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 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.
History
The station was originally commissioned by the Independent Television Authority to bring ITV signals (provided by Border Television) to South West Scotland and Northern parts of Cumberland and Westmorland, including Carlisle and Dumfries using 405-line on VHF Channel 11 (Band III).
Border Television were given the contract in May 1960.The Scotsman Friday 6 May 1960, page 6The Stage Thursday 12 May 1960, page 9 Construction on the ITV studio began in late September 1960.Penrith Observer Tuesday 27 September 1960, page 6
Construction had started by November 1960, and almost finished by June 1961, it originally included a 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.
The other Border Television transmitter was the Selkirk transmitting station which opened in November 1961.
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.
In 1993, CFM Radio launched from Caldbeck on 96.4 MHz FM, and later in 2001 the national digital multiplex Digital One entered service.
1977 aircraft incident On the morning of Friday August 19 1977, a USAF F-4 Phantom flew through the supporting cables, and severed the aircraft's starboard wing, taking two feet off.Shropshire Star Friday 19 August 1977, page 1The Scotsman Saturday 20 August 1977, page 1Times Saturday August 20 1977, page 2 Major John McKenney was at 600ft. The aircraft had taken off from RAF Bentwaters.August 1977 incident The aircraft survived.
On August 14 1968 a North American F-100 Super Sabre from Suffolk hit Zendstation Smilde in the Netherlands, at a height of 250 metres, also taking off part of the wing.1968 incident
Also on 27 March 1973, Hunter 'XG256', of 79 Squadron, hit the supports of Caradon Hill transmitting station and crashed. The pilot, 23 year old Flying Officer Richard Pearson, safely ejected.Daily Express Wednesday 28 March 1973, page 1Western Daily Press Wednesday 28 March 1973, page 81973 Cornwall incident
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 mast, work on which began on 26 April 2007. Construction of the new mast structure was completed at the beginning of March 2008.News & Star Once installation of the transmitting aerials on the new mast was complete, the old one was dismantled.
Services listed by frequency
Analogue radio (FM VHF) FrequencykWRadio Listeners Guide 2010Service96.4 MHz3Greatest Hits Radio Cumbria & South West Scotland
Digital radio (DAB) FrequencyBlockkWRadio Listeners Guide 2010Operator222.064 MHz11D2.8Digital One
Digital television FrequencyUHFkWOperatorBBC regionITV regionSystem21-50BBC BScotlandBorder (Scotland)DVB-T222-100BBC BNE & CumbriaBorder (England)DVB-T2 23-50SDN——DVB-T24-50Digital 3&4—Border (Scotland)DVB-T25-100BBC ANE & Cumbria—DVB-T26-50Arqiva A——DVB-T27-50BBC AScotland—DVB-T28-100Digital 3&4—Border (England)DVB-T294LTVmux——DVB-T30-50Arqiva B——DVB-T335LTVmux——DVB-T
Before switchover
Digital television FrequencyUHFkWOperator2315Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)2510BBC (Mux 1)26+15SDN (Mux A)393.2BBC (Mux B)421.6Arqiva (Mux D)451.6Arqiva (Mux C)
Analogue television Analogue TV ceased on the 22nd of July 2009. BBC Two were switched off on the 24th of June 2009, ITV1 moved to the old BBC2 Frequency for its last weeks of service. Mux 1 on channel 25 was switched off and was replaced by BBC A (which has just been vacatned by analogue ITV). (Kendal didn't have ITV1 moved) or Ainstable did (C4 was moved to Channel 47 (Itv's old frequency). then Caldbeck (Scotland) BBC1 Scotland moved to the old BBC2 Scotland slot. FrequencyUHFkWService527.25 MhZ 28500Border30500BBC1 North East32500Channel 434500BBC2 North East5610Channel 5
See also List of masts List of tallest structures in the United Kingdom List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
References
External links Help, tips and advice as Cumbria leads the way to digital television The Transmission Gallery: Caldbeck Transmitter photographs and information The Transmission Gallery: TV Coverage Map http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b61323 http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b61324 Arqiva Caldbeck Mast Build Mini-site Caldbeck Transmitter at thebigtower.com