Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
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Sheffield / Crosspool transmitter.
Apparently It`s also known as Tapton Hill, but I`ve never heard anyone “in the trade” refer to it by this moniker.
Incidentally the TX isn`t really in someone`s back garden,
not quite anyway !
“That`s a tight fit missus”.
What`s particularly
interesting about this shot
is that a house right next
to the transmitter is
actually on Emley Moor !
Nothing could give a more
perfect demonstration that
distance to the TX is often
a relatively unimportant
consideration !
View of Crosspool transmitter looking NE from Ringinglow. The television TX is one the right
of the two masts on Tapton Hill. Close examination of the picture will reveal Drax power station on the horizon (to the left of the TX) and that`s nearly forty miles away !
Sheffield`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials
we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 DY14WB XB22WB
Note the channels out of the original A group of the transmitter, but also the fact that MUX1 should be receivable, see Channel Allocations Guides.
Note that MUX1 is moving from CH39 to CH63 on the 17 Mar 2010.
The graph below illustrates Sheffield`s channels in relation to an XB16K which is an alternative aerial. The XB16K will work significantly better than most widebands but won`t pickup analogue Channel Five (though C5 is available on Freeview anyway) and MUX4 may be down. Post DSO all channels will be within the compass of our K group aerials.
The “original A group curve” is that for post 1995 aerials, when the A group was extended
up to CH37 from CH34. Thus the response curve for aerials fitted prior to this date would be about 3 channels down.
Also see other relevant Wideband curves and K group curves.
For Sheffield/Crosspool we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas,
the Log40 for medium signal areas, the DY14WB for poor signal areas,
and the XB22WB for those with the most marginal signals.
The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be found on the relevant tables.
If requiring a “high gain aerial” in the loft we recommend the DY14WB over the XB22 because of the former aerial`s smaller size.
It should be remembered that the local news on Calendar (i.e. Calendar South) is only available off Crosspool. Belmont transmits Calendar East and Emley Moor the Leeds
based local news. This fact can be used to confirm which transmitter (TX) you are on.
Crosspool is a repeater (or relay) off Emley Moor, that is to say it receives its signal from
the latter then rebroadcasts it. The TX was originally an A group broadcasting the four analogue channels at 5kW. In 1997 C5 was added out of band and at half power.
Finally, Digital is broadcast at 50W per MUX. It should be bourne in mind that 50W
Digital power is equivalent to far more than 50W output on analogue. Many people with an
A group aerial may find they can pick up MUX1 (the main BBC channels) because it`s on channel 39 which is only just out of band, the others will require a new aerial, see graph.
The TX puts out more signal in an Easterly direction than towards the West. C5 and
Digital are attenuated in an arc from S to SSW (though some people in strong signal
areas may still get the signals OK) so as not to interfere with the local Totley
repeater. The latter transmitter can cause co-
of the MUXES off Belmont.
For Sheffield`s frequencies see its Channel Allocations Guides at the foot of the page
for before and after the DSO. These also include the same information for other transmitters
receivable within Sheffield`s coverage area and this can be very useful for identifying
causes of co-
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-
DSO is due to occur in May 2011 and it has been confirmed by Ofcom that
Sheffield will stay a wideband (or K group), but the main 1st three PSB MUXES
will be receivable on an A group aerial.
There is one interleaved spectrum channel allocated to Sheffield (CH26) which is within the previously announced post DSO group.
Post DSO those in weak signal areas will have the opportunity to use a K group (e.g. our XB10K) which will work better than a wideband even on MUX6 (on CH49), despite this is
not technically being within the K group.
External Links
Sheffield`s Pre DSO Channel Allocations (above)
The frequencies given are for the analogue channels, for (most) digital MUXES add 3MHz.
Sheffield`s Post DSO Channel Allocations (below), apart from its other uses this guide shows clearly that Sheffield will remain a wideband / K group after DSO.
Note the gaps in the table below for channels 31 to 35, 37, 39 to 40 and 63 to 68, they`re reserved for “other uses”....
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Sheffield / Crosspool Transmitter OS Grid Ref SK 324 870
Note, as work takes place on various digital transmitters (to prepare for the DSO) you may
experience problems, e.g. with certain MUXES disappearing. First try rescanning your
TV / set top box (do it manually if possible), but if this fails to work check on Transmitter work
or call the reception advice phone numbers. Also see basic digital fault finding.
On the 17th of March 2010 MUX1 off Sheffield/Crosspool transmitter is due to move from
CH39 to CH63. This change is to prevent co-
One problem is that many people who used to be able to get MUX1 off an
A group aerial will probably cease to do so, though its transmission power is due to be increased to its much higher post DSO level, i.e. from 100W to 1kW.
Furthermore there are a lot of Sky boxes and Videos which have their RF output set
on CH63 so this will then require moving in order to prevent co-
Sheffield television transmitter (sometimes known as Crosspool) was opened in 1967
and is possibly the one used by most customers in this area. Unsurprisingly the TX can
be seen from much of the City as it was erected where it could (re)broadcast to the
greatest area on "line of sight". It`s exact location is off Lydgate lane and it is next to a Police TX mast. The height is 52m and the RSJ spaceframe construction it is similar to many others all over the country, which is unsurprising because it was a standardised design, a BICC type 152 to be precise. It was built by British Insulated Callender`s Cables who were responsible for much of the infrastructure built in this country from 1945 up to the 1980s. The company is still going but now called Balfour Beatty.
The plans for the mast, with post DSO additions are here, with the side elevation here.
Ofcom quote Sheffield`s maximum population coverage as being nearly three quarters of a million, but that includes households which may well be on another transmitter with overlapping coverage.
If a site had similar signals from both Crosspool and Emley Moor we would tend to use
the latter because Crosspool is Vertically polarised which can make it more prone to ghosting in poor signal areas. Furthermore in order to receive C5 and Digital / Freeview it
is necessary to use a wideband aerial, see Sheffield transmitter`s graph
