Beacon Hill transmitting station

The Beacon Hill transmitting station is an English telecommunications facility located at Beacon Hill, Marldon, Devon. It includes a guyed mast (Beacon Hill A)[1] and a free-standing lattice tower (Beacon Hill B),[2] both of which support various antennas.

Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill A (left) and Beacon Hill B
Beacon Hill transmitting station (Devon)
Mast height103.6 metres (340 ft)
Coordinates50.446389°N 3.610833°W / 50.446389; -3.610833
Grid referenceSX857619
BBC regionBBC South West
ITV regionITV Westcountry

History

Beacon Hill A became operational in 1972–3, bringing 625 line PAL colour television to the coverage area of Torbay and south Devon. Beacon Hill B transmits FM radio and DAB radio to the area. In 2007, a third guyed lattice mast was constructed at the site to provide medium wave transmissions for Gold (Exeter/Torbay). The transmitter for Gold was dismantled after the service was discontinued.[3]

Digital switchover

In April 2009, the analogue television transmissions at Beacon Hill A were turned off, requiring homes in the area to switch to the Freeview service.[4] The Beacon Hill transmitter group was the first in the South West of England to stop broadcasting analogue television services. BBC Two ceased at 00:50 on 8 April 2009 and the remaining analogue signals were turned off on 22 April 2009 at 00:20.[5]

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio
Frequency kW[6] Service
88.7 MHz 1 BBC Radio 2
90.9 MHz 1 BBC Radio 3
93.1 MHz 1 BBC Radio 4
96.4 MHz 1.8 Heart South West
98.4 MHz 1 BBC Radio 1
104.3 MHz 1 BBC Radio Devon
105.5 MHz 1.6 The Breeze

Digital radio
Frequency Block kW Operator
220.352 MHz 11C 2 NOW Exeter and Torbay
222.064 MHz 11D 2 Digital One
225.648 MHz 12B 5 BBC National DAB

Analogue television

Analogue television signals ceased in April 2009. BBC Two was closed on 8 April 2009, with ITV1 temporarily moving into its place, followed by the remaining services on 22 April.

Frequency UHF kW[9] Service
727.25 MHz 53 100 Channel 4
759.25 MHz 57 100 BBC One
783.25 MHz 60 100 ITV1
807.25 MHz 63 100 BBC Two

References
  1. grid reference SX857619, 50°26′47″N 3°36′39″W
  2. grid reference SX857620, 50°26′49.5″N 3°36′37.5″W
  3. "The Big Tower – Beacon Hill". Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  4. "Analogue TV signal turned off in digital switch". Metro. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  5. Holmwood, Leigh (8 April 2009). "Hundreds lose BBC2 as digital switchover begins in West Country". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  6. Radio Listeners Guide 2010
  7. "700 MHz Clearance Programme" Ofcom, 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  8. "Changes to the Freeview channel line-up in Torbay and South Devon". Freeview. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. Television Viewers Guide 2009
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