Skelton Transmitting Station

The Skelton Transmitting Station is a radio transmitter site at grid reference NY433376 near Skelton, Cumbria, England about 5 miles (8 km) north west of Penrith, run by Babcock International and owned by the Ministry of Defence. Since the Belmont Mast was shortened in 2010, the mast at Skelton has been the tallest structure in the United Kingdom.[1]

Skelton
Skelton Transmitting Station (Cumbria)
LocationSkelton, Cumbria
Mast height365 metres (1,198 ft)
Coordinates54°43′56″N 2°53′01″W
Built2001 (current)

In 1946, the BBC was heralding the site as being "the World's largest and most powerful (shortwave) radio station".[2]

The main purpose of it is shortwave broadcasting. The site is capable of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) on at least 3955 kHz and 3975 kHz (75m broadcast band) beamed at 121° towards Germany and Central Europe.[3][4] On AM the frequencies of 5995 kHz and 6195 kHz (49m broadcast band) and 9410 kHz (31m broadcast band) and 12095 kHz (25m broadcast band) are known.[5]

A British Navy very low frequency (VLF) transmitter is also located there. It is used to transmit encrypted orders to submarines. It uses as its aerial a 365-metre (1,198 foot) high guyed steel lattice mast, which is insulated against ground and is the tallest structure in the UK. The transmitter went into service in 2001 and is the successor to the GBR transmitter at Rugby Radio Station.

See also

References
  1. "Europe's tallest structure to be cut down to size". The Independent. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. "Skelton memories". Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  3. "'Baseportal' DRM List". Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  4. "'Mediumwave Info' DRM List". Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  5. "Bandscan List". Retrieved 21 November 2010.
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