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  Divis transmitting station (Northern Ireland) | |
| Location | Hannahstown, County Antrim |
|---|---|
| Mast height | 140.7 metres (462 ft) |
| Coordinates | 54°36′27″N6°00′34″W / 54.6075°N 6.009444°W |
| Grid reference | NW4111830995 |
| BBC region | BBC Northern Ireland |
| ITV region | UTV |
| Local TV service | NVTV |
Divis transmitting station is the main high-power UHF and BBC National FM/DAB station that serves County Antrim and parts of County Down.
Situated just outside Belfast, it is the primary UHF/FM main station in Northern Ireland and was originally Northern Ireland's main BBC 405-line television transmitter, coming into operation in this capacity on 21 July 1955. As such, it was the first permanent television transmitter to be established within the island of Ireland. It was built by J. L. Eve Construction, which also built the similar-height Meldrum transmitting station for north-east Scotland, at the same time.
Although one of three UHF main stations in Northern Ireland, it is the only one to feature a stayed mast; the other stations at Brougher Mountain and Limavady both utilising smaller self-supporting towers. Stayed masts are however located at the UHF relay stations at Londonderry and Strabane (respectively former BBC and ITA 405-line relays) and at Black Mountain, the former ITA 405-line (and Channel 5) main station sited adjacent to Divis. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Divis station is located in a range of hills directly overlooking Belfast from the west, in an area which was controlled by the Ministry of Defence until it was sold in 2004 to the National Trust and subsequently opened to the public. It is sited between the peaks of Divis Mountain and Black Mountain and is ironically closer to the latter than the transmitter that is named after it.
Divis was opened by the BBC on 21 July 1955 as its permanent 405-line Band I transmission facility serving Northern Ireland. It superseded the temporary station at Glencairn, which was one of two transmitters (the other being Pontop Pike) to be rushed into operation on 1 May 1953, in time for the televised Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Although the BBC had by this time already obtained the Divis site, the need to construct the long access road was the primary factor preventing its immediate use.
Divis was designated as a medium-power transmitter, on which type of installation the second phase of BBC Band I stations were based. In this respect, Divis was grouped with permanent installations at Meldrum, North Hessary Tor, Pontop Pike, Rowridge, Sandale and Tacolneston. Transmissions from Divis were on VHF Channel 1 at a peak output of 35 kW vision e.r.p.[ further explanation needed ]
In due course, a number of relay stations were established across Northern Ireland to enhance coverage from Divis, most notably at Londonderry's Sheriff's Mountain transmitter which opened in December 1957, and Brougher Mountain in County Fermanagh which opened in February 1964, the latter being the site of a future UHF main station. [1]
In the meantime, the Independent Television Authority (ITA) built its equivalent 405-line VHF Band III station close to Divis. Located at Black Mountain quarry, less than two miles to the south-west, this came into operation on 31 October 1959 and utilised a taller 750-ft mast.
Divis became the UHF main station for Belfast and the surrounding area with BBC2 being the first regular service commencing on 18 March 1967. Colour UHF transmitters for BBC1 and ITV came into operation in September 1970.
Both this site and Black Mountain are dual ring-fenced for security.
It was announced that the 152.5m transmitter mast at Divis would be removed and replaced by a new guyed steel mast (192.7 m). This meant for a period of time there would be two broadcast masts at the site in preparation for the digital switchover in the Ulster region which occurred in October 2012. However a new 152m guyed mast has been constructed and the original mast remains to carry VHF and DAB services.
The Divis site contributes significantly to the telecommunications network for much of Northern Ireland.
Digital television services broadcast on the following frequencies with the following powers:
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 474.166 MHz | 21+ | 100 | PSB2 (D3&4) | DVB-T |
| 490.000 MHz | 23 | 50 | COM4 (SDN) | DVB-T |
| 498.000 MHz | 24 | 100 | PSB3 (BBC B) | DVB-T2 |
| 514.000 MHz | 26 | 50 | COM5 (ARQ A) | DVB-T |
| 522.000 MHz | 27 | 100 | PSB1 (BBC A) | DVB-T |
| 546.000 MHz | 30 | 50 | COM6 (ARQ B) | DVB-T |
| 594.000 MHz | 36 | 10 | LTVmux | DVB-T |
| 690.000 MHz | 48 | 0.01 | NIMM (RTÉ) | DVB-T |
| 746.000 MHz | 55 | 8.9 | COM7 (Closed) | DVB-T2 |
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 489.833 MHz | 23- | 2.3 | SDN (Mux A) |
| 513.833 MHz | 26- | 2.3 | BBC (Mux B) |
| 538.000 MHz | 29 | 2.3 | BBC (Mux 1) |
| 569.833 MHz | 33- | 2.3 | Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) |
| 578.166 MHz | 34+ | 1.6 | Arqiva (Mux D) |
| 690.000 MHz | 48 | 2 | Arqiva (Mux C) |
Analogue television services were broadcast on the following frequencies:
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 471.25 MHz | 21 | 500 | Channel 4 |
| 495.25 MHz | 24 | 500 | UTV |
| 519.25 MHz | 27 | 500 | BBC Two Northern Ireland |
| 551.25 MHz | 31 | 500 | BBC One Northern Ireland |
| 775.25 MHz | 59 | — | TG4 |
All of the above channels, except TG4, were broadcast at a power of 500 kW. As well as providing direct reception for most TV viewers in Northern Ireland, all the other analogue transmitters in the province sourced their output, either directly or indirectly, from Divis. TG4, a channel operated by a state-owned body of the Republic of Ireland, was broadcast at a very low power and not relayed to any other transmitters. Channel 5 was broadcast from the nearby Black Mountain transmitting station.
FM radio service broadcast on the following frequencies and with the following powers:
| Frequency | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 90.1 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio 2 |
| 92.3 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio 3 |
| 94.5 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio Ulster |
| 96.0 MHz | 125 | BBC Radio 4 |
| 99.7 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio 1 |
| 101.9 MHz | 250 | Classic FM |
DAB radio broadcasts on the following frequency:
| Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 225.648 MHz | 12B | 10 | BBC National DAB |
The Bilsdale transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, located at Bilsdale West Moor above Bilsdale, close to Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England. The original facility included a guyed steel tubular mast that was primarily used for radio and television transmission. The height of the mast was 314 metres (1,030 ft) to the pinnacle. Until a fire disabled the transmitter on 10 August 2021 it was among the most powerful transmitters in the UK. The power for analogue was 500 kW ERP and it was 100 kW / 50 kW for digital. The mast was equipped with aircraft warning lights, in the form of arrays of red LEDs. The station was owned and operated by Arqiva. After the main mast was disabled a temporary 80 metres (260 ft) mast was installed at the site. The temporary mast commenced operations on 13 October 2021.
The Pontop Pike transmitting station is a facility for telecommunications and broadcasting situated on a 312-metre (1,024-ft) high hill of the same name between Stanley and Consett, County Durham, near the village of Dipton, England. The mast is 149 metres (489 ft) high, giving an average antenna height of 461 metres (1,512 ft) above sea level. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Arfon transmitting station is a facility for FM, DAB digital radio and television transmission near the villages of Nebo and Nasareth in Gwynedd, northwestern Wales. It includes a 308.5 m (1,012 ft) guyed mast with antennas attached at various heights. The mast is surmounted by a television transmitting antenna, which brings the total height of the structure to 317.4 m (1,041 ft), making it the tallest structure in Wales. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Moel-y-Parc transmitting station is situated on Moel y Parc, a hill in north-east Wales at the northern end of the Clwydian range, close to the town of Caerwys and several miles (kilometres) north-east of Denbigh. It was built in 1962/1963 by the IBA to bring 405-line VHF ITV television to North Wales and it has been on the air since 1963. Its original height of 229 metres (751 ft) made it the tallest structure in North Wales and it stands on land that is itself about 335 metres (1,099 ft) above sea level. In 1965, VHF television transmissions from the BBC commenced from the site.
The Llanddona transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated at Llanddona, near Beaumaris, on the isle of Anglesey, Wales. It comprises a 106.7 metres (350 ft) guyed mast with antennas attached at various heights. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Wenvoe transmitting station, officially known as Arqiva Wenvoe, is the main facility for broadcasting and telecommunications for South Wales and the West Country. It is situated close to the village of Wenvoe in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, in the UK.
The Strabane transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located at Legfordrum and situated very close to the town of Strabane, in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Black Mountain transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated on land 301 metres (988 ft) above Ordnance Datum to the west of the city of Belfast, in Northern Ireland. It includes a guyed steel lattice mast which is 228.6 metres (750 ft) in height. The height of the top of the structure above mean sea level is 529 metres (1,736 ft). It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Haverfordwest transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located at Woodstock about 13 km (8 mi) to the north east of the town of Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was originally built by the BBC, entering service in early 1964 acting as a main transmitter for the 405-line VHF television system, and as a repeater for Band 2 VHF FM radio received off-air from Blaenplwyf transmitting station. It is now owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Selkirk transmitting station is a telecommunications facility located next to Lindean Loch, near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. It includes a 229.1 metres (752 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast, surmounted by a UHF television transmitting antenna array, which brings the overall height of the structure to 238.8 metres (783 ft). It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
The Burnhope transmitting station is a television transmitter in the north of England.
Brougher Mountain transmitting station is a major transmitting station in Northern Ireland. It is located between County Tyrone and County Fermanagh, on top of a 317 m (1,040 ft) high hill called Brougher Mountain.
The St Hilary transmitting station is a facility for telecommunications situated close to the village of St Hilary, Glamorgan in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, in the UK. It comprises a 229-metre (750 ft) guyed mast with antennas attached at various heights. The site was established in 1958 for Independent Television transmission on VHF. Transmissions from the site include FM radio, DAB radio and mobile telephone signals.
The Llanelli transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located on high ground north of the town of Llanelli, South Wales. It was originally built by the BBC, entering service in mid 1970 transmitting the now-defunct 405-line VHF television system. As such, it was one of the last 405 transmitters ever built.
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The Llanidloes transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility consisting of a self-supporting 23 m lattice mast erected on land that is itself about 245 m above sea level about 1 km to the west of the town of Llanidloes in Powys, Wales. It was originally built by the BBC, entering service just before Christmas 1966 transmitting the now-defunct 405-line VHF television system. Transmissions of the original three FM radio services began in February 1967.
The Long Mountain transmitting station is sited on a 400 metres (1,300 ft) ridge about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Welshpool in Powys, Mid Wales and has been broadcasting UHF terrestrial TV and VHF FM radio services since the late 1970s. The site has a self-supporting 170' (52 metre) high lattice steel mast and was fed with an SHF link from Blaenplwyf via Llangurig. Despite not taking its signal off-air, it was originally classed as a 625-line UHF TV relay of Blaenplwyf.
The Holyhead transmitting station was a broadcast television facility located about 2.5 km to the west of Holyhead, on Anglesey, Wales. It had a self-supporting 30 m lattice mast erected on land that is itself about 76 m above sea level. The site was originally built by the BBC, entering service in early 1964 transmitting the now-defunct 405-line VHF television system.
Limavady transmitting station is a television and radio transmitter situated near the town of Limavady, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
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