Freeview: Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) full-Freeview transmitter
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Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter

Google StreetviewGoogle mapBing mapGoogle Earth51.790,-1.179 or 51°47'25"N 1°10'46"WOX3 9SS

4G at 800MHz (at800) Freeview reception issues

A retune will happen 29 May 2013 to clear C62: COM4 C62 to C50. When 800MHz 4G mobile broadband services start there will be 2 multiplexes in the higher risk range (C21-23, C30, C59-60): C59: ArqA, C60: D3+4
See How do I know if the 4G broadband will overload my Freeview? and Full UK map of 4G issue areas for details.

Transmitter fauls and engineering works



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The symbol shows the location of the Oxford transmitter which serves 410,000 homes.

Other maps:Oxford DABOxford AM/FMOxford regionBBC OxfordCentral (South micro region)

Radiation patterns

Radiation patterns withheld

Map key

The bright green areas shown where the signal from this transmitter is strong, dark green areas are poorer signals. Those parts shown in yellow may have interference on the same frequency from other masts.

Oxford transmitter Freeview broadcasts

If you have any kind of Freeview fault, follow this Freeview reset procedure first.

Digital television services are broadcast on a multiplexes (or Mux) where many stations occupy a single broadcast frequency, as shown below. The rating shown takes in account the output power level and the various Freeview transmission modes and do not indicate an ongoing fault.

MuxEffective power level, aerial positionRatingModeWatts
PSB1
BBCA
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
Channel icons
1 BBC One Oxford, 2 BBC Two England, 7 BBC Three, 9 BBC Four, 70 CBBC Channel, 71 CBeebies, 80 BBC News, 81 BBC Parliament, 301 301, plus 12 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C53+ (730.2MHz) from 295m datum.
PSB2
D3+4
 horizontal
Maximum64QAM 8K 2/3
24.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		100,000
Channel icons
3 ITV (Central (South micro region)), 4 Channel 4 South ads, 5 Channel 5 Part Network ads, 6 ITV 2, 13 Channel 4+1 South ads, 14 More 4, 28 E4, 33 ITV +1 (Central west),
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C60- (785.8MHz) from 295m datum.
PSB3
BBCB
 horizontal
Maximum256QAM 32KE 2/3
40.2Mb/s
DVB-T2 MPEG4		100,000
Channel icons
101 BBC One HD (England no regional news), 102 BBC Two HD (England), 103 ITV HD (ITV Central West), 104 Channel 4 HD South ads, plus 1 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C57 (762.0MHz) from 295m datum.
COM4
SDN
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
Channel icons
10 ITV 3, 20 G.O.L.D. (not free), 25 Dave ja vu, 26 Home (not free), 27 ITV 2 +1, 30 5*, 31 5USA, 34 ESPN UK (not free), 38 Quest, 39 The Zone, 44 Channel 5 +1, 72 CITV, plus 22 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C62 (802.0MHz) from 295m datum.
COM5
ArqA
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
Channel icons
 TV News,  TV Stars, 11 PICK TV, 12 Dave, 17 Really, 29 E4+1, 32 Movie Mix, 46 Challenge, 48 Food Network, 82 Sky News, 87 Community Channel, plus 9 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C59- (777.8MHz) from 319m datum.
COM6
ArqB
 horizontal
Above average64QAM 8K 3/4
27.1Mb/s
DVB-T MPEG2		50,000
Channel icons
15 Film 4, 18 4Music, 19 Yesterday, 21 VIVA, 24 ITV 4, 41 Sky Sports 1 (not free), 42 Sky Sports 2 (not free), 47 4seven, 83 Al Jazeera English, 85 RT English , plus 21 others
• as a digital multiplex transmitted on frequency C55 (746.0MHz) from 319m datum.


Regional news from the Oxford transmitter


BBC South (Oxford) Today 0.4m homes 1.6%
from Oxford OX2 7DW, 6km west-southwest
to BBC Oxford region - 6 masts.

ITV Central News 0.7m homes 2.7%
from Birmingham B1 2JT, 91km north-northwest
to ITV Central (South) region - 25 masts.

How the transmission frequencies change over time

years1950s~851984-971997-981998-20112011-1329/5/13-2013-18
aerial groupVHFC/D EC/D EWC/D EC/D EW
C2BBCtv
C29D
600C31com7
C341
C37com8
C48C
700C49C5C5
C50SDNSDN
C51-Alocal
C52-B
C53C4C4C4+BBCA+BBCA+BBCA
C55ArqBArqBArqB
C57BBC1BBC1BBC1BBCBBBCBBBCB
C59-ArqA-ArqA-ArqA
C60ITVITVITV-D3+4-D3+4-D3+4
800C62SDN
C63BBC2BBC2BBC2
C682

orange background for multiplexes names moregreen background for transmission frequencieslilac background for power levels in watts800MHz band: 4G mobile to start in 2013700MHz band: possible 4G in 2019 more600MHz band: new or moved digital TV services more
Notes: + and - denote 166kHz offset; aerial group are shown as A B C/D E K W
Italics for analogue, digital switchover was Wednesdays 14th September and 28th September 2011.

  • Ofcom have projected that a local television service for Oxford including Abingdon, Didcot could use an Interleaved Frequency on the Oxford transmitter using C51
  • COM7, COM8 projected for 2013-16.

Comparison of old analogue and current digital signal levels

Analogue 1-4 500kW
com7, com8, BBCA, D3+4, BBCB(-7dB) 100kW
SDN, ARQA, ARQB(-10dB) 50kW
Analogue 5(-11dB) 40kW
Mux 1*, Mux 2*(-17dB) 10kW
Mux C*, Mux D*(-18dB) 8kW
Mux A*, Mux B*(-19.2dB) 6kW

History of Channel 3 in the Oxford transmitter area

• Breakfast ◊ Weekends ♦ Friday night and weekends † Weekdays only. Oxford was not an original Channel 3 VHF 405-line mast: the historical information shown is the details of the company responsible for the transmitter when it began transmitting Channel 3.


Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

firstFirst comments prevEarlier comments  ◊  Later commentsnext Latest commentslast

Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Matthew
Monday 10 October 2011 3:14PM
Hi yes it sounds like this one socket isnt getting enough signal, this could be due to a wiring problem, i.e. poor quality cable or poorly made connections at the end of the cables (the brading should never be touching the centre core!), or simply that splitting the cabel that many ways is killing the signal too much. Try checking your connections first, if that still fails, use a masthead amp such as this (http://tradeworks.tv/acatalog/Vision_4_Way_Variable_10-20dB.html), this can be powered remotely - ideal for lofts with no plugs, or a simple TV amplifier such as this (http://tradeworks.tv/acatalog/Triax_4_Way_TV_Amplifier.html).
jb38
Monday 10 October 2011 3:20PM
Paul: Yes, Hannington might well be, but I think you are overlooking the fact that apart from it being roughly 50 miles away from Oxford its also only transmitting on low power (20Kw), so if any signal was actually received (which is very doubtful) then its most unlikely to be at any level that a box could lock onto.

Emley Moor is the only station that does transmit on high power on both Mux Ch's 51 & 52, but once again at a distance that it also can be disregarded for the same aforementioned reason.

Sutton Coldfield does not use Ch50, it having been previously used by Ch4 analogue, although I assume that you have seen this error on Wolbane's site (or what was) when they refer to the PSB3 Mux, as it should be Mux Ch40.

As it was anyway, the box being used did not show channel numbers in the progress bar, making this part of the info supplied to be a bit on the academic side, although I will agree that the aerial out procedure until a certain channel is reached is always a bit iffy, especially when so many stations have their multiplexes weaved between that of other stations.


Paul
Monday 10 October 2011 4:34PM
Thanks for that feedback.
I don't know where I read that SC uses CH50. Thanks for correcting me.
Hannington, even on its current power level, is a problem in north Oxfordshire, where Hannington and Beckley are the same direction.
Robert
Monday 10 October 2011 7:18PM Swindon
Chris, sorry for delay, yes. What I am getting is a huge amount of static on the fly lead from the Thompson box. So much in fact that the spark is clearly visible when removing the lead.

On another set, which was working fine on it's own outside aerial I have had to re-instate the booster for channels 15/24 etc. SN3 4ST
Michael Dalgleish
Monday 10 October 2011 9:15PM
Robert - if you are seeing a spark, you may have a dangerous situation. Suggest you resolve that first before doing anything else! Mike
Paul
Monday 10 October 2011 10:17PM
I 've found where I read that Sutton Coldfield uses ch50: it's in the Television Viewers' Guide.
I'm pleased that I'm not going mad.
Thanks for the correction.
Nicholas
Tuesday 11 October 2011 10:34AM Luton
Sorry, I should have given the whole picture. I'm getting EPG for Sandy Heath, and some (but not all) Crystal Palace, but nothing at all for Oxford. My box has also allocated ITV Oxford at position 3, but put BBC Oxford in the 900s. I'm getting all 5 muxes (6 in the case of Crystal Palace) on all three transmitters, so presumably it's not that I'm missing the mux that the EPG is transmitted on.
Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 11 October 2011 3:09PM
Nicholas: The standard Freeview EPG is transmitted on all multiplexes. Each multiplex transmits its own information more frequently than others, and information about programmes coming up sooner more frequently than later events, but it does all get sent and repeat after a few minutes. Some boxes can get very confused with a mix of different services from different transmitters.

I'd start off by doing a full reset or first-time installation with the aerial unplugged, then doing a manual search for the transmissions from your most preferred transmitters. If that is then reliable, do a manual search for just the regional services (BBC A and D3&4) on your second preferred transmitter, which will put those services in the 800s. If it stops being reliable after that, you'll know where the problem lies.

Some equipment does still use a proprietary EPG. Top-Up TV's EPG is attached to TOPUP Anytime 1, Guide+ to bid.tv, and RadioTimes Extra to Television X. All three are on Mux A/SDN.
Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 11 October 2011 3:38PM
Paul: Ofcom's official documentation of Sutton Coldfield's frequencies was re-issued in January this year, to move BBC B's allocated channel from C50 to C40, and ArqB from C49 to C39. This is part of the plan to free C61 and C62 for 4G mobiles - basically C39 and C40 were going to be freed but are now kept. However, a direct move from C62 to C40 or C61 to C39 would affect a lot of people, as they aren't in the same group, so the compromise is *generally* to move allocations of C62 to C50 and C61 to C49, and move C50 to C40 and C49 to C39, where there is a clash.

Yes, this means there will be another retune at Oxford some time in the next two years, to move SDN from C62 to somewhere else, although it *should* remain in Group C/D.

Hannington C50 isn't particularly low at 20kW, that actually made it joint equal most powerful pre-switchover transmitter, with Crystal Palace, Rowridge and Sandy Heath! Post-switchover PSB power levels are only 4 dB higher at 50 kW (COM power levels are 1 dB higher than at present, 25 kW).
Alex Wilde
Tuesday 11 October 2011 3:51PM
Steve P / Matthew;
Thanks for responding, problem now fixed - it was a dodgy cable.
Nicholas
Tuesday 11 October 2011 4:44PM Luton
Mike Dimmick:

Thanks for your reply. My box is ex Top up TV (Thomson; can't remember the model) and doesn't have a manual scan facility.
Steve P
Tuesday 11 October 2011 5:12PM
Nicholas - you can unplug and replug the aerial lead during auto tuning to pick the channels you want.
Paul
Wednesday 12 October 2011 7:50AM
"Paul: Ofcom's official documentation of Sutton Coldfield's frequencies was re-issued in January this year, to move BBC B's allocated channel from C50 to C40...
Hannington C50 isn't particularly low at 20kW, that actually made it joint equal most powerful pre-switchover transmitter, with Crystal Palace, Rowridge and Sandy Heath! ..." [ Mike Dimmick ].
Thanks for that, Mike. A friend near Banbury was pleased that she had done her own retunes, with no help from me. When I checked her equipment, two of the five MUXes had tuned to Hannington instead of Oxford. Hannington's signals are a problem in this area, despite their current slightly low power.
Tigminor
Wednesday 12 October 2011 3:00PM Faringdon
Hi!

Returned home today from 2 weeks holiday abroad (I did think of you all retuning on 28 Sept) and retuned my own TVs about an hour ago. (I live in Faringdon, by the way and receive transmission from the Oxfor4d mast). PSB1, PSB2 and PSB3 with all aassociated channels are great, but SDN, ArqA and ArqB are pretty grim, and I njow have either no reception or flashing on and off on programmes for these wavelengths (can't watch my favourite QVC or the Jewellery Channel!!!). Do I understand that these will be sorted when further retuning is necessary next April? I can see from the diagrams on the web page that the frequencies are all very low on these. At least I have good ITV1 reception now - got very tired of watching Corrie on the internet all the time!! Sorry I am so completely untechnical (I am sure there are plenty of other ladies who aren't!!!), but I am just wondering if it is worth leaving it alone with what I have and waiting until April.

Thanks in anticipation of a non-technical answer....
Steve P
Wednesday 12 October 2011 3:17PM
tigi - have you looked back - others have probably already solved the same problems - maybe too STRONG a signal, ar a box that no longer works
Paul
Wednesday 12 October 2011 4:42PM
Tigminor, did SDN, ArqA and ArqB work before September?
Tigminor
Wednesday 12 October 2011 4:56PM Faringdon
Paul - Yes they did. The only problem I had before was with Mux 2.
Chris.SE
Friday 14 October 2011 12:01AM
Robert: Sorry not to respond sooner, I don't have any suggestions as to why you should have problems with 1 or 2 channels on a particular mux but not other channels on the same mux, other than make sure that you've done a full reset/new install on the box.

This "static". Do you only get the spark after the flylead has been connected for a while or can you get it every time you disconnect the lead even if it's within a second or so of reconnection?
If you disconnect the box from the TV, do you still get the spark?
Can you get a spark if you touch the flylead to mains earth (the earth on a mains socket - wire a plug with a wire to the earth pin only for the test)?

Regarding the booster, yes you're very liklely to need to carry on using one - signal is not very strong (especially the COM muxes - I'll be posting further on that.).
Chris.SE
Friday 14 October 2011 12:37AM
Tigminor: I'm surprised you are having a problem with the SDN mux (QVC, The Jewellery Channel, 5*, etc) as you had it OK before DSO and the power has doubled although still low until April next year when the situation should be better with power increases on the COM muxes.
Digital UK's reception predictor for your location isn't good for the Arq A & Arq B muxes at this time, I can only guess that there is possibly a lot of multipath or local screening in your location (did you get much ghosting on the old analogue pictures at all?), especially as further towards Swindon on a virtually identical bearing reception is better.

I doubt that you are getting too strong a signal at your location, but if you are using a booster, try turning it down (if variable) or bypass it just in case the situation is improved. Other than that reception of the COM muxes willl continue to fluctuate until the power increase.

It is worth checking that your TV's are tuned to Oxford & not any other transmitters since power has increased. Do a full reset/new install by following the link "Freeview reset procedure" in the yellow box below, BUT instead of doing an automatic tune, do a manual one using UHF channels C53,C55,C59,C60,C62 & C57 for the HD mux.
Tigminor
Friday 14 October 2011 10:48AM Faringdon
Chris - many thanks for your help. Actually, the problem has now righted itself on my main tv and I am receiving all channels steady and clear. The three channels I mentioned previously are still not working on the set in my bedroom, though I have the same make and model of settop box and it is obviously working through the same aerial so makes not much sense to me. However, I hardly ever use that set so am not bothered. The main thing is all is now ok on my main set. Thank you for taking the time to help and I will note your comments.
Phil
Friday 14 October 2011 8:41PM
Since the oxford retune mux c programs are impossible to watch due to breakup. We are in WIndsor off the crystal palace transmitter. When will the power be turned back up?
Mike Dimmick
Saturday 15 October 2011 7:23AM
Phil: Can you provide a full postcode please?

If anything, Oxford's switchover should have *improved* your reception of Crystal Palace Mux C, because Oxford no longer uses C34. This channel is one of those being cleared for the "digital dividend" so no transmitters have started up digital services on this channel after switchover.

I can't say I'm having any issues with Mux C in Reading, or at least no more issues than before.
Phil
Saturday 15 October 2011 12:48PM Windsor
Sl4 4yz (Sl4 4yz)
Briantist
Saturday 15 October 2011 4:05PM
Phil: The changes at Oxford should have had no effect on your viewing from Crystal Palace. Can you have a look at www.ukfree.tv link icon Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?
David
Saturday 15 October 2011 9:10PM
I receive freeview from the Oxford transmitter. Since switch over my Humax PVR 9300 will not pick up the multiplex D channels. All the other digiboxes (separate or combined) pick up the channels! I have done ALL the recommended steps (power off, reset defaults, specific channel search etc).
Help!
Steve P
Sunday 16 October 2011 2:15AM
Have you tried switching boxes round to see if it changes anything?

Think I read somewhere that the 60 MINUS channels gives problems with some kit.
Jean Brennan
Sunday 16 October 2011 5:39PM Aylesbury
Sorry Guys I am not a tech sort of person all I know is I have a small freeview tv that I use at Clifton Hampden pointed at the Oxford transmitter 6 miles away the reception was rubbish lots of channels missing so we pointed the aerial at Hannington. Fabulous 151 channels and no pixelating. So brought the tv home to Aylesbury plugged into the roof aerial pointing at Oxford rubbish yet again! only problem is I cant just turn this aerial round So I just think the Oxford transmitter has more problems than it realises!
David Pinfold
Sunday 16 October 2011 7:10PM Banbury
Jean Brennan - There are definitely no problems with the Oxford transmitter. Since DSO I have been able to reliably receive all the multiplexes on 4 TVs using 1 aerial & a passive splitter here in Banbury. It may be that the signal you are receiving is too strong (in which case you will need to fit an attenuator) or there may be another problem with your aerial installation.
mst
Monday 17 October 2011 1:28AM Oxford
Jean Brennan - 151 channels is not fabulous, it means you are receiving from more than one transmitter, I'm sure Brian has a guide on this site but you need to manually tune just from the Oxford mux numbers and/or delete the poor ones from wrong Tx.
Nicholas
Monday 17 October 2011 10:23AM Luton
Mike,

Thanks for your help. It was mux B from Crystal Palace on ch 28 that was causing all the problems with the Oxford EPG. Did a retune pulling out the aerial after ch 27, and putting it back in again very quickly at ch 29! All the Oxford channels are also now back in their proper place, with Crystal Palace in the 800s and Sandy Heath in the 900s.
Spartan
Monday 17 October 2011 4:43PM
HD channels. I suspect that my freeview receiver (Philips DTR 220/05) isn't technically capable of resolving the BBCB HD mux. I have tried a manual tune for Ch.57 but it found nothing. All other mux's are showing 100% now.

Can someone kindly confirm my findings...
Adam B
Monday 17 October 2011 5:29PM Dunstable
Spartan:

Your suspicions are correct, the box cannot see HD transmissions.

Hope this helps,
Adam.
jb38
Monday 17 October 2011 5:33PM
Spartan: Yes, you are quite correct, as that box is not fitted with a DVB-T2 tuner which is necessary for HD reception, the DVB-T tuner as is fitted in your box just ignoring HD signals.
jb38
Monday 17 October 2011 5:36PM
Adam B: Duplicate posting not intentional Adam, didnt notice you had replied!
Spartan
Monday 17 October 2011 5:58PM
Many thanks guys...
Susan
Monday 17 October 2011 8:02PM
For several days the reception in our part of Headington for ITV3 has been lost- I retuned a digital tv today and am down to 80 channels from over 100 after the switchover in September. Is there anything else I should be considering ?( I have my Father on at me from time to time).
Briantist
Monday 17 October 2011 8:27PM
Susan: Please see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for help.
Christine
Tuesday 25 October 2011 9:39AM Cirencester
Can anyone help, please? We have a Goodmans Freeview box and also an old Wharfedale Freeview box. Everything was working fine before the Digital Switchover, but now our pictures (on most channels) frequently freeze and then jump. Also, we often get a brief, strange sound (a bit like a switch), followed by a brief reduction in volume before it gradually improves. Confusingly, it doesn't seem to happen much when the telly is first switched on, but gets worse.

Better on the Goodmans box, but it still happens.

Any advice gratefully received - thank you!
Briantist
Tuesday 25 October 2011 2:31PM
Christine: Can you please have a look at the Freeview signals: too much of a good thing is bad for you | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for a check list?
Robert
Wednesday 26 October 2011 8:48AM Swindon
SN3 4ST. Pixilation last night for all my aerials and to a lesser extent this morning, on Coms 4. Was this just due to the rain. Every other Com and PBS were fine.
mst
Wednesday 26 October 2011 9:36AM
@Robert

The SDN mux is on the highest frequency C62 at lowest power so will be the first to suffer. Power is supposed to be raised next April, at some point in the future the Channel No will change down
Briantist
Wednesday 26 October 2011 11:09AM
Robert: As a general rule, if the signal gets worse during rain the usual reason is that the water is getting into the cables.

You would normally just replace the aerial cable with a new run. Satellite-grade cable is the best to use if you are going to do that.
Christine
Wednesday 26 October 2011 12:46PM Cirencester
Christine:

Brian - thank you. I've a feeling we did unplug the booster things, but will double-check again. Come back, analogue, all is forgiven!

Christine
David Pinfold
Wednesday 26 October 2011 4:58PM Banbury
Robert - I noticed the same effect on the Com muxes last night here in Banbury although the PSB's were absolutely fine. I used to notice the same thing happening when it rained on the old MUX2 (now D3+4) which used to broadcast at similar power (10KW ERP) & in 64QAM mode on C68. The will problem will probably resolve itself next April when the COM muxes power up to 50KW ERP.
Robert
Thursday 27 October 2011 7:19PM Swindon
Brian/David thanks. I think we will live with it for now, we have 4 aerials. We have over the last year replaced practically every cable, plugs, outlet plates costing hundreds of pounds when the boosters were added to compensate for the poor signal strength so a few months more just to see won't hurt.
Robert
Saturday 29 October 2011 11:34AM Swindon
Hi Brian, yes I was very aware of that so removed the boosters after the 28th, and things were fine but within a couple of weeks once again we started to get break up on the weaker channels so put a number of boosters back which stabilised the single again, as I say until the night the rains came.
Briantist
Saturday 29 October 2011 12:34PM
Robert: And, as we have been over this before, you have already replaced the cables, because the usual reason for problems during rain is that water is getting in the cables or connectors causing a short circuit...
Bill
Monday 31 October 2011 9:09AM Leighton Buzzard
Heavy rain or a thunderstorm can certainly interrupt signals. I've see my Sky box loose signal for seconds and sometimes minutes at a time during heavy rain. Then it comes back by itself. Surely if water had got into the cables, the interruption would have been longer? During the weak freeview signals of the last few years, my freeview reception has certainly been affect too by heavy rain.
Briantist
Monday 31 October 2011 9:51AM
Bill: They are different systems, rain is a problem for satellite reception because the signals come from a satellite over central Africa and a very weak indeed and at a higher frequency.

Indeed, it is not normally the rain that is falling on you at the time that effects satellite reception, but that at some distance away.

As I said, rain cannot effect Freeview reception directly, the issue is the rain water getting into the cables causing a short.



Please post a question, answer or commentIf you have Freeview reception problems before posting a question your must first do this Freeview reset procedure then see: Freeview reception has changed, Single frequency interference, and Freeview intermittent interference.

If you have no satellite signal, see Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fault'

If you have other problems, please provide a full (not partial) postcode (or preferably enter it in box at the top right) and indicate where if aerial is on the roof, in the loft or elsewhere.

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