C58 (770.0MHz) from 186m datum.
COM5
ArqA
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
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 C60- (785.8MHz) from 228m datum.
COM6
ArqB
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
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 C56 (754.0MHz) from 228m datum.


Regional news from the Sudbury transmitter


BBC Look East (East) 0.8m homes 3.2%
from Norwich NR2 1BH, 77km north-northeast
to BBC East region - 27 masts.

ITV Anglia News 0.8m homes 3.2%
from NORWICH NR1 3JG, 78km north-northeast
to ITV Anglia (East) region - 26 masts.

Self-help relays

Felixstowe WestTransposer1000 homes +1000 or more homes due to expansion of affected area?
WithamTransposer14 km NE Chelmsford.118 homes

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1984-971997-981998-20112011-132013-182013-18
aerial groupB EB EEEEW
600C31com7
C35C5C5
C37com8
C39B
C41ITVITVITVD3+4D3+4D3+4
C44BBC2BBC2BBC2BBCABBCABBCA
C47C4C4C4BBCBBBCBBBCB
C48+A
700C49+1
C50+D
C51BBC1BBC1BBC1
C54C
C56ArqBArqBArqB
C58SDNSDNSDN
C60-ArqA-ArqA-ArqA
800C682

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 6th July and 20th July 2011.

  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16. COM7 and COM8 to operate as Sudbury, Tacolneston SFN.

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 250kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB, com7, com8, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-4dB) 100kW
Analogue 5(-7dB) 50kW
Mux 2*(-14.9dB) 8.1kW
Mux B*(-15.2dB) 7.5kW
Mux 1*(-15.5dB) 7kW
Mux A*(-17dB) 5kW
Mux C*(-22.2dB) 1.5kW
Mux D*(-23.6dB) 1.1kW

History of Channel 3 in the Sudbury transmitter area

• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Sudbury 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.

Mark Fletcher
Monday 16 January 2012 5:02PM Halifax
Dave Dubya.Yes,look up inversion effect.
Dave Dubya
Tuesday 17 January 2012 11:54AM
Cheers Mark, I thought that may be the case.
Pat B
Tuesday 17 January 2012 9:33PM Clacton-on-sea
States nothing wrong with Sudbury transmitter so can anyone tell me why when we retuned we ended up with Calender news which I gather covers Leeds area instead of Anglia news
Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 17 January 2012 9:50PM
Pat B: Because your TV tuned to the Belmont transmitter which is in Lincolnshire or Emley Moor in Yorkshire. These signals came available to you so far away due to the inversion effect.
Mark Fletcher
Tuesday 17 January 2012 10:11PM Halifax
Pat B.Clacton-on-Sea.If has you stated you received Calendar News,if this is on frequency 25 then yer signals due to inversion effect will come from the Belmont mast,if on frequency 44 from Emley Moor.Look up inversion effect,this is the cause not a transmitter fault at Sudbury mast.
Mark Fletcher
Tuesday 17 January 2012 10:23PM Halifax
Pat B.I forgot to add if yer receiving Calendar and its from Emley Moor (D3+4 mux on fr 44) you may temporarily until inversion ends find that it clashes with Sudbury's BBCA mux also on fr 44,causing potential (temporary) loss of signal on that multiplex.If the Calendar news is on frequency 25 (D3+4 mux) it comes from Belmont transmitter.
Dan
Sunday 22 January 2012 5:35PM Dunmow
Please move Film 4 and associated channel off C63. Since this is a low power mux and a high frequency I am now having problems receiving it since the latest retune. I have a new wide band aerial installation with separate direct feeds to both TV and PVR. Despite this the use of C63 is causing dropouts.
Briantist
Monday 23 January 2012 7:21AM
Dan: As above

"Arqiva B will remain on its pre-switchover channel (50+) until late 2011, and then temporarily move to channel 63 (at 2.2kW ERP), before adopting its final allocation of channel 56 during mid-2012"
Norm De Plume
Monday 23 January 2012 12:08PM Stowmarket
Dan,

You need to direct such comments to the people who actually control Freeview. This website is just here to help people make the best of their TV service and is run on a voluntary basis.
Chris Gardiner
Tuesday 24 January 2012 11:23AM
Are there any known problems at the moment with Arq B from Sudbury? My three Freeview receivers all report no signal from all the channels on this Mux. Arq A remains perfect.

I am in North Chelmsford.

I did a retune in November 2011 and all 5 Mux were working satisfactoraly, I don't have Freeview HD.

I cannot believe that my aerial will stop working on Ch63 over a period of six weeks without there being some noticeable degradation on the other Muxs.
Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 24 January 2012 12:06PM
Chris Gardiner: Arqiva B has been on low power from Sudbury since November and as a result has been difficult to pick up. Perhaps your signal level has dropped just below that which your receivers will work (perhaps due to some external change which is therefore likely to be beyond your control).
Dave
Tuesday 24 January 2012 5:02PM
Chris Gardiner: I have also lost Arq A today for the first time since November. Strangely Arq B which is on a lower signal is working fine.I am in south Essex.
David
Tuesday 24 January 2012 8:22PM
Have also lost channel 63 again tonight.
It was going OK yesterday here.
Now its just a right mess.

I find Channel 39 from Bluebell Hill way strong this comes in at 70% all the time channel 63 was 40%
David
Tuesday 24 January 2012 8:22PM
Just to say I am in Clacton.
Dave
Wednesday 25 January 2012 2:10PM
I am pleased to say Arq A is now back to normal signal strenght, just in time to watch Suites on Dave tonight.
k
Wednesday 25 January 2012 6:01PM
Hello my ma in law has a built in freeview digital Tele it was working fine up until last night and now she cannot get one channel I have tried everything and even gone back to first time installation but still nothing I am wondering bout switchover and also been told perhaps I need a signal booster please help we are in Witham
jb38
Wednesday 25 January 2012 7:21PM
k: If the reception of every channel has failed its much more inclined to suggest that your aerial system has developed a fault, and so I would check the co-ax cabling as far as you can manage to.

There could of course be a fault with the TV's tuner, but that's not so likely a reason for your problem, cant you borrow a Freeview box for an aerial test?
Phil
Thursday 26 January 2012 2:38PM Halstead
I live 9 miles from the Sudbury transmitter, not close enough to suffer invrsion from any other transmitter. I have had Freeview via integrated tv for four years. The switchover all went fine, until the final stage, after which I lost a group of channels that include Film4 etc. - I see they are all in one multiplex, and others have had problems with this. Up until the switchover all was fine, so how did it cause me to lose channels? I don't want to have to pay for a new aerial when its not my fault I lost them.
Kevin Hodges
Thursday 26 January 2012 3:43PM
Phil, I'm certainly no expect in these matters but here's a couple of ideas that may assist as I live in Chelmsford and pick up all mux's without problem from the Sudbury transmitter.
What seems abit strange is that ARQB is showing on my receivers as the strongest signal but with a slightly reduced quality. If you're in the same situation are you now receiving to much signal? Secondly is your aerial a wideband? As ARQB is currently at the top end of the channels the wrong band aerial might cause your problems.
As I say just thoughts, but I'm sure others will have more informed ideas.
Briantist
Saturday 28 January 2012 2:27PM
Phil: I would check out the suggestions on the www.ukfree.tv link icon Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice page, as the services on Sudbury should all be working perfectly for you at your location.
Phil
Monday 30 January 2012 11:49PM Halstead
Many thanks for your replies Guys.

I can't tell you anything about the exact quality I'm receiving, I wouldn't know how to find out - this is an integrated tv, I can't see any mention on the menus of signal strength etc., but the rest of the channels work fine.
The aerial is 20 years old.
The page on single frequency interference would seem to apply, however, I'm baffled really because I have not changed anything - there is no equipment connected - no Sky, or other boxes, and the aerial has not changed. The only change has been the retune - after the final phase, the channels referred to as group D have disappeared. I've tried retuning three times to no avail. And I don't feel I should have to buy a new aerial when the one I have was working before the retune.
Peter
Tuesday 31 January 2012 12:03AM Colchester
When SUDBURY completes it's changeover in mid 2012, will SDN and the two Arq mpxs increase their power to anything like the 100kW of the other mpxs?
Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 31 January 2012 12:36AM
Peter: Yes, exactly 100 kW.

The coverage still will not be equivalent as the commercial muxes have chosen to use a less robust, but higher-capacity mode. They have started making this changeover already. In addition, the PSBs got the best channel allocations, the commercial muxes will be subject to greater interference from other transmitters.

Finally, Rouncefall's transmissions help to reinforce Sudbury's coverage in many areas, but it only transmits the PSB services. The COMs get no help from Rouncefall.
Briantist
Tuesday 31 January 2012 6:28AM
Peter: It's shown above in the "Comparison of analogue and digital signal levels" section...
Val S
Saturday 4 February 2012 8:57AM Woodbridge
I subscribe to BT vision and Sky spotrs 1 ans 2 on channel 41 and 42 the pixlatinf picture I am in an aere betrween Talconston and Sudbury but point to Suddbury. I was amazed when my Aerial supplier came to find that Sudbury was not up to full strength yet
Why did it cost me £40.00 to find this out.
We all do not know technical issues and I am very disappointed in the Non info from the digital switchover team. I ubderstand that the Sudbury transmitter will not be upto strength until June.
jb38
Saturday 4 February 2012 10:35AM
Val S: Just purely out of interest I wondered if there was any reason why the aerial installer didn't use Tacolneston rather than attempting to get Sudbury @ 27mls? and which as you were informed is operating with very low power on the multiplex that the programmes referred to would use, but Tacolneston @ 18mls is already on high power and is indicated on the reception predictor to having the edge on Sudbury even after it switches completely to high power operation.

Of course its appreciated that there may well be some local reception difficulties applying to your area which will not show up on post code predictors, but I was just curious.
Elaine
Sunday 4 March 2012 3:27PM Ipswich
hello
We're at IP6 0LQ, and haved lost all channels on ArqB this weekend. We receive our signal from Sudbury transmitter, and have been trotting along fine for ages now. We've had all aerial, cable, connectors checked recently, and are currently having no issues with any other channels. Anyone else out there having the same issues? Have tried a manual retune on 63 and 50, 51 & 52 and "no channels found". Thanks
jb38
Sunday 4 March 2012 4:47PM
Elaine: Its pity that you carried out a re-tune as you will have lost ArqB on Mux Ch63 from the TV's / boxes memory as otherwise I would have requested that you to carry out a signal strength check whilst on ITV4 etc, because its likely that the signal had just dropped under the reception threshold level and which would have returned when the it lifted again, as the signal level will still show even although there is no picture.

The reception predictor (trade view) isn't really of any assistance on your particular area code either, as it in effect indicates that you are in a black spot for reception from Sudbury and with no reception from commercial muxes being possible until June, so even although you maybe can receive them there has to be an element of pot luck about it as they are very low powered, so about the only thing you can do is to keep trying a manual tune on Ch63 every few hours until it returns to a level that the receiving equipment can lock on to.

By the way, the commercial multiplexes such as one of that's causing problems, wont be switching over to high power until June 27th when a re-tune event takes place.
Transmitter engineering
Monday 5 March 2012 10:31AM
SUDBURY transmitter - Over the next week Sudbury main transmitter: TV (digital) Liable to interruption, Radio (analogue) working normally, Radio (digital) working normally. [DUK]
david
Monday 19 March 2012 11:58PM Clacton-on-sea
I am trying to assist some friends who live in Jaywick, Essex (CO15 2RN) and after DSO last year lost some channels that they could previously receive OK.
They are definitely served from Sudbury (despite the freeview reception site that says Dover) and all neighbours aerials are pointing that way as well.
Based on my experience (from Tacolneston) I advised them to remove their aerial amplifier and re-scan etc. but it didn't help.
The "main 4" are OK - sorry but I don't know which ones they are struggling with so will try and find out & update this post.
thanks
Norm De Plume
Tuesday 20 March 2012 8:40AM Stowmarket
David,

Sudbury isn't up to full power on all channels, unlike Tacolneston which is now full power on all channels. This is due to the proximity of Sudbury to the Dover area and the need to wait until they have switched over.

Either they should wait until June 27th, or spend time on tweaking the simplest parts of their system, i.e. make up good quality leads from quality cable and bin any cheap leads bought from DIY stores etc.
david
Tuesday 20 March 2012 10:04PM
......further investigation reveals that the channels they cannot get are all on ArqB mux - iu.e. the one that is running on lowest power so yes, they will have to wait until Dover goes DSO........still wondering why the freeview site seems to think they are served from Dover though.

Never thought I'd be saying I'm glad WE are served from Taccy :)

Thanks for the reply anyway
david
Tuesday 20 March 2012 10:06PM
'ere, why does my original post say I am in Clacton ....I am just north of Stowmarket !
david
Tuesday 20 March 2012 10:14PM
Just a thought but I did not receive an email alert for the answer from norm de plume even though the forum said I am set to receive email updates.....ideas ?
Norm De Plume
Friday 23 March 2012 7:49AM Stowmarket
@david,

You probably changed your location when you were checking the location of your friends. Just set it back, there's no problem.

Updates are only sent out once a day so as to not 'spam' people's inboxes if they are getting updates from multiple busy topics.
John
Friday 23 March 2012 3:54PM
Since the switchover we seem to have lost a lot of channels. I used to get about 120 and now we get 80. In particular I have lost Yesterday, which I used to watch a lot. Does nayone know why this is?

I am in Halstead and use a TV with a built in Freeview via an old aerial. But surely if it worked pre-changeover the signal should be better now, not worse.
jb38
Friday 23 March 2012 8:49PM
John: Two of the multiplexes at Sudbury are operating on very low power compared to the main PSB ones, with these being the ones used by the programme channels you have complained about. Unfortunately your problem will not really get any better until June 27th when both of them increase power at the same time as the re-tune even that takes place on that date.
steve
Friday 23 March 2012 9:31PM
John
i had similer problems with my system and an old aerial
i phoned alpha aerials (07766544616) they were very reasonable and got my problem sorted and now have all my channels back
Joe
Monday 26 March 2012 1:00PM
I live in great Cornard and can see the transmitter on the horizon from my house, but yet I can. I longer get 4music, viva etc since its gone to low power. But just this weekend I can no longer get e4+1, dave etc which is also on a low power band. Any ideas as to how I can get these back?
KMJ,Derby
Monday 26 March 2012 2:51PM
Joe: Reception of Mux ArqA on C54 is possibly being blocked by a stronger signal from Waltham on Mux D3+4 at 50kW traveling further than normal. When the weather conditions change you should get the ArqA channels back.
Dave Lindsay
Monday 26 March 2012 3:35PM
Joe: Try putting a variable attentuator inline with your aerial and adjusting if, seeing if it's possible to improve reception of ArqA (E4+1, Dave etc) and even get ArqB back (Yesterday, 4Music, VIVA etc).

For a few pounds it is probably worth a shot:

www.ebay.co.uk link icon VARIABLE ATTENUATOR TV SIGNAL REDUCER 20dB 3 5 6 9 10 12 15 18 DIGITAL FREEVIEW | eBay

It may be that the high power signals are acting to desensitise your receiver (reduce its sensitivity) which then makes it unable to pick up the weaker signals.

Attenuating the incoming signals might reduce the strong ones enough to allow reception of the weaker ones. It is obviously a balance that is needing to be struck of which there is no guarantee that it is possible because the attenuator reduces everything, including the weaker signals.

If you try this, then whilst adjusting the attenuator, monitor the strength/quality of ArqA to get it to its best. You will need to give it 10 seconds or so to catch up with the change you have made. Then manually tune to channel 63 which is ArqB. You may find that further adjustment will improve reception of ArqB.

The situation with low power of COM services will remain until 27th June.
Nick
Monday 26 March 2012 11:07PM
Some of these muxes say 'plus 11 others, plus 21 others' etc. How do we find out what these 'others' are? When a channel comes and goes, I don't know if it is my box, aerial, or the xmitter.
Nick
Monday 26 March 2012 11:12PM
Who decides to put rubbish shopping channels on relatively high power and Pick, Challenge etc on low so we can't see them? Can the viewer not have some say?
Nick
Monday 26 March 2012 11:18PM
Does anyone know why so often I am unable to ask a question here? So often I write a question, click 'post your comment' and it says 'there was a fault with your message' and does not send?
Nick
Monday 26 March 2012 11:21PM
Can I tune Freesat or Sky to get Irish tv?
Nick
Monday 26 March 2012 11:27PM
In my IP12 location, when I retune the freeview box it finds channels in the 21-28 channel group. My aerial is on Sudbury and I assume it is finding channels from the Aldeburgh group. I know from analogue days that Aldeburgh provided a rotten signal and Sudbury good. How can I stop it hooking on Aldeburgh? And can it, for example, hook up to both so that I find BBC 1, for example, on two different channels?
Dave Lindsay
Monday 26 March 2012 11:37PM
Nick: The "others" are links and if you click on them it tells you what they are.

Unplug your aerial whilst it is scanning Aldeburgh channels. Scanning is from 21 to 69. If it gives only a percentage, you can work out what percentage to plug in at. 25% should do the trick.

Nick
Monday 26 March 2012 11:39PM
Are we going to be able to get digital radio in the IP 12 area? No signal here without an external aerial, whereas in IP15 it is strong. I believe the signal comes from Aldeburgh, 10 miles away or less in a straight line. Seems a rotten transmitter for DAB, whereas FM Radio Suffolk comes through well from Aldeburgh in IP12. Can't they turn the wick up?
Dave Lindsay
Monday 26 March 2012 11:53PM
Nick: Looking at the list of BBC National multiplex transmitters, your nearest would appear to be Aldeburgh (1.8kW), Manningtree (5kW), Mendlesham (4.3kW).
Dave Lindsay
Monday 26 March 2012 11:54PM
Nick: The list of BBC national DAB transmitters is here:

www.bbc.co.uk link icon BBC - Help receiving TV and radio - Transmitters
Nick
Tuesday 27 March 2012 10:30AM
But the Sudbury one is the one we have always had, on which 95% of aerials are directed and by far the strongest.
Kraig
Thursday 29 March 2012 10:34PM
Thanks whoever runs this site.

Due to the wife recording so much rubbish at the same time on sky and then going to bed I thought I would see what was on film4 via Freeview tonight. To my surprise I no longer had it. Half an hour of Google-fu later and this is the only place that I can find any information on why.

Personally I think the situation is disgusting.

Anyway a question. Would getting a wide band aerial make a difference to the signal I receive? How do I tell if I already have a wide band aerial?

I should add that as far as I am aware I had all Freeview (including HD) channels once they turned of the analogue signal but only a view (if any) before, and that I am in the CO4 area.

Thanks for any help.



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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