Washford transmitting station

Last updated

Washford
Washford Cross - geograph.org.uk - 687209.jpg
Washford transmitting station masts
Somerset UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Washford
Green pog.svg
Mendip
Location Washford, Somerset
Mast height152 metres (499 ft) (MW)
45.7 metres (150 ft) (UHF)
Coordinates 51°09′38″N3°20′55″W / 51.1606°N 3.3486°W / 51.1606; -3.3486
Grid reference ST058410
Built1933
Relay of Mendip
BBC region BBC West
ITV region ITV West Country
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameWashford Transmitting Station
Designated25 January 1984
Reference no. 1057461

Washford transmitting station is a medium wave broadcasting station and low-power digital terrestrial television relay near Washford, Somerset.

Contents

It was built in 1933 [1] and uses as antenna a T-antenna between two 152 metres (499 ft) tall guyed masts separated by a distance of 159 metres (174 yards). Originally the station used cage antennas around each mast. The station uses the frequencies 882 kHz with 100 kW, and 1089 kHz with 50 kW

A smaller 45.7 metres (150 ft) mast is used to relay digital terrestrial television services from the Mendip transmitting station. This mast carries the three public service multiplexes at an E.R.P. of 12.4 W.

The front portions of the old transmitter building, [2] are now part of the Tropiquaria wildlife park and house their tropical hall, aquarium, and nocturnal house.

The transmitter building is a Grade II listed building. [3]

Services available

Analogue radio (AM medium wave)

FrequencykWService
882 kHz100 BBC Radio Wales
1089 kHz50 Talksport

Digital television

Digital television began transmitting from Washford during the digital switchover in 2010. As a low-power relay, it only carries the three public service multiplexes.

FrequencyUHFkWOperatorSystem
546.000  MHz 300.0124 BBC A DVB-T
554.000  MHz 310.0124 Digital 3&4 DVB-T
602.000  MHz 370.0124BBC B DVB-T2

Analogue television

Analogue television was transmitted from Washford until the digital switchover of the Mendip transmitter group between 24 March - 7 April 2010.

FrequencyUHFkWService
615.25  MHz 390.062 HTV West
695.25  MHz 490.062 BBC1 West
831.25  MHz 660.062 BBC2 West
847.25  MHz 680.062 Channel 4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Palace transmitting station</span> Telecommunications site in Bromley, England

The Crystal Palace transmitting station, officially known as Arqiva Crystal Palace, is a broadcasting and telecommunications site in the Crystal Palace area of the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is located on the site of the former television station and transmitter operated by John Logie Baird from 1933.

The Sutton Coldfield transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. In terms of population covered, it is the third most important transmitter in the UK, after Crystal Palace in London and Winter Hill near Bolton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendip transmitting station</span> Broadcasting and telecommunications facility

The Mendip transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility on the summit of Pen Hill, part of the Mendip Hills range in Somerset, England, at 305 metres (1,001 ft) above sea level. The station is in St Cuthbert Out civil parish, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east of Wells. Its mast, 293 m (961 ft) high, was built in 1967 and is the tallest structure in South West England. The mast broadcasts digital television, FM analogue radio and DAB digital radio, and had broadcast analogue colour television from 1967 until 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter Hill transmitting station</span> Telecommunications site in Lancashire, UK

The Winter Hill transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications site on Winter Hill, at the south eastern boundary of the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England, and above Bolton. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilsdale transmitting station</span> Telecommunications transmission site in North Yorkshire, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waltham transmitting station</span> Television and radio transmitter at Melton, Leicestershire

The Waltham transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility at Waltham-on-the-Wolds, 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Melton Mowbray. It sits inside the Waltham civil parish near Stonesby, in the district of Melton, Leicestershire, UK. It has a 315 metres (1,033 ft) guyed steel tubular mast. The main structure height to the top of the steelwork is 290.8 metres (954 ft), with the UHF television antennas contained within a GRP shroud mounted on top.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moel-y-Parc transmitting station</span> Telecommunications transmission site in north-east Wales, UK

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rowridge transmitting station</span> Telecommunications transmission site on the Isle of Wight, England

The Rowridge transmitting station is a facility for FM radio and television transmission at Rowridge on the Isle of Wight in southern England.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wenvoe transmitting station</span> Transmission station in Wales

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 Lichfield transmitting station is situated close to Tamworth in Staffordshire in the West Midlands between the A5 and A51. The nearest geographical feature is Hopwas Hill. The station is owned and operated by Arqiva. The mast is known locally as Hopwas mast or Hints mast.

The Caldbeck transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated close to the village of Caldbeck, in Cumbria, England. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

The Ridge Hill transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located 8.5 miles SE of Hereford in Herefordshire, and close to the border of Gloucestershire. The station transmits the full complement of digital terrestrial multiplexes and an additional ITV West Multiplex. It includes a cable stayed steel lattice mast which has a height of 164.6 metres (540 ft), which in addition to the altitude of the site gives an aerial height of 363 metres (1,191 ft) above mean sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preseli transmitting station</span>

The Preseli transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility on the eastern end of the Preseli Mountains, close to the villages of Crymych and Pentre Galar in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

The Oxford transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated on land 129.5 metres (425 ft) above Ordnance Datum to the north east of the city of Oxford, in Oxfordshire, England. It has a guyed steel lattice mast which is 154.4 metres (507 ft) in height to the top of the main steel structure. The UHF television antenna, which consist of a vertical array of transmitting panels, is mounted above the steel structure. The total height of the mast to the top of this UHF antenna is 165.7 metres (544 ft). It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockland Hill transmitting station</span>

The Stockland Hill transmitting station is a transmitting facility of FM Radio and UHF television located near Honiton, Devon, England. This transmitter mainly serves the East of Devon, West Somerset and West Dorset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntshaw Cross transmitting station</span> Telecommunications facility in Devon, England

Huntshaw Cross transmitting station is a telecommunications facility serving North Devon including the towns of Barnstaple and South Molton. It broadcasts television, radio and mobile telephone services and is currently owned by Arqiva. It is located on the B3232 road at Huntshaw, Great Torrington. Grid reference SS527220. The mast is 164 metres (538 ft) high.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Storeton transmitting station</span>

Storeton transmitting station is a television transmitter being a member of both the Winter Hill group of transmitters and of the Moel-y-Parc group of transmitter, and an FM radio transmitter, with transmitting antennas affixed to a mast located on Storeton Ridge, Higher Bebington, Wirral, UK. The site is owned and operated by Arqiva. It was originally solely an analogue TV relay of the Winter Hill transmitter. The 45 metre-high (150 ft-high) mast is situated at an elevation of 65.5 metres (215 ft). Thus, the top of the mast has an overall height of 110.5 metres (363 ft) above sea level. Construction of the mast was completed in 1980. As of 2009, the TV transmitter serves approximately 45,000 homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaenplwyf transmitting station</span> Telecommunication tower

The Blaenplwyf transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located near the village of Blaenplwyf about 10 kilometres (6 mi) to the south west of the town of Aberystwyth, in Ceredigion, Wales. It was originally built by the BBC, entering service in October 1956 acting as a main transmitter for BBC Band II VHF FM radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Mountain transmitting station</span>

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.

References

  1. "Washford". Radio Rewind. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  2. "1930s BBC radio station, Washford Cross, Williton". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  3. Historic England. "Washford Transmitting Station (1057461)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 20 March 2012.