It was originally built in mid 1989[1] as a fill-in relay for UHF analogue colour television covering the village of Cynwyl Elfed and the surrounding community.

Cynwyl Elfed transmitter re-radiates the signal received off-air from Preseli about 20 km to the west.

After the switchover process, analogue channels had ceased broadcasting permanently and the Freeview digital TV services were radiated at an ERP of 2 W each.

[2] Cynwyl Elfed entered service on the same day as did the nearby repeater at Bronwydd Arms.

The UK's digital switchover commenced at Preseli (and therefore at Cynwyl Elfed and all its other relays) on 19 August 2009.