Full Freeview on the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter
 | Google Streetview |  | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 51.237,-2.626 or 51°14'12"N 2°37'33"W |  | BA5 3LB |
The symbol shows the location of the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter which serves 720,000 homes. 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.
Are there any planned engineering works or unexpected transmitter faults on the Mendip (Somerset, England) mast?
Mendip transmitter - Mendip transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 11/11/2024 Pixelation or flickering on some or all channels 
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Digital television services are broadcast on a multiplexes (or Mux) where many stations occupy a single broadcast frequency, as shown below.
64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which Freeview channels does the Mendip 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.
64QAM 8K 3/4 27.1Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
DTG-12 QSPK 8K 3/4 8.0Mb/s DVB-T MPEG2
H/V: aerial position (horizontal or vertical)
Which BBC and ITV regional news can I watch from the Mendip transmitter?
ITV West Country News (East) 0.9m homes 3.4%
from Bristol BS4 3HG, 23km north (11°)
to ITV West region - 61 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 50% evening news is shared with West Country (West)
Are there any self-help relays?
| Cheddar | Transposer | 15 km E Weston-super-Mare | 1674 homes |
| Luccombe | Active deflector | 6 km w Minehead | 38 homes |
How will the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2010 | 2010-13 | 2013-18 | 2013-17 | 27 Feb 2018 | |||
| C/D E | E | E | C/D E | C/D E T | W T | W T | |||
| C30 | _local | ||||||||
| C32 | BBCA | ||||||||
| C33 | com7 | com7 | |||||||
| C34 | D3+4 | ||||||||
| C35 | com8 | com8 | |||||||
| C36 | ArqB | ||||||||
| C37 | C5waves | C5waves | |||||||
| C48 | SDN | SDN | SDN | SDN | |||||
| C49tv_off | BBCA | BBCA | |||||||
| C51tv_off | LBS | LBS | |||||||
| C52tv_off | ArqB | ArqB | ArqB | ||||||
| C54tv_off | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | D3+4 | D3+4 | D3+4 | |||
| C55tv_off | com7tv_off | ||||||||
| C56tv_off | ArqA | ArqA | ArqA | COM8tv_off | |||||
| C58tv_off | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBCB | BBCB | BBCB | |||
| C61 | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | BBCA | |||||
| C64 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves |
tv_off Being removed from Freeview (for 5G use) after November 2020 / June 2022 - more
Table shows multiplexes names see this article;
green background for transmission frequencies
Notes: + and - denote 166kHz offset; aerial group are shown as A B C/D E K W T
waves denotes analogue; digital switchover was 24 Mar 10 and 7 Apr 10.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 500kW | |
| Analogue 5 | (-6dB) 126kW | |
| SDN, ARQA, ARQB, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB | (-7dB) 100kW | |
| com7 | (-8.4dB) 72.4kW | |
| com8 | (-8.6dB) 69.1kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D*, LBS | (-17dB) 10kW |
Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Mendip transmitter area
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Monday, 22 June 2020
C
Chris.SE3:12 PM
Neil:
The Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker shows that you should get all multiplexes with no issue, excellent reception 100% (except the Local mux which may be a very small fraction less reliable. So even with the Tropospheric Ducting I'm not certain that it's necessarily the most likely cause BUT if you are seeing the strength/quality vary during the daylight hours (an hour after sunrise to an hour before sunset) current predictions means it's still possible.
However with your reported 75/50 strength/quality there is a good chance you may have too much signal for the new set! What sort of aerial do you have? Do you have any splitters/boosters etc.?
Too much signal can overload the tuner and the result is pixellation/breakup of pictures/sound and "apparent signal levels can read less than they are, but the other indicator is the quality figure drops.
If you do have a booster/splitter and it has variable gain, turn it down. If it's just a booster take it out of circuit and plug the aerial direct to the TV. In the latter case, if the signal/quality still varies, it would be a good idea to check all your coax plugs, connections etc for corrosion, water ingress, bad connections etc.
If you don't have a booster etc, do you have any old splitters or attenuators you can put in circuit just to provide some insertion loss to see if that improves the situation.
Depending on your reply, I can give some further suggestions.
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A
Anthony6:58 PM
I have now retuned successfully.
Chris.SE: I have just read your reply to me above. You mention not to manual tune C56.
Wondering why that is, as I did tune C56 earlier?
On a previous reply you told me the channels that are used for the Mendip Transmitter which included C30.
I have no signal for this channel. Should I have a signal?
Thanks again for your help.
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S
StevensOnln110:14 PM
Anthony: C56 is COM8, which has just been cleared of channels today (all that is left are duplicate channels with retune messages) and is to close completely by the end of the month, so there isn't really any point in tuning it in now. C30 is the local mux, which as Chris says may not have good reception at your location.
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Tuesday, 23 June 2020
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Neil1:26 PM
Chris.SE: thanks. I've gone back to basics as you suggested. I was using a booster splitter with the old tv so have taken that out. I was actually getting 99/100 at times according to the manual tuning page. (There was me thinking more was better)
I've changed coax cables removed all other connections and switched to a smaller loft aerial it seems to have fixed the issue for now. I'll need to start adding back in hdmi and Ethernet etc but if the signal is now showing 33/50 is that going to be good enough in your view? Or will I run into issues when the weather changes?
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Wednesday, 24 June 2020
C
Chris.SE12:54 AM
Neil:
Apologies, I should have been clearer.
You should be getting everything with 100% quality, anything less shows something is amiss. Signal 85-100% typically should be fine as long as the quality remains 100%. Some sets don't like 100% signal and irrespective of the figures, it can result in pixellation/breakup of picture/sound. How individual sets cope depends on the design.
You should be aiming to get nearer 100% signal on the strongest multiplexes, you may see less on the weaker ones, but even they may show near 100%.
If your set is currently showing 33/50 then it is coping very well with all the errors if you aren't getting pixellation or breakup!
One of the difficulties with too much signal is that the readings can become incorrect, and the strength figure can actually go down despite you having 100%+ signal !!! Again it all depends on set design.
I assume you want to run more than one TV if you have a booster/splitter, if so, put it back in circuit and see what happens to the figures.
If you only have the one TV, then put your larger aerial back with no booster and see what happens to the figures.
Some sets will cope fairly well with quite low signals, but the quality should always be 100%.
When you put back your HDMI and Ethernet cable make sure you keep them away from any aerial leads/flyleads, especially if those aerial leads are not doubled screened high quality cable. HDMI leads in particular can cause interference issues more commonly with C55.
The Aerial should be pointing at a bearing of 246 degrees (~WSW) with rods horizontal. Check you are tuned to Mendip's UHF channels C32, C34, C35, C48, C33, C36, C55, C30. That's is the order PSBs1-3, COMs 4-7, Local mux. There are other relay/main transmitters that you might accidentally receive at your location.
I've left off COM8 in the list as you don't need it any more since the channel changes on the 22nd although the mux is still on air atm.
Post back with the figures and how you are getting on.
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Neil4:46 PM
Chris.SE: thanks again for your help. Step by step getting there. Stats for 32 are today showing approx 45/100. The second figure fluctuates from it-85-100 but I don't really know how to check this against other channels. Most channels are ok. I've seen a bit of pixelation on channel 22 (and 25?) and I don't have any HD channels above 101 - 105. I've added back in HDMI connections and they are working. I've left the Ethernet out as it picks up WiFi fine. Aerial is currently direct from socket to tv, next step tomorrow will be add a second aerial cable to loop back in the Humax recorder. But generally getting there still on the smaller loft aerial without a signal booster.
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C
Chris.SE5:02 PM
Neil:
This seems to be hinting that currently the signal is a bit too low. What aerial(s) are you using/what coloured bungs (if any) do they have in the ends of the beam?
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Monday, 29 June 2020
I live in sheltered accomodation and several of us in same block keep
Loosing our Signal, our Scheme Manage has called someone out
To check the Arial and there's nothing wrong with it.
I'm lead to understand that our Signal comes from
Yourself to some where called Seagry Court.
The only place I can find is a block of flats in Swindon.
Could there be an antenna on there roof that is causing
The problem.
Most of us have had to isolate for 12 weeks and the TV
Is the only company we have.
I hope you can help in some way.
Thank you.
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Neil12:06 PM
Chris.SE: Hi, the aerial is a short flat 8 bar (aluminium?). This connected to a signal booster gives decent reception in good weather but started to break a up in the rain and wind over the weekend. However the old longer 16 bar aerial on a pole in the loft was even worse.
Do I need to update the aerial to something like a 26/48 element that states its designed for freeview and HD? It would need to be loft mounted and without power.
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C
Chris.SE1:46 PM
Mary Ward:
The signal doesn't come from ourselves, but that aside Seagry Court is a relay transmitter in north Swindon. Is it all channels that you are losing signal or just some, if so which ones? Clearly there's some issue if you keep losing signal, I don't know how much of your system in the flats was checked out, but to look at predicted reception for your location we need the full postcode.
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