Mounteagle transmitting station

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Communication Mast - geograph.org — Mounteagle transmitting station's communication Mast. Looking from the gate of the mast 21st May 2005. Attribution: Dorcas Sinclair.

Overview[]

The Mounteagle transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated close to the town of Fortrose, Scotland, in Highland Region (grid reference NH639580). It includes a 243.8 metres (800 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

Stats[]

Location- Fortrose, Highland Region.
Mast height- 243.8 metres (800 ft).
Coordinates- 57.591667°N 4.276667°W.
Grid reference- NH762623\NH639580.
Built- 1961.
BBC region- Non.
ITV region- Grampian Television (1961-1985).
In service- Yes.

History[]

The station was built in 1961 by the Independent Television Authority to bring ITV to North East Scotland for the first time. Inaugural broadcasts were from the ITV franchise holder for the area, Grampian Television. 405-line monochrome transmissions were on channel 12, Band III VHF. The station was also the first in the area to broadcast television using Band III.

When colour UHF television began in 1969, the nearby BBC owned station at Rosemarkie transmitting station was chosen over Mounteagle to carry these broadcasts. Both the UHF and VHF services continued in tandem until 1985, when VHF television was discontinued in the UK. At this point, Mounteagle ceased broadcasting television services entirely.

In 1982 Mounteagle was chosen as the site of the first commercial radio broadcasts in northern Scotland, with Moray Firth Radio taking to the air on 23 February of that year.

In 1996 transmitters for Classic FM were added, and then later in 1997 Mounteagle began broadcasting television services again, when transmitters were installed for the launch of Channel 5. Digital switchover occurred in the Inverness area in October 2010, and at this point the Channel 5 service was discontinued, and now broadcasts digitally from the nearby Rosemarkie transmitter site.

More recently the station has become the first in the area to carry digital radio broadcasts, with the addition of transmitters for Digital One, BBC and Score Inverness.

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.

Some locals though ti was an eyesore when it was first constructed.

Current transmission services[]

Current analogue transmission services.
Frequency MHz.	H KW power.	V KW power.	Frequency block.	KW power.	Station.
97.4 MHz	1.25	5	.	.	Moray Firth Radio
101.4 MHz	2.2	8.8	.	.	Classic FM
100.5 MHz?	10?	10?	.	.	Rumored in the 1990s to be reserved for emergency use and may still be, if it ever was.
218.64 MHz	.	.	11B	10	Score Inverness
222.06 MHz	.	.	11D	10	Digital One
225.65 MHz	.	.	12B	10	BBC National DAB

The 839.25 MHz ex-Channel 5 slot is reportedly still available to back up a TV station if it's transmission is temporarily stopped at Rosemarkie. The 209.75 MHz ex-Grampian Television slot is permanently out of TV\radio usage now.

Coverage[]

Coverage includes the areas around the Moray Firth, in the Highland region of Scotland, including up to Helmsdale in the north, Elgin to the east, Dingwall to the west and the northern shores of Loch Ness to the south. This also includes the city of Inverness.

Mounteagle transmitting station

Contents

Overview[]

Stats[]

History[]

Current transmission services[]

Coverage[]

Sources[]

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