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Crystal Palace transmitter`s channels in relation to the TV band and the gain of the aerials we recommend for it.   DM Log    Log40    Yagi18A    XB16A

For Crystal Palace`s broadcast frequencies see its Channel Allocation Guides (for both before and after the DSO) at the foot  of the page. These also include the same information for most of the other major transmitters receivable within the coverage area of Crystal Palace, i.e. Sandy, Sudbury, Bluebell Hill, Dover, Tunbridge Wells, Heathfield, Reigate, Midhurst, Guildford, Rowridge, Hannington, Oxford and Hemel Hempstead. This data can

be of great use in determining possible causes of co-channel interference and/or alternative transmitters to try if Crystal Palace fails to give an adequate signal, the importance of

“Line Of Sight”. Note how most of the broadcast channels from the various transmitters “Dovetail” together but it has not been possible to eliminate potential co-channel problems. The Channel Allocation Guides can also be invaluable if you are trying to find a spare

channel for a modulated output (e.g. for a Sky box or CCTV system) to be added to your

TV setup/distribution system without suffering from co-channel. Ofcom report there are

slight restrictions from East round to South on all six digital MUXES.

DSO is due to occur in April 2012 and unsurprisingly it has been confirmed

by Ofcom that Crystal Palace will stay an A group at DSO.  

The site gets its name from the original Crystal Palace which was built for the Great Exhibition (of 1851) and moved to this site in 1854, unfortunately it was tragically destroyed by fire in 1936. Also located near the tower is the National Sports Centre of 1964. For years this housed London`s only 50m swimming pool (until a second one opened in Ealing) but it also has various sports halls plus the the well known athletics track.

* This double transmitter scenario was also used for Sutton Coldfield / Lichfield,

Emley Moor / Holme Moss and Pontop Pike / Burnhope amongst others.

Crystal Palace is situated 6 miles South of The Tower Of London, though it was built rather more recently than the latter, in 1950. Crystal palace is 222m high (a.g.l) and in some ways looks similar to the Eiffel tower in Paris although the French structure is taller at 318m.

I have often wondered why the owners of Crystal Palace don`t learn from their Parisian counterparts and build a public viewing platform. I`m sure they would recoup the investment many times over, after all it`s far higher than “The London Eye” ! In this day and age there`s bound to be some Health & Safety B******s ruling to stop it though.....

In the old 405 line VHF days the transmitter only broadcast the BBC and a second similar design (152m in height) was constructed in 1962 at Croydon for ITV * . When UHF started transmission in the 60`s (1964 from Crystal Palace) the distinction between BBC and ITV broadcasting sites was discontinued and everything was transmitted from Crystal Palace.

In fact in 1985 when the VHF signals were finally switched off it seemed Croydon`s days as a TV transmitter were over. However this was not quite the end of the story because when Channel 5 began broadcasting in 1997 Croydon was given the job of transmitting it (also at 1000kW) to the London area. Although Crystal Palace does not transmit analogue C5 the vast majority of those receiving their signals from it will still pick up C5 perfectly well because it`s within group and Croydon is only 1 mile away to the SSW !  In any event

Digital C5 (on MUX 3/A) is broadcast from Crystal Palace.

The channel planners were able to fit all the Digital / Freeview MUXES (transmitted at 20kW) within the A group along with the analogue stations so an aerial change may not be necessary. Furthermore those in poor reception areas, who may require an

upgrade, can take advantage of the superior performance of an A group aerial over a wideband. In fact such is the widebands inferiority at the bottom of the band that there is

no such thing as a “High Gain” wideband aerial for the A group frequencies and nobody should ever fit a “high gain” wideband on an A group transmitter, e.g Crystal Palace.

If the site is in a poor spot an A group aerial should be used. On the other hand if the signal is strong (or medium) then by definition it doesn`t need a “high gain” antenna anyway !

Under these circumstances a Log Periodic should be fitted instead.

See Crystal Palace transmitter`s graph.

We recommend the DM log aerial for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for medium signal areas, the Yagi18A for poor signal areas and the XB16A for those with the most

marginal signals. The dimensions and test performance of the antennas can be found

on the relevant tables. The prices of the aerials are on the Sales page.