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Full Freeview on the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmitter

first published this on - UK Free TV
sa_streetviewGoogle Streetviewsa_gmapsGoogle mapsa_bingBing mapsa_gearthGoogle Earthsa_gps50.676,-1.369 or 50°40'35"N 1°22'7"Wsa_postcodePO30 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.

Are there any planned engineering works or unexpected transmitter faults on the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) mast?

Rowridge transmitter - Rowridge transmitter: Possible effect on TV reception week commencing 25/03/2024 Pixelation or flickering on some or all channels Digital tick


Choose from three options: ■ List by multiplex ■ List by channel number ■ List by channel name
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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.

MuxH/VFrequencyHeightModeWatts
PSB1
BBCA
 V max
 H max
C24 (498.0MHz)
320mDTG-200,000W
200,000W
Channel icons
1 BBC One (SD) South, 2 BBC Two England, 9 BBC Four, 23 BBC Three, 201 CBBC, 202 CBeebies, 231 BBC News, 232 BBC Parliament, plus 17 others

PSB2
D3+4
 V max
 H max
C27 (522.0MHz)
320mDTG-200,000W
200,000W
Channel icons
3 ITV 1 (SD) (Meridian (South Coast micro region)), 4 Channel 4 (SD) South ads, 5 Channel 5, 6 ITV 2, 10 ITV3, 13 E4, 14 Film4, 15 Channel 4 +1 South ads, 18 More4, 26 ITV4, 28 ITVBe, 30 E4 +1, 35 ITV1 +1 (Meridian south coast),

PSB3
BBCB
 V max
 H max
C21+ (474.2MHz)
320mDTG-200,000W
200,000W
Channel icons
46 5SELECT, 101 BBC One HD South, 102 BBC Two HD England, 103 ITV 1 HD (ITV Meridian Southampton), 104 Channel 4 HD South ads, 105 Channel 5 HD, 106 BBC Four HD, 107 BBC Three HD, 204 CBBC HD, 205 CBeebies HD, plus 1 others

COM4
SDN
 H -6dB
 V -6dB
C25 (506.0MHz)
299mDTG-850,000W
50,000W
Channel icons
20 Drama, 21 5USA, 29 ITV2 +1, 32 5STAR, 33 5Action, 38 Channel 5 +1, 41 Legend, 42 GREAT! action, 57 Dave ja vu, 58 ITVBe +1, 59 ITV3 +1, 64 Blaze, 67 TRUE CRIME, 68 TRUE CRIME XTRA, 78 TCC, 81 Blaze +1, 83 Together TV, 89 ITV4 +1, 91 WildEarth, 209 Ketchup TV, 210 Ketchup Too, 211 YAAAS!, 267 Al Jazeera English, plus 30 others

COM5
ArqA
 H -6dB
 V -6dB
C22+ (482.2MHz)
302mDTG-850,000W
50,000W
Channel icons
11 Sky Mix, 17 Really, 19 Dave, 31 E4 Extra, 36 Sky Arts, 40 Quest Red, 43 Food Network, 47 Film4 +1, 48 Challenge, 49 4seven, 60 Drama +1, 65 That's TV 2, 70 Quest +1, 74 Yesterday +1, 75 That's 90s, 233 Sky News, plus 11 others

COM6
ArqB
 H -6dB
 V -6dB
C28 (530.0MHz)
302mDTG-850,000W
50,000W
Channel icons
12 Quest, 25 W, 27 Yesterday, 34 GREAT! movies, 39 DMAX, 44 HGTV, 52 GREAT! romance, 56 That's TV (UK), 61 GREAT! movies extra, 63 GREAT! romance mix, 71 That’s 60s, 73 HobbyMaker, 82 Talking Pictures TV, 84 PBS America, 235 Al Jazeera Eng, plus 18 others

LSO
 H -13dB
C37 (602.0MHz)299mDTG-1210,000W
Channel icons
from 22nd December 2014: 7 That's Solent,

DTG-8 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?

regional news image
BBC South Today 1.3m homes 4.9%
from Southampton SO14 7PU, 26km north (354°)
to BBC South region - 39 masts.
regional news image
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 DocksTransposer2 km N city centre50 homes Estimate. Group of houses'

How will the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmission frequencies change over time?

1950s-80s1984-971997-981998-20122012-132 May 2018
VHFA K TA K TA K TA K TW T
C3BBCtvwaves
C21C4wavesC4wavesC4waves+BBCBBBCB
C22+ArqAArqA
C24BBC2wavesBBC2wavesBBC2wavesBBCABBCA
C25SDNSDN
C27ITVwavesITVwavesITVwavesD3+4D3+4
C28ArqBArqB
C29LSO
C31BBC1wavesBBC1wavesBBC1wavescom7
C37com8
C55tv_offcom7tv_off
C56tv_offCOM8tv_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

Which companies have run the Channel 3 services in the Rowridge transmitter area

Aug 1958-Jan 1992Southern Television
Jan 1982-Dec 1992Television South (TVS)
Jan 1993-Feb 2004Meridian
Feb 2004-Dec 2014ITV plc
Feb 1983-Dec 1992TV-am•
Jan 1993-Sep 2010GMTV•
Sep 2010-Dec 2014ITV Daybreak•
• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Rowridge 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.

Comments
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
J
Jemma
7:18 PM
Cowes

We have recently moved from PO31 7DQ to PO31 8QY. Our signal was great at the previous address but since moving 4 days ago, we barely have any channels (it says it's tuned 33) but there is either no TV picture or sound on the screen, or it's jittery and crackling. Any ideas of how to move forward with this? Presumably other people in the street watch the TV?

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Jemma's 1 post US flag
Jemma's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

10:02 PM
Maldon

Jemma:

Looking at the mapping and transmitter recommendations, you are in a spot that can have difficulties due to the terrain (hills, etc) and possibly buildings. The transmitters available are Rowridge and Hannington (west of Basingstoke).

Have a look to see which direction your aerial is pointing. If it is about due North, then it is looking at Hannington. If it is pointing roughly south west then it is looking at Rowridge. Which transmitter were you using at the previous address? It may be that the aerial at the formner address is aimed at a different transmitter, so it may be worth doing a full retune.

There may also be some issues with 4G signals. If you look at the mapping on Freeview reception at PO31+ 7DQ and zoom in to your home area you will see that there are several mobile masts close by, some may be carrying 4G services. It may be worth contacting at800, their contact details are at https://at800.tv/contact-us/. If it is likely that you are being affected by 4G signals, they will send you a free filter to fit into your aerial lead.

Let us know if any of that helps.


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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
MikeP's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Thursday, 3 March 2016
K
KMJ,Derby
sentiment_satisfiedGold

2:29 PM

Jemma: check that there is an aerial connected to the lead feeding the aerial socket on the wall, if this is the arrangement in your home. Sometimes the cable end is found to be coiled up in the loft! A cable connected to a satellite dish will not be suitable for freeview reception (applies if a former occupant used a sky box to supply their tv channels). Another thing to check is that the tv tuner is not storing channels from Rowridge, having found them first in the scan, when the aerial is pointing to Hannington. A look at google streetview suggests that many aerials in the area are pointing to Hannington.

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KMJ,Derby's 1,811 posts GB flag
Saturday, 19 March 2016
K
Keith Hobbs
8:54 AM

I have no Arial issues but over the last 4 days BBC 1 HD losses its sound the picture is perfect. All other HD channels are fine including BBC 1 none HD. I have returned my TV to the Rowridge Transmitter but the problem still exists. 18th March 2016.

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Keith Hobbs's 1 post GB flag
Monday, 18 April 2016
B
brian jones
11:54 PM

KEITH HOBBS - Please see below and what type of TV do you have It's a BBC Transmission issue.

The mysterious sound problem silencing Freeview HD
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 A516
UPDATED | An increasing number of Freeview users are complaining about sound problems on the platform's HD service.
What started off as a trickle of complaints around the middle of March, the trouble, which affects viewers trying to watch some of the UK's most popular channels including BBC One HD and ITV HD, has now generated a number of threads on internet forums (here and here).
The sound problems appear to be mostly affecting certain Samsung branded HD TVs sold in recent years, which can result in viewers losing the sound until they switch over to a standard definition channel and switch back again.
It's only apparent on services broadcast by the BBC on Freeview HD, including BBC One HD and BBC Two HD as well as ITV HD and Channel 4 HD, which are broadcast on BBC capacity. BBC Four HD and BBC News HD are not affected by the fault; these channels are broadcast on commercial capacity.
Some users have been claiming on internet forums that they have been told by staff at the Freeview Advice Line that the problems could be caused by 4G mobile interference, despite the fault bearing none of the main hallmarks of 4G interference, and occurring all over the UK, regardless of the local Freeview transmission frequencies, which have a bearing on potential 4G interference.
What next?
Although there's no indication of a fix any time soon, since this article was first published, the BBC has issued a statement confirming it is aware of the problem and "working with manufacturers to identify the problem".
Reception problems can be reported to the BBC Reception Advice line on 03700 100 123 or Digital UK/Freeview on 03456 50 50 50. Samsung customer service is available on 0330 726 7864.

AND SINCE THEN

We believe we have identified the problem which is causing sound issues on certain televisions,when tuned into services on the BBC's HD multiplex. While we believe our broadcasts are compliant with the relevant international specifications, we think we can make some changes that will help the affected televisions.
The change will need testing before a roll-out can begin and we will update this page when we have more details.
We continue to work closely with the device manufacturers on the underlying problem.
Thank you for bearing with us and we are sorry for any inconvenience


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brian jones's 1 post GB flag
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
Brian Gregory
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

5:23 PM
Reading

@brian jones
I bet it's just because these channels have the highest bit rates and some TVs can only just cope.
One of our Freeview SD TVs at home sometimes becomes unresponsive to the remote for a few seconds on the highest bitrate SD channels (BBC mainly).

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Brian Gregory's 23 posts GB flag
Brian's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
C
Chris Shaw
7:38 PM

Brian Gregory: I'm no expert but surely, if it was a problem with 'bitrate' the picture would be the first to suffer?


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Chris Shaw's 16 posts GB flag
Thursday, 21 April 2016
MikeP
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

2:53 PM
Trowbridge

Gentlemen:

Bit rate is a red herring! It is not relevant to the issues being reported/discussed.


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MikeP's 3,056 posts GB flag
MikeP's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 25 April 2016
P
Paul Curtis
3:49 PM
Chichester

I had assumed that aerials to receive from the Rowridge transmitter would be the conventional type with the dipoles(?) horizontal.

Someone told me that that was true until recently, but now the aerials should be mounted vertically, as the vertical transmission was ten times stronger. (I assume by 'vertically' they mean that the length of the aerial remains horizontal, but is rotated 90 degrees).

I cannot make head nor tail of the Rowridge data. I don't understand MUxs, channels, or Groups. All the aerials I see around here point to Rowridge and are mounted conventionally.

I am wondering if someone who understands these things can shed some light on it for me please, and confirm this?

Thanks (East Wittering)

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Paul Curtis's 6 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

5:06 PM

Paul Curtis : Rowridges PSB1 - 2 - 3 multiplex transmitters have an ERP of 200Kw on both horizontal and vertical polarities but not where COM4 - 5 - 6 is involved, as 200Kw only applies to transmissions on vertical polarity, horizontal being limited to 50Kw to avoid the possibility of causing interference to Stockland Hill's COM transmissions on the same frequency, i.e: C25 - C22 - C28.

Many viewers located at the extremities of Rowridges coverage area sometimes experience slightly erratic reception of the three COM channels, likewise choose to use vertical polarity for reception to take advantage of the higher powered signal, the downside of this being, that this action restricts reception of Rowridges newer COM7 / 8 Mux transmitters, as these only radiate on horizontal polarity at a much lower power of 24.4 Kw / 25Kw respectively.

As far as your location is concerned, vertical polarity is indicated as providing a superior signal over that of horizontal on COM 4 -5 - 6, reception indicated on DUK's predictor as being variable on horizontal polarity.


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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
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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.

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