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  ◊ 

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.

Transmitter engineering
Thursday 17 January 2013 8:14AM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 07:15 today to 07:36 today. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Thursday 17 January 2013 8:14AM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 07:15 today to 07:36 today. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 18 January 2013 5:13AM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 07:15 yesterday to 07:36 yesterday. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Saturday 19 January 2013 4:31AM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 07:15 on 17 Jan to 07:36 on 17 Jan. [BBC]
Brennig
Tuesday 22 January 2013 10:54AM Witney
Postcode: OX28 5JJ

I can't get Digital radio on my Humax. I've switched it off, switched it back on again, retuned it...

But the only stations that show up in the 700-range are:
790: Test (coming soon), and
791: Dave ja vu.

Can anyone throw any light on this please?
nickwilcock
Tuesday 22 January 2013 5:19PM Driffield
Is there a 'configuration' option in the menu? Often after I've retuned my kitchen Toshiba, I need to find the appropriate menu and check that the 'Channel list' option hasn't reset itself to 'TV only' instead of 'Show All'.
Paul
Wednesday 23 January 2013 8:01AM
"I can't get Digital radio on my Humax. I've switched it off, switched it back on again, retuned it..."

Your user manual should explain how to do this.
There might be a "TV/radio" button under the sliding cover. Press this to switch between radio and TV reception.
Any recorded radio programmes appear in the "audio" rather than the "video" list.
nickwilcock
Wednesday 23 January 2013 5:17PM Witney
I meant to say that it hadn't reset itself to 'Show All'!

And I'm NOT in Driffield!
Brennig
Wednesday 23 January 2013 5:29PM
Thanks nickwilcock and Paul.

There are no such config settings.

I used to have the full range of radio and now they've gone.

So is there anyone else receiving from the OX transmitter who can check whether they have radio?
Michael
Thursday 24 January 2013 12:48AM
Brennig: What's the Humax model number?
Paul
Friday 25 January 2013 7:48AM
"So is there anyone else receiving from the OX transmitter who can check whether they have radio?"

Yes. I do. I have.
nickwilcock
Friday 25 January 2013 5:25PM Witney
I concur. 700-716, 718, 722-725, 727-728 are all fine here in East Witney.
Transmitter engineering
Monday 28 January 2013 4:31PM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Off Air from 14:58 today. [BBC]
Roy Mercer
Monday 11 February 2013 1:23PM Cheltenham
My Television was pix elating and so I retuned it, but I have lost majority of my Freebview channels. I only seem to have BBC channels.

I live Just out side Stow on the Wold, Glos

Post code GL54 1ES

What do you suggest?
jb38
Monday 11 February 2013 3:16PM
Roy Mercer: Its never advisable to retune any TV or box unless for purposes of carrying out a pre-announced channel change, as all a retune does if carried out during a spell of iffy reception is to wipe out anything that's already stored in the tuners memory, as indeed has happened in your case.

If you carry out a second retune and find the results are still not satisfactory then your best bet is to manually tune in each of Oxfords six muxes after having cleared the tuners memory, this done by either carrying out a "factory reset" or "default setting", or if offered, selecting "first time installation" but NOT allowing an auto-tune to start should your set do that, as many do.

Enter the following mux channel numbers one at a time followed by pressing search or scan, then saving the results before entering the next mux channel number and so on.

Manual tuning will frequently pick up an iffy channel that a auto-tune has missed, as there is always an element of pull during an auto-tune that does not happen during a single mux tune.

Oxfords channels being /

BBC 53 - ITV 60 - HD 57 - SDN 62 - ArqA 59 - ArqB 55, note this latter mux is indicated as providing variable reception for your area, Oxford being 28 miles away.

Paul
Thursday 14 February 2013 8:07AM
Roy Mercer, I suggest that you unplug the TV's aerial and do a full rescan / retune. This should find no channels and store those ( none ) channels in the TV's memory. This gives you a clean starting point.

Are you sure that you use the Oxford transmitter? The clue is that you see BBC South ( Oxford ) news and Meridian News.

Then you need to manaually retune to each UHF frequency from your preferred transmitter ( which is probably Oxford ).
jb38
Thursday 14 February 2013 8:41AM
Paul: Pardon me if I am wrong, but isn't the advice given just an abbreviated version of "exactly" what I have already advised Roy Mercer as being the best policy to take three days ago?
Paul
Thursday 14 February 2013 1:09PM
Yes. It is.
I hope your advice has helped him.
Bill
Monday 4 March 2013 4:15PM
ITV1+1 just gone off.
Says it cannot legally show something.
Has Alan Titmarsh done soemthing naughty and they can't repeat it?
Can't stand the new ITV On Screen Graphic when shows are on.
Mhaffy
Sunday 24 March 2013 1:45PM
No picture today on ArqB channels (Film 4 etc) and ArqA channels unwatchable due to heavy pixelation. As no problems reported on transmitter, presumably problem is related to weather and I will have to do without these channels until it improves. Freeview is very, very frustrating and seems highly susceptible to vagaries of weather. Live in Sutton Courtenay.
Brennig
Sunday 24 March 2013 8:34PM
Sorry for taking so long to get back on this, I've been travelling.

Radio:
I restored my Humax to factory settings, did a scan and saved the results and, surprisingly, radio is back.

TV:
However, I have noticed, in the last few days, that some TV channels are subject to frame-freeze (but sound continues, unbroken), whilst a couple of other TV channels are prone to pixelation. These issues are new. Thoughts, anyone?
D Matthews
Thursday 28 March 2013 7:27PM
I n the morning i have to do a re installation on my Free view. I get full BBC Channels and others but no IT V . In the afternoon I get no BBC but the rest are ok but still no ITV.
Keith Evans
Thursday 11 April 2013 11:36PM Tring
I do not yet have freeview. My old analogue signal, from Sandy Heath, was awful (no C5 and poor C4) so now use (expensive) Sky. Would like freeview, but don't want to spend on a new arial if results will be iffy, particularly as I would wish to receive the minority channels, like Dave. What do you think please?
Thanks
jb38
Friday 12 April 2013 12:23AM
Keith Evans: Although you not appear to be located in a particularly good area for reception as none of the transmitters within range (just about anyway) indicate good reception across all six muxes, however Sandy Heath (@ 30 miles / 36 degrees) is indicated as the best bet, at least as far as the PSB channels are concerned.

Although your old aerial is not exactly ideal for all of the channels involved it would though give you a reasonably good idea of what like reception would be like on the programmes you referred to, as the aerial "is" OK for these particular muxes.

This being the case, I suggest that you try and borrow a Freeview box from someone to test out that mentioned as I feel that you might well be able to get satisfactory reception even although your analogue used to be bad, many having found that to be the case.
Keith Evans
Saturday 13 April 2013 7:50PM Tring
Thanks jb38. I did have a DVD recorder with a digital tuner, which I connected to the analogue arial, but this was while both free view and analogue were being transmitted. The result was absolutely nothing. The digital tuner found no watchable channels. So does this mean I am stuck with Sky?
It would be good if the broadcast authorities could do something for us on the very edge of several TV regions.
Thanks
jb38
Saturday 13 April 2013 8:12PM
Keith Evans: The factor you have to remember is that during the period that you have mentioned the transmitters were operating on very low power of approximately 20Kw for the BBC / ITV channels but only half of that on the commercial channels such as the ones you are seeking, and if you were residing in the same locality as you presently are then I am not surprised that you did not receive anything, whereas now the station is operating on full power with the PSB's being on 180Kw and the commercials on 170Kw, a massive difference!
jb38
Saturday 13 April 2013 8:26PM
Keith Evans: By the way the power levels mentioned was with reference to the Sandy transmitters which are located at 30 miles away / 36 degrees and is the only station indicated as providing a reasonable level of reception, whereas Oxford although being nearly 10 miles closer @ 21 miles / 268 degrees is not indicated as being able to give a satisfactory level reception, at least in theory anyway as nothing is exact when dealing with RF signals.
Transmitter engineering
Thursday 18 April 2013 10:32AM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Weak Signal from 08:07 today. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Thursday 18 April 2013 4:32PM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Weak Signal from 08:07 today to 11:34 today. FM: Radio 2 FM Weak Signal from 15:04 today to 15:21 today, Radio 3 FM Weak Signal from 15:04 today to 15:21 today. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Friday 19 April 2013 4:32AM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Weak Signal from 08:07 yesterday to 11:34 yesterday. FM: Radio 2 FM Weak Signal from 15:04 yesterday to 15:21 yesterday, Radio 3 FM Weak Signal from 15:04 yesterday to 15:21 yesterday. [BBC]
Transmitter engineering
Saturday 20 April 2013 4:32AM
OXFORD transmitter - DAB: BBC National DAB Radio Weak Signal from 08:07 on 18 Apr to 11:34 on 18 Apr. FM: Radio 2 FM Weak Signal from 15:04 on 18 Apr to 15:21 on 18 Apr, Radio 3 FM Weak Signal from 15:04 on 18 Apr to 15:21 on 18 Apr. [BBC]
Pete Jelliss
Monday 22 April 2013 11:56AM Swindon
Can anyone tell me if they are having problems with their EPG. Lately it does not tell me the full information or in some cases it does not say anything. I am on the Oxford transmitter.
Pete Jelliss
Monday 22 April 2013 11:59AM Swindon
Can anyone tell me why the 7 day EPG is not working correctly. Sometimes it has no information and other times it is very slow.
Bill
Tuesday 23 April 2013 9:21AM
I think it depends on your model of Freeview TV.
I have an AOC that takes ages to pick up EPG and others, BUSH, Tekniks?(TESCO) that are quite quick to display the current channel's programmes and other channels too.
Small Dog
Tuesday 30 April 2013 12:12PM
Not thrilled with the prospect of another retune on 29 May because of 4G. It would be nice if they sorted out one thing at a time, as although my reception is pretty good, I still lose channels in certain atmospheric conditions occasionally. Not being technically minded, quite frankly if I lose this, that and the other channel, I would not know where to start! Bring back the days when you could call in an engineer to sort it out for you instead of being expected to understand it and sort it out yourself! I suppose this is a way of getting people to pay for Sky or cable as opposed to watching Freeview. I do appreciate that there are people here doing their best to help with other people's reception problems, but am I alone in not understanding what they are talking about???
Michael
Tuesday 30 April 2013 12:41PM
Small Dog: Can you explain what's stopping you from calling in an engineer to sort it out?

And yeah you're right it's all a big conspiracy so that everyone gets a satellite dish and receiver and pays for Freesat, whoops, you don't have to pay any subscription fees for that, silly me!

If you don't understand something, then ask for a simpler explanation, it's hardly rocket surgery.
Small Dog
Wednesday 1 May 2013 11:55AM
Michael: Try finding one!! Not so easy - they're mostly Sky engineers or aerial fitters.
Michael
Wednesday 1 May 2013 12:36PM
Small Dog: Try putting your postcode into www.getmedigital.com link icon Home | Get Me Digital - I did it for a Oxford postcode and got quite a few results.
jb38
Wednesday 1 May 2013 8:44PM
Small Dog: As far as the retune on the 29th is concerned when Oxfords SDN mux (ITV3 etc) changes from Ch62 down to Ch50, that should be a relatively straightforward standard retune, although with this preferably being carried out as a "first time installation" on whatever you are using should that be an option in the set up menu.

But though as far as intermittent reception problems now and again are concerned, before seeking any outside assistance it would be advisable to enquire if any other residents in your area are also experiencing similar problems to yourself, and with my reason for saying this being, that although atmospheric conditions can cause this type of problem there is also another more common reason closer to home that can be responsible for reception problems, and I explain.

I decided to carry out a signal path check from your location heading towards the Oxford transmitter, this revealing that you don't have to travel very far along the signal path before coming across one of the main things responsible for causing the type of problem that you complain of, namely trees, as the signal from the transmitter was seen to sweep across a number of tree lined areas before reaching your location, trees being responsible for partial signal blocking as well as signal scattering, these always having a greater effect on a signal when they are located nearer to the receiving end of the signal.

Needless to say that in situations where trees are responsible the weather will always play a large part in just how much the signal is affected, windy days usually resulting in erratic signal quality being seen when viewed on the receivers signal check screen, and with the situation usually being worse dependant on other weather conditions, rain etc, and although this state of affairs is not really 100% curable as such, however a "slight" improvement in signal stability can sometimes be found in situations where a high gain aerial has been fitted, and being by removing same and fitting a lower gain and wider angle pick up type (Log Periods types ideal) used in conjunction with a booster, lower gain aerials always having a wider pick up angle hence capture more of a deviating signal.

I am of course not talking about a night and day difference, just an improvement!


Small Dog
Thursday 2 May 2013 8:47PM
jb38: Thank you very much for your help on this.
We shall see what happens on the retune (which I can do as new installation) but the ITV3 band (or mux, or whatever it is called) is the one that I tend to have problems with, so we shall wait and see.

I note your comments about the aerial. Not sure what type it is, but that can be easily checked if necessary. Many thanks again.
jb38
Thursday 2 May 2013 9:30PM
Small Dog: Yes, maybe you could give an update on the outcome of your retuning exercise on the 29th and when further advice can then be given should it prove to be necessary, basically because Ch62 dropping to Ch50 is not necessarily a plus point "if" you have a group C/D aerial fitted as the channel will then be received at near to the bottom end of the aerials lower operating range of Ch's 48 - 68, efficiency generally always starting to drop off a few channels before each end of an aerials operating range but more so where the lower end is concerned.

By the way, a C/D group aerial is identified by a green blanking plug on the end of the horizontal bar that holds all the elements.
Small Dog
Tuesday 7 May 2013 5:58PM
jb38: I can certainly report back after 29th.
jb38
Tuesday 7 May 2013 11:41PM
Small Dog: Yes, please do!
BRUCE RICHARDSON
Thursday 16 May 2013 9:31PM
which aerial group do I need please? Living at Croughton, we receive south programmes but the only radio times we can buy is LONDON/ANGLIA/MIDLANDS,
Dave Lindsay
Thursday 16 May 2013 10:07PM
BRUCE RICHARDSON: If the "South" programming you are referring to is being picked via terrestrial television (Freeview) then you must surely be receiving it from Hannington.

From Croughton, both Hannington and Oxford transmitters are on bearings less than 10 degrees apart. As Hannington uses lower UHF channels (frequencies) it will be picked up first during the scan and receivers may default to it.

Try running the scan with the aerial unplugged for the first 50% in an effort to miss out Hannington and get Oxford.
Paul
Monday 20 May 2013 8:24AM
Does your BBC1 South programme include Oxford news at 6.30pm?

The only RT available could be the wrong one. The newspaper industry has always had problems keeping up with TV regions in this area.
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