Chesterfield Transmitter

Infobox UK Transmitter
name = Chesterfield


height = convert|50|m|ft|0|lk=on
built =
demolished =
collapsed =
relay = Emley Moor
BBC = BBC Yorkshire
ITV = ITV YorkshireThe Chesterfield Transmitter is a television and radio transmitter which serves the town of Chesterfield in Derbyshire and surrounding areas. The transmitter is a relay of the large Emley Moor mast in West Yorkshire, although digital TV services are from the Sheffield Crosspool Transmitter (known as Tapton Hill transmitting station). The Chesterfield transmitter sits on a hillside to the north of the town, it transmits normal analogue television at 2 kW, along with digital television and radio services. It is one of the few transmitters in the UK to transmit digital television but not analogue channel, Five. Since 5 of its 6 Digital MUXES are transmitted on the same channels as Emley Moor it is not uncommon for co-channel interference to be a problem, similar problems exist with Sutton Coldfield and Waltham (see external links). The transmitter is vertically polarised as are most relays/repeaters. The altitude of the transmitting aerials is 231 metres, the actual tower being around convert|50|m|ft|0|lk=on in height and of a similar design to many of the repeaters around the country. In the early 2000s an extra smaller tower was added at the side of the larger tower possibly for mobile phone use. Currently not much digital radio is broadcast from this site (or anywhere in Derbyshire) but it is just possible to receive digital radio in Chesterfield from other transmitters, specifically Tapton Hill in Sheffield. From the 8th November 2007, the transmitter has broadcasted the Digital One DAB Multiplex. The plans for the upcoming NOW Derbyshire DAB multiplex which was due to start broadcasting by July 2008 (but now delayed until early 2009) state that the Chesterfield transmitter is to be used to broadcast this service along with another four transmitters across Derbyshire. The Chesterfield transmitter is owned by Arqiva (previously NTL).

Transmitted Services

*Analogue Television
**UHF 33: BBC One
**UHF 26: BBC Two
**UHF 23: ITV
**UHF 29: Channel 4

*Digital Television
**UHF 34: Multiplex 1 - BBC
**UHF 40: Multiplex 2 - Digital 3&4
**UHF 43: Multiplex A - SDN
**UHF 46: Multiplex B - BBC
**UHF 50: Multiplex C - National Grid Wireless
**UHF 52: Multiplex D - National Grid Wireless

*Analogue Radio
**98.6 MHz: BBC Radio 1
**89.0 MHz: BBC Radio 2
**91.2 MHz: BBC Radio 3
**93.4 MHz: BBC Radio 4
**94.7 MHz: BBC Radio Sheffield
**107.4 MHz: Peak FM

*Digital Radio
**"211.649MHz (10B): NOW Derbyshire (due to begin in early 2009)"
**"216.928MHz (11A): Digital Two (owned by 4 Digital Group and expected in the future - only rumour at present)"
**222.064MHz (11D): Digital One
**"224.648MHz (12B): BBC National (expected in the future - only rumour at present)"

Power

The Chesterfield transmitter broadcasts at the following powers:
*Analogue Television: 2 kW
*Digital Television: 40 W
*BBC Radio: 400 W
*Peak FM: 100 W
*DAB: 1kW

Digital Switchover

In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that Chesterfield would be remaining a wideband transmitter after DSO (Digital Switchover), though the first three - of the six - MUXES will still be available within the original A group. The predicted date when the Chesterfield transmitter will have its analogue services switched off is September 2011. The frequencies for the digital muxes will also change, these will change to:

*UHF 23: PSB 1 - Previously Multixplex 1
*UHF 26: PSB 2 - Previously Multixplex 2
*UHF 29: PSB 3 - Previously Multixplex B
*UHF 43: COM 1 - Previously Multixplex A
*UHF 46: COM 2 - Previously Multixplex C
*UHF 50: COM 3 - Previously Multixplex D

No other services from the transmitter will be changed or affected

For more information on the digital switchover click on the following link - Digital switchover

See also

*NOW Derbyshire
*Emley Moor
*Belmont transmitting station
*Waltham transmitting station

External links

* [http://www.aerialsandtv.com/chesterfieldtx.html Info and pictures of Chesterfield transmitter including co-receivable transmitters]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/chesterfield.asp The Transmission Gallery:Chesterfield Transmitter photographs and information]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/planet/digitalswitchover.html Switchover information page]
* [http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SK382764 Details about the transmitter]