Llanddona transmitting station
Mast height | 106.7 metres (350 ft) |
---|---|
Coordinates | 53°18′25″N 4°07′42″W / 53.306944°N 4.128333°W |
Grid reference | SH583810 |
Built | 1958 |
BBC region | BBC Wales |
ITV region | ITV Cymru Wales |
The Llanddona transmitting station ((/lænˈdɒnæ/; Welsh: [ɬanˈðɔna]); ) is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated at Llanddona, near Beaumaris, on the isle of Anglesey, Wales (grid reference SH583810). It comprises a 106.7 metres (350 ft) guyed mast with antennas attached at various heights. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
History
The station was built by the BBC in 1958 to provide a 405-line Band I (VHF) TV service and (later) a VHF (FM) radio services for north west Wales, including the Lleyn peninsula, Anglesey and the north Wales coast. ITV's service was provided from the Arfon transmitting station, approximately 20 miles to the south on the mainland.
In 1967 the site became the area's main station for 625 line colour UHF TV, starting with just BBC Two in June of that year. By this time, it was policy to co-site all UHF TV services at the same site, and by 1973 Llanddona was broadcasting BBC One, BBC Two and ITV on UHF. S4C was added later in 1982 in time for its launch.
Though 405-line TV was discontinued in the UK in 1985, it seems that Llanddona shut down its VHF TV a year early.
In the late 1990s, digital TV transmitters were added, carrying all six national multiplexes.
In 2006, digital radio transmitters were added for the BBC's national multiplex and also Digital One.
On Wednesday 21 October 2009, the Llanddona group of transmitters underwent the first stage of the Digital Switchover and on Wednesday 18 November 2009, analogue television was finally turned off from Llanddona and its group of transmitters as it underwent the second stage of the Digital Switchover. Whilst the old analogue channels were in the UK UHF C/D aerial group, the new DVB channels are now spread over into the E group (presumably to avoid co-channel interference with Winter Hill transmitter), meaning that some customers may need to replace their aerial to get optimum reception.
Freeview HD started transmitting using the BBC B multiplex on channel 53 in July 2010.[1]
Llanddona was the site of the first TV, VHF radio, digital TV and digital radio broadcasts for the area.
Coverage area
The coverage area consists of the majority of Anglesey, and a wide range of other parts of the North West Wales coast. As with the service areas of other transmitters in North Wales, such as the Moel-y-Parc transmitting station, signal overspill from transmitters in North West England and Greater Manchester means that strong radio and television signals from that region (BBC North West and ITV Granada) can be received in North Wales, and strong Welsh signals can be received in North West England also. In the days of analogue TV, some people who received signals from the Llanddona transmitter, but who had no interest in S4C (a Welsh speaking channel) were known to erect a second aerial and receive Channel 4 from Winter Hill instead.
The transmitter signals were also received across the Irish sea in many parts of the east and south east coast of the Republic of Ireland, mainly in counties Dublin and Wicklow. From 1958 onward, many households in these counties would point their outdoor aerials towards the Irish sea and could receive transmission from this transmitter. When cable television launched in the early 1970s, the Welsh BBC and ITV stations were provided on the cable platform as these channels were mainly received in the Dublin and Wicklow counties.
Services listed by frequency
Analogue television
January 1958 - 3 June 1967
it is unclear when transmissions began. "The Big Tower" claim[2] that 405-line television from Llanddona started in January 1958, and the entrance plaque to the transmitter building[3] certainly agrees that the mast and its building were built in 1958. Oddly, BBC research report 1963-50[4] does not mention a start date though it does point out that co-channel interference (presumably from Divis in Northern Ireland, about 180 km to the northwest across the Irish Sea) was "severe". This caused the transmitter's useful service area to be smaller than planned, and forced the building of the Holyhead relay.
"405 Alive" counter-claim[5] a very precise date of 15 May 1962 for the start of 405-line television.
Frequency | VHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|
45.00 MHz | 1V | 6 | BBC1 Wales |
3 June 1967 - 6 September 1973
The first UHF transmitter at the site entered service.[6]
Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
45.00 MHz | 1V | — | 6 | BBC1 Wales |
807.25 MHz | — | 63 | 100 | BBC2 Wales |
6 September 1973 - 1 November 1982
ITV's transmissions certainly started on 6 September,[7] but is likely that the BBC 1 Wales UHF service had already commenced before then.
Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
45.00 MHz | 1V | — | 6 | BBC1 Wales |
759.25 MHz | — | 57 | 100 | BBC1 Wales |
783.25 MHz | — | 60 | 100 | HTV Wales |
807.25 MHz | — | 63 | 100 | BBC2 Wales |
1 November 1982 - January 1984
Channel 4 launched across the UK. Being in Wales, Llanddona transmitted the S4C variant.
Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
45.00 MHz | 1V | — | 6 | BBC1 Wales |
727.25 MHz | — | 53 | 100 | S4C |
759.25 MHz | — | 57 | 100 | BBC1 Wales |
783.25 MHz | — | 60 | 100 | HTV Wales |
807.25 MHz | — | 63 | 100 | BBC2 Wales |
January 1984 - 15 November 1998
The 405-line VHF TV transmission was discontinued after 22 years of service.
Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
---|---|---|---|
727.25 MHz | 53 | 100 | S4C |
759.25 MHz | 57 | 100 | BBC One Wales |
783.25 MHz | 60 | 100 | HTV Wales |
807.25 MHz | 63 | 100 | BBC Two Wales |
Analogue and digital television
15 November 1998 - 21 October 2009
Frequency | UHF | kW | Service | System |
---|---|---|---|---|
674.000 MHz | 46 | 1 | Arqiva (Mux D) | DVB-T |
706.000 MHz | 50 | 1 | BBC (Mux 1) | DVB-T |
727.25 MHz | 53 | 100 | S4C | PAL System I |
738.166 MHz | 54+ | 1 | Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) | DVB-T |
759.25 MHz | 57 | 100 | BBC One Wales | PAL System I |
770.166 MHz | 58+ | 1 | SDN (Mux A) | DVB-T |
783.25 MHz | 60 | 100 | ITV1 Wales (HTV Wales until 2002) | PAL System I |
794.166 MHz | 61+ | 1 | BBC (Mux B) | DVB-T |
807.25 MHz | 63 | 100 | BBC Two Wales | PAL System I |
818.166 MHz | 64+ | 1 | Arqiva (Mux C) | DVB-T |
21 October 2009 - 18 November 2009
The BBC Two analogue signal was switched off after 32 years of service, and BBC One analogue was moved to channel 63. Multiplex 1 on channel 50 was also discontinued. The new "BBC A" multiplex took over on channel 57 which had just been vacated by BBC One analogue with its full post-DSO ERP of 20 kW. BBC A is an expanded version of the BBC's multiplexes 1 and B (with several channels, such as BBC Four and radio stations temporarily available on both BBC multiplexes).
Frequency | UHF | kW | Service | System |
---|---|---|---|---|
674.000 MHz | 46 | 1 | Arqiva (Mux D) | DVB-T |
727.25 MHz | 53 | 100 | S4C | PAL System I |
738.166 MHz | 54+ | 1 | Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) | DVB-T |
762.000 MHz | 57 | 20 | BBC A | DVB-T |
770.166 MHz | 58+ | 1 | SDN (Mux A) | DVB-T |
783.25 MHz | 60 | 100 | ITV1 Wales | PAL System I |
794.166 MHz | 61+ | 1 | BBC (Mux B) | DVB-T |
807.25 MHz | 63 | 100 | BBC One Wales | PAL System I |
818.166 MHz | 64+ | 1 | Arqiva (Mux C) | DVB-T |
Digital television
18 November 2009 - 14 November 2012
All the remaining analogue TV was discontinued, and the new post-DSO multiplexes took over their frequencies plus a couple of new ones. Frequencies above 800 MHz were not re-used as these will be reassigned to 4G mobile phone services.
Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator |
---|---|---|---|
650.000 MHz | 43 | 10 | SDN |
674.000 MHz | 46 | 10 | Arqiva A |
706.000 MHz | 50 | 10 | Arqiva B |
730.000 MHz | 53 | 20 | BBC B |
762.000 MHz | 57 | 20 | BBC A |
786.000 MHz | 60 | 20 | Digital 3&4 |
14 November 2012 - present
As a side-effect of frequency-changes elsewhere in the region to do with clearance of the 800 MHz band for 4G mobile phone use,[8] Llanddona's "Arqiva B" multiplex was moved from channel 50 to channel 40, and "D3&4" on channel 60 gained a negative frequency offset.[9]
Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator |
---|---|---|---|
626.000 MHz | 40 | 10 | Arqiva B |
650.000 MHz | 43 | 10 | SDN |
674.000 MHz | 46 | 10 | Arqiva A |
730.000 MHz | 53 | 20 | BBC B |
762.000 MHz | 57 | 20 | BBC A |
785.833 MHz | 60- | 20 | Digital 3&4 |
- Aerial group: W
- Polarisation: horizontal
Analogue radio
1960 - Early 1990s
VHF FM radio was in service by October 1960 as evidenced by a BBC research report.[10]
Frequency | kW | Service |
---|---|---|
89.6 MHz | 12 | BBC Light Programme |
91.8 MHz | 12 | BBC Third Programme |
94.0 MHz | 12 | BBC Welsh Home Service |
Early 1990s - present
Radio 1 got its own frequency and National Radio 4 was added to the set. Additionally, the frequencies for the original three services were increased by 200 kHz each.
Frequency | kW | Service |
---|---|---|
89.8 MHz | 21 | BBC Radio 2 |
92.0 MHz | 21 | BBC Radio 3 |
94.2 MHz | 21 | BBC Radio Cymru |
94.8 MHz | 10 | BBC Radio Wales |
99.4 MHz | 21 | BBC Radio 1 |
103.6 MHz | 21 | BBC Radio 4 |
Digital radio
Frequency | Block | kW[11] | Operator |
---|---|---|---|
222.064 MHz | 11D | 1 | Digital One |
225.648 MHz | 12B | 5 | BBC National DAB |
See also
References
- ^ "Freeview | Coverage". Freeview. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
- ^ "TheBigTower Llanddona Transmitter". Thebigtower.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ "Entrance Plaque at Llanddona Transmitting Station:: OS grid SH5881 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ "The service area of the Llanddona television transmitter" (PDF). BBC. 1963.
- ^ "405 Alive - Information - A List of VHF 405-Line Transmitters". Bvws.org.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ "U.H.F. TRANSMITTING AERIAL FOR THE LLANDDONA TELEVISION STATION" (PDF). BBC. August 1967.
- ^ "Welcome to the Gallery Upgrader". Txlib.mb21.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ Summers, Nick (15 February 2012). "EU States Must Allow 4G on Analogue TV Spectrum". Thenextweb.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ "4G clearance retunes". a516digital. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ "THE SERVICE AREAS OF THE LLANDDONA, LLANGOLLEN AND BLAEN-PLWYF V.H.F. SOUND TRANSMITTERS" (PDF). BBC. October 1960.
- ^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
External links
- MB21's page on BBC 405 TV to Wales and the West
- 405 Alive's list of transmitters"
- More details on 405-line BBC transmitters
- The Transmission Gallery: Llanddona Transmitter photographs and information
- The Transmission Gallery: TV Coverage Map
- The Transmission Gallery: FM Coverage Map
- Llanddona Transmitter at thebigtower.com