Full Freeview on the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmitter
 | Google Streetview |  | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 50.676,-1.369 or 50°40'35"N 1°22'7"W |  | PO30 4HT |
The symbol shows the location of the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmitter which serves 620,000 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.
This transmitter has no current reported problems
The BBC and Digital UK report there are no faults or engineering work on the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmitter._______
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 Rowridge 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 Rowridge transmitter?
BBC South Today 1.3m homes 4.9%
from Southampton SO14 7PU, 26km north (354°)
to BBC South region - 39 masts.
ITV Meridian News 0.9m homes 3.6%
from Whiteley PO15 7AD, 24km north-northeast (20°)
to ITV Meridian (South Coast) region - 39 masts.
All of lunch, weekend and 50% evening news is shared with all of Meridian plus Oxford
Are there any self-help relays?
| Portsmouth Docks | Transposer | 2 km N city centre | 50 homes Estimate. Group of houses' |
How will the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmission frequencies change over time?
| 1950s-80s | 1984-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-2012 | 2012-13 | 2 May 2018 | ||||
| VHF | A K T | A K T | A K T | A K T | W T | ||||
| C3 | BBCtvwaves | ||||||||
| C21 | C4waves | C4waves | C4waves | +BBCB | BBCB | ||||
| C22 | +ArqA | ArqA | |||||||
| C24 | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBC2waves | BBCA | BBCA | ||||
| C25 | SDN | SDN | |||||||
| C27 | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | ITVwaves | D3+4 | D3+4 | ||||
| C28 | ArqB | ArqB | |||||||
| C29 | LSO | ||||||||
| C31 | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | BBC1waves | com7 | |||||
| C37 | com8 | ||||||||
| C55tv_off | com7tv_off | ||||||||
| C56tv_off | COM8tv_off |
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 7 Mar 12 and 21 Mar 12.
How do the old analogue and currrent digital signal levels compare?
| Analogue 1-4 | 500kW | |
| PSB1||, PSB1≡, PSB2||, PSB2≡, PSB3||, PSB3≡ | (-4dB) 200kW | |
| COM4≡, COM4||, COM5≡, COM5||, COM6≡, COM6|| | (-10dB) 50kW | |
| com7≡ | (-13.1dB) 24.4kW | |
| Mux 1*, Mux 2*, Mux A*, Mux B*, Mux C*, Mux D* | (-14dB) 20kW | |
| com8≡ | (-14.3dB) 18.4kW | |
| LSO≡ | (-17dB) 10kW |
Local transmitter maps
Rowridge Freeview Rowridge DAB Rowridge TV region BBC South Meridian (South Coast micro region)Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Rowridge transmitter area
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Friday, 1 December 2023
S
Steve Donaldson5:14 PM
GRAHAM DOLPHIN: I make two observations: Catherine Hill will be the source of difficulty with reception in the area. Also, mobile phone networks and devices connected to them may be a source of interference. If you haven't already done so, I suggest you use vertical polarity for reception, turning your aerial so it is vertical (elements up/down) rather than horizontal (elements flat). Also, enquire with Restore TV about a filter to block any mobile interference.
On Catherine Hill are lots of trees. The trees change throughout the seasons and throughout the day, and therefore this could account for the observation that the issue is particularly prevalent at one time of year during a particular part of the day.
At your location the other transmitter that may be available is Winterborne Stickland. This is in the exact opposite direction to Rowridge, the exact same distance and not as powerful, although it would appear that there may be line-of-sight. It also doesn't carry all the Freeview channels (it is PSB-only, no COMs -- more on this below). I can see on Google Street View that some houses on Rydal Close have (or had) their aerials on Winterborne Stickland (at least they did in August 2012 when the photos were taken). From what I can see, those at the far end of the road are/were all on Winterborne, with some Rowridge users at and near the end with junction with Hillside Drive.
Uniquely, Rowridge broadcasts with both horizontal polarity (HP) and vertical polarity (VP), and has done so since digital switchover in March 2012. The transmission powers of the multiplexes are not all the same and vary between HP and VP. I suggest, if you have not already done so, that you use VP.
Also on Google Street View, from a photo taken at the junction with Hillside Drive in May of this year numbers 1 and 4 Rydal Close now have Rowridge aerials set vertically. Both appear to be the same aerial (log periodic type), so I might speculate that they could be by the same installer. In the previous photo of August 2012, number 1 had its aerial set horizontally on Rowridge and little above the apex. It is now higher up, is a different aerial and is vertical. Number 4 was using Winterborne Stickland and now has a new aerial on Rowridge. One reason to switch to Rowridge is to get the full complement of channels.
With digital broadcasts, multiple programme channels (services) are carried by a single signal, known as a multiplex or "mux". There are six main multiplexes (six signals), three PSBs (public service broadcaster) and three COMs (commercial). Winterbourne Stickland, as with many relays carries only the PSBs.
Rowridge broadcast (UHF) channels are:
PSB1 - "BBC A" - BBC One etc. - C24
PSB2 - "D3&4" - ITV etc. - C27
PSB3 - "BBC B" - BBC One HD and other HD services - C21
COM4 - "SDN" - QVC etc. - C25
COM5 - "Arq A" - Sky Mix etc. - C22
COM6 - "Arq B" - Quest etc. - C28
The full list of Freeview services by multiplex is here:
Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview
In terms of the transmission power used by Rowridge, the PSBs are at 200kW HP and VP, while its COMs are 50kW HP and 200kW VP.
As well as transmission power, there is also the matter of distant transmitters which use the same broadcast channels. Across the transmitter network as a whole, the PSBs get the better channels, where there is less areas of overlap. The COMs often use channels which are reused by another transmitter at closer distance to the PSBs, hence there are more pockets of potential overlap, where a distant transmitter may be a source of interference.
With Rowridge, its COMs are co-channel to those of Stockland Hill to the west/north west (and Crystal Palace to the north east, covering London). By contrast, Rowridge's PSBs are not co-channel with Stockland Hill (or Crystal Palace). This explains the COMs being at quarter power. At your location, Stockland Hill is roughly in the opposite direction to Rowridge at 57 miles out, although there is high ground in the way, particularly that north of Dorchester.
This therefore presents another reason to use vertical polarity. Stockland Hill transmits only with HP, hence an aerial set vertically (for Rowridge) will have more rejection of the unwanted HP signal of Stockland Hill. The same may go for distant stations, whether in the UK or on the Continent, when atmospherics result in signals carrying much further than they normally do, although it is not to say interference will never occur, just that the aerial set for VP may be expected to help lesson it generally.
On the other observation I have made, the potential for mobile phone interference, Restore TV [https://restoretv.uk] is the organisation responsible for alleviating issues caused by mobile phone base stations and associated devices from interfering with TV reception. It says your postcode has received a postcard informing you that you might suffer interference. Emphasis here is on the "might" because it's no where near an exact science.
Suffice to say that if there are no phone base stations operating in what was formerly the top portion of the TV band of frequencies (700MHz and 800MHz bands) then there cannot possibly be an issue. So, that it says you have received a postcard tells us there is at least one base station in the vicinity which could potentially be an issue.
I see the lattice mast on Street View on Catherine Hill, a little anticlockwise of the direction of Rowridge. I can also see there are in fact two adjacent towers, and it wouldn't surprise me being in such a prominent position above the surrounding area if these towers are home in the area to all four of the mobile networks. This isn't to say this is the potential cause, but if it is (meaning if it is operating on 700MHz and/or 800MHz) then it could potentially be.
If you haven't already done so, then give Restore TV a ring and they should send you a free filter. If your aerial feeds into an amplifier before reaching your TV (whether at the aerial or so as to feed more than one room), then it any filter will need to be fitted before it. If the amplifier is on the roof, with the aerial, then Restore TV should send an engineer to fit a suitable outdoor filter.
Being that it sounds like the problem has been going on year on year then it seems unlikely that any mobile phone interference is the sole cause, hence why I made this the second point.
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C
Chris.SE5:50 PM
GRAHAM DOLPHIN:
My observation regarding your reception problems first thing in the morning, quote "I get no reception or pixilation in the early morning 6 to about 9.30 especially in spring or early summer"
is that this is unusual that you'd get this on a regular daily basis if it were directly related to things such as trees or weather.
Steve has done a very thorough analysis. Both the Freeview and BBC reception predictors show variable reception using Horizontal Polarisation, and changing to Vertical may solve that problem. If however, your aerial is already vertical (rods or squashed Xs vertical) then it could be your aerial system is marginal for one reason or another.
There's no weather related tropospheric ducting issues at present, but you may have noticed in the post before yours, that the transmitter is having Planned Engineering.
This might have accounted for your loss of reception.
However, it would still be wise to check that your aerial points correctly - compass bearing 106 degrees - that's almost ESE.
How old is the installation, the aerial connections may have deteriorated - water ingress, likewise your coax downlead. Check your accessible coax connections for corrosion or water.
RestoreTV should have sent you a postcard, you can confirm at https://restoretv.uk/post…ure/
As Steve mentioned, ring them up and request a free filter if you don't have one already. If you have a masthead amp make sure you tell them that.
If at any future date you replace your aerial of your own volition, it should be a Group A for Rowridge or possibly a Group K if you think you may change to Winterborne Strickland at any point as Group K will do for both. It certainly should NOT be a Group T/Wideband.
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Sunday, 17 December 2023
C
Craig William simm5:21 PM
Southampton
Can you please inform me of the bearing of the Rowridge transmitter from SO32 2EA (Number 5 stock dove gardens, boorley gardens). With a loft installed aerial with a splitter for two rooms am i better orientating in vertical or horizontal polarisation?
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Craig's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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StevensOnln15:40 PM
Craig William simm: Rowridge is 29km away on a bearing of 190 degrees (slightly west of due south). I would try horizontal first as you are predicted to get the local mux, however the COM muxes are broadcast at a might higher power in vertical polarisation, so you may find vertical works better if the COM muxes have a weaker signal on horizontal.
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Monday, 18 December 2023
S
Steve Donaldson1:36 PM
Craig William simm: Vertical polarity, so as to reduce susceptibility to interference from distance transmissions, particularly from France. However, the local multiplex on channel 37 broadcasts only horizontally so using VP may sacrifice the local mux, or may make it poor or variable.
The multiplexes of Rowridge are:
PSB1 - C24
PSB2 - C27
PSB3 - C21
COM4 - C25
COM5 - C22
COM6 - C28
Local - C37
Transmission powers are 200kW for the HP PSBs, 50kW for the HP COMs and 200kW for the VP PSBs and VP COMs. The local multiplex is 10kW, although this uses a signal mode which offers greater coverage for less power, so in a way it's actually more powerful than it looks when compared to the others.
In respect of the COMs, 50kW is in no way insignificant. At 200kW Rowridge is among the highest power transmitters in the country. Some of the main transmitters that aren't as powerful are less than 50kW.
I have been unable to find Stock Dove Gardens. I suspect it's in the new development at Boorley Green. While the Freeview Detailed Coverage Checker suggests good reception at the postcode, there are two points to bear in mind:
1. There is the question as to whether the Checker has the correct geographic location for the postcode, being that it appears new. For example, some maps I tried plotted it at Durley.
2. Even if it is the correct location on the ground, the predictor may not be taking into account the fact that there are houses on the ground because it might not have been updated to reflect this yet. Unless you happen to be on the edge of the development facing the transmitter (where there is clear space in that direction) then you may have bricks and mortar of other properties causing some level of shadow which the predictor might not be factoring in.
Another factor to consider is possible interfering transmitters -- those which are on the same channel(s) (co-channel) and which may carry further than normal at some times, thereby degrading reception. The two closest and most obvious potential occasional interferers are Mont Pincon and Saint Pern. The thing is that in pointing your aerial at Rowridge, you are also pointing it the direction of these other transmitters (albeit much further away) which are on the same channel.
Mont Pincon is in Normandy, around 20 miles south west of Caen. It uses channels 22, 25 and 28 with horizontal polarity and with an effective radiated power of 100kW. So it is co-channel with Rowridge's COMs. It is about 25 degrees anti-clockwise of Rowridge from the Boorley Green area and around 139 miles out.
Saint Pern, near Rennes, uses 21, 24 and 27 at 80kW with HP, so co-channel with Rowridge's PSBs. It is 185 miles out and on the same bearing as Rowridge from Boorley Green (give or take a degree or two).
The advantage for using VP is not only to get a stronger signal on the COMs but to reduce susceptibility to co-channel interference. The objective is twofold. It is to increase the ratio between the wanted (Rowridge) and the unwanted (other transmitters which are co-channel). This is done by increasing the level of the Rowridge COMs by using VP, while at the same time VP lessens the level of the HP signal you will pick up from unwanted distant transmitters (should they reach you), of which I think I have identified the two closest and most obvious.
The only problem with all of this is that the local multiplex is HP only. How important is this to you? VP may provide for more resilient reception of the main Freeview channels at the expense of the local mux, which may or may not be receivable to some degree because the aerial is at the opposite polarity to its signal.
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Friday, 22 December 2023
J
Jon Henderson9:31 AM
Have had various issues with Sky News over the years, with pixelation at various times, mainly in the morning. Lost it completely a few days ago and did a retune with no improvement. Came back yesterday but gone again this morning. It's the only channel we have issues with, is there something different about Sky on 233?
We're in Worthing and link to Rowridge as we get BBC South which we prefer to BBC South East
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S
Steve Donaldson3:21 PM
Jon Henderson: Sky News is carried on COM5 / Arq A multiplex, which means all programme channels on the multiplex will have the same issue. The full list of Freeview programme channels is here:
Channel listings for Industry Professionals | Freeview
Is your aerial horizontal, meaning elements flat? Or is it vertical, meaning elements up/down (just as they are for aerials facing eastwards towards Whitehawk Hill next to Brighton Racecourse)?
As per my reply to Craig William simm immediately prior to yours: use vertical polarity. Since digital switchover in 2012 Rowridge has been transmitting with both horizontal polarity (HP) and vertical polarity (VP) for the six main Freeview multiplex channels.
Craig is near Southampton and in that area there is an additional multiplex which is HP only. This doesn't apply in the Worthing area. In Worthing you receive only the six main multiplexes, and all are HP and VP, with the COM channels (which includes Sky News) having lower power for HP.
Also explained in the reply, Mont Pincon is a high power transmitter about 25 miles south west of Caen, and it broadcasts on the same three UHF channels of Rowridge for its COM channels (the ones that are lower power HP).
Mont Pincon is 127 miles or so from Worthing, a little clockwise of south. It broadcasts HP only, hence using VP helps with rejection of the unwanted signals, when they come in stronger. The benefit is therefore two-fold: increase the level of the wanted Rowridge signals (picked up by your aerial) and decrease the level of the unwanted signals from distant transmitters which are HP.
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S
Steve Donaldson3:33 PM
Jon Henderson: In terms of retuning, it's a total and utter waste of time. Unless the tuning is incorrect, as in the TV is tuned to another transmitter, then don't do it for a reception issue.
If the TV is tuned correctly, then this means it has stored in its memory the channels of the designated transmitter. If the picture breaks up or disappears completely, then that is an issue with the signal from the transmitter not getting to your aerial and coming down the aerial lead into the TV. Retuning will not have any effect whatsoever on such an issue!
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J
Jon Henderson4:10 PM
Steve Donaldson: thanks for your comprehensive answer. Our antenna is VP so it doesn't appear to be a polarization issue. When it next happens I'll check the other channels that you say are on the same multiplex.
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S
Steve Donaldson5:59 PM
Jon Henderson: In which case then, could it be tidal? A good proportion of the signal path is over water. The further east you are, the sooner the line leaves land before reaching Manhood Peninsula and the further out to sea it is.
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