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Brookmans Park transmitting station

August 20, 2023

The Brookmans Park transmitting station is a facility for medium wave (MW) broadcasting at Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, north of London (grid reference TL259050). The station was built in the 1920s by the BBC as the first of a network of regional dual ("twin wave" was the term then used) transmitter stations, replacing the city-based ones used previously, and this was to cover the Home Counties, London and South East. The station is now owned by Arqiva and transmits BBC Radio 5 Live, talkSPORT, Absolute Radio and Lyca Radio.

Brookmans Park
Brookmans Park transmitting station (Hertfordshire)
Mast height152 metres (499 ft)
Coordinates51°43′44″N 0°10′39″W / 51.728889°N 0.1775°W / 51.728889; -0.1775
Grid referenceTL259050

History

The first station, on 842 kHz, (356 m) 50 kW, went into service in on 21 October 1929, the second on 1148 kHz, (261 m) initially 30 kW, followed on 9 March 1930.[1]

The original antenna configuration for the station was two T-antennas hung from four 200-foot (61 m) towers, one T-antenna to the north of the station and the other to the south of the station.

Shortly after the commencement of transmissions, the channels were identified by a name denoting its function. The National channel was carried on 842 kHz, and a "Regional" service on 1148 kHz.

The transmitting station itself featured the latest transmitters from the Marconi Company. No public electricity supply was available so large generators were installed and an extensive support staff was recruited and trained by the BBC.

In 1939, a 91.4 m (300 ft) mast was built on the south side of the station, which along with the existing south T-antenna made a directional array pointing towards central London. This antenna configuration would be used after the war for the BBC Light Programme.

During the Second World War an extension was added to the northern side of the transmitter building and a 140 kW STC transmitter was installed.

In the mid-1950s a 152.4 m (500 ft) mast radiator was constructed on a field around one-half mile (800 m) north of station for the BBC Home Service and the original north T-antenna would become a reserve antenna for that service.

The station was re-engineered in the late 1970s and an extra T-antenna (mini T) was hung between two 18.3 m (60 ft) poles constructed a few hundred feet north from the original north T-antenna, and new transmission equipment was installed replacing the original Marconi transmitters, the 140 kW STC transmitter, and other BBC-designed transmission equipment which was installed in the 1960s.

After the re-engineering the south T-antenna and the 91.4 m (300 ft) mast transmitted BBC Radio London and Radio 3; the north T-antenna along with the newly installed mini T-antenna was used for Radio 1, and the 152.4 m (500 ft) mast was used for Radio 2.

In the years since the re-engineering little has changed to the antenna and structure layout of the station, but the services have changed and the station now transmits Absolute Radio instead of Radio 3, Sunrise Radio instead of BBC Radio London, Talksport instead of Radio 1, and BBC Radio 5 Live instead of Radio 2.

Much development has taken place and the station is now the home to many communications companies that operate various satellite and communication services.

Channels listed by frequency

Analogue radio (AM Medium Wave)

Frequency kW Service
909 kHz 150 BBC Radio 5 Live
1089 kHz 400 talkSPORT
1458 kHz 125 Lyca Radio

As of 16:00 on 4 February 2014. Sunrise Radio stopped transmitting.[2] Lyca Media then started transmitting at 23:00 on 1458 kHz. The station was named as Lyca Radio at a later date.[when?]

On 20th January 2023, Absolute Radio was stopped broadcasting at 1215 kHz, along with all its other AM frequencies across the UK.

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency Block kW Operator
218.640 MHz 11B 2 DRG London
222.064 MHz 11D 1.9 Digital One

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Development of the BBC A.M. Transmitter Network
  2. ^ Baddhan, Raj. . BizAsia. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.

August 20, 2023
brookmans, park, transmitting, station, facility, medium, wave, broadcasting, brookmans, park, hertfordshire, north, london, grid, reference, tl259050, station, built, 1920s, first, network, regional, dual, twin, wave, term, then, used, transmitter, stations, . The Brookmans Park transmitting station is a facility for medium wave MW broadcasting at Brookmans Park Hertfordshire north of London grid reference TL259050 The station was built in the 1920s by the BBC as the first of a network of regional dual twin wave was the term then used transmitter stations replacing the city based ones used previously and this was to cover the Home Counties London and South East The station is now owned by Arqiva and transmits BBC Radio 5 Live talkSPORT Absolute Radio and Lyca Radio Brookmans ParkBrookmans Park transmitting station Hertfordshire Mast height152 metres 499 ft Coordinates51 43 44 N 0 10 39 W 51 728889 N 0 1775 W 51 728889 0 1775Grid referenceTL259050 Contents 1 History 2 Channels listed by frequency 2 1 Analogue radio AM Medium Wave 2 2 Digital radio DAB 3 See also 4 External links 5 ReferencesHistory EditThe first station on 842 kHz 356 m 50 kW went into service in on 21 October 1929 the second on 1148 kHz 261 m initially 30 kW followed on 9 March 1930 1 The original antenna configuration for the station was two T antennas hung from four 200 foot 61 m towers one T antenna to the north of the station and the other to the south of the station Shortly after the commencement of transmissions the channels were identified by a name denoting its function The National channel was carried on 842 kHz and a Regional service on 1148 kHz The transmitting station itself featured the latest transmitters from the Marconi Company No public electricity supply was available so large generators were installed and an extensive support staff was recruited and trained by the BBC In 1939 a 91 4 m 300 ft mast was built on the south side of the station which along with the existing south T antenna made a directional array pointing towards central London This antenna configuration would be used after the war for the BBC Light Programme During the Second World War an extension was added to the northern side of the transmitter building and a 140 kW STC transmitter was installed In the mid 1950s a 152 4 m 500 ft mast radiator was constructed on a field around one half mile 800 m north of station for the BBC Home Service and the original north T antenna would become a reserve antenna for that service The station was re engineered in the late 1970s and an extra T antenna mini T was hung between two 18 3 m 60 ft poles constructed a few hundred feet north from the original north T antenna and new transmission equipment was installed replacing the original Marconi transmitters the 140 kW STC transmitter and other BBC designed transmission equipment which was installed in the 1960s After the re engineering the south T antenna and the 91 4 m 300 ft mast transmitted BBC Radio London and Radio 3 the north T antenna along with the newly installed mini T antenna was used for Radio 1 and the 152 4 m 500 ft mast was used for Radio 2 In the years since the re engineering little has changed to the antenna and structure layout of the station but the services have changed and the station now transmits Absolute Radio instead of Radio 3 Sunrise Radio instead of BBC Radio London Talksport instead of Radio 1 and BBC Radio 5 Live instead of Radio 2 Much development has taken place and the station is now the home to many communications companies that operate various satellite and communication services Channels listed by frequency EditAnalogue radio AM Medium Wave Edit Frequency kW Service909 kHz 150 BBC Radio 5 Live1089 kHz 400 talkSPORT1458 kHz 125 Lyca RadioAs of 16 00 on 4 February 2014 Sunrise Radio stopped transmitting 2 Lyca Media then started transmitting at 23 00 on 1458 kHz The station was named as Lyca Radio at a later date when On 20th January 2023 Absolute Radio was stopped broadcasting at 1215 kHz along with all its other AM frequencies across the UK Digital radio DAB Edit Frequency Block kW Operator218 640 MHz 11B 2 DRG London222 064 MHz 11D 1 9 Digital OneSee also EditList of masts List of towers List of radio stations in the United KingdomExternal links EditThe Transmission Gallery photographs and information A History of Brookmans Park Transmitting Station The London Twin Wave Broadcasting Station Brookmans Park Brookmans Park Transmission Mast at Structurae Brookmans Park Transmission Towers at Structurae http www skyscraperpage com diagrams b20122References Edit Development of the BBC A M Transmitter Network Baddhan Raj Sunrise Radio 1 amp 3 go off as new owners take charge BizAsia Archived from the original on 5 March 2014 Retrieved 4 February 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brookmans Park transmitting station amp oldid 1154457606, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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