Brecon VHF-FM transmitting station

The Brecon VHF FM transmitting station in Powys, Wales was originally built by the BBC in 1965[1] as a relay for VHF FM radio. It consists of a pair of 15 m wooden telegraph poles - one carrying the transmitting antennas, and the other carrying receiving aerials pointed at Wenvoe transmitting station near Cardiff. These stand on land at Pencrug Farm, about 244 m above sea level.

Brecon VHF FM
Brecon VHF-FM transmitting station is located in Powys
Brecon VHF-FM transmitting station
Brecon VHF-FM transmitting station (Powys)
Mast height15 metres (48 ft)
Coordinates51°57′34″N 3°24′44″W / 51.959551°N 3.412355°W / 51.959551; -3.412355
Grid referenceSO030299
Built1966
Relay ofWenvoe

The station does not radiate television, and never did. TV for the area comes from a different site at Brecon transmitting station a few km to the east.

Channels listed by frequency

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FM Radio

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20 December 1965 - January 1977

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As built, the transmitter re-radiated Wenvoe's three original FM transmissions with horizontal polarisation and with a radiation pattern favouring the town of Brecon.

Frequency kW Service
88.9 MHz 0.01 BBC Light Programme
91.1 MHz 0.01 BBC Third Programme
93.3 MHz 0.01 BBC Welsh Home Service

January 1977 - 1989

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The launch of Radio Cymru saw the replacement across Wales of the English-language Radio 4 Wales service.

Frequency kW Service
88.9 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio 1 & 2
91.1 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio 3
93.3 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio Cymru

1989 - present

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Bandplan changes allowed more frequencies in Band II, Radio 1 gained its own frequency and National Radio 4 could be transmitted. About this time, the transmitting aerials were changed to the present configuration, radiating a slant-polarisation signal in a fairly omnidirectional pattern using a Lindenblad Array[2]

Frequency kW Service
88.9 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio 2
91.1 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio Wales
93.3 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio Cymru
98.5 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio 1
104.7 MHz 0.01 BBC Radio 4

References

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  1. ^ "TRANSMITTING AERIAL FOR THE BRECON V.H.F. SOUND STATION - Technological Report No. E·117/3" (PDF). BBC. July 1967.
  2. ^ "The Lindenblad: The Ultimate Satellite Omni Antenna". Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.
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