Membury transmitting station

Membury

Membury transmitting station
Mast height 152.4 metres (500 ft)
Coordinates 51°29′06″N 1°33′32″W / 51.4849°N 1.5589°W / 51.4849; -1.5589Coordinates: 51°29′06″N 1°33′32″W / 51.4849°N 1.5589°W / 51.4849; -1.5589
Built 1965
ITV region ABC & ATV (1965-1968)
ATV (1968-1981)
Central (1982-1983)

The Membury transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated adjacent to the M4 motorway at the Membury services in the south-west corner of the parish of Lambourn close to the town of Hungerford, in Berkshire. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

It has a 152.4 m (500 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast. It was constructed by the ITA in 1965 to bring ITV signals (provided by ATV) to the "South Midlands", including Oxford, Swindon, Newbury and Marlborough on 405-line VHF, using Channel 12 (Band III).

It was not used for any broadcast services for over a decade after the closure of 405 line television in 1983. However, in the late 90s a low power VHF FM filler for the four national BBC radio networks was added (at 125watts), improving reception along the M4 corridor between Newbury and Swindon.

In January 2003, a DAB transmitter was added for the NOW Swindon & Wiltshire multiplex. The BBC added a signal for its national DAB services in 2009.

The mast also hosts transmission equipment for numerous mobile telephone networks.

The mast is a highly visible landmark and can be clearly seen from The Ridgeway, White Horse Hill and most of the Lambourn Downs, making it a useful reference point for hikers and ramblers. The red safety lights which mark the structure at night become visible for eastbound M4 motorists from as early as Swindon East (Junction 15).

Channels listed by frequency

Analogue radio (FM VHF)

Frequency kW Service
88.9 MHz 0.12 BBC Radio 2
91.1 MHz 0.12 BBC Radio 3
93.3 MHz 0.12 BBC Radio 4
98.4 MHz 0.12 BBC Radio 1

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency Block kW Operator
220.352 MHz 11C 1 NOW Wiltshire
225.648 MHz 12B 5 BBC National DAB

Analogue television

Frequency VHF kW Service
209.75 MHz 12 — Central (ABC until 1968/ATV until 1982)

See also

References

    External links

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