Oxford transmitting station

Oxford
Height of mast	165.7 metres (544 ft)
Built	1968
BBC region	BBC South (Oxford)
ITV region	ITV Central South

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).

Contents 1 History 1.1 May 2010 Incident 2 Coverage area 3 Services listed by frequency 3.1 Analogue radio (AM Mediumwave) 3.2 Analogue radio (FM VHF) 3.3 Digital radio (DAB) 3.4 Analogue television 3.5 Digital television 3.5.1 Before switchover 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

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 at high power.
• 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 is expected to be installed for the end of September 2010.^[8]

Coverage area

It serves the south Midlands, including Oxfordshire (excluding Henley-on-Thames), most of Buckinghamshire, north Berkshire, north east Wiltshire, south east Gloucestershire and south west Northamptonshire. 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 licencee 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

Analogue television is no longer transmitted from Oxford. 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
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	ITV1
807.25 MHz	63	500	BBC Two

Digital television Frequency UHF kW Operator 730.2 MHz 53+ 100 BBC A 746.0 MHz 55 12.5 Arqiva B 762.0 MHz 57 100 BBC B 777.8 MHz 59- 12.5 Arqiva A 785.8 MHz 60- 100 Digital 3&4 802.0 MHz 62 12.5 SDN Arqiva A & B and SDN will increase 50 kW in the future.

Before switchover Frequency UHF kW Operator 538.0 MHz 29 8 Arqiva (Mux D) 578.0 MHz 34 10 BBC (Mux 1) 690.0 MHz 48 8 Arqiva (Mux C) 713.8 MHz 51- 6 SDN (Mux A) 721.8 MHz 52- 6 BBC (Mux B) 850.0 MHz 68 10 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) Mux 1 closed on UHF 34 on 14 September 2011. Mux C temporarily operated on UHF 34 between 14 - 28 September 2011.

See also

• List of masts
• List of tallest buildings and structures in the United Kingdom
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

References

External links

• The Transmission Gallery: Photographs, information and coverage maps
• Oxford Transmitter pictures and information including co-receivable transmitters
• Oxford Transmitter at thebigtower.com