menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Freeview

 

 

Click to see updates

New and improved Freeview radiation patterns

I'm very pleased to announce that the list of the radiation patterns - the diagrams that show the power levels for each direction from a transmitter - have returned in an improved format. In addition UK Free TV now has 528 new patterns received in the last month from Ofcom under a Freedom of Information Act request.

Radiation patterns   Photograph: pssl.com
Radiation patterns Photograph: pssl.com
published on UK Free TV

What are radiation patterns?

All ground-based broadcast transmitter – be it for a Freeview, DAB, AM/FM radio or mobile phones – can and do broadcast their output at different levels in different directions.

The diagrams here on UK Free TV show all the known patterns.   In theory each transmitter can have a different pattern for each transmission frequency.     

This diagram shows how the Primrose Hill Freeview transmitter's coverage map and the radiation pattern for it.

Radiation pattern example

Why did you say "known patterns"?

Because, and I quote

  • disclosure of the antenna radiation patterns into the public domain could lead to these being available to foreign administrations, which would substantially weaken HM Government's negotiating position with respect to international frequency clearance;
  • a weaker negotiating position for HM Government may lead to additional cost for the broadcasters (where antenna systems have to be re-built as a result of international coordination) and lower coverage for viewers (where antenna systems have to be restricted in order to protect foreign transmissions); and
  • the BBC is required to provide coverage of its services on digital terrestrial television to a certain proportion of the population by the completion of switchover and a failure or suboptimal result from international co-ordination may harm the BBC's ability to meet this obligation.

The number of sites that we have data is limited to the data released by the BBC in 2009 – see Update on transmitter radiation patterns (BBC FOI request) – plus the new data from Ofcom.

 

What is the new data?

With help from Dave Lindsay, I contacted Ofcom to ask them to release the data related to the upcoming UK Digital Terrestrial Television: International Coordination Agreements

I do note that on the above-mentioned Ofcom link there is a link to "International Co-ordination Technical Parameters and Nominal Antenna Templates"  http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/broadcasting/Web_Int%20Coord%20800MHz%20DTT%20Clr%20Tech%20and%20Nominal%20Templates_22May13.pdf  This would appear, on the surface, to provide some of the missing transmitter data.     Whilst I understand that this is co-ordination information and may represent greater coverage than the actual transmitters use, I would prefer to have some radiation pattern information with a written warning, rather than "none".  

Do the new patterns match the output?

"While you are already aware of this, I would like to emphasise that the powers and antenna templates in these files represent the upper limit of the UK’s internationally agreed rights for specific frequency assignments, and the actual antenna patterns and/or powers used by the broadcasters are often more restricted. Additionally, not all of the assignments which have been co-ordinated are currently in use." - Ofcom

 

New SVG format

UK Free TV was using "HTML5 canvas" to draw the radiation patterns.     However the site now uses the SVG format for the graphics.     This has the several advantages, in particular that it is now easy to embed more than one diagram in a page where necessary. 

 

Some examples of the new data

Where the diagrams show (CCN) this is the new "Co-ordination combined nominal template derived from International co-ordination technical agreements" data.  A pattern with a "F" prefix is for a frequency not currently used at that mast for a live TV service (F570 is 570MHz also known as UHF C33). 

New radition patterns

 

What next?

The site's coverage maps will be regenerated soon to include all this new data. 

 



Help with Television sets?
Why are all TVs on sale not digital?1
Do I still have to pay for a TV licence?2
I had perfect channel 5 reception - until I got a digital TV box!3
I Have a Pocket Tv For taking out so I can keep up with news and sport. Will thi4
The pictures from my digital box are all green!5
In this section
Why did the BBC just use 1.1 Million TV Licences to buy UKTV from Discovery? 1
ITV and Freeview2
New Freeview Mobile App Launching in January 20193
Freeview 2024?4
Broadcasters collaborate to secure future of free-to-view TV 5
BBC Local Radio on Freeview 6

Comments
Friday, 11 December 2020
W
walker574.gymnasticnow.com
11:56 PM

Hi, I desire to subscribe for this webpage to get most up-to-date updates, thus where
can i do it please help.

link to this comment
walker574.gymnasticnow.com's 1 post US flag
Saturday, 12 December 2020
C
clark864.classicroyalgroup.com
1:23 AM

An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a
co-worker who has been conducting a little research on this.

And he actually bought me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for
him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this
subject here on your internet site.

link to this comment
clark864.classicroyalgroup.com's 1 post US flag
Saturday, 26 December 2020
I
izmirservisbolgesi.com
2:58 AM

Hi there, the whole thing is going nicely here and ofcourse
every one is sharing facts, that's in fact fine, keep
up writing.

link to this comment
izmirservisbolgesi.com's 1 post US flag
Sunday, 27 December 2020
S
spin4btc.com
6:53 AM

This is the perfect site for everyone who wishes to understand this topic.
You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want to...HaHa).
You definitely put a fresh spin on a topic which has been discussed for ages.
Great stuff, just great!

link to this comment
spin4btc.com's 1 post US flag
Tuesday, 20 April 2021
메리트카지노
4:51 AM

excellent publish, very informative. I ponder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this.
You must continue your writing. I am sure, you have a great readers'
base already!

link to this comment
메리트카지노's 1 post US flag
Thursday, 24 June 2021
M
Mohamed Abdi
9:30 PM

The reason I am not receiving certain channels is because these channels are on coms 6.

link to this comment
Mohamed Abdi's 1 post GB flag
Saturday, 3 July 2021
O
Oliver
1:44 PM

carter641.rizalpost.com: why do I need to keep moving my aerial to get reasonable reception why is it sometimes I can get bbc 1 then not screen pixelates and stutters.

link to this comment
Oliver's 1 post GB flag
C
Chris.SE
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:26 PM

Oliver:

A full postcode is needed to look at your predicted reception.
What type of aerial is it and where is it located?

link to this comment
Chris.SE's 4,363 posts GB flag
Sunday, 18 July 2021
카지노 사이트
7:44 AM

Really when someone doesn't understand afterward its up to other users that they will
help, so here it happens.

link to this comment
카지노 사이트's 1 post IT flag
엠카지노 쿠폰
9:27 PM

Link exchange is nothing else but it is just placing the other person's website link on your
page at suitable place and other person will also do similar for you.

link to this comment
엠카지노 쿠폰's 1 post CZ flag
Select more comments

Your comment please
Please post a question, answer or commentUK Free TV is here to help people. If you are rude or disrespectful all of your posts will be deleted and you will be banned.







Privacy policy: UK Free Privacy policy.