Sandale transmitting station
Transmitter station in Cumbria, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sandale transmitting station is the main radio transmitting station for the county of Cumbria, including the Lake District, and eastern Dumfries and Galloway. It used to broadcast regional variations of BBC One and BBC Two until digital switchover happened in the region. All television channels now come from the nearby Caldbeck transmitting station.
| |
  Location within Cumbria | |
| Mast height | 153 metres (502 ft) |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°44′57″N 3°08′27″W |
| Grid reference | NY2657639965 |
| Built | 1956 |
| BBC region | BBC North (1956-1985) BBC Scotland (1965-2009) |
The station is situated on the Caldbeck Fells close to the B5299 road and eight miles south of Wigton. Its mast is 153 metres (502 ft) high.
History
The site was chosen in May 1956, at 1,200ft above sea level, and 14 miles south west of Carlisle. It would bring BBC television to Cumberland and Westmorland, and to south west of the Scottish Borders reaching Moffat, Stranraer, and Portpatrick, and BBC national radio.[1]
The 14 acre site took three years to build.
Transmission
Radio
In mid 1958, it would be one of three transmitters to take the Scottish BBC Home Service on 92.5 VHF, which became BBC Radio 4 Scotland in 1967 until November 1978.[2] National VHF radio began on August 18 1958, with the current FM frequencies.[3]
Until 1993 it broadcast Radio Solway. Now it broadcasts BBC Radio Scotland on the same frequency.
Television
BBC television started at 2pm on Monday December 9 1957, with tests from December 2 1957, with BBC 'News from the North', alongside the transmitter at Pontop Pike, originating from Manchester.[4]
From January 5 1959, with Pontop Pike, it took BBC local news originating from Newcastle, on 405 lines.
Services from this transmitter
Analogue radio (FM VHF)
| Frequency | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 88.1 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio 2 |
| 90.3 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio 3 |
| 92.5 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio 4 |
| 94.7 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio Scotland |
| 95.6 MHz | 15 | BBC Radio Cumbria |
| 97.7 MHz | 250 | BBC Radio 1 |
| 99.9 MHz | 125 | Classic FM |
Digital radio (DAB)
| Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 225.648 MHz | 12B | 10 | BBC National DAB |
Analogue television
8 November 1956 – 27 September 1965
| Frequency | VHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61.75 MHz | 4 | 30 | BBC Television |
27 September 1965 – 1 June 1979
| Frequency | VHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61.75 MHz | 4 | 30 | BBC1 North East |
| 179.75 MHz | 6 | 70 | BBC1 Scotland |
1 June 1979 – 3 January 1985
| Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61.75 MHz | 4 | — | 30 | BBC1 North East |
| 179.75 MHz | 6 | — | 70 | BBC1 Scotland |
| 479.25 MHz | — | 22 | 500 | BBC1 Scotland |
3 January 1985 - 1992
405 LINE TV Ceased. and till 1992, BBC1 Scotland was the only channel from Sandale/
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 479.25 MHz | 22 | 500 | BBC1 Scotland |
1992 - 22 July 2009
After the Digital Switchover in Sandale/Caldbeck. this led to Sandale ceasing Television because its (Scotland) Multiplex were moved to Caldbeck. (the BBC's transmittions was moved to Caldbeck Scotland,
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 479.25 MHz | 22 | 500 | BBC1 Scotland |
| 839.25 MHz | 67 | 126 | BBC2 Scotland |