Alexandra Palace television station
The Alexandra Palace transmitting station in North London (grid reference TQ297901) is one of the oldest television transmission sites in the world. What was at the time called "high definition" (405-line) TV broadcasts on VHF were beamed from this mast from 1936 until the outbreak of World War II. It then lay dormant until it was used very successfully to foil the German Y-Gerät radio navigation system during the last stages of the Battle of Britain. After the war, it was reused for television until 1956, when it was superseded by the opening of the BBC's new main transmitting station for the London area at Crystal Palace. In 1982 Alexandra Palace became an active transmitting station again, with the opening of a relay transmitter to provide UHF television service to parts of North London poorly covered from Crystal Palace.
The transmitter is owned and maintained by Arqiva.
Channels listed by frequency
Analogue radio (FM)
Digital radio (DAB)
Analogue television
Frequency |
UHF |
kW |
Service |
735.25 MHz |
54 |
0.065 |
Channel 4 |
767.25 MHz |
58 |
0.065 |
BBC One |
791.25 MHz |
61 |
0.065 |
ITV1 |
815.25 MHz |
64 |
0.065 |
BBC Two |
- Aerial group: C/D
- Polarisation: horizontal
Digital television
Digital television is not currently available from Alexandra Palace, but will be replacing the analogue signals, as part of the digital switchover, during April 2012. However, only 3 of the 6 multiplexes will be available: BBC A, BBC B and D3&4.
Frequency |
UHF |
kW |
Operator |
738.0 MHz |
54 |
0.07 |
BBC B |
770.0 MHz |
58 |
0.07 |
Digital 3&4 |
794.0 MHz |
61 |
0.07 |
BBC A |
References
- ^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
External links