Lichfield transmitting station

Lichfield
Mast height 305.2 metres (1,001 ft)
Coordinates 52°38′12″N 1°45′32″W / 52.6367°N 1.7589°W / 52.6367; -1.7589Coordinates: 52°38′12″N 1°45′32″W / 52.6367°N 1.7589°W / 52.6367; -1.7589
Grid reference SK1631404390
Built 1961
ITV region ABC (1961-1968)
ATV (1961-1981)
Central (1982-1985)

The Lichfield transmitting station is situated close to Tamworth in Staffordshire in the West Midlands between the A5 and A51. The nearest geographical feature is Hopwas Hill. The station is owned and operated by Arqiva. The mast is known locally as Hopwas mast or Hints mast.

History

The station was the main 405-line ITV transmitter for the Midlands from 1956 until 1985. It has a 305.2 metres (1,001 ft) tall guyed mast.

The station came on air on 17 February 1956, using two 5 kW transmitters and a 16-stack antenna mounted on a 450ft tall Eiffelized tower. This tower was replaced by the tall mast which came into service on 18 July 1961. The 450ft tower was dismantled in 1962 and shipped to Jersey, Channel Islands and re erected at Fremont Point on the north of the Island.

625-line colour transmitters for the region were all co-sited at the nearby Sutton Coldfield transmitting station until 1997, when Lichfield began broadcasting Channel 5 in the Midlands. At 1000 kW on C37 it was the most powerful Channel 5 transmitter in the country. Before the digital switchover, Lichfield effectively worked in conjunction with Sutton Coldfield (4 miles to the SW) to supply the full five analogue channels. Reception of Channel 5 from Lichfield was also receivable at viewable quality throughout the borders of North Wales.

All analogue TV transmissions ceased on 21 September 2011, as part of the digital switchover. A temporary HD multiplex BBC B (Mux HD) on C34 was moved to the Sutton Coldfield transmitting station on C40+ (626.2 MHz) thereby ceasing all analogue and digital television broadcasts from the Lichfield transmitter.

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio (FM VHF)

Frequency kW[1] Service
101.6 MHz 0.06 Touch FM

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency Block kW[2] Operator
220.35 MHz 11C 0.5 CE Birmingham

Analogue television

17 February 1956 – 3 January 1985

Frequency VHF kW Service
189.75 MHz 8 200 Central (ABC until 1968/ATV until 1982)

30 March 1997 – 21 September 2011

Frequency UHF kW Service
599.25 MHz 37 1000 Channel 5

Digital television

Digital television is no longer broadcast from Lichfield as of 21 September 2011.

Frequency UHF kW Operator
578.0 MHz 34 4 BBC B (Mux HD)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
  2. ↑ Radio Listeners Guide 2010


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