Oxford transmitting station

Oxford

Mast height	165.7 metres (544 ft)
Coordinates	51°47′26″N 1°10′45″W / 51.7906°N 1.1792°W / 51.7906; -1.1792Coordinates: 51°47′26″N 1°10′45″W / 51.7906°N 1.1792°W / 51.7906; -1.1792
Grid reference	SP567105
Built	1962 (original) 1968 (current)
BBC region	BBC South (Oxford)
ITV region	ABC (1962-1968) ATV (1962-1981) ITV Central (1982-2006) ITV Thames Valley (2006-2009) ITV Meridian (2009-present)
Local TV service	That's Oxford

The Oxford transmitting station (sometimes known as the Beckley transmitter^[1]) is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated on land 129.5 metres (425 ft) above Ordnance Datum (mean sea level) to the north east of the city of Oxford, in Oxfordshire, England (grid reference SP567105). It has a guyed steel lattice mast which is 154.4 metres (507 ft) ^[2] in height to the top of the main steel structure. Mounted above that are the UHF television antennas, contained within a GRP shroud. These antennas have an average height above Ordnance Datum of 289 metres (948 ft).,^[3] or 159.5 metres (523 ft) above ground level. The total height of the structure is 165.7 metres (544 ft).^[4] It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

The effective radiated power of the analogue TV transmissions was 500 kW except for Channel 5 which had an ERP of only 40 kW. This was to avoid causing co-channel interference to other transmissions in surrounding areas.^[5] In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that Oxford would be reverting to a C/D group transmitter at DSO (Digital Switchover).

History

The station was originally constructed by the BBC to provide VHF/FM transmissions of the BBC's three national radio networks and one 405-line VHF TV service. The mast carried a two-tier Band I array above a six-tier slot array for Band II FM. A smaller 150 foot tower in the western corner of the site carried receiving aerials.^[6]
The station was extended in 1968, having been chosen as a suitable site for high power colour UHF transmissions, which entered service on 17 February 1968 carrying BBC Two. ITV (ATV/Central) and BBC One followed in June 1970. Channel 4 was carried from launch day in 1982.
In 1997, the station began analogue transmissions of Channel 5.
In 1998, the station began digital transmissions of all six ONdigital multiplexes.
In 1999, the station began analogue transmissions of Oxford's RSL local channel, Six TV on low-power.

May 2010 Incident

On 13 May 2010 the digital and analogue television transmitters (except Channel 5) went off the air at about 13:20 UTC following an incident when smoke was seen drifting from the top of the mast. The fire service reported that there had been an intense fire and that the cause was unknown. Engineering work to reinstate service began once fire crews left and the mast was made safe. Transmissions were restored via the reserve transmitter at reduced power by 20:30 UTC.^[1]

The incident occurred during testing of a new main antenna which had been installed during the previous few months in readiness for the proposed digital switchover. Investigation into the cause of the fire and the damage to the antenna may result in daytime interruptions in service.^[7] The new antenna was damaged beyond repair and a replacement was installed by the end of September 2010.^[8]

Coverage area

Television coverage is most of Oxfordshire, western Buckinghamshire, eastern Gloucestershire and northern parts of Berkshire and Wiltshire. It is sometimes called the Beckley mast, a reference to an adjacent village, or the Ot Moor mast, this referring to the area on which it is located.

From 2006, a new non-franchise regional news area ITV Thames Valley was provided from the ITV Meridian studios at Whiteley, Hampshire. This programme was replaced in February 2009, in a cost-saving reorganisation, by ITV Meridian's Meridian Tonight. However, Central Independent Television remains the licensee and broadcaster.

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio (AM Mediumwave)

Frequency	kW	Service
1197 kHz	0.25	Absolute Radio

Analogue radio (FM VHF)

Frequency	kW	Service
89.5 MHz	46	BBC Radio 2
91.7 MHz	46	BBC Radio 3
93.9 MHz	46	BBC Radio 4
95.2 MHz	5.8	BBC Radio Oxford
99.1 MHz	46	BBC Radio 1
101.3 MHz	46	Classic FM
102.6 MHz	9	Heart Oxfordshire

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency	Block	kW^[9]	Operator
215.072 MHz	10D	N/A	NOW Digital (yet to launch)
222.064 MHz	11D	7.8	Digital One
225.648 MHz	12B	10	BBC National DAB

Analogue television

29 February 1962 - 17 February 1968

Frequency	VHF	kW	Service
51.75 MHz	2	0.65	BBC-1 (BBC-TV until 1964)

17 February 1968 - June 1970

Frequency	VHF	UHF	kW	Service
51.75 MHz	2	—	0.65	BBC-1
807.25 MHz	—	63	500	BBC2

June 1970 - 2 November 1982

Frequency	VHF	UHF	kW	Service
51.75 MHz	2	—	0.65	BBC-1
759.25 MHz	—	57	500	BBC1
783.25 MHz	—	60	500	Central (ATV until 1982)
807.25 MHz	—	63	500	BBC2

2 November 1982 - 3 January 1985

Frequency	VHF	UHF	kW	Service
51.75 MHz	2	—	0.65	BBC-1
727.25 MHz	—	53	500	Channel 4
759.25 MHz	—	57	500	BBC1
783.25 MHz	—	60	500	Central
807.25 MHz	—	63	500	BBC2

3 January 1985 - 30 March 1997

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
727.25 MHz	53	500	Channel 4
759.25 MHz	57	500	BBC1
783.25 MHz	60	500	Central
807.25 MHz	63	500	BBC2

30 March 1997 - 15 November 1998

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
695.25 MHz	49	40	Channel 5
727.25 MHz	53	500	Channel 4
759.25 MHz	57	500	BBC One
783.25 MHz	60	500	Central
807.25 MHz	63	500	BBC Two

Analogue and digital television

15 November 1998 - June 1999

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service	System
538.000 MHz	29	8	Arqiva (Mux D)	DVB-T
578.000 MHz	34	10	BBC (Mux 1)	DVB-T
690.000 MHz	48	8	Arqiva (Mux C)	DVB-T
695.25 MHz	49	40	Channel 5	PAL System I
713.833 MHz	51-	6	SDN (Mux A)	DVB-T
721.833 MHz	52-	6	BBC (Mux B)	DVB-T
727.25 MHz	53	500	Channel 4	PAL System I
759.25 MHz	57	500	BBC One	PAL System I
783.25 MHz	60	500	Central	PAL System I
807.25 MHz	63	500	BBC Two	PAL System I
850.000 MHz	68	10	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)	DVB-T

June 1999 - April 2009

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service	System
538.000 MHz	29	8	Arqiva (Mux D)	DVB-T
578.000 MHz	34	10	BBC (Mux 1)	DVB-T
679.25 MHz	47	—	Six TV (The Oxford Channel until 2003)	PAL System I
690.000 MHz	48	8	Arqiva (Mux C)	DVB-T
695.25 MHz	49	40	Channel 5	PAL System I
713.833 MHz	51-	6	SDN (Mux A)	DVB-T
721.833 MHz	52-	6	BBC (Mux B)	DVB-T
727.25 MHz	53	500	Channel 4	PAL System I
759.25 MHz	57	500	BBC One	PAL System I
783.25 MHz	60	500	ITV1 (Central until 2002)	PAL System I
807.25 MHz	63	500	BBC Two	PAL System I
850.000 MHz	68	10	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)	DVB-T

April 2009 - 14 September 2011

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service	System
538.000 MHz	29	8	Arqiva (Mux D)	DVB-T
578.000 MHz	34	10	BBC (Mux 1)	DVB-T
690.000 MHz	48	8	Arqiva (Mux C)	DVB-T
695.25 MHz	49	40	Channel 5	PAL System I
713.833 MHz	51-	6	SDN (Mux A)	DVB-T
721.833 MHz	52-	6	BBC (Mux B)	DVB-T
727.25 MHz	53	500	Channel 4	PAL System I
759.25 MHz	57	500	BBC One	PAL System I
783.25 MHz	60	500	ITV1	PAL System I
807.25 MHz	63	500	BBC Two	PAL System I
850.000 MHz	68	10	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)	DVB-T

14 September 2011 - 28 September 2011

BBC Two closed on UHF 63 on 14 September 2011. Channel 4 temporarily moved into its frequency at the time to allow BBC A to launch on UHF 53. The remaining analogue signals ceased on 28 September.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service	System
538.000 MHz	29	8	Arqiva (Mux D)	DVB-T
578.000 MHz	34	8	Arqiva (Mux C)	DVB-T
695.25 MHz	49	40	Channel 5	PAL System I
713.833 MHz	51-	6	SDN (Mux A)	DVB-T
721.833 MHz	52-	6	BBC (Mux B)	DVB-T
730.166 MHz	53+	100	BBC A	DVB-T
759.25 MHz	57	500	BBC One	PAL System I
783.25 MHz	60	500	ITV1	PAL System I
807.25 MHz	63	500	Channel 4	PAL System I
850.000 MHz	68	10	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)	DVB-T

Digital television

28 September 2011 - 18 April 2012

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator	System
730.166 MHz	53+	100	BBC A	DVB-T
746.000 MHz	55	12.5	Arqiva B	DVB-T
762.000 MHz	57	100	BBC B	DVB-T2
777.833 MHz	59-	12.5	Arqiva A	DVB-T
785.833 MHz	60-	100	Digital 3&4	DVB-T
802.000 MHz	62	12.5	SDN	DVB-T

18 April 2012 - present

Arqiva A & B and SDN increased to 50 kW on 18 April 2012, after completion of the digital switchover at Crystal Palace transmitting station.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator	System
730.166 MHz	53+	100	BBC A	DVB-T
746.000 MHz	55	50	Arqiva B	DVB-T
762.000 MHz	57	100	BBC B	DVB-T2
777.833 MHz	59-	50	Arqiva A	DVB-T
785.833 MHz	60-	100	Digital 3&4	DVB-T
802.000 MHz	50	50	SDN	DVB-T

References

External links

Television transmitter and major relay sites in the United Kingdom

England

East	Mendlesham Sandy Heath Sudbury Tacolneston

East Midlands	Belmont Chesterfield Waltham

Greater London	Alexandra Palace Croydon Crystal Palace

North East	Berwick-upon-Tweed Burnhope Chatton Pontop Pike

North West	Caldbeck Sandale Storeton West Kirby Winter Hill

South East	Bluebell Hill Chillerton Down Dover Fremont Point (Channel Islands) Hannington Heathfield Membury Midhurst Oxford Rowridge Whitehawk Hill

South West	Beacon Hill Caradon Hill Huntshaw Cross Mendip North Hessary Tor Redruth Stockland Hill Washford

West Midlands	Lichfield Ridge Hill Sutton Coldfield The Wrekin

Yorkshire and the Humber	Bilsdale Emley Moor Halifax Holme Moss Oliver's Mount Sheffield

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Italics denotes a transmitter no longer used for transmitting television signals

Oxford VHF 405-line Transmitter Group

Transmitter stations	Oxford

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