Belmont transmitting station
Then the tallest structure in the UK, seen in November 2007 | |
Belmont transmitting station (Lincolnshire) | |
Mast height | 1,154 feet (351.7 m) |
---|---|
Coordinates | 53°20′09″N 0°10′19″W / 53.335861°N 0.172°W / 53.335861; -0.172Coordinates: 53°20′09″N 0°10′19″W / 53.335861°N 0.172°W / 53.335861; -0.172 |
Grid reference | TF217837 |
Built | 1965 (height increased in 1967) |
BBC region | BBC Yorkshire (1965–2004) BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (2004–present) |
ITV region | ITV Anglia (1965–74) ITV Yorkshire (1974–present) |
Local TV service | Estuary TV That's Lincolnshire |
The Belmont transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility next to the B1225, one mile west of the village of Donington on Bain in the civil parish of South Willingham, near Market Rasen and Louth in Lincolnshire, England (grid reference TF217837). It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
It has a guyed tubular steel mast, with a lattice upper section. The mast was shortened in April 2010 and is now 1,154 feet (351.7 m) in height.[1][2] Before this it was 1,272 feet (387.7 m) high and was considered to be the tallest structure of its kind in the world (taller masts, such as the KVLY-TV mast in the United States, use steel lattice construction), the tallest structure of any type in the United Kingdom and also the tallest structure within the European Union. After the top section was removed, the mast's reduced height relegated it to 14th-highest structure in the EU and second-highest in the UK after Skelton. The current world's tallest guyed tubular steel mast is TV Tower Vinnytsia in Ukraine.
Despite the mast being shortened it can be seen in daylight on clear days from most areas close to and within the Lincolnshire Wolds. On clear nights its bright red aircraft warning lights can be very widely seen across much of Lincolnshire from as far north as the River Humber and Barton-Upon-Humber; from the west of the county it can be seen from Lincoln, Gainsborough and Grantham; from the south of the county it can be seen from Spalding and Bourne; and from the east it can be seen from Skegness, Mablethorpe and most areas along the Lincolnshire coast. The lights can also be seen from many parts of Nottinghamshire, coastal areas of North West Norfolk and even a few parts of Derbyshire on very clear nights.
Contents
1 Construction
2 Coverage
3 Transmitter power
4 Services listed by frequency
4.1 Analogue television
4.1.1 20 December 1965 – 19 November 1966
4.1.2 19 November 1966 – 24 May 1971
4.1.3 24 May 1971 – 30 July 1974
4.1.4 30 July 1974 – 2 November 1982
4.1.5 2 November 1982 – 30 November 1997
4.1.6 30 November 1997 – 15 November 1998
4.2 Analogue and digital television
4.2.1 15 November 1998 – 3 August 2011
4.2.2 3 August 2011 – 17 August 2011
4.3 Digital television
4.3.1 17 August 2011 – 26 November 2013
4.3.2 26 November 2013 – present
4.4 Analogue radio (FM VHF)
4.4.1 19 November 1966 – 11 November 1980
4.4.2 11 November 1980 – February 1992
4.4.3 February 1992 – present day
4.5 Digital radio (DAB)
5 Relays
5.1 Digital television
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
8.1 Relay stations
Construction
The mast was constructed in 1965 and it came into service on 20 December of that year. As built it was a tubular pipe 900 feet (274.3 m) long by 9 feet (2.7 m) in diameter, surmounted by a 365 feet (111.3 m) lattice upper section. (An identical mast was constructed in 1964 at Emley Moor near Huddersfield in Yorkshire, but that mast collapsed due to guy failure caused by icing and high winds on 19 March 1969.)
In September 1967 meteorological equipment was added to the 1,265 feet (385.6 m) mast extending its height to 1,272 feet (387.7 m). The imperial measurement was the accepted value quoted by a number of publications, including the 1993 edition of the Guinness Book of Records.[3] The metric measurement quoted by the current owners is 0.2 m (8 in) shorter.
Between October 2009 and April 2010 the mast was shortened as part of the Digital Switchover works, most of the top section above the fifth stay level was removed (along with the sixth stay level) and the mast now stands 1,154 feet (351.7 m) high.
Coverage
From its location, high in the Lincolnshire Wolds, it broadcasts digital television and both analogue and digital radio to Lincolnshire, eastern Yorkshire, northern parts of Norfolk and some parts of Nottinghamshire. When it was first operated it transmitted (amongst others) ITV station Anglia Television. Following a re-organisation of ITV coverage in 1972, from 1974 it started transmitting neighbouring station Yorkshire Television instead, which it continues to do to this day. Due to most of the region being flat, Belmont has few relay stations although there is a main relay station at Oliver's Mount covering the Scarborough area.
Transmitter power
At 500 kW E.R.P. for the four main analogue channels, Belmont was one of the most powerful transmitters in the UK, though there are four UK transmitters which were more powerful; Sutton Coldfield, Crystal Palace and Sandy Heath were all at 1000 kW and Emley Moor was 870 kW. Channel 5 was only broadcast at 50 kW from Belmont and digital at 20 kW (Mux 2), 10 kW (Mux 1, A, B) and 4 kW (Mux C, D) although this level of digital power is theoretically equal to 500 kW on analogue in terms of the received carrier to noise ratio required to give a "perfect" picture. After digital switchover Belmont's digital transmitting power rose to 50 kW for SDN (previously Mux A), 100 kW for Arqiva A & B (Mux C, D) and 150 kW for BBC A, D3&4 and BBC B (Mux 1, 2, B).
Services listed by frequency
Analogue television
20 December 1965 – 19 November 1966
First transmissions from the site: ITV's 405-line television service, an off-air rebroadcast from Mendlesham.
Frequency | VHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|
184.75 MHz | 7V | 20 | Anglia Television |
19 November 1966 – 24 May 1971
The BBC's services came online on both VHF and UHF. BBC 1 was initially fed by means of an off-air rebroadcast of Holme Moss but this was plagued by co-channel interference from the continent. BBC2 was an off-air rebroadcast from Emley Moor.[4] On 19 March 1969, the Emley Moor mast collapsed, taking Belmont's BBC2 transmissions off-air for several days.[5]
Despite the programme sources on VHF and UHF being (for many years) off-air rebroadcasts of other transmitters in the vicinity, Belmont was always regarded by the BBC as being a "main station" both on VHF and UHF. The IBA initially regarded it as a relay of Mendlesham (and numbered it 14.2 in their numbering of VHF stations) but from 1974 it became a "main station" for Yorkshire Television (renumbered as 20.0 in the IBA's numbering of VHF stations[6]).
It was always number 120.0 in the BBC/IBA numbering scheme for UHF stations[7]).
Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
184.75 MHz | 7V | — | 20 | Anglia Television |
214.75 MHz | 13V | — | 20 | BBC1 |
527.25 MHz | — | 28 | 500 | BBC2 |
24 May 1971 – 30 July 1974
ITV's UHF service began.[8]
Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
184.75 MHz | 7V | — | 20 | Anglia Television |
214.75 MHz | 13V | — | 20 | BBC1 |
479.25 MHz | — | 22 | 500 | BBC1 |
503.25 MHz | — | 25 | 500 | Anglia Television |
527.25 MHz | — | 28 | 500 | BBC2 |
30 July 1974 – 2 November 1982
After changes to the regional structure of ITV in 1972, Belmont stopped being a relay of Mendlesham and became a main station for Yorkshire TV.[5]
Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
184.75 MHz | 7V | — | 20 | Yorkshire TV |
214.75 MHz | 13V | — | 20 | BBC1 |
479.25 MHz | — | 22 | 500 | BBC1 |
503.25 MHz | — | 25 | 500 | Yorkshire TV |
527.25 MHz | — | 28 | 500 | BBC2 |
2 November 1982 – 30 November 1997
Both the BBC and ITV 405-line VHF TV services from Belmont were was discontinued early[9] in mid-1982, and Channel 4 started up on UHF from the site in November that same year:
Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|
479.25 MHz | 22 | 500 | BBC1 |
503.25 MHz | 25 | 500 | Yorkshire TV |
527.25 MHz | 28 | 500 | BBC2 |
559.25 MHz | 32 | 500 | Channel 4 |
30 November 1997 – 15 November 1998
Belmont started transmitting the UK's final terrestrial analogue UHF TV service: Channel 5. This was done well out-of-band and at reduced power compared with the main group.
Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|
479.25 MHz | 22 | 500 | BBC1 |
503.25 MHz | 25 | 500 | Yorkshire Television |
527.25 MHz | 28 | 500 | BBC Two |
559.25 MHz | 32 | 500 | Channel 4 |
751.25 MHz | 56 | 50 | Channel 5 |
Analogue and digital television
15 November 1998 – 3 August 2011
Belmont began transmitting digital TV, with the new digital multiplexes spaced far from the existing analogue channels. In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that Belmont would be remaining a wideband transmitter after digital switchover, though the first four of the six multiplexes would still be available within the original A group, as this graph makes clear.
Frequency | UHF | kW | Service/Operator | System |
---|---|---|---|---|
479.25 MHz | 22 | 500 | BBC1 | PAL System I |
503.25 MHz | 25 | 500 | Yorkshire Television | PAL System I |
527.25 MHz | 28 | 500 | BBC Two | PAL System I |
546.000 MHz | 30 | 10 | BBC (Mux 1) | DVB-T |
559.25 MHz | 32 | 500 | Channel 4 | PAL System I |
690.000 MHz | 48 | 20 | Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) | DVB-T |
751.25 MHz | 56 | 50 | Channel 5 | PAL System I |
762.166 MHz | 57+ | 4 | Arqiva (Mux D) | DVB-T |
786.000 MHz | 60 | 4 | Arqiva (Mux C) | DVB-T |
834.000 MHz | 66 | 10 | BBC (Mux B) | DVB-T |
850.000 MHz | 68 | 10 | SDN (Mux A) | DVB-T |
3 August 2011 – 17 August 2011
BBC Two closed on UHF 28. BBC One was moved on to that channel for its final three weeks of service. Pre-DSO Multiplex 1 (BBC) on UHF 30 was closed and was replaced by BBC A on UHF 22.
Frequency | UHF | kW | Service/Operator | System |
---|---|---|---|---|
482.000 MHz | 22 | 150 | BBC A | DVB-T |
503.25 MHz | 25 | 500 | Yorkshire Television | PAL System I |
527.25 MHz | 28 | 500 | BBC1 | PAL System I |
559.25 MHz | 32 | 500 | Channel 4 | PAL System I |
690.000 MHz | 48 | 20 | Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) | DVB-T |
751.25 MHz | 56 | 50 | Channel 5 | PAL System I |
762.166 MHz | 57+ | 4 | Arqiva (Mux D) | DVB-T |
786.000 MHz | 60 | 4 | Arqiva (Mux C) | DVB-T |
834.000 MHz | 66 | 10 | BBC (Mux B) | DVB-T |
850.000 MHz | 68 | 10 | SDN (Mux A) | DVB-T |
Digital television
17 August 2011 – 26 November 2013
All the remaining analogue and existing digital signals were turned off and replaced with higher-power digital signals.
Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator | System |
---|---|---|---|---|
482.000 MHz | 22 | 150 | BBC A | DVB-T |
506.000 MHz | 25 | 150 | Digital 3&4 | DVB-T |
530.000 MHz | 28 | 150 | BBC B | DVB-T2 |
545.833 MHz | 30- | 50 | SDN | DVB-T |
730.000 MHz | 53 | 100 | Arqiva A | DVB-T |
786.000 MHz | 60 | 100 | Arqiva B | DVB-T |
- Arqiva A and Arqiva B were limited to 4 kW until 23 November 2011, when they were increased to 100 kW.
26 November 2013 – present
Local TV, carrying Estuary TV, and Arqiva C, carrying additional HD services, launched on 26 November 2013.
Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator | System |
---|---|---|---|---|
482.000 MHz | 22 | 150 | BBC A | DVB-T |
506.000 MHz | 25 | 150 | Digital 3&4 | DVB-T |
522.000 MHz | 27 | 5 | Local TV | DVB-T |
530.000 MHz | 28 | 150 | BBC B | DVB-T2 |
545.833 MHz | 30- | 50 | SDN | DVB-T |
570.000 MHz | 33 | 37.1 | Arqiva C | DVB-T2 |
586.000 MHz | 35 | 40.9 | Arqiva D | DVB-T2 |
730.000 MHz | 53 | 100 | Arqiva A | DVB-T |
786.000 MHz | 60 | 100 | Arqiva B | DVB-T |
Analogue radio (FM VHF)
19 November 1966 – 11 November 1980
Frequency | kW | Service |
---|---|---|
88.8 MHz | 8 | BBC Light Programme (later BBC Radio 2) |
90.9 MHz | 8 | BBC Third Programme (later BBC Radio 3) |
93.1 MHz | 8 | BBC Home Service (later BBC Radio 4) |
11 November 1980 – February 1992
BBC Radio Lincolnshire started broadcasting.
Frequency | kW[10] | Service |
---|---|---|
88.8 MHz | 8 | BBC Radio 2 |
90.9 MHz | 8 | BBC Radio 3 |
93.1 MHz | 8 | BBC Radio 4 |
94.9 MHz | 3 | BBC Radio Lincolnshire |
February 1992 – present day
Lincs FM and Classic FM join the set of FM broadcasts.
Frequency | kW[10] | Service |
---|---|---|
88.8 MHz | 8 | BBC Radio 2 |
90.9 MHz | 8 | BBC Radio 3 |
93.1 MHz | 8 | BBC Radio 4 |
94.9 MHz | 3 | BBC Radio Lincolnshire |
98.3 MHz | 8 | BBC Radio 1 |
100.5 MHz | 3.1 | Classic FM |
102.2 MHz | 3.2 | Lincs FM |
Digital radio (DAB)
Frequency | Block | kW[10] | Service |
---|---|---|---|
215.072 MHz | 10A | — | MuxCo Lincolnshire |
216.928 MHz | 11A | — | Sound Digital |
222.064 MHz | 11D | 5 | Digital One |
225.648 MHz | 12B | 5 | BBC National DAB |
Relays
Below is a list of transmitters that relay Belmont.
Digital television
transmitter | kW | BBC-A | BBC-B | D3&4 | SDN | ARQ-A | ARQ-B | Pol. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grimsby | 0.002 | 45 | 49 | 42 | N/A | N/A | N/A | BV |
Hunmanby | 0.025 | 48 | 42 | 39 | N/A | N/A | N/A | BV |
Lincoln Central | 0.02 | 44 | 47 | 41 | N/A | N/A | N/A | BV |
Oliver's Mount | 2 | 57 | 53 | 60 | 54 | 58 | 49 | CDV |
Weaverthorpe | 0.009 | 55 | 52 | 59 | N/A | N/A | N/A | CDV |
See also
- List of tallest buildings and structures in the world
- List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain
- List of masts
- List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
References
^ "Arqiva planning application". East Lindsey District Council. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Belmont Transmitter". A.T.V. Poles, Brackets & Aerials. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
^ Guinness Book of Records 39th Edition (1993), page 93 –
ISBN 0-85112-978-1
^ http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1967-06.pdf
^ ab "TheBigTower Belmont Dates". thebigtower.com.
^ "Former U.K. Television Stations". wolfbane.com.
^ "Former U.K. Television Stations (UHF Analogue System)". wolfbane.com.
^ "ITV75p146w". mb21.co.uk.
^ http://www.bbceng.info/Eng_Inf/EngInf_4.pdf
^ abc Radio Listeners Guide 2010
External links
Media related to Belmont transmitting station at Wikimedia Commons
The Transmission Gallery: Belmont index.
TV coverage.
Info and pictures of Belmont, including co-receivable channels.
Freeview.
Skyscraperpage plan of Belmont.
Belmont TV Mast at Structurae
Pictures.
Article about Belmont's lights being turned out.
Article about Belmont's possible cut in size.- Belmont Transmitter at thebigtower.com
Relay stations
- Grimsby
- Hunmanby
- Lincoln Central
- Oliver's Mount
- Weaverthorpe
Records | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Gerbrandy Tower 1,255 ft (382.5 m) | Tallest structure in EU 1,272 ft (387.7 m) 1973–2010 | Succeeded by Torreta de Guardamar 1,210 ft (368.8 m) |