Bressay transmitting station

Bressay
	Bressay transmitting station (Shetland)
Tower height	70 metres (230 ft)
Coordinates	60°07′48″N1°05′45″W/ 60.13°N 1.095833°W
Grid reference	HU5022838667
Built	1964
BBC region	BBC Scotland
ITV region	STV North

Bressay transmitting stationis a broadcasting transmission facility for theShetland Islands,located on the isle ofBressay,owned and operated byArqiva(previouslyNational Grid Wireless). The transmitting station is based on the Ward of Bressay, the island's highest peak.

The facility includes twosteel lattice towersboth over 70m high. It first came into service on 1 April 1964 transmitting BBC Television on Band I VHF channel 3 and the Scottish Home Service, Light Programme and Third on Band II VHF, using the same frequencies as today.(Home Service now Radio Shetland, Light R2 and Third R3).^[1]

Services listed by frequency[edit]

Analogue radio[edit]

Frequency	kW^[2]	Service
88.3 MHz	43	BBC Radio 2
90.5 MHz	43	BBC Radio 3
92.7 MHz	43	BBC Radio Shetland
94.9 MHz	43	BBC Radio 4
96.2 MHz	15†	SIBC
97.9 MHz	43	BBC Radio 1

† Licensed to transmit at 50 kW.

Digital television[edit]

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator	System
474.166MHz	21+	2	ArqivaB	DVB-T
482.166MHz	22+	2	BBCB	DVB-T2
498.000MHz	24	2	Arqiva A	DVB-T
506.000MHz	25	2	Digital 3&4	DVB-T
522.000MHz	27	2	SDN	DVB-T
530.000MHz	28	2	BBC A	DVB-T

Before switchover[edit]

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
474.000MHz	21	1	BBC(Mux 1)
497.833MHz	24-	1	Digital 3&4(Mux 2)
521.833MHz	27-	1	SDN(Mux A)
553.833MHz	31-	1	BBC (Mux B)
834.000MHz	66	1	Arqiva(Mux C)
842.000MHz	67	1	Arqiva (Mux D)

Analogue television[edit]

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
479.25MHz	22	10	BBC One Scotland
503.25MHz	25	10	STV (North)(Grampian)
527.25MHz	28	10	BBC Two Scotland
559.25MHz	32	10	Channel 4

Digital switchover[edit]

The digital switchover happened in two stages.

In Stage One, BBC Two Scotland was switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV needed to re-tune. The date for this was 5 May 2010.

In Stage Two, analogue was permanently switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV needed to re-tune again. The date for this stage was 19 May 2010.

HD and high-powered Freeview services replaced the analogue signals.

References[edit]

^Transmitting aerials for the Shetland v.h.f. television and v.h.f. sound station. Technological Report No. E-103 (1964/28)(PDF)(Report). May 1964.
^Radio Listeners Guide 2010

External links[edit]

[1] Transmitting aerials for the Shetland v.h.f. television and v.h.f. sound station. Technological Report No. E-103 (1964/28)(PDF)(Report). May 1964.

[2] Radio Listeners Guide 2010

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