As at the end of the 700MHz clearance (early 2020) there are around 1126 * TV transmitters in the UK all listed here (downloads an Excel file : courtesy of Martin Brown). Of those transmitters 50 are “main” transmitters (e.g. Crystal Palace), and 30 are larger repeaters (e.g. Sheffield). Together these make up the 80 original digital transmitters, plus there were 12 more 6 MUX transmitters added during the 700MHz clearance (2017 to 2020). The remaining transmitters are mainly smaller repeaters (e.g. Oughtibridge) which only transmit the 3 main PSB MUXES, though to be fair that’s most of the channels the majority of people watch.
* excludes “self help” transmitters, it also counts dual polarisation transmitters and those with two different regions (which may even be transmitted in different directions) as only one transmitter.

Antenna arrays : (main transmitters) Waltham.
Antenna arrays : (relay/repeater transmitters) Oughtibridge.
Antenna arrays : (manufacturers) ROHN and RFS
Log Periodic Aerials on the repeaters : details of the Chelton GD2000.
Base of masts : (cylindrical) Belmont and (spaceframe) Ridge Hill including figures for the weight of masts and details of self supporting towers.
Building a guyed mast :
- Constructing stayed masts (MB21)
- How Holme Moss was built (video, external link)
- Mendlesham : the first 1000ft mast erected in the UK in 1959 (video, external link)
How high is high ? :
- Ascent of Winter Hill transmitter with helmet cam
- Man on a mission at Sandy transmitter.
Feeder cables : Waltham’s feeder cables (including “duplication”).
Mast stays : They aren’t straight ( ! ) and the anchor blocks
Painting Bilsdale transmitter : “The Bosun’s Chair” system used and details of the type of paint finish used.
Population coverage : TV transmitters and FM transmitters

Just how big would Emley Moor transmitter (TX) look next to Belmont (as originally built) ?
How big would one of the shorter TXs, like The Wrekin, look next to Belmont ?
Just how small would our shop look next to the shortest of the main TXs, The Wrekin ?

Time to fall from the top......
The times in the above table for the object to hit the ground are calculated in free space. Obviously these structures are not built in vacuums, but if the object being dropped was made of a dense material (like a spanner for instance....) I wouldn’t have thought the calculated figures would be that far out. In fact, in August 2011, John Sager did some calculations (of the time and velocity reached) taking into account the effect of air resistance/drag. The example was of a spanner, a 19mm combination spanner (weight 138g) in fact. To simplify matters it was assumed that the drag was similar to a piece of metal strip 225mm x 20mm x 5mm, these equate to the average dimensions of the spanner. John did two sets of calculations, the first if the spanner was falling "end on", and the second if it were falling "side (flat) on". This makes a big difference because the drag is proportional to the frontal area of the object. [link]

For what it’s worth I reckon the spanner may well fall open end first because there’s more drag on the (opposite) ring end, and in addition there’s a weight bias toward the open end.

Which are the most powerful TV transmitters ?
(Also see Top 12 FM transmitters)

Just as a bit of fun I compiled this "Top Twenty (one)". The power levels are often different for the PSB MUXES (1 to 3) and the COM MUXES (4 to 6), but I’ve given precedence to the former because far more people watch them, and the programmes on them are (slightly) less likely to be crap, or repeats....

The simple way is to use the Digital UK coverage checker, but it isn’t 100% accurate, it takes no account of local conditions (e.g. tall trees or buildings)

When considering which transmitter to receive your signals from always remember the critical factor is “Line Of Sight”, generally speaking this is far more important than which is the nearest.

If you’re already on a transmitter and just replacing your aerial then you can identify the transmitter from the frequencies (or channel numbers, note the difference ! ) of the programmes you have tuned in on your TV. The best way is to consult the Channel Allocation Guides of the transmitters we have a dedicated page. Alternatively use the Digital UK coverage checker.

If your aerial is vertically polarised it is almost certainly aligned on a repeater transmitter. All but two main transmitters are horizontal but bear in mind that some people have incorrectly polarised aerials !
However, not quite 100% of horizontally polarised aerials are on main transmitters, because a few repeaters are horizontally polarised ! ? !

If you’re trying to locate a new transmitter then bear in mind that TV aerials are very directional (particularly if they’re “high gain”) so the simplest way to find out which transmitter you may be on is by checking which way your antenna faces !
Alternatively, at your location, which way do most (or preferably all....) of the other antennas face ? This is a pretty reliable guide but it’s not infallible. We’ve occasionally done installs where every other aerial is utilising a particular transmitter (usually the nearest one......) with imperfect results, we’ve decided to try a different one and it’s come up trumps !

Now check on ATV transmitter Map or Main Transmitters map or MB21’s map page or Ofcom Maps

If there is more than one transmitter in a particular direction check if the polarity of the aerial(s) gives an indication as to which is the correct one.

You should bear in mind that some transmitters (mainly repeaters) have restricted radiation patterns, this is mainly to prevent co-channel interference with other TXs using the same frequencies, see article on transmitter radiation patterns. The Digital UK postcode checker knows whether the TXs radiation pattern is restricted in your direction !

Remember that if you are realigning your aerial (to test the signal from a different transmitter), you MUST retune your TV or you won’t get anything at all !

This site does not provide TV transmitter coverage maps because at best they are misleading and at worst they are downright inaccurate !

The Digital UK / Freeview postcode checker is the most widely used predictor.
The predictor is also very useful for getting all the current bang up to date information on a particular transmitter. All you have to do is put the postcode of the transmitter (or somewhere near it) into the system and all the relevant info is bought up. At one time (before the system was downgraded) I had direct links to all the transmitter predictions on my site. Unfortunately, very unfortunately, in Nov 2019 it became impossible to access these*, so sorry about that. In fact, for just over a year, you could not even directly access the only bit actually worth using, the "Detailed view", though fortunately that direct link was reinstated in March 2021. The "Detailed View" brings up far more information including any planned changes. Furthermore, by hovering the cursor over the channel number, it brings up the transmission power, which can be well worth worth knowing. Generally the predictor is a bit pessimistic, but not always…… The other problem with it is it doesn't warn of potential excessive signal which can sometimes be just as big a problem as insufficient signal.

*Exceptionally frustrating....... Incidentally have you ever noticed that most IT "upgrades" are actually "downgrades" ? Incredible as it may seem we have to remember that someone was actually paid good money to ruin the DUK / Freeview predictor !

Also worth trying, as much for interest as anything else, is this aerial alignment calculator, which also has a “site to transmitter topography profile”. Most people don’t know their latitude and longitude so, for your location (= “Where is the receiving aerial?”) click on the drop down tab and select postcode if required. There doesn’t appear to be a facility to enter your street number but your location can be moved when (later) you’re in the “map function”. The calculator sometimes appears to be reluctant to switch from “map” to “profile” (it seems fine in the other direction), if so just click “clear” and click straight onto “profile”. For the transmitter just click the drop down tab and then select the desired filter. Note that for our shop’s location the site to transmitter topography profile appeared to be overly pessimistic in its signal prediction, e.g. the shop (S6 2LL) gets a reasonably good signal off Emley Moor.

Post code predictions can sometimes be highly amusing, and this is particularly the case in sparsely populated areas where the geographical areas are larger, e.g. our test site. In fact a reception predictor (pre DSO) for our test site advised a “High Gain” or even an ’Amplified Extra High Gain’ aerial, yet even before the huge digital switchover power increase in 2011 the signal levels off Emley were too large, and that was off a DM Log !
Infamously we once got a call (pre switchover) from a customer near Owler Bar on the outskirts of Sheffield who’d been advised by the checker that she couldn’t get digital. But Owler Bar is over 1000ft in altitude, on the NE side of a mountain facing Belmont, so what do you think ? ! ? In fact she could probably have picked up the low power pre switchover signals from Bilsdale and Crosspool (Sheffield), with a chance of Emley Moor as well !
The table below tells its own story, try using some of the coverage predictors with these post codes, see how accurate, or not, they are !

Transmitter Radiation Patterns

It’s very useful to know if the transmitter you’re thinking of using is actually transmitting full power in your direction. The Digital UK postcode predictor takes this into account, but, as we’ve already discovered, postcode predictors can be rather inaccurate. Now, as already discussed “the powers that be” are reluctant to tell people what direction the transmitter(s) actually transmit in. However, Brian Butterworth, like a white night on a rampant stallion, used the Freedom of Information act to get some of the radiation patterns released. Unfortunately many of the patterns have been withheld, and, worse, many of them are for the bigger transmitters used by the most people, although, to be fair, most main transmitters have Omni directional radiation patterns anyway.
In the meantime Mike Dimmick was the first to actually convert the data into easily understood patterns, which are listed below by region. On each pattern the top (0 degrees) is North. The further towards the centre the pattern is (in any particular direction) the greater the attenuation of the signal in that direction, if it’s right on the edge of the outer circle that’s full power for that transmitter. However, it’s important to realise that even if the pattern is right towards the middle (i.e showing maximum attenuation) the transmitter will still be giving some signal out, it just means it’ll be harder to pick it up, particularly if the transmitter is one of the lower power relays and/or you’re in a poor signal area.

Below is the transmission radiation pattern of Oughtibridge.

Single Frequency Networks (SFNs)

A Single Frequency Network, or SFN, is when a number of transmitters all broadcast the same signal at the same frequency. The best example of this is the DAB network*, partly because a lot of car drivers use this service and it’d be annoying, and dangerous, if they had to continually retune their radios as they travelled between areas served by the various transmitters. However there are the odd examples of TV transmitters also using SFNs, the most significant being the group made up of The Wrekin, Bromsgrove and Lark Stoke.

But isn’t co-channel interference one of the big problems for signal reception ?
Well yes it is, but when utilising an SFN the broadcasters get round this by ensuring the same signal is broadcast by all the transmitters and that all the transmitters are locked in phase with each other.

But surely just because the signal is transmitted at the same phase from transmitters that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be in phase at all points in any area ?
That’s correct, but the transmissions have a guard interval built into them to enable them to accommodate a certain amount of phase difference. This phase difference is effectively mutipath reception (which manifested itself as "ghosting" with analogue television signals), and so long as the phase difference does not exceed the guard interval all will be well. In addition, the data in the signal is effectively transmitted more than once across the 8MHz width of the transmitted MUX, thus if the signals are out of phase for one frequency, they can’t be out of phase for the other(s).
However…. Because the guard interval is only effective if the phase difference isn’t excessive, using a high gain directional aerial over any countrywide SFN (e.g. DAB) may bring in a transmitter which is so far away a phase difference is introduced to the signal(s) which the guard interval cannot cope with.

So if SFNs work why don’t they save loads of frequencies (which they can then sell off) and transmit the 6 television MUXES on the same 6 frequencies all over the country ?
Three reasons.
First : there are regional variations in transmissions.
Second : there are significant numbers of grouped aerials out there.
Third (and most significantly) : a large area SFN would require an increase in the guard interval which would necessitate a decrease in the digital bit rate, or, to simplify, fewer and/or more highly compressed channels.

So why doesn’t everyone fit wideband aerials to at least get over the 2nd problem ?
Well wideband aerials don’t work as well as grouped aerials, particularly for the A group.

* NOTE : for DAB omni directional aerials are actually preferable, but only if their is sufficient signal strength for their use, see DAB 3 element, an aerial which, very handily, can be converted from a higher gain directional to a lower gain omni by removing its reflector and its director.

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. Alternatively call the reception advice phone numbers (below), remember, they’re paid to advise you, unlike us.

If it’s a "fault" on your digital, first try retuning your box (or TV).
Retuning help is available on the Digital UK / Freeview retuning page and on telephone number 08546 05 11 22
Alternatively try phoning the supplier where you bought the TV / digibox.

Also see basic digital TV fault finding.

Next try Digital UK planned transmitter work.

The BBC page for reception problems used to be useful when it listed all the transmitters experiencing problems, unfortunately in April 2010 it changed to a post code search type format which is rather less useful/accurate, but you can always try it if you’re desperate.

Remember that wherever possible transmitters aren’t worked on in the evenings and, particularly, at weekends. So if your signal gets poor all of a sudden check it’s still poor that night, or over the next weekend, if you can wait. There is an embargo on transmitter work over Christmas and at other periods of peak viewing, e.g. when big sporting events are on. So if the signal goes off half way through the Men’s 100m Olympic final, it’s unlikely to be (planned) transmitter work.......

Reception advice phone numbers :
03700 100 123 (for BBC)
0344 881 4150 (for ITV)
0345 076 0191 (for C4)
020 3580 3600 (for C5)
(Correct as at May 2019)