Llanddona transmitting station

Llanddona
Height of mast 106.7 metres (350 ft)
Built 1958
BBC region BBC Wales
ITV region ITV Wales

The Llanddona transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated at Llanddona, near Beaumaris, on the isle of Anglesey, Wales (grid reference SH583810). It comprises a 106.7 metres (350 ft) guyed mast with antennas attached at various heights. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

Contents

History

The station was built by the BBC in 1958 to provide a 405-line Band I (VHF) TV service for north west Wales, including the Lleyn peninsula, Anglesey and the north Wales coast. ITV's service was provided from the Arfon transmitting station, approximately 20 miles to the south on the mainland. 405-line TV was discontinued in the UK in 1985.

A few years later, the BBC's high power VHF (FM) radio services were added, including the Home Service, the Light Programme and the Third Programme.

In 1973 the site was chosen to become the area's main station for 625 line colour UHF TV. By this time, it was policy to co-site all UHF TV services at the same site, so Llanddona began broadcasting BBC One, BBC Two and ITV on UHF. S4C was added later in 1982 in time for its launch.

In the late 1990s, digital TV transmitters were added, carrying all six national multiplexes.

In 2006, digital radio transmitters were added for the BBC's national multiplex and also Digital One.

On Wednesday 21 October 2009, the Llanddona group of transmitters underwent the first stage of the Digital Switchover, with BBC Two's analogue signal was effectively replaced by an expanded version of Multiplex 1 (with several channels, such as BBC Four and radio stations available on both BBC multiplexes).

On Wednesday 18 November 2009, analogue television was finally turned off from Llanddona and its group of transmitters as it underwent the second stage of the Digital Switchover. Whilst the old analogue channels were in the UK UHF C/D aerial group, the new DVB channels are now spread over into the E group (presumably to avoid co-channel interference with Winter Hill transmitter), meaning that some customers may need to replace their aerial to get optimum reception.

Freeview HD started transmitting using the BBC B multiplex on channel 53 in July 2010.[1]

Llanddona was the site of the first TV, VHF radio, digital TV and digital radio broadcasts for the area.

Coverage area

The coverage area covers the majority of Anglesey, and a wide range of other parts of North Wales. Like other transmitters in North Wales, such as the Moel-y-Parc transmitting station, co-channel interface with Transmitters in North West England and Greater Manchester means that strong Radio and Television signals can be received from this region, (BBC North West and ITV Granada), and strong Welsh signals can be received in North West England also. People who receive from the Llanddona transmitter however don't have interest in Welsh speaking channels, and have known to erect a second aerial and receive from the Winter Hill transmitting station instead.

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio

Frequency kW Service
89.8 MHz 21 BBC Radio 2
92.0 MHz 21 BBC Radio 3
94.2 MHz 21 BBC Radio Cymru
94.8 MHz 10 BBC Radio Wales
99.4 MHz 21 BBC Radio 1
103.6 MHz 21 BBC Radio 4

Digital radio

Frequency Block kW[2] Operator
222.064 MHz 11D 1 Digital One
225.648 MHz 12B 5 BBC National DAB

Digital television

Frequency UHF kW Operator
650.0 MHz 43 10 SDN
674.0 MHz 46 10 Arqiva A
706.0 MHz 50 10 Arqiva B
730.0 MHz 53 20 BBC B
762.0 MHz 57 20 BBC A
786.0 MHz 60 20 Digital 3&4

See also

References

External links