Selkirk transmitting station
Encyclopedia
The Selkirk transmitting station is a telecommunications facility located next to Lindean
Loch, near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders
. It includes a 229.1 metres (752 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast, surmounted by a UHF
television
transmitting antenna
array, which brings the overall height of the structure to 238.8 metres (783 ft). It is owned and operated by Arqiva
.
to be upgraded as part of Digital switchover. This upgrade was completed on 20 November 2008, when the analogue
signal was turned off and replaced by high power digital
television signals.
Selkirk also broadcasts a number of radio
services, including local commercial station Radio Borders
, national station Classic FM
, and DAB
multiplexes from the BBC
and Digital One
.
in 1961 in order to bring ITV
to south east Scotland, using the 405 line monochrome system on VHF channel 13. 405 line television was discontinued in the UK in 1985. 625 line UHF television was introduced at Selkirk in 1972, carrying BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. Channel 4
was added when it launched in November 1982. Radio Borders started from Selkirk in January 1990, with Classic FM following in November 1996. The Digital One and BBC DAB services both commenced in October 2007. BBC national FM services are transmitted from neighbouring Ashkirk transmitting station.
Lindean
Lindean is a village north of Selkirk and the Ettrick Water, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland.-External links:*****...
Loch, near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
. It includes a 229.1 metres (752 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast, surmounted by a UHF
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
transmitting antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
array, which brings the overall height of the structure to 238.8 metres (783 ft). It is owned and operated by Arqiva
Arqiva
Arqiva is a telecommunications company which provides infrastructure and broadcast transmission facilities in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The present company, with headquarters located at Crawley Court in the village of Crawley, Hampshire, was formed by National Grid Wireless...
.
Services
It is the main television broadcasting station for the Borders area, and is the first high power main station in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to be upgraded as part of Digital switchover. This upgrade was completed on 20 November 2008, when the analogue
Analog television
Analog television is the analog transmission that involves the broadcasting of encoded analog audio and analog video signal: one in which the message conveyed by the broadcast signal is a function of deliberate variations in the amplitude and/or frequency of the signal...
signal was turned off and replaced by high power digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
television signals.
Selkirk also broadcasts a number of radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
services, including local commercial station Radio Borders
Radio Borders
Radio Borders is a radio station broadcasting to the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland from studios in Tweedbank, just outside Galashiels...
, national station Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
, and DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
multiplexes from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Digital One
Digital One
Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. , the multiplex covers more than 90% of the populationfrom a total of 137 transmitters...
.
History
Selkirk was built by the ITAIndependent Television Authority
The Independent Television Authority was an agency created by the Television Act 1954 to supervise the creation of "Independent Television" , the first commercial television network in the United Kingdom...
in 1961 in order to bring ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
to south east Scotland, using the 405 line monochrome system on VHF channel 13. 405 line television was discontinued in the UK in 1985. 625 line UHF television was introduced at Selkirk in 1972, carrying BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
was added when it launched in November 1982. Radio Borders started from Selkirk in January 1990, with Classic FM following in November 1996. The Digital One and BBC DAB services both commenced in October 2007. BBC national FM services are transmitted from neighbouring Ashkirk transmitting station.
Digital television
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 730.0 MHz | 53 | 5 | Arqiva Arqiva Arqiva is a telecommunications company which provides infrastructure and broadcast transmission facilities in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The present company, with headquarters located at Crawley Court in the village of Crawley, Hampshire, was formed by National Grid Wireless... A |
| 746.0 MHz | 55 | 10 | BBC BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff... B |
| 762.0 MHz | 57 | 5 | SDN S4C Digital Networks SDN is a company that operates Multiplex A, one of the six groups of channels on digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom... |
| 777.8 MHz | 59- | 10 | Digital 3&4 Digital 3&4 Digital 3&4 is a consortium consisting of regional Channel 3 companies and Channel 4 Television Corporation, which operates a multiplex broadcasting from a number of transmitter sites in the UK, carrying television and radio channels from both ITV and Channel 4; however three per-cent of the... |
| 786.0 MHz | 60 | 5 | Arqiva B |
| 801.8 MHz | 62- | 10 | BBC A |
Analogue radio (FM VHF)
| Frequency | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 96.8 MHz | 5 | Radio Borders Radio Borders Radio Borders is a radio station broadcasting to the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland from studios in Tweedbank, just outside Galashiels... |
| 100.9 MHz | 5 | Classic FM Classic FM (UK) Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:... |
Digital radio (DAB)
| Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223.936 MHz | 12A | 10 | Digital One Digital One Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. , the multiplex covers more than 90% of the populationfrom a total of 137 transmitters... |
| 225.648 MHz | 12B | 10 | BBC National DAB |
See also
- List of masts
- List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain
- List of radio stations in the United Kingdom