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Rowridge transmitting station

January 19, 2024

The Rowridge transmitting station is a facility for FM radio and television transmission at Rowridge on the Isle of Wight in southern England.

Rowridge
The Rowridge transmitting station
Rowridge transmitting station (Isle of Wight)
Mast height149.6 metres (491 ft)
Coordinates50°40′35″N 1°22′07″W / 50.676389°N 1.368611°W / 50.676389; -1.368611
Grid referenceSZ447865
BBC regionBBC South
ITV regionSouthern (1969–1981)
TVS (1982–1992)
ITV Meridian (1993–present)
Local TV serviceThat's Solent

It currently has a 172 metres (564 ft) tall guyed mast, owned and operated by Arqiva (previously National Grid Wireless). There is a smaller tower on the site belonging to British Telecom. Prior to Digital Switchover (DSO) the station broadcast with a power of 250 kW (ERP) for FM radio, 500 kW for analogue television, and 20 kW for digital television. In July 2007, Ofcom confirmed that Rowridge would remain an A Group transmitter at Digital switchover; the digital television transmission signal was then boosted to 200 kW. From March 2018 MUXES 7 & 8 moved out of the A group to channels 55 & 56 (see graph), though these are due to be turned off between 2020 and 2022.

Rowridge is one of only two main transmitters (the other is the rather smaller transmitter of Rosneath in Scotland) to broadcast its output on both horizontal and vertical polarities. Only the main 6 MUXES are transmitted in vertical polarity. The reason for this dual polarity transmission is to give a second option to those experiencing co-channel interference from transmitters on the continent.

Analogue Channel 5 was not transmitted from Rowridge but was broadcast (at 10 kW) from Fawley Power Station, with the antenna located on the main chimney. Transmissions all fitted within the A group and were horizontally polarised. On 25 March 2009, Channel 5's analogue signal was turned off from Fawley Power Station, due to the digital switchover in the neighbouring Westcountry region.

Population coverage for the main four analogue channels was about 1.75 million.

History edit

 

The station was first built to provide BBC 405-line television coverage for an area including Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Dorchester, Chichester, Brighton, Winchester and Salisbury. Sites on the mainland and the Isle of Wight were considered, and three were tested by BBC Research Department. A temporary 200 ft lattice mast was built with a main antenna at 175 ft and a reserve antenna lower down. These aerials were directional to enhance the signal northwards and reduce unwanted coverage to the south.[1]

It was built by BICC, alongside Pontop Pike (also 500ft) and North Hessary Tor in Devon (a taller mast).

The service opened on 12 November 1954, bringing television to the area for the first time.

A programme feed was obtained via a Post Office radio link, using refurbished equipment that provided the original picture feed for the Wenvoe Transmitter on the British Telecom Microwave Network. A site for this near Alton, Hampshire was acquired and named after a nearby pub: Golden Pot. Here the TV signal from Alexandra Palace was picked up and relayed via a one-hop 4 GHz microwave link to Rowridge. This was brought into service on 18 October 1954. Later, the microwave link ran from the Museum telephone exchange in London to Rowridge, using Golden Pot as an intermediate site.[2]

In 1965 the UHF antenna was added making the total height of the structure 149.6 metres (491 ft). This addition allowed Rowridge to radiate the PAL 625-line transmission that allowed broadcasts in colour and eventually stereo sound, using NICAM.

On 25 March 2009, Channel 5's analogue signal was turned off from Fawley Power Station. Later on in the day, "existing digital terrestrial TV services moved to new frequencies", due to the digital switchover happening in the region in 2012.[3]

Arqiva applied for planning permission to replace the existing 150m (492') mast with one 187m (614') high on 22 May 2009.[4]

Channels listed by frequency edit

Analogue radio edit

Frequency kW[5] Service
88.5 MHz 250 BBC Radio 2
90.7 MHz 250 BBC Radio 3
92.9 MHz 250 BBC Radio 4
96.1 MHz 10 BBC Radio Solent
98.2 MHz 250 BBC Radio 1
100.3 MHz 125 Classic FM

Digital radio edit

Frequency Block kW Operator
225.648 MHz 12B 5 BBC National DAB

Analogue television edit

12 November 1954 – 15 January 1966 edit

Frequency VHF kW Service
56.75 MHz 3 100 BBC Television

15 January 1966 – 13 December 1969 edit

Frequency VHF UHF kW Service
56.75 MHz 3 — 100 BBC1 South
495.25 MHz — 24 500 BBC2 South

13 December 1969 – 27 December 1969 edit

Frequency VHF UHF kW Service
56.75 MHz 3 — 100 BBC1 South
495.25 MHz — 24 500 BBC2 South
519.25 MHz — 27 500 Southern

27 December 1969 – 4 December 1982 edit

Frequency VHF UHF kW Service
56.75 MHz 3 100 BBC1 South
495.25 MHz — 24 500 BBC2 South
519.25 MHz — 27 500 TVS (Southern until 1982)
551.25 MHz — 31 500 BBC1

4 December 1982 – 3 January 1985 edit

Frequency VHF UHF kW Service
56.75 MHz 3 — 100 BBC1 South
471.25 MHz — 21 500 Channel 4
495.25 MHz — 24 500 BBC2 South
519.25 MHz — 27 500 TVS
551.25 MHz — 31 500 BBC1

3 January 1985 – 15 November 1998 edit

Frequency UHF kW Service
471.25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4
495.25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South
519.25 MHz 27 500 Meridian (TVS until 1993)
551.25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South

Analogue and digital television edit

15 November 1998 – 31 October 2002 edit

Frequency UHF kW Service System
471.25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I
489.833 MHz 23- 20 BBC (Mux 1) DVB-T
495.25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I
513.833 MHz 26- 20 Arqiva (Mux C) DVB-T
519.25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I
530.000 MHz 28 20 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) DVB-T
546.000 MHz 30 20 SDN (Mux A) DVB-T
551.25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I
562.166 MHz 32+ 20 BBC (Mux B) DVB-T
570.166 MHz 33+ 20 Arqiva (Mux D) DVB-T

31 October 2002 – 24 May 2007 edit

Frequency UHF kW Service System
471.25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I
489.833 MHz 23- 20 BBC (Mux 1) DVB-T
495.25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I
513.833 MHz 26- 20 Arqiva (Mux C) DVB-T
519.25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I
530.000 MHz 28 20 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) DVB-T
546.000 MHz 30 20 SDN (Mux A) DVB-T
551.25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I
562.166 MHz 32+ 20 BBC (Mux B) DVB-T
570.166 MHz 33+ 20 Arqiva (Mux D) DVB-T
735.25 MHz 54 2 Solent TV PAL System I

24 May 2007 – 25 March 2009 edit

Frequency UHF kW Service System
471.25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I
489.833 MHz 23- 20 BBC (Mux 1) DVB-T
495.25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I
513.833 MHz 26- 20 Arqiva (Mux C) DVB-T
519.25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I
530.000 MHz 28 20 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) DVB-T
546.000 MHz 30 20 SDN (Mux A) DVB-T
551.25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I
562.166 MHz 32+ 20 BBC (Mux B) DVB-T
570.166 MHz 33+ 20 Arqiva (Mux D) DVB-T

25 March 2009 – 7 March 2012 edit

Frequency UHF kW Service System
471.25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I
495.25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I
519.25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I
530.166 MHz 28+ 20 BBC (Mux B) DVB-T
545.833 MHz 30- 20 SDN (Mux A) DVB-T
551.25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I
562.166 MHz 32+ 20 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) DVB-T
570.166 MHz 33+ 20 Arqiva (Mux D) DVB-T
578.000 MHz 34 20 BBC (Mux 1) DVB-T
602.166 MHz 37+ 20 Arqiva (Mux C) DVB-T

7 March 2012 – 21 March 2012 edit

Frequency UHF kW Service System
H V
471.25 MHz 21 500 — Channel 4 PAL System I
498.000 MHz 24 200 200 BBC A DVB-T
519.25 MHz 27 500 — Meridian PAL System I
530.166 MHz 28+ 20 — BBC (Mux B) DVB-T
545.833 MHz 30- 20 — SDN (Mux A) DVB-T
551.25 MHz 31 500 — BBC1 South PAL System I
562.166 MHz 32+ 20 — Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) DVB-T
570.166 MHz 33+ 20 — Arqiva (Mux D) DVB-T
602.166 MHz 37+ 20 — Arqiva (Mux C) DVB-T

Digital television edit

21 March 2012 – 18 April 2012 edit

Frequency UHF kW Operator System
H V
474.166 MHz 21+ 200 200 BBC B DVB-T2
498.000 MHz 24 200 200 BBC A DVB-T
522.000 MHz 27 200 200 Digital 3&4 DVB-T
545.833 MHz 30- 50 — SDN DVB-T
570.166 MHz 33+ 50 — Arqiva B DVB-T
602.166 MHz 37+ 50 — Arqiva A DVB-T

18 April 2012 – present edit

The commercial multiplexes were situated on their pre-DSO frequencies until 18 April 2012, when they started transmitting at vertical polarisation.[6]

Frequency UHF kW Operator System
H V
474.166 MHz 21+ 200 200 BBC B DVB-T2
482.166 MHz 22+ 50 200 Arqiva A DVB-T
498.000 MHz 24 200 200 BBC A DVB-T
506.000 MHz 25 50 200 SDN DVB-T
522.000 MHz 27 200 200 Digital 3&4 DVB-T
530.000 MHz 28 50 200 Arqiva B DVB-T
602.000 MHz 37 10 - Local Multiplex DVB-T

See also edit

  • Chillerton Down – a transmission site approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from Rowridge, broadcasting a mix of analogue and digital radio stations not available from Rowridge
  • List of masts

References edit

  1. ^ Pawley, Edward. 1972. BBC Engineering 1922 – 1972, p. 377. BBC, London. ISBN 0-563-12127-0.
  2. ^ Kilvington, T. The London—Isle-of-Wight Television Link, Stage One. POEEJ 48 (1):36–38
  3. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press - "Stand by for the digital switch"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  4. ^ Isle of Wight Planning Application – TCP/23520/R, P/00748/09
  5. ^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
  6. ^ "Digital Switchover Transmitter Details – Meridian Region" (PDF). 5 January 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.

External links edit

  • Info and pictures of Rowridge transmitter including historical power/frequency changes and present co-receivable transmitters
  • Entry for Rowridge transmitting station at the Transmission Gallery
  • Freeview on the Rowridge transmitter
  • Rowridge Transmitter at thebigtower.com

January 19, 2024
rowridge, transmitting, station, this, article, technical, most, readers, understand, please, help, improve, make, understandable, experts, without, removing, technical, details, march, 2017, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, facility, radio, telev. This article may be too technical for most readers to understand Please help improve it to make it understandable to non experts without removing the technical details March 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Rowridge transmitting station is a facility for FM radio and television transmission at Rowridge on the Isle of Wight in southern England RowridgeThe Rowridge transmitting stationRowridge transmitting station Isle of Wight Mast height149 6 metres 491 ft Coordinates50 40 35 N 1 22 07 W 50 676389 N 1 368611 W 50 676389 1 368611Grid referenceSZ447865BBC regionBBC SouthITV regionSouthern 1969 1981 TVS 1982 1992 ITV Meridian 1993 present Local TV serviceThat s SolentIt currently has a 172 metres 564 ft tall guyed mast owned and operated by Arqiva previously National Grid Wireless There is a smaller tower on the site belonging to British Telecom Prior to Digital Switchover DSO the station broadcast with a power of 250 kW ERP for FM radio 500 kW for analogue television and 20 kW for digital television In July 2007 Ofcom confirmed that Rowridge would remain an A Group transmitter at Digital switchover the digital television transmission signal was then boosted to 200 kW From March 2018 MUXES 7 amp 8 moved out of the A group to channels 55 amp 56 see graph though these are due to be turned off between 2020 and 2022 Rowridge is one of only two main transmitters the other is the rather smaller transmitter of Rosneath in Scotland to broadcast its output on both horizontal and vertical polarities Only the main 6 MUXES are transmitted in vertical polarity The reason for this dual polarity transmission is to give a second option to those experiencing co channel interference from transmitters on the continent Analogue Channel 5 was not transmitted from Rowridge but was broadcast at 10 kW from Fawley Power Station with the antenna located on the main chimney Transmissions all fitted within the A group and were horizontally polarised On 25 March 2009 Channel 5 s analogue signal was turned off from Fawley Power Station due to the digital switchover in the neighbouring Westcountry region Population coverage for the main four analogue channels was about 1 75 million Contents 1 History 2 Channels listed by frequency 2 1 Analogue radio 2 2 Digital radio 2 3 Analogue television 2 3 1 12 November 1954 15 January 1966 2 3 2 15 January 1966 13 December 1969 2 3 3 13 December 1969 27 December 1969 2 3 4 27 December 1969 4 December 1982 2 3 5 4 December 1982 3 January 1985 2 3 6 3 January 1985 15 November 1998 2 4 Analogue and digital television 2 4 1 15 November 1998 31 October 2002 2 4 2 31 October 2002 24 May 2007 2 4 3 24 May 2007 25 March 2009 2 4 4 25 March 2009 7 March 2012 2 4 5 7 March 2012 21 March 2012 2 5 Digital television 2 5 1 21 March 2012 18 April 2012 2 5 2 18 April 2012 present 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp The station was first built to provide BBC 405 line television coverage for an area including Southampton Portsmouth Bournemouth Dorchester Chichester Brighton Winchester and Salisbury Sites on the mainland and the Isle of Wight were considered and three were tested by BBC Research Department A temporary 200 ft lattice mast was built with a main antenna at 175 ft and a reserve antenna lower down These aerials were directional to enhance the signal northwards and reduce unwanted coverage to the south 1 It was built by BICC alongside Pontop Pike also 500ft and North Hessary Tor in Devon a taller mast The service opened on 12 November 1954 bringing television to the area for the first time A programme feed was obtained via a Post Office radio link using refurbished equipment that provided the original picture feed for the Wenvoe Transmitter on the British Telecom Microwave Network A site for this near Alton Hampshire was acquired and named after a nearby pub Golden Pot Here the TV signal from Alexandra Palace was picked up and relayed via a one hop 4 GHz microwave link to Rowridge This was brought into service on 18 October 1954 Later the microwave link ran from the Museum telephone exchange in London to Rowridge using Golden Pot as an intermediate site 2 In 1965 the UHF antenna was added making the total height of the structure 149 6 metres 491 ft This addition allowed Rowridge to radiate the PAL 625 line transmission that allowed broadcasts in colour and eventually stereo sound using NICAM On 25 March 2009 Channel 5 s analogue signal was turned off from Fawley Power Station Later on in the day existing digital terrestrial TV services moved to new frequencies due to the digital switchover happening in the region in 2012 3 Arqiva applied for planning permission to replace the existing 150m 492 mast with one 187m 614 high on 22 May 2009 4 Channels listed by frequency editAnalogue radio edit Frequency kW 5 Service88 5 MHz 250 BBC Radio 290 7 MHz 250 BBC Radio 392 9 MHz 250 BBC Radio 496 1 MHz 10 BBC Radio Solent98 2 MHz 250 BBC Radio 1100 3 MHz 125 Classic FMDigital radio edit Frequency Block kW Operator225 648 MHz 12B 5 BBC National DABAnalogue television edit 12 November 1954 15 January 1966 edit Frequency VHF kW Service56 75 MHz 3 100 BBC Television15 January 1966 13 December 1969 edit Frequency VHF UHF kW Service56 75 MHz 3 100 BBC1 South495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South13 December 1969 27 December 1969 edit Frequency VHF UHF kW Service56 75 MHz 3 100 BBC1 South495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South519 25 MHz 27 500 Southern27 December 1969 4 December 1982 edit Frequency VHF UHF kW Service56 75 MHz 3 100 BBC1 South495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South519 25 MHz 27 500 TVS Southern until 1982 551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC14 December 1982 3 January 1985 edit Frequency VHF UHF kW Service56 75 MHz 3 100 BBC1 South471 25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South519 25 MHz 27 500 TVS551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC13 January 1985 15 November 1998 edit Frequency UHF kW Service471 25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South519 25 MHz 27 500 Meridian TVS until 1993 551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 SouthAnalogue and digital television edit 15 November 1998 31 October 2002 edit Frequency UHF kW Service System471 25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I489 833 MHz 23 20 BBC Mux 1 DVB T495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I513 833 MHz 26 20 Arqiva Mux C DVB T519 25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I530 000 MHz 28 20 Digital 3 amp 4 Mux 2 DVB T546 000 MHz 30 20 SDN Mux A DVB T551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I562 166 MHz 32 20 BBC Mux B DVB T570 166 MHz 33 20 Arqiva Mux D DVB T31 October 2002 24 May 2007 edit Frequency UHF kW Service System471 25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I489 833 MHz 23 20 BBC Mux 1 DVB T495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I513 833 MHz 26 20 Arqiva Mux C DVB T519 25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I530 000 MHz 28 20 Digital 3 amp 4 Mux 2 DVB T546 000 MHz 30 20 SDN Mux A DVB T551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I562 166 MHz 32 20 BBC Mux B DVB T570 166 MHz 33 20 Arqiva Mux D DVB T735 25 MHz 54 2 Solent TV PAL System I24 May 2007 25 March 2009 edit Frequency UHF kW Service System471 25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I489 833 MHz 23 20 BBC Mux 1 DVB T495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I513 833 MHz 26 20 Arqiva Mux C DVB T519 25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I530 000 MHz 28 20 Digital 3 amp 4 Mux 2 DVB T546 000 MHz 30 20 SDN Mux A DVB T551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I562 166 MHz 32 20 BBC Mux B DVB T570 166 MHz 33 20 Arqiva Mux D DVB T25 March 2009 7 March 2012 edit Frequency UHF kW Service System471 25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I495 25 MHz 24 500 BBC2 South PAL System I519 25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I530 166 MHz 28 20 BBC Mux B DVB T545 833 MHz 30 20 SDN Mux A DVB T551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I562 166 MHz 32 20 Digital 3 amp 4 Mux 2 DVB T570 166 MHz 33 20 Arqiva Mux D DVB T578 000 MHz 34 20 BBC Mux 1 DVB T602 166 MHz 37 20 Arqiva Mux C DVB T7 March 2012 21 March 2012 edit Frequency UHF kW Service SystemH V471 25 MHz 21 500 Channel 4 PAL System I498 000 MHz 24 200 200 BBC A DVB T519 25 MHz 27 500 Meridian PAL System I530 166 MHz 28 20 BBC Mux B DVB T545 833 MHz 30 20 SDN Mux A DVB T551 25 MHz 31 500 BBC1 South PAL System I562 166 MHz 32 20 Digital 3 amp 4 Mux 2 DVB T570 166 MHz 33 20 Arqiva Mux D DVB T602 166 MHz 37 20 Arqiva Mux C DVB TDigital television edit 21 March 2012 18 April 2012 edit Frequency UHF kW Operator SystemH V474 166 MHz 21 200 200 BBC B DVB T2498 000 MHz 24 200 200 BBC A DVB T522 000 MHz 27 200 200 Digital 3 amp 4 DVB T545 833 MHz 30 50 SDN DVB T570 166 MHz 33 50 Arqiva B DVB T602 166 MHz 37 50 Arqiva A DVB T18 April 2012 present edit The commercial multiplexes were situated on their pre DSO frequencies until 18 April 2012 when they started transmitting at vertical polarisation 6 Frequency UHF kW Operator SystemH V474 166 MHz 21 200 200 BBC B DVB T2482 166 MHz 22 50 200 Arqiva A DVB T498 000 MHz 24 200 200 BBC A DVB T506 000 MHz 25 50 200 SDN DVB T522 000 MHz 27 200 200 Digital 3 amp 4 DVB T530 000 MHz 28 50 200 Arqiva B DVB T602 000 MHz 37 10 Local Multiplex DVB TSee also editChillerton Down a transmission site approximately 2 5 miles 4 0 km from Rowridge broadcasting a mix of analogue and digital radio stations not available from Rowridge List of mastsReferences edit Pawley Edward 1972 BBC Engineering 1922 1972 p 377 BBC London ISBN 0 563 12127 0 Kilvington T The London Isle of Wight Television Link Stage One POEEJ 48 1 36 38 Isle of Wight County Press Stand by for the digital switch www iwcp co uk Retrieved 11 January 2014 Isle of Wight Planning Application TCP 23520 R P 00748 09 Radio Listeners Guide 2010 Digital Switchover Transmitter Details Meridian Region PDF 5 January 2011 Retrieved 26 May 2011 External links editInfo and pictures of Rowridge transmitter including historical power frequency changes and present co receivable transmitters Entry for Rowridge transmitting station at the Transmission Gallery Freeview on the Rowridge transmitter Rowridge Transmitter at thebigtower com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rowridge transmitting station amp oldid 1169951054, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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