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Moel-
Moel has a population coverage of about 300 thousand, though I can`t help wondering if the latter figure varies according to whether it`s the holiday season ! It must be pointed out that quite a high proportion of those within Moel`s coverage area choose to watch the programmes broadcast from English transmitters (e.g. Winter Hill) which is easily spotted by which way the aerials(s) face. Whether this is due to a lower Welsh content is a question I would prefer to leave to the reader to answer but I do wonder if this was also accounted for when the coverage figure was arrived at ?
The structure is built near the top of a mountain (the actual site height is 340m) and anyone visiting it will be rewarded with fabulous views, particularly if you walk up to the Trig point just behind it.
As a main transmitter Moel Y Parc is horizontally polarised and is a B group, it also has twenty smaller repeaters to improve its signal coverage.
Power is 20kW for MUXES 1 to 3 and 10kW for MUXES 4 to 6.
(Pre DSO the transmission power was 1kW for MUXES 1 to 4, and 250W for MUXES 5 & 6)
DSO occurred between the 28th Oct to the 25th of Nov 2009.
HDTV has been transmitted since June 2010 on MUX3.
There is one interleaved spectrum channel allocated to Moel Y Parc (CH 30) which is more or less within the announced post DSO group. In addition there is a possibility of 2 or 3 more MUXES being transmitted between CHs 31 and 37, all of these can be picked up by (decent) B group aerials.
Moel Y Parc (what an evocative name....) and its surroundings.
Base of Moel Y Parc showing the feeders taking the signals up to the transmitting antennas on the mast.
The majesty of Moel Y Parc against the evening sun.
Moel Y Parc`s frequencies/channels* Also check Moel`s twenty smaller repeaters
Some post switchover MUX allocations (particularly CHs 61/62 and 49/50) may well be changed due to the 800MHz clearance.
The frequencies given are for (most) digital MUXES, for analogue channels deduct 3MHz.
* There are a few retune events (temporary MUX reallocations) just before and after DSO which may not be shown on these tables.
Note Storeton Wales which started transmitting after DSO in October 2009. This will rebroadcast Welsh Language MUXES (from Moel Y Parc) in a 30 degree arc around Flint.
Moel Y Parc transmitter`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 Yagi 18B XB10B XB16B
Also see other relevant B group curves.
Moel Y Parc`s frequency/channel guides also provide the same information for Llanddona,
Winter Hill, Storeton, Fenton, Sutton Coldfield, The Wrekin and Conway. This data
can be very useful for identifying possible alternative transmitters. The Channel
Allocation Guides can also be very useful in the diagnosis of co-
Moel Y Parc can can be seen from the main railway line along the N Wales coast which was originally opened (by the Chester & Holyhead railway) as far as Bangor in 1848. Two years later Stephenson`s famous Tubular bridge was opened across the Menai straights and the line finally reached Holyhead. This line to North Wales was once so busy (particularly in the summer with holiday makers) that it was four track for the 34 miles from Chester to all the way to Abergele. These days most people go by car along the A55 "Express way" which has undoubtedly improved access to this area of Wales but at what cost ? The road is already full to bursting half the time, I can`t help wondering where all the cars went before it was there. At least they went to the trouble of building a tunnel under Conway (opened around 1992) because constructing a huge dual carriageway through that beautiful area would undoubtedly have been a crime.....
External links
Moel Y Parc transmitter page at MB21
Moel Y Parc transmitter page at The Big Tower
Moel Y Parc transmitter page on Wikipedia
Digital UK Moel Y Parc tranmsitter
For Moel Y Parc we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for medium signal areas, the Yagi18B for outdoor installs in poor signal areas, the XB10B for loft installations in poor signal areas, and the XB16B for those with the most marginal signals. Unless you have a massive loft we`d normally recommend an XB10B for loft installs (over an XB16) due to smaller size of the former aerial. The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be
found on the relevant tables.
Moel Y Parc Transmitter OS Grid Ref SJ 123 701
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.
We are more than willing to give advice to those actually purchasing from us. Could those only seeking information please just find the answer somewhere on this site, or ring an aerial installer local to them, or call the reception advice phone numbers.
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