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Oxford transmitter is situated 4 miles NE of the City and it has a population coverage of around three quarters of a million. Its transmissions can be picked up in Swindon, Reading, Banbury, Bicester and Milton Keynes amongst others. A VHF/405 line transmitter built in 1962 originally occupied the site (it is still there but now covered in microwave dishes) but this was replaced by the current 160m structure in 1968, see How High is High ?
Being a main transmitter Oxford is horizontally polarised and for analogue it was originally a C/D group and now switchover is complete it has returned to a C/D for all its digital output.
Oxford transmitter has five (smaller repeaters to improve its coverage in hilly areas. It only used to have two, but three were swapped from Sutton Coldfield at switchover.
Oxford transmitter`s TV Frequencies/Channels* note the gaps in the table below for channels 31 to 37 and 61 to 68, they`re reserved for “other uses”........
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.
Overall view of Oxford TV transmitter, the original VHF structure of 1962 is on the left.
Close up of one of the massive concrete anchors for the stays, there is considerably more
of it underground......
Sun shining through the Oxford television transmitter, one of my favourite pictures.
Oxford`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 Yagi18C/D DY14WB* XB16E
* Particularly if you want to go wideband.
Also see other relevant C/D group curves.
For Oxford`s frequencies see its channel allocation guide. It also shows the output
for the main co-
The transmitter can be seen on the hill from the railway between Oxford and Banbury which was opened in 1850 by the Great Western Railway as part of a route which eventually reached Chester and Birkenhead. Interestingly it was built as a broad gauge line then converted to mixed gauge in 1852 before becoming standard gauge only in 1869.
External links
Oxford transmitter page on MB21
Oxford transmitter page on Wikipedia
Oxford Transmitter OS Grid Ref SP 567 105
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.
DSO at Oxford occurred between the 14 Sept and 28 Sept 2011.
Technical details of Oxford`s switchover can be found here.
Oxford is quite a powerful transmitter (joint 13th most powerful in the UK).
Note the huge increase in power after the switchover
Oxford`s MUXES 4 to 6 will suffer a slight reduction in error correction data from the 18 Apr 12
There are two potential interleaved spectrum channels allocated to Oxford, CH 49 and CH 29. In addition there is a possibility of 2 or 3 more MUXES being transmitted between CHs 31 and 37, though some of these may not be available off a C/D group particularly in poor signal areas, fortunately there are alternatives.
For Oxford we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for medium signal areas, the Yagi18CD* or 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.
* See "covering all eventualities"
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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