Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
All Rights reserved
Main Page List
Tel : 0114 285 4254
Sutton Coldfield`s TV frequencies / Channel Allocation Guide.
Also check Sutton Coldfield`s thirty eight smaller repeaters.
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.
On the “Post DSO” version (below), Note the gaps in the table below for channels 31 to 35, 37 and 61 to 68, they`re reserved for “other uses”.
Sutton Coldfield TV transmitter was one of the first in this country when it began broadcasting the BBC on the old 405 line VHF system in 1949, UHF colour transmissions started in 1965. The original mast was demolished in 1985 and the replacement is a 225m high (see How High is High ? ) mast which was built in 1983. Apparently the older structure was insufficiently strong to take the weight of the increasing number of transmitting antennas required. To make things even more complicated a 225m temporary mast was erected in the spring of 2009 so that work could proceed in raising the height of the original mast by 31m (to a total height of 271m).
The site is not quite in Sutton Coldfield but being just North of its namesake it is visible from most areas North of Birmingham. The railway line to Lichfield runs near to the site, this particular section being opened by the London & North Western Railway in 1884.
Sutton Coldfield has the third highest population coverage (approx 5 million) of any transmitter in the UK and broadcasts to many major towns/cities including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Leicester, Derby and Stoke.
The transmitter has thirty eight (including Bromsgrove and Lark Stoke) smaller repeaters to help improve its coverage.
Overall view of Sutton Coldfield`s (original) television transmitter. Back to the top
Sutton Coldfield transmitter looking majestic against the spring sunshine.
View of Lichfield transmitter from one of Sutton Coldfield`s outer most stay anchor points. Note the tensioning mechanisms for the stay ropes.
Sutton Coldfield`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the
aerials we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 Yagi18B XB10B XB16B
Also see other relevant B group curves, and inconsistent gain curves of some Contract aerials.
For Sutton Coldfield`s frequencies see its channel allocation guide. This table also
include the same information for some of the other transmitters receivable in the
area, Waltham, Sandy, Oxford, Lark Stoke, Ridge Hill, Bromsgrove, Malvern, Brierley
Hill, The Wrekin, Winter Hill, Emley Moor and Belmont. Note how they “dovetail” together
in an attempt to minimise co-
DSO occurred at Sutton Coldfield between the 7 September and 21 Sept 2011.
Digital transmission power is 200kW for all six MUXES, making Sutton Coldfield the (joint) most powerful transmitter in the UK.
Before the switchover Sutton Coldfield`s digital power output was only 8kW !
There are two interleaved spectrum channels allocated to Sutton Coldfield, CH29 and CH51
In addition there is a possibility of 2 or 3 more MUXES being transmitted between CHs 31 and 37, all of these possible channels will be receivable on a (decent) B group aerial.
Any decent B group aerial would still be outperforming the equivalent wideband at CH29, although this may not apply to some cheap crappy Contract aerials though......
External Links
Sutton Coldfield transmitter Page at MB21
Sutton Coldfield transmitter Page at The Big Tower
Sutton Coldfield transmitter Page on Wikipedia
Digital UK details of Central transmitters
Ofcom details of Central transmitters
For Sutton Coldfield 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.
The two masts at Sutton Coldfield (the original mast is on the left).
As part of the work required for DSO a 225m temporary mast was erected in the spring of 2009 so that work could proceed in raising the height of the original mast by 31m. Thus the mast will eventually be a total height of 271m. Ofcom report that the main mast is due back in use in the summer of 2010.
Sutton Coldfield Transmitter OS Grid Ref SK 113 003
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.
Switchover occurred at Sutton Coldfield between the 7 and 21 of September 2011.
Luckily the channel planners were able to fit all the Digital MUXES within the B group, which was Sutton Coldfield`s original analogue group, so an aerial change should not be necessary to receive all the Freeview channels. Furthermore those in poor reception areas can take advantage of the superior performance of an B group aerial over a wideband.
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.
If you`ve found this site informative and, hopefully, interesting as well,
please help us increase the number of people reading it.