Beacon Hill transmitting station

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill A (left) and Beacon Hill B
Mast height	103.6 metres (340 ft)
Coordinates	50°26′50″N 3°36′37″W / 50.4471°N 3.6104°WCoordinates: 50°26′50″N 3°36′37″W / 50.4471°N 3.6104°W
Grid reference	SX857619
BBC region	BBC South West
ITV region	ITV Westcountry

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 South West
98.4 MHz	1	BBC Radio 1
104.3 MHz	1	BBC Radio Devon
105.5 MHz	1.6	Palm 105.5

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

Digital television Frequency UHF kW Operator System 642.000 MHz 42 10 SDN DVB-T 666.000 MHz 45 10 Arqiva A DVB-T 714.000 MHz 51 10 Arqiva B DVB-T 730.166 MHz 53+ 20 Digital 3&4 DVB-T 762.166 MHz 57+ 20 BBC B DVB-T2 786.166 MHz 60+ 20 BBC A DVB-T

Before switchover Frequency UHF kW Operator 721.833 MHz 52- 2 BBC (Mux 1) 738.166 MHz 54+ 2 BBC (Mux B) 753.833 MHz 56- 1 Arqiva (Mux C) 770.166 MHz 58+ 2 SDN (Mux A) 794.166 MHz 61+ 2 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) 818.166 MHz 64+ 1 Arqiva (Mux D)

Analogue television

Analogue television signals ceased in April 2009. BBC Two was closed on 8 April 2009, with ITV1 temporarily moving into its place, followed by the remaining services on 22 April.

Frequency	UHF	kW[7]	Service
727.25 MHz	53	100	Channel 4
759.25 MHz	57	100	BBC One
783.25 MHz	60	100	ITV1
807.25 MHz	63	100	BBC Two

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. Television Viewers Guide 2009

External links

• Beacon Hill at mds975.co.uk
• Beacon Hill at The Transmission Gallery