Caldbeck transmitting station

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Overview[]

The Caldbeck transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated close to the village of Caldbeck, in Cumbria, England (Grid Reference: NY299425). It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

It includes a 337-metre-high (1,106 ft) guyed steel lattice mast, which is the third highest structure in the United Kingdom. The transmission antennas surmounting the structure are contained within a fibreglass cylinder.

Stats[]

Mast height- 337 metres (1,106 ft).
Coordinates- 54.773333°N 3.090556°W.
Grid reference- NY299425.
Built- 1961 (original) and 2008 (current).
Demolished- 2008 (original).
BBC region- BBC North East and Cumbria, and BBC Scotland.
ITV region- ITV Borders.
Local TV service- That's Carlisle.

History[]

Pre-2010[]

The station was originally commissioned by the Independent Television Authority to bring ITV signals (provided by Border Television) to Northern Cumbria and South West Scotland, including Carlisle and Dumfries using 405-line on VHF Channel 11 (Band III). Constructed in 1961, it originally included a 306.6 metres (1,006 ft) tall guyed steel lattice mast that came into service on 1 September of that year. The BBC's VHF television and radio services were carried by the nearby Sandale transmitting station.

When UHF television started in the UK in 1969, Caldbeck was selected to carry all the 625-line services for the area. The original three channel line-up came into service in September 1971. Channel 4 began from Caldbeck from its launch in November 1982. 405 line television was discontinued in the UK in 1985.

It was accused in the late 1970s of carrying secret government radio messages at or near to 100.5 MHz, 125MHz and 902MHz. This was denied at the time. It was also accused in the early 1980s of carrying secret government radio messages at or near to 100.5 MHz. This was denied at the time.

It was rumored since the late 1970s until the early 1990s that it was some how connected to either the Wartime Broadcasting Service and\or the HANDEL National Attack Warning System. The prior was possible, but the latter was not, as far as anyone can ascertain.

In 1993, CFM Radio launched from Caldbeck on 96.4 MHz FM, and later in 2001 the national digital multiplex Digital One entered service.

Digital switchover[]

Caldbeck was one of the first transmitters in the UK to be upgraded to high power digital only TV broadcasting. The Digital Switchover took place between June & July 2009. At this time, the analogue signal was permanently switched off. Extra multiplexes for BBC Scotland and ITV Border (Scotland) were added to the transmitter at the time.

Caldbeck underwent major engineering work to accommodate the new transmitters and aerials. The work entailed complete replacement of the existing mast with a brand new 337 m (1,106 ft) mast, work on which began on 26 April 2007. Construction of the new mast structure was completed at the beginning of March 2008. Once installation of the transmitting aerials on the new mast was complete, the old one was dismantled.

Current transmission services[]

Current transmission services.
Frequency MHz.	Frequency Block.	kW.	Operator.
96.4 MHz	.	3	CFM Radio
222.064 MHz	11D	2.8	Digital One
481.833 MHz	22-	100	BBC B Scotland\ITV Borders (Scotland) DVB-T2
489.833 MHz	23-	50	SDN DVB-T
497.833 MHz	24-	50	Digital 3&4 Border (Scotland) DVB-T
505.833 MHz	25-	100	BBC ANE & Cumbria DVB-T
513.833 MHz	26-	50	Arqiva A DVB-T
521.833 MHz	27-	50	BBC A Scotland DVB-T
529.833 MHz	28-	100	Digital 3&4 Borders (England) DVB-T
537.833 MHz	29-	50	Arqiva B DVB-T
545.833 MHz	30-	100	BBC B NE & Cumbria\ ITV Borders (England) DVB-T2
N\A MHz	.	N\A, but almost certainly low.	That's Carlisle.
50 MHz?	.	N\A	Rumored in the 1990s to be reserved for emergency use and may still be, if it ever was.
444 MHz?	.	N\A	Rumored in the 1990s to be reserved for emergency use and may still be, if it ever was.
100.5 MHz?	.	10?	Rumored in the 1990s to be reserved for emergency use and may still be, if it ever was.

Coverage[]

Cumbria, Dumfriesshire, Teviotdale and coastal Kirkcudbrightshire.