Bressay transmitting station

Bressay transmitting station is a broadcasting transmission facility for the Shetland Islands, located on the isle of Bressay, owned and operated by Arqiva (previously National Grid Wireless). The transmitting station is based on the Ward of Bressay, the island's highest peak.

Bressay
Bressay transmitting station is located in Shetland
Bressay transmitting station
Bressay transmitting station (Shetland)
Tower height70 metres (230 ft)
Coordinates60°07′48″N 1°05′45″W / 60.13°N 1.095833°W / 60.13; -1.095833
Grid referenceHU5022838667
Built1964
BBC regionBBC Scotland
ITV regionSTV North

The facility includes two steel lattice towers both over 70m high. It first came into service on 1 April 1964 transmitting BBC Television on Band I VHF channel 3 and the Scottish Home Service, Light Programme and Third on Band II VHF, using the same frequencies as today. (Home Service now Radio Shetland, Light R2 and Third R3).[1]

Services listed by frequency

edit

Analogue radio

edit
Frequency kW[2] Service
88.3 MHz 43 BBC Radio 2
90.5 MHz 43 BBC Radio 3
92.7 MHz 43 BBC Radio Shetland
94.9 MHz 43 BBC Radio 4
96.2 MHz 15† SIBC
97.9 MHz 43 BBC Radio 1

† Licensed to transmit at 50 kW.

Analogue television

edit
Frequency UHF kW Service
479.25 MHz 22 10 BBC One Scotland
503.25 MHz 25 10 STV (North) (Grampian)
527.25 MHz 28 10 BBC Two Scotland
559.25 MHz 32 10 Channel 4

Digital switchover

edit

The digital switchover happened in two stages.

In Stage One, BBC Two Scotland was switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV needed to re-tune. The date for this was 5 May 2010.

In Stage Two, analogue was permanently switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV needed to re-tune again. The date for this stage was 19 May 2010.

HD and high-powered Freeview services replaced the analogue signals.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Transmitting aerials for the Shetland v.h.f. television and v.h.f. sound station. Technological Report No. E-103 (1964/28) (PDF) (Report). May 1964.
  2. ^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
edit