Selkirk transmitting station

Selkirk
Mast height 238.8 metres (783 ft)
Coordinates 55°33′21″N 2°47′36″W / 55.5558°N 2.7933°W / 55.5558; -2.7933Coordinates: 55°33′21″N 2°47′36″W / 55.5558°N 2.7933°W / 55.5558; -2.7933
Grid reference NT500294
Built 1961
BBC region BBC Scotland
ITV region ITV Border

The Selkirk transmitting station is a telecommunications facility located next to Lindean Loch, near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. It includes a 229.1 metres (752 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast, surmounted by a UHF television transmitting antenna array, which brings the overall height of the structure to 238.8 metres (783 ft).[1] It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

Services

It is the main television broadcasting station for the Borders area, and is the first high power main station in the United Kingdom to be upgraded as part of digital switchover. This upgrade was completed on 20 November 2008, when the analogue signal was turned off and replaced by high power digital television signals.

Selkirk also broadcasts a number of radio services, including local commercial station Radio Borders, national station Classic FM, and DAB multiplexes from the BBC and Digital One.

History

Selkirk was built by the ITA in 1961 in order to bring ITV to south east Scotland, using the 405 line monochrome system on VHF channel 13.[2] 405 line television was discontinued in the UK in 1985. 625 line UHF television was introduced at Selkirk in 1972, carrying BBC1 (channel 55), BBC2 (channel 62) and ITV (channel 59). Channel 4 was added on channel 65 when it launched in November 1982, and Channel 5 was added on channel 52 in March 1997. Radio Borders started from Selkirk in January 1990, with Classic FM following in November 1996. The Digital One and BBC DAB services both commenced in October 2007. BBC national FM services are transmitted from neighbouring Ashkirk transmitting station.

Channels listed by frequency

Digital television

Frequency UHF kW Operator
730.0 MHz 53 5 Arqiva A
746.0 MHz 55 10 BBC B
762.0 MHz 57 5 SDN
777.8 MHz 59- 10 Digital 3&4
786.0 MHz 60 5 Arqiva B
801.8 MHz 62- 10 BBC A

Analogue radio (FM VHF)

Frequency kW[3] Service
96.8 MHz 5 Radio Borders
100.9 MHz 5 Classic FM

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency Block kW Operator
223.936 MHz 12A 10 Digital One
225.648 MHz 12B 10 BBC National DAB

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Scottish Borders Council planning department". 2006-02-03. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  2. ↑ "mb21 Transmission Gallery". Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  3. ↑ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
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