Sutton Coldfield transmitting station

Infobox UK Transmitter
name = Sutton Coldfield

Location map|West Midlands
label =
lat = 52.600556
long = -1.833889
caption =
float = center
width = 250
location = Sutton Coldfield, England
height = convert|245.0|m|ft|0|lk=on
gridref = SK113003
built = 1949
demolished =
collapsed =
BBC = BBC West Midlands
ITV = ITV Central

The Sutton Coldfield transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located in north Sutton Coldfield, in Birmingham, England.

History

On December 17 1949, it became the first television transmitter to broadcast outside London and the Home Counties, bringing BBC Television to viewers outside of the south-east of England for the first time.

A new mast was built around 1983 to replace the original structure, primarily to support new mixed-polarisation FM antennas.

ervices

With a mast height of convert|245.0|m|ft|0, it is one of the most powerful transmitters in England, powered at 1000 kilowatts ERP for analogue television and 250 kW for FM radio. The coverage extends as far south as Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and as far north as Stoke-on-Trent. However, there are many relay transmitters around the Midlands that extend the coverage even further.

The transmitter broadcasts UHF analogue and six digital television multiplexes, as well as VHF or FM transmitters for the four BBC national stations, independent national station Classic FM, four local commercial radio stations (BRMB, 100.7 Heart FM, Kerrang 105.2 and Smooth Radio), the BBC's local service WM and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting – i.e. Digital Radio). Although many people think it broadcasts Five that programme (on UHF channel 37) is actually transmitted from Lichfield which is 4 miles NE.When opened as a UHF TV transmitter Sutton Coldfield was a B group but with the advent of Digital broadcasting one of the 6 MUXES could not be fitted into the original B group due to co-channel issues. Thus MUX6 is transmitted slightly out of band on CH55 though this would still be receivable on most B group aerials as this [http://www.aerialsandtv.com/suttoncoldfieldtx.html#SuttonColdfieldGraph graph] makes clear.In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that Sutton Coldfield would return to an undisputed a B group transmitter after DSO (Digital Switchover).

An MF transmitter for Radio Birmingham (now Radio WM) used to be installed at this site, but could only be operated at 5 kW instead of the planned 10 kW because of interference to video equipment on the site. It was eventually replaced with a transmitter at the nearby Langley Mill MF site owned by Arqiva. This transmitter is currently used for the BBC Asian Network.

The station is now owned by National Grid Wireless, a subsidiary of National Grid plc, based in Warwick.

Digital switchover

Digital switchover is scheduled for the West Midlands in September 2011. In preparation for this, major engineering works will take place at Sutton Coldfield. The mast will be extended from its existing height of convert|245.0|m|ft|0 to a new height of convert|270.5|m|ft|0 and the existing analogue and digital television antennas will be replaced. In order to accomplish this, a temporary convert|240.2|m|ft|0 mast will be erected to broadcast all the area's services so that the main mast is worked on 'cold'. [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/PSR/control/ Birmingham Council Planning Control: Application No. N/04511/07/FUL]

ee also

*List of masts
*List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain
*List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

Further reading

* Pawley, Edward (1972), "BBC Engineering 1922 - 1972", London, BBC. pp 355, 368-70. ISBN 0-563-12127-0
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/features/coldfield/ Cooper, Ray (2006), "Tales from a Cold Field".]

References

External links

* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/suttoncoldfield/index.php Transmission Gallery, Sutton Coldfield entry]
* [http://www.aerialsandtv.com/suttoncoldfieldtx.html Info and pictures of Sutton Coldfield transmitter (including co-receivable transmitters)]