Tacolneston transmitting station

Infobox UK Transmitter
name = Tacolneston


height = convert|165.0|m|ft|0
gridref=TM131958
built = 1954
demolished =
collapsed =
BBC = BBC East
ITV = ITV Anglia

The Tacolneston transmitting station is a facility for both analogue and digital VHF/FM radio and UHF television transmission near Tacolneston, 11 miles southwest of Norwich, Norfolk, England.

It includes a convert|149.0|m|ft|0|lk=on tall guyed steel lattice mast, which was built in 1956 (completed in late September/early October that year). On top of the mast is located the UHF television transmitting antenna, which brings the overall height of the structure to convert|165.0|m|ft|0 [http://wam.south-norfolk.gov.uk/WAM/pas/findCaseFile.do?appNumber=2008%2F0162 South Norfolk County Council planning application, January 2008] ] .

The station's original mast, built from early 1954, convert|61|m|ft|0 tall and first broadcast television transmissions, albeit temporary, from February 1955 [cite news | publisher = Eastern Counties Newspapers (Archant) | title = Eastern Daily Press | date = August 15,1997 ] and VHF (FM) broadcasts from 6.35pm on Tuesday 30 April 1957 [cite news | publisher = Eastern Counties Newspapers | title = Eastern Daily Press | date = May 1,1957 ] .

The transmission site is located at 52° 31′ 3.9″ North, 1° 8' 19.3" East [cite web | url= http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.517775&lon=1.138705&z=17.5&r=0&src=msa | title = Flash Earth | accessdate = 2007-05-30 | format= | work= ] (National Grid Reference: TM131958 [cite book | title = Television Transmitting Stations Handbook | publisher = BBC & ITC | date = January 1994 ] ). In July 1989 it was reported that the transmitting station cost almost £500,000 a year to run [cite news | publisher = Eastern Counties Newspapers (Archant) | title = Eastern Daily Press | date = July 11,1989 | page = 9] .

The current mast has an average height of 221 metres above sea level [cite web |url= http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP709.PDF |title= Radar Vector Areas in UK Airspace |accessdate= 2006-11-29 |format= PDF | author = Civil Aviation Authority | page = 22] . It is now owned and operated by National Grid Wireless, but was owned by the BBC before they privatised their transmission department prior to 1997.

National Grid Wireless (NGW) announced, on August 6 2007 [cite web | url= http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=enonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED06%20Aug%202007%2009%3A59%3A54%3A687 | title = Eastern Evening News | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | format= | work= ] [cite news | publisher = Archant Newspapers | title = Eastern Daily Press | date = August 7,2007 ] , that they plan to replace the current convert|165|m|ft|0 mast with a new convert|206.1|m|ft|0 mast in order to ensure good digital tv reception across East Anglia after digital switchover, which is planned to take place in the area in Jun 2011. NGW also plan to replace the original transmitter hall at this site as it has now reached the end of its useful life. [cite web | url= http://tx.mb21.co.uk/news/index.shtml | title = MB21 Transmission Gallery (News) | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | format= | work= ]

Channels listed by Frequency

* Analogue Radio (FM VHF)
**89.7 MHz - BBC Radio 2
**91.9 MHz - BBC Radio 3
**94.1 MHz - BBC Radio 4
**99.3 MHz - BBC Radio 1
**101.5 MHz - INR1 (Classic FM)

* Digital Radio (DAB)
**Block 12B: 225.648 MHz - BBC MPX
**Block 11D: 218.640 MHz - Now Digital

* Analogue Television
** UHF 52 - Five
** UHF 55 - BBC Two
** UHF 59 - ITV1 (Anglia)
** UHF 62 - BBC One (East)
** UHF 65 - Channel 4

* Digital Television
**UHF 53 - Multiplex A SDN
**UHF 58 - Multiplex B BBC
**UHF 60 - Multiplex 2 Digital 3&4
**UHF 61 - Multiplex C National Grid Wireless
**UHF 63 - Multiplex 1 BBC
**UHF 64 - Multiplex D National Grid Wireless

References

ee also

*List of masts
*List of tallest structures in the United Kingdom
*List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

External links

* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/tacolneston/ Entry at the Transmission Gallery]