Brookmans Park Transmitter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Brookmans Park transmitter is a facility for medium wave broadcasting north of London (grid reference TL259050). The station was built by the BBC for a regional program to be transmitted to the Home Counties, London and South East. The station went into service in 1929.

The original antenna configuation for the station was two T-antenna hung from four x 200 ft towers, one T-antenna to the north of the station and the other to the south of the station.

The transmitting station itself featured the latest transmitters from the Marconi Company. No public electricity supply was available so large generators were installed and extensive support staff was recruited and trained by the BBC.

In 1939 a 300 ft mast was built on the south side of the station, which along with the existing south T-antenna made a directional array pointing towards central London. This antenna configuration would be used after the war for the BBC Light Programme.

During the second world war an extension was added to northern side of the transmitter building and a 140 kW STC transmitter was installed.

In the mid 1950's a 500 ft mast radiator was constructed on a field around half a mile north of station for the BBC Home Service and the original north T-antenna would be become a reserve antenna for that service.

The station was re-engineered in the late 1970's and an extra T-antenna (mini T) was hung between two 60 ft poles constucted a few hundred feet north from the original north T-antenna, and new transmission equipment was installed replacing the original Marconi transmitters, the 140 kW STC transmitter, and other BBC designed transmission equipment which was installed in the 1960's.

After the re-engineering the south T-antenna and the 300 ft mast transmitted BBC Radio London and Radio 3; the north T-antenna along with the newly installed mini T-antenna was used for Radio 1, and the 500 ft mast was used for Radio 2.

In the years since the re-engineering little has changed to the antenna and structure layout of the station, but the services have changed and the station now transmits Virgin Radio instead of Radio 3, Sunrise Radio instead of BBC Radio London, TalkSPORT instead of Radio 1, and BBC Radio 5 Live instead of Radio 2.

Much development has taken place and the station now is now the home to many communications companies who operate various satellite and communication services.

The station is owned by National Grid Wireless a Warwick based company owned by the National Grid company based in Coventry.