Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
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Digital switchover occurred at The Wrekin on the 6th April and 20th April 2011. Although the transmitter is now a K group the three PSBs are still available off an
original A group aerial, see The Wrekin graph.
The Wrekin had a further switchover event on the 28th September 2011.
See Digital UK events page for The Wrekin.
There are two interleaved spectrum channels allocated to The Wrekin, CH29 and CH48. In addition there is a possibility of 2 or 3 more MUXES being transmitted between CHs 31 and 37, all of these possible channels will be receivable on a K group aerial (or wideband).
For The Wrekin`s frequencies see its Channel Allocation Guides for before and after
the (full) DSO. These tables also include the same information for some of the other
transmitters receivable in the area Sutton Coldfield, Waltham, Fenton, Winter Hill,
Moel Y Parc, Blaenplwyf, Ridge Hill, Malvern, Bromsgrove and Brierley Hill.
Note how the transmissions “dovetail” together in an attempt to minimise co-
Note that The Wrekin, Bromsgrove and Lark Stoke are a Single Frequency Network.
The Wrekin, that`s the hill and the transmitter can be clearly seen from the M54 as one passes Wellington, it`s a mile or so to the South. This section of the M54 (from junction 5
to junction 7) was opened in 1975, the remaining length to the M6 didn`t open until 1983.
The Railway opened rather earlier than that, in 1849, as the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and it passes about 2 miles to the North of The Wrekin. Fortunately it`s still open unlike
the ex Wellington & Severn Junction line which used to run 3 miles to the East. The latter opened in 1854 and remained open until 1962, though the Telford Steam Railway now utilises a short section of the line.
The Iron Bridge Museum is also close by and is definitely worth a visit.
External Links
The Wrekin Transmitter Page at MB21
The Wrekin Transmitter Page on Wikipedia
Digital UK details of Central transmitters
For The Wrekin and The Wrekin B we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas,
the Log 40 for medium signal areas, and the Yagi18K or XB10K for poor signal areas,
the latter aerial being particularly well suited to loft mounting
The XB16K is for those with the most marginal signals.
The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be found on the relevant tables.
The Wrekin TV Transmitter, note the fabulous view in the background.
The Wrekin`s Digital transmitting arrays as they were before switchover.
Note the mesh panels behind each array to restrict the radiation pattern (s).
The View to the East from The Wrekin, Telford is visible centre left. The path up the hill
can be quite steep but the vast majority can ascend it, taking their time if lacking fitness !
Be warned that there are three or four “false brows” on the route, you keep thinking you`re near the top, only to be confronted by another “brow” ahead of you as you reach what you thought was the summit !
Below is a close up of the panel showing all the features which could be visible from
the top. It was erected by the Rotary Club for the Queen`s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
The Wrekin transmitter`s channels* in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of
the aerials we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 Yagi18K XB10K XB16K
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 K group curves.
* There are a few retune events (temporary MUX reallocations) just before and after DSO which are not shown on this graph.
The Wrekin transmitter`s channel guides for before the full countrywide switchover and for after (below).
The frequencies given are for (most) digital MUXES, for analogue channels deduct 3MHz.
* There are a few retune events (temporary MUX reallocations) just before and after DSO which may not be shown on these tables.
Spectrum = Interleaved Spectrum Channels
Some post switchover MUX allocations (particularly CHs 61/62 and 49/50) may well be changed due to the 800MHz clearance.
If you`ve found this site informative and, hopefully, interesting as well,
The Wrekin Transmitter OS Grid Ref SJ 628 082
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.
DSO occurred at The Wrekin between the 6th April and 20th April 2011,
but there was a further switchover event on the 28th September 2011.
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, or call the reception advice phone numbers.
The Wrekin transmitter is situated 4 miles W of Telford on a 400m high hill which is called, funnily enough, The Wrekin ! The tower is about 50m high with the (analogue) transmitting array adding around 10m on top of that. It was constructed in 1975 amid great controversy, due to the scenic and historic nature of the site. I can certainly testify to the former, the views are fantastic and well worth the mile and a half walk up the hill. Getting planning permission for the tower was made even more problematic by The Wrekin being the site
of a large Iron Age hill fort ! The BBC`s 1977 estimate for The Wrekin`s population coverage was about 160,000. Ofcom now quote The Wrekin`s maximum population coverage as
being around 282,000 homes (half a million people ?) but that includes many households which will be on another transmitter with overlapping coverage.
The Wrekin`s digital transmitting power is 20kW for MUXES 1 to 3 (the PSBs) and 10kW for MUXES 4 to 6. Pre switchover all digital output was only 1kW.
Coverage is increased by four small repeater transmitters.
The Wrekin transmitter is Horizontally polarised and was originally an A group for analogue but for digital it is now a K group [or wideband].
Because of wideband antennas poor response at the bottom of the band,
anyone who really requires a “high gain” aerial on a K group transmitter, e.g. The Wrekin, should actually fit a K group !
See The Wrekin transmitter`s post DSO graph
(Not that many people actually need a high gain aerial anyway........)
