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Heathfield / Heathfield North Transmitter   OS Grid Ref TQ 566 220

Note, as work takes place on various digital transmitters (to prepare for the DSO) you may
experience problems, e.g. with certain MUXES disappearing. First try rescanning your
TV / set top box (do it manually if possible), but if this fails to work check on Transmitter work
or call the reception advice phone numbers.   Also see basic digital fault finding.

Heathfield was opened in 1969 and is located 13 miles NNW of Eastbourne. The top of the
mast is 998ft (302m) from sea level and the total mast height is 145m, though the height to
the bottom of the antenna shroud is 135m, see How High is High ?
Its population coverage is around 500 thousand and its power is 100kW analogue.
Digital / Freeview 1.6 Kw for  MUXES 1 & 2 and 1.0kW for the other 4 MUXES.
Heathfield has nineteen smaller repeaters off it to improve its signal coverage in poor areas.
Being a main transmitter it is horizontally polarised and it was a C/D group but in order to
accommodate digital it is now (technically) a wideband. That said, C/Ds often pick up
signal quite well below their designed for band, so reception may still be possible,
see Heathfield`s graph. Though this may not apply to some cheap crappy Contract
aerials. MUXES 3 to 6 are still within the original band so should be available with a C/D
group aerial, it`s MUXES 1 & 2 which may require the aerial change.
I find this somewhat bizarre because the first two MUXES are the most important
(the main BBC and ITV programmes) so one would have thought that these would be the
channels to be broadcast within the original band. For obvious reasons this scenario is
the one usually adopted.

Heathfield television transmitter

Heathfield  television transmitter
Heathfield TV transmitter

Heathfield TV transmitter

Heathfield transmitter “Up Close”

For Heathfield we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for

medium signal areas, the DY14WB for poor signal areas, and the XB16E for those with

the most marginal signals. The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be found on the relevant tables. If requiring a “high gain aerial” in the loft we recommend the DY14WB over the XB16 because of the former aerial`s smaller size.

All the digital output is attenuated to the South so as not to cause co-channel interference with transmitters in that direction, including those in France ! Eastbourne, being due South of Heathfield, has particular problems with Digital reception and will probably continue to have until the Digital Switch Over (DSO) occurs in June 2012.

It has been confirmed by Ofcom that when DSO occurs Heathfield will become a B

group, however those still on C/D group aerial should still get reception OK.

Our own tests prove that decent C/D group aerials (may not apply to some Contract

aerials though) work just as well as a wideband in the B group, though obviously a

B will give more gain than either.

In any event the main 3 PSB MUXES will almost certainly be receivable on a C/D.

There are two interleaved spectrum channels allocated to Heathfield, CH 54 and CH45,

which are both within the previously announced post DSO group.

For Heathfield`s channels/frequencies see its Channel Allocation Guides for before and after DSO, these also include the frequencies for Crystal Palace, Bluebell Hill, Tunbridge Wells, Dover, Hastings, Whitehawk Hill (Brighton), Midhurst, Guildford and Reigate. This data can be very useful for identifying causes of co-channel or other transmitter options, importance of "line of sight". The Channel Allocation Guide can also be invaluable if you are trying to find a spare channel for a modulated output (e.g. for a Sky box or CCTV system) to be added to your TV setup/distribution system without suffering from co-channel.

Just under a mile to the East is the trackbed of the ex London, Brighton and South Coast railway which was opened in 1880 from Redgate Mill down to Hailsham. Unfortunately the station at Heathfield, and line North of it, closed in 1965, the line South to Hailsham lasted until 1968. More positively the trackbed down to Hailsham is now a walking and cycling route. Two preserved railways are located near to Heathfield, The Lavender Line is 7 miles

to the SW whilst The Rother Valley Line is about 10 miles to the ENE.

 

External Links

 

 

Heathfield page on Wikipedia

Heathfield`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials

we recommend for it.   DM Log    Log40     DY14WB     XB16E

Note the channels out of the original C/D group of the transmitter, MUXES 1 & 2 being particularly badly affected. That said, even these two MUXES would be receivable to those

in decent signal areas.

After DSO in 2012 Heathfield will officially be a B group and four of the six MUXES will

be technically out of the original C/D group. But the graph shows quite clearly that

the “cut off” for C/D group aerials is not precipitous and that most people in reasonable signal areas will get all the Digital OK off their “old” C/D group aerial, particularly as the power is going to be increased at DSO by a large margin. Though this may not apply to some cheap crappy Contract aerials.

For Heathfield`s frequencies see its Channel Allocation Guides for before and after DSO.

Also see other relevant Wideband curves.

Heathfield`s TV frequencies/channels for before (above) and after (below) the DSO.
Note the various co-channel issues, and that`s before one brings in the continental transmitters !  Also check Heathfield`s nineteen smaller repeaters

The frequencies given are for the analogue channels, for (most) digital MUXES add 3MHz.

If you`ve found this site informative and, hopefully, interesting as well,
please help us increase the number of people reading it.
Heathfield channel allocations for AFTER the digital switchover.