Digital Switchover Transmitter Details. Westcountry Region

Transcription

1 Digital Switchover Transmitter Details Westcountry Region Issue 3.0 Issued: 5 November 2008

2 1 Digital Switchover Transmitter Details: Westcountry Region This document contains details of the transmission characteristics which the television transmitter network will adopt at digital switchover. Information on current digital frequencies is available on the Ofcom website ( This information is primarily intended to help systems installers make initial preparations for switchover by highlighting those transmitters where frequency allocations and aerial group requirements are likely to change. A key to column headings is provided in the Glossary. Please note that although we anticipate that this frequency plan will remain relatively stable in the run-up to switchover, it may prove necessary to make changes to some aspects of the plan with the aim of maximising coverage across the UK. If you would like to be kept informed of any changes, please join our digital transmitter mailing list by sending an to broadcast.technical@ofcom.org.uk, with the word 'subscribe' as the message subject. Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information provided in this document is accurate, no guarantees for the currency or accuracy of information are or can be made. The information contained in this document is provided without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied. 1

3 Beacon Hill and relays - Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) Multiplexes Beacon Hill SX kW 53 20kW 57 20kW EH C/DH Ashburton SX W 27 2W 21 2W AV AV Budleigh Salterton a SY kW 53 1kW 57 1kW C/DV Bovey Tracey SX W 48 2W 56 2W C/DV BV Brixham SX W W W BV BV Buckfastleigh SX W 47 2W 44 2W BV BV Chudleigh SX W 47 2W 44 2W BV BV Clennon Valley SX W 48 2W 56 2W C/DV BV Coombe SX W 27 2W 21 2W AV AV Dartmouth SX W 47 2W 44 2W BV BV Edginswell SX W 48 2W 56 2W C/DV EV Halwell SX W 41 2W 44 2W BV BV Harbertonford SX W 48 2W 56 2W C/DH BH Hele SX W 50 2W 46 2W BH BH Kingskerswell SX W 59 2W 55 2W C/DV C/DV Liverton SX W W W C/DV C/DV Newton Abbot HP SX W W W BH BH Newton Abbot VP SX W 50 2W 46 2W BV BV Occombe Valley SX W 27 20W 21 20W AV AV a The proposed Budleigh Salterton relay is a new digital transmitter site, and these details are provisional. Although a relay of Beacon Hill, this new transmitter is expected to enter service at the same time that switchover occurs at Stockland Hill. 2

4 Sidmouth SY W 48 6W 56 6W C/DV EV South Brent HP SX W W W BH BH South Brent VP SX W 50 2W 46 2W BV BV Teignmouth SX W 48 40W 56 40W C/DV EV Torquay Town SX W 47 40W 44 40W BV BV Totnes SX W 27 2W 21 2W AV AV Beacon Hill - Commercial (COM) Multiplexes SDN Arqiva A Arqiva B Analogue Frequencies Beacon Hill SX kW 45 10kW 51 10kW EH C/D Caradon Hill and relays - Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) Multiplexes Caradon Hill SX kW kW kW AH AH Aveton Gifford SX W 41 2W 47 2W BV EV Compton SX W 41 2W 47 2W BV EV

5 Croyde SS W 41 2W 47 2W BV BV Downderry SX W 60 60W 57 60W C/DV C/DV Fowey SX W 60 2W 57 2W C/DV C/DV Gunnislake SX W W W BV BV Ivybridge SX W 49 50W 48 50W BV BV Kingsbridge SX W 43 34W 50 34W BV BV Looe SX W 43 20W 50 20W BV BV Lostwithiel SX W 43 2W 50 2W BV BV Marystow SX W 49 2W 42 2W BV BV Mevagissey SX W 43 10W 50 10W BH BH Modbury SX W 59 2W 55 2W C/DH C/DH Newton Ferrers SX W 59 2W 55 2W C/DV C/DV North Hessary Tor SX W W W C/DV C/DV Okehampton SX W 49 16W 42 16W BV BV Penaligon Down SX W 49 20W 42 20W BV BV Plymouth North Rd HP Plymouth North Rd VP Plymouth Weston Mill SX W W W BH BH SX W W W BV BV SX W 45 2W 49 2W BV BV Plympton SX W W W EV C/DV Polperro SX W 60 2W 57 2W C/DV C/DV Port Isaac SW W 59 50W 55 50W C/DV C/DV

6 Salcombe SX W W W BV WV Slapton SX W W W C/DV C/DV Southway SX W 59 2W 55 2W C/DV C/DV St Neot SX W 49 2W 45 2W BV BV Tavistock SX W 60 20W 57 20W C/DV C/DV Widecombe In The Moor SX W 50 2W 48 2W BH BH Caradon Hill and relays - Commercial (COM) Multiplexes SDN Arqiva A Arqiva B Analogue Frequencies Caradon Hill SX kW 24 50kW 27 50kW AH AH Plympton SX W W W EV C/DV Huntshaw Cross and relays - Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) Multiplexes Huntshaw Cross SS kW 59 20kW 55 20kW C/DH C/DH Barnstaple SS W 43 8W 50 8W BV KV

7 Berrynarbor SS W 25 2W 22 2W AV AV Braunton SS W 49 2W 42 2W BH BH Chambercombe SS W 24 10W 21 10W AV AV Combe Martin SS W 49 70W 45 70W BV BV Great Torrington SS W 50 2W 42 2W BV BV Hartland SS W 53 60W 57 60W C/DV C/DV Ilfracombe SS W 61 56W 58 56W C/DV C/DV Muddiford SS W 41 2W 47 2W BV BV North Bovey SX W W W BV BV Swimbridge SS W 23 2W 29 2W AV AV Tedburn St Mary SX W 49 4W 42 4W BV WV Westward Ho! SS W 25 32W 22 32W AV AV Woolacombe SS W 41 2W 44 2W BV BV Huntshaw Cross - Commercial (COM) Multiplexes SDN Arqiva A Arqiva B Analogue Frequencies Huntshaw Cross SS kW 52 10kW 56 10kW C/DH C/DH

8 Redruth and relays - Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) Multiplexes Redruth SW kW 41 20kW 47 20kW BH BH Alverton SW W 24 2W 21 2W AV AV Boscastle SX W 22 11W 28 11W AV AV Bossiney SX W 43 40W 50 40W BV C/DV Gulval SW W W W AV AV Helston SW W 61 2W 58 2W C/DV C/DV Isles Of Scilly SV W W W AV AV Penryn SW W W W C/DV C/DV Perranporth SW W 43 16W 50 16W BV C/DV Porthleven SW W 23 2W 29 2W AH AH Porthtowan SW W 24 16W 21 16W AV AV Portreath SW W 23 20W 29 20W AV AV Praa Sands SW W 59 10W 56 10W C/DV C/DV St Anthony SW W 23 2W 29 2W AV AV St Austell SX W W W C/DV C/DV St Just SW W W W C/DV C/DV Truro SW W W W C/DV C/DV Redruth - Commercial (COM) Multiplexes SDN Arqiva A Arqiva B Analogue Frequencies 7

9 Channel ERP Channel ERP Channel ERP Aerial Group Aerial Group BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 C4 C5 Redruth SW kW 52 10kW 51 10kW BH BH Stockland Hill and relays - Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) Multiplexes Digital Analogue Stockland Hill ST kW 23 50kW 29 50kW AH AH Bampton SS W 45 6W 42 6W BV BV Beaminster ST W W W C/DV C/DV Beer SY W 59 3W 56 3W C/DV C/DV Bincombe Hill SY W W W C/DV C/DV Branscombe SY W 47 2W 41 2W BV BV Bridport SY W 41 17W 47 17W BV BV Brushford SS W W W AV AV Chagford SX W W W AV AV Charmouth SY W W W BV BV Chideock HP SY W W W C/DH BH Chideock VP SY W 52 20W 48 20W C/DV BV Crediton SS W 43 7W 50 7W BV BV Culm Valley ST W W W BV BV Dawlish SX W 59 20W 56 20W C/DV C/DV Dunsford SX W 45 2W 49 2W BV EV

10 Digital Analogue Exeter St Thomas SX W 41 50W 47 50W BV BV Honiton SY W 49 2W 45 2W BV BV Pennsylvania SX W 61 2W 58 2W C/DV C/DV Preston SY W 58 20W 54 20W C/DV C/DV Rampisham UHF ST W W W BH BH Stokeinteignhead SX W 41 2W 47 2W BV BV Tiverton SS W 43 18W 50 18W BV BV Weymouth SY W W W BV BV Stockland Hill - Commercial (COM) Multiplexes SDN Arqiva A Arqiva B Analogue Frequencies Stockland Hill ST kW 22 25kW 28 25kW AH AH

11 Glossary : The name of the transmitter site. Main transmitters are highlighted in bold, with their dependent relays listed alphabetically below them. Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) and Commercial (COM) multiplexes are shown in separate tables. : The location of the transmitter site, in Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference (Landranger) format. Multiplex names: The post-switchover name of the multiplex. See below for more details Channel ERP DSO The UHF channel number of the multiplex. The nominal centre frequency, F c (in Megahertz) of the multiplex can be calculated using F c =8n+306, where n is the UHF channel number. The Effective Radiated Power of the multiplex, in watts (W) or kilowatts (kw) Digital Switchover DSO Aerial Group: DSO Aerial Group Colour codes: Pre-DSO Aerial Group: Analogue channels: Single Frequency networks (SFNs) Suggested aerial group for reception of all multiplexes from this transmitter after digital switchover. See below for more information on aerial groups. The final character in this column indicates whether signals are horizontally (H) or vertically (V) polarised. All DSO frequencies at this transmitter are re-assigned analogue frequencies. If aerials and cabling are in good condition, viewers should not need to replace them. One or more DSO frequencies were previously unused at this transmitter by analogue TV, but all DSO channels fall within the analogue aerial group. If aerials and cabling are in good condition, replacement should not be necessary. Some changes may be required to larger systems which contain channelised components, such as communal aerial (MATV / IRS) systems. One or more DSO frequencies were previously unused at this transmitter by analogue TV, and these also fall outside the existing analogue aerial group. Therefore a replacement aerial of a different group may be required. Some changes may be required to larger systems which contain channelised components, such as communal aerial (MATV / IRS) systems. Suggested aerial group for reception of analogue services from this transmitter. The aerial groups shown are based upon four-channel reception and do not take into account Channel 5 s analogue frequencies where these are out of group. The UHF channel numbers of the analogue services currently broadcast from this transmitter site. The nominal analogue vision carrier frequency, F v (in Megahertz) of the service can be calculated using F v =8n , where n is the UHF channel number. In order to maximise digital coverage, some transmitter sites will operate as Single Frequency Networks (SFNs) at switchover. In an SFN, neighbouring transmitters use the same frequencies as each other. 10

12 Multiplex Names The current designations of the six multiplexes will change at switchover, and the table below compares their current and future names: Current Multiplex Name Post-Switchover Name Operator 1 BBC A BBC 2 D3&4 Digital 3 & 4 A* SDN SDN B BBC B BBC C Arqiva A Arqiva D Arqiva B Arqiva * We expect that five, currently carried on multiplex A, will move to a PSB multiplex prior to switchover. Aerial Groups Television aerials are designed to operate most efficiently over a specific range of frequencies, as shown in the table below. For guidance, this document suggests a suitable aerial group for reception of the digital services from each transmitter. Where a transmitter uses a semi-wideband channel grouping (E or K), a wideband (W) aerial is also suggested as an alternative. The colour codes in the table below are often used by aerial manufacturers to aid identification of the aerial s group. Aerial Group Channels Colour Code A Red B Yellow C/D Green E Brown K Grey W Black Transmission Mode It is anticipated that the post-switchover transmission mode for all multiplexes, except BBC B, will be 64QAM modulation, rate 2/3. The BBC B multiplex will be converted to the DVB-T2 standard as switchover occurs in each region from the end of 2009 onwards, though the modulation mode to be adopted is not yet known. The BBC B multiplex will be converted after switchover in regions where switchover happens before the end of dates will be announced in due course. Transitional Transmission Characteristics Transmission frequencies are intensively used in many parts of the UK. To avoid unnecessary interference being caused to viewers, a certain number of multiplexes will need to operate with 'transitional' transmission characteristics for a limited period following switchover at particular transmitters. These transitional characteristics are only likely to affect a small proportion of sites. For example, some channels may need to operate at slightly reduced power levels compared to the final post-switchover allocations shown in this booklet. This is primarily in order to prevent interference being caused to neighbouring transmitters which may not switchover until later in the regional sequence. Full power operation will be adopted when these interference constraints are removed, generally when 11

13 the neighbouring transmitter or region switches over. Details of known transitional arrangements affecting particular transmitters are given in the footnotes on each page. Analogue Channel Changes For practical engineering reasons, some analogue channel allocations may need to be altered in the period immediately before switchover begins at a particular transmitter. This may involve swapping the frequencies of some programme services. In other cases, a previously unused analogue frequency may need to be used temporarily to allow high-power digital broadcasts to begin. Viewers will be informed of any such channel changes by Digital UK and the broadcasters in the run up to switchover. Switchover Dates Up-to-date information on switchover dates is available from Digital UK Transmitter Locations Maps showing the location of TV transmitters within individual regions are available on Ofcom s website at: 12

14 Document History Version Date Details /7/2007 Document Issued /10/2007 Additional explanatory text and revised document format 3.0 5/11/2008 Com mux names revised. Map removed and replaced with link to online version. Transmission mode section revised to include DVB- T2. Relay attributions for Tedburn St Mary, Budleigh Salterton, Chagford, Brushford and Mevagissey changed. 13