Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill A (left) and Beacon Hill B
Beacon Hill transmitting station is located in Devon
Beacon Hill transmitting station
Beacon Hill transmitting station (Devon)
Mast height103.6 metres (340 ft)
Coordinates50°26′47″N 3°36′39″W / 50.446389°N 3.610833°W / 50.446389; -3.610833
Grid referenceSX857619
BBC regionBBC South West
ITV regionITV West Country

The Beacon Hill transmitting station is an English telecommunications facility located at Beacon Hill, Marldon, Devon. It includes a guyed mast (Beacon Hill A)[1] and a free-standing lattice tower (Beacon Hill B),[2] both of which support various antennas.

History

Beacon Hill A became operational in 1972–3, bringing 625 line PAL colour television to the coverage area of Torbay and south Devon. Beacon Hill B transmits FM radio and DAB radio to the area. In 2007, a third guyed lattice mast was constructed at the site to provide medium wave transmissions for Gold (Exeter/Torbay). The transmitter for Gold was dismantled after the service was discontinued.[3]

Digital switchover

In April 2009, the analogue television transmissions at Beacon Hill A were turned off, requiring homes in the area to switch to the Freeview service.[4] The Beacon Hill transmitter group was the first in the South West of England to stop broadcasting analogue television services. BBC Two ceased at 00:50 on 8 April 2009 and the remaining analogue signals were turned off on 22 April 2009 at 00:20.[5]

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio

Frequency kW[6] Service
88.7 MHz 1 BBC Radio 2
90.9 MHz 1 BBC Radio 3
93.1 MHz 1 BBC Radio 4
96.4 MHz 1.8 Heart West
98.4 MHz 1 BBC Radio 1
104.3 MHz 1 BBC Radio Devon
105.5 MHz 1.6 Greatest Hits Radio Devon

Digital radio

Frequency Block kW Operator
220.352 MHz 11C 2 NOW Exeter and Torbay
222.064 MHz 11D 2 Digital One
225.648 MHz 12B 5 BBC National DAB

Analogue television

Analogue television signals ceased in April 2009. BBC2 was closed on 8 April 2009, with ITV Westcountry temporarily moving into its place, followed by the remaining services on 22 April.

Frequency UHF kW[9] Service
727.25 MHz 53 100 Channel 4
759.25 MHz 57 100 BBC1 South West
783.25 MHz 60 100 Westcountry
807.25 MHz 63 100 BBC2 South West

References

  1. ↑ grid reference SX857619, 50°26′47″N 3°36′39″W / 50.44639°N 3.61083°W
  2. ↑ grid reference SX857620, 50°26′49.5″N 3°36′37.5″W / 50.447083°N 3.610417°W
  3. ↑ "The Big Tower – Beacon Hill". Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Analogue TV signal turned off in digital switch". Metro. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Holmwood, Leigh (8 April 2009). "Hundreds lose BBC2 as digital switchover begins in West Country". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
  7. ↑ "700 MHz Clearance Programme" Ofcom, 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "Changes to the Freeview channel line-up in Torbay and South Devon". Freeview. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. ↑ Television Viewers Guide 2009
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