Wrexham-Rhos transmitting station

Infobox UK Transmitter
name = Wrexham-Rhos


height =
built =
demolished =
collapsed =
relay = Moel-y-Parc
BBC = BBC Wales
ITV = ITV Wales

The Wrexham-Rhos transmitting station (informally known as "The Welsh" and "The Wand" by locals) is an analogue television relay of Moel-y-Parc. Despite its name, the station is situated in Moss Village and serves Wrexham and its surrounding villages. However, the area is predominately served by English transmitters at Winter Hill and The Wrekin, simply because they offer both the English Channel 4 (while Wrexham-Rhos gives Welsh variant, S4C), and Five, although being in the ‘incorrect’ television region. Another factor is that both Granada Television and ATV, (received from Winter Hill and The Wrekin respectively) were on air much earlier than Welsh ITV contractor, WWN. Since then, WWN has been replaced by TWW and later HTV Wales, while ATV has been replaced by Central.The mast was constructed to offer Welsh television channels to the area, initially just S4C and BBC One Wales. [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/wrexham-rhos.asp] . Since then however, both HTV Wales and BBC Two Wales have been broadcasting from the mast, most recently being HTV in 1997 [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/uploads/HTV_APR_text.doc] . The relay is maintained by transmission company, Arqiva. Its tower is a free-standing lattice structure. Despite the poor reception, Moel-y-Parc is the nearest main transmitter to the Wrexham area, but its line of sight is disrupted by local terrain.

Television

At present, the station broadcasts four of the five national terrestrial television channels. It is in Wales so it includes Channel 4 variant, S4C. Channels 1 to 3 are broadcast at 200W ERP, while S4C broadcasts at 400W. In 1998, due to the upcoming launch of ONdigital from neighbouring transmission site, The Wrekin, S4C from the relay was required to change frequency. A message was displayed telling viewers to re-tune their televisions of the channel were carried for a couple of months. When the original frequency was switched off, the power on the newer version was increased.

*UHF 39: BBC One Wales
*UHF 28: BBC Two Wales
*UHF 32: ITV1 Wales
*UHF 25: S4C

After digital switchover, the station will broadcast three of the six digital multiplexes, giving half of all Freeview channels. [http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051024&sid=3&subid=0] . The shutdown date for the Wrexham-Rhos relay is 2 March 2010 [http://www.ukfree.tv/shutdowndetail.php?tx=SJ301537] .

*UHF 28 PSB1 Multiplex (BBC)
*UHF 22: PSB2 Multiplex (ITV / Channel 4)
*UHF 25: PSB3 Multiplex (BBC, "also S4C and Five)

To carry on receiving Welsh transmissions from the Wrexham-Rhos site from 2010, viewers must purchase a digital receiver.

Radio

Marcher Sound transmits from this site on 103.4 FM.

ee also

*Winter Hill transmitting station
*The Wrekin transmitting station
*Moel-y-Parc transmitting station

External links

* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/wrexham-rhos.php mb21 - The Transmission Gallery - photographs]
* [http://www.ukfree.tv/shutdowndetail.php?tx=SJ301537 ukfree.tv Shutdown plans for Wrexham-Rhos]