View source for Angus transmitting station

{{Short description|Transmitter station in Angus, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox UK Transmitter 
|name = Angus
|image = [[Image:Angus Transmitting Station seen from Dundee.jpg|250px]]
|map_name = Scotland Angus
|coordinates = {{coord|56.555|-2.986111|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|height = {{convert|229.5|m|ft|0}}
|gridref = NO394407
|built = 
|demolished = 
|collapsed = 
|relay = 
|BBC = [[BBC Scotland]]
|ITV = [[Grampian Television|STV North]]
}}
[[File:TV and radio transmitter on Gallow Hill - geograph.org.uk - 12160.jpg|thumb|right|Base of transmitter and surrounding buildings seen close up. Other transmitters situated on adjacent [[Craigowl Hill]] can be seen in the distance.]]
The '''Angus transmitting station''' is a [[broadcasting]] and [[telecommunications]] facility, situated approximately five miles due north of [[Dundee]], between the villages of [[Charleston, Angus|Charleston]] and [[Tealing]], [[Scotland]] ({{gbmapping|NO394407}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/10_october/30/dig_rad_dundee.shtml|title = BBC - Press Office - Dundee digital radio}}</ref> It includes a [[Radio masts and towers#Steel lattice|guyed steel lattice mast]] which is <span style="white-space:nowrap">229.5&nbsp;metres&nbsp;(753&nbsp;ft)</span><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tx.mb21.co.uk/info/sitedata/index.asp |title=Mb21 - the Transmission Gallery - Site Data |website=tx.mb21.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925010233/http://tx.mb21.co.uk/info/sitedata/index.asp |archive-date=25 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in height.  Mounted at the top are the [[UHF]] television antennas, contained within a [[Glass-reinforced plastic|GRP]] shroud.  These antennas have an average height above Ordnance Datum of <span style="white-space:nowrap">547&nbsp;metres&nbsp;(1,795&nbsp;ft)</span>.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/tv_trans/tv_oxford.shtml |title=BBC - Help receiving the BBC - TV transmitters |website=www.bbc.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515071531/http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/tv_trans/tv_oxford.shtml |archive-date=2006-05-15}} </ref> It is owned and operated by [[Arqiva]].

==History==
It was constructed in 1965 by the [[Independent Television Authority|ITA]], having been chosen as a suitable site for high power colour [[UHF]] transmissions.  

The construction contract was given to [[J. L. Eve Construction]] in April 1963, to be built at Harecairn by early 1964, for the [[Tayside]] area, but not Dundee, which had a separate relay station.<ref>''Brechin Advertiser'' Thursday 11 April 1963, page 8</ref><ref>''Forfar Dispatch'' Thursday 11 April 1963, page 5</ref><ref>''Broughty Ferry Guide'' Saturday 7 September 1963, page 9</ref>

The relay station was built by Laird Brothers, of [[Forfar]], to open in the summer of 1964.<ref>''Brechin Advertiser'' Thursday 19 September 1963, page 7</ref>

The site would open in October 1965, with ITV on Channel 11.<ref>''Arbroath Herald'' Friday 17 September 1965, page 14</ref> It was built at Balcalk Hill.<ref>''Arbroath Herald'' Friday 8 October 1965, page 8</ref>

===Opening===
The first broadcasts began on VHF channel 11 in black and white, from 13 October 1965<ref>''Forfar Dispatch'' Thursday 14 October 1965, page 4</ref> A new television production site in Dundee, was to be later built.<ref>''Brechin Advertiser'' Thursday 14 October 1965, page 6</ref>

===Transmission===
Trade testing of BBC2 in colour began on Monday 14 July 1969, to go into full service on Monday 28 July 1969 on channel 68.<ref>''Broughty Ferry Guide'' Saturday 19 July 1969, page 5</ref>

BBC1 in colour began from Saturday 2 October 1971, for 300,000 viewers, six months early.<ref>''Brechin Advertiser'' Thursday 30 September 1971, page 7</ref>

In May 1972, the ITA announced that ITV would broadcast in colour from September 1972. ITV would go colour from Saturday 30 September 1972.<ref>''Brechin Advertiser'' Thursday 14 September 1972, page 7</ref><ref>''Forfar Dispatch'' Thursday 14 September 1972, page 3</ref>

==Coverage area==
It [[coverage map|covers]] parts of the [[Dundee City council area]], eastern [[Perth and Kinross]], southern [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] and north and east [[Fife]].  Reception is also possible in much of north and east [[Edinburgh]] and the coastal areas of [[East Lothian]], as far along as the town of [[Dunbar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/anatv/angus.asp |title=Mb21 - Transmitter Information - Angus |website=tx.mb21.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925010933/http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/anatv/angus.asp |archive-date=25 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Relay transmitters==
*'''Tay Bridge transmitting station''' ({{coord|56.4447|-2.925|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline}}), which is owned and operated by [[Arqiva]].

==Channels listed by frequency==
===Analogue radio (FM VHF)===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!rowspan=2|Frequency
!colspan=2|kW<ref>Radio Listeners Guide 2010</ref>
!rowspan=2|Service
|-
!H
!V
|-
|100.1 [[MHz]]
|2.125
|8.5
|[[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]
|-
|102.8&nbsp;MHz
|1
|4
|[[Tay FM]]
|}

† Mixed polarisation.

===Digital radio (DAB)===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Frequency
!Block
!kW
!Operator
|-
|218.640&nbsp;MHz
|11B
|3
|[[Score Dundee]]
|-
|222.064&nbsp;MHz
|11D
|10
|[[Digital One]]
|-
|225.648&nbsp;MHz
|12B
|10
|[[BBC National DAB]]
|}

===Television===

====Analogue====

=====28 July 1969 – 1972=====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!{{no2}}Frequency
!{{no2}}UHF
!{{no2}}kW
!{{no2}}Service
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=63}}
|63
|100
|[[BBC2 Scotland]]
|}

=====1972 – November 1982=====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!{{no2}}Frequency
!{{no2}}UHF
!{{no2}}kW
!{{no2}}Service
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=57}}
|57
|100
|[[BBC1 Scotland]]
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=60}}
|60
|100
|[[Grampian Television|Grampian]]
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=63}}
|63
|100
|[[BBC2 Scotland]]
|}

=====November 1982 – 14 November 1998=====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!{{no2}}Frequency
!{{no2}}UHF
!{{no2}}kW
!{{no2}}Service
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=53}}
|53
|100
|[[Channel 4]]
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=57}}
|57
|100
|[[BBC1 Scotland]]
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=60}}
|60
|100
|[[Grampian Television|Grampian]]
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=63}}
|63
|100
|[[BBC2 Scotland]]
|}

====Analogue and digital====

=====15 November 1998 – 3 August 2010=====
Digital terrestrial television was first transmitted from the Angus mast from 15 November 1998 using the frequency gaps between the analogue TV broadcasts. To limit interference to the analogue transmissions, power output on the digital multiplexes was low.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!{{no2}}Frequency
!{{no2}}UHF
!{{no2}}kW
!{{no2}}Operator
!{{no2}}System
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=53}}
|53
|100
|[[Channel 4]]
|PAL System I
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=56|off=neg}}
|56-
|2
|[[Arqiva]] (Mux C)
|[[DVB-T]]
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=57}}
|57
|100
|[[BBC One Scotland]]
|PAL System I
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=59|off=neg}}
|59-
|4
|[[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]] (Mux A)
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=60}}
|60
|100
|[[Grampian Television|STV (North)]] (Grampian)
|PAL System I
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=62|off=neg}}
|62-
|4
|[[BBC]] (Mux B)
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=63}}
|63
|100
|[[BBC Two Scotland]]
|PAL System I
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=65|off=neg}}
|65-
|2
|Arqiva (Mux D)
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=66|off=pos}}
|66+
|4
|[[Digital 3&4]] (Mux 2)
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=68}}
|68
|4
|BBC (Mux 1)
|DVB-T
|}

=====4 August 2010 - 17 August 2010=====

On 4 August 2010, BBC2 was switched off on UHF 63 and STV was switched from UHF 60 for its final weeks of service. Multiplex 1 on UHF 68 was closed and replaced by BBC A on UHF 60 (which had just been vacated by analogue STV). BBC A was transmitted at full power (20&nbsp;kW) and in 64QAM, 8k carriers mode from the start.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!{{no2}}Frequency
!{{no2}}UHF
!{{no2}}kW
!{{no2}}Operator
!{{no2}}System
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=53}}
|53
|100
|[[Channel 4]]
|PAL System I
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=56|off=neg}}
|56-
|2
|[[Arqiva]] (Mux C)
|[[DVB-T]]
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=57}}
|57
|100
|[[BBC One Scotland]]
|PAL System I
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=59|off=neg}}
|59-
|4
|[[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]] (Mux A)
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=60}}
|60
|20
|[[BBC]] A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=62|off=neg}}
|62-
|4
|BBC (Mux B)
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK System I|ch=63}}
|63
|100
|[[Grampian Television|STV (North)]]
|PAL System I
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=65|off=neg}}
|65-
|2
|Arqiva (Mux D)
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=66|off=pos}}
|66+
|4
|[[Digital 3&4]] (Mux 2)
|DVB-T
|}

====Digital====

=====18 August 2010 to 16 April 2013=====

Following the completion of analogue TV shutdown on 18 August 2010, Angus transmitted all of its higher powered multiplexes at 20&nbsp;kW for PSB 1, 2 and 3, and 10&nbsp;kW for COM 4, 5 and 6. From this date the frequency allocation was:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!{{no2}}Frequency
!{{no2}}UHF
!{{no2}}kW
!{{no2}}Operator
!{{no2}}System
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=53}}
|53
|20
|[[Digital 3&4]]
|[[DVB-T]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=54}}
|54
|10
|[[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]]
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=57}}
|57
|20
|[[BBC]] B
|[[DVB-T2]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=58}}
|58
|10
|[[Arqiva]] A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=60}}
|60
|20
|BBC A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=61}}
|61
|10
|Arqiva B
|DVB-T
|}

=====17 April 2013 to 26 November 2019=====

Due to the clearance of the 800&nbsp;MHz band, Arqiva B was moved from UHF 61 to UHF 49 and BBC A gained a negative offset. Also during this time, COM 7 and 8 and the Local TV multiplex launched.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!{{no2}}Frequency
!{{no2}}UHF
!{{no2}}kW
!{{no2}}Operator
!{{no2}}System
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=48}}
|48
|1
|Local TV
|[[DVB-T]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=49}}
|49
|10
|Arqiva B
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=53}}
|53
|20
|[[Digital 3&4]]
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=54}}
|54
|10
|[[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]]
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=55}}
|55
|5
|COM 7
|[[DVB-T2]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=56}}
|56
|5
|COM 8
|DVB-T2
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=57}}
|57
|20
|[[BBC]] B
|DVB-T2
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=58}}
|58
|10
|[[Arqiva]] A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=60|off=neg}}
|60-
|20
|BBC A
|DVB-T
|}

=====27 November 2019 to 24 June 2020=====
Due to the clearance of the 700&nbsp;MHz band, the following channels come into use:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Frequency
!UHF
!kW
!Operator
!System
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=33}}
|33
|10
|[[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]]
|[[DVB-T]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=34}}
|34
|1
|Local TV
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=36}}
|36
|10
|[[Arqiva]] A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=39}}
|39
|20
|[[BBC]] A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=42}}
|42
|20
|[[Digital 3&4]]
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=45}}
|45
|20
|BBC B
|[[DVB-T2]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=48}}
|48
|10
|Arqiva B
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=55}}
|55
|5
|COM 7
|DVB-T2
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=56}}
|56
|5
|COM 8
|DVB-T2
|}

=====25 June 2020 to Present=====
Due to the clearance of UHF 56 (COM8), in the 700&nbsp;MHz band, the following channels come into use:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Frequency
!UHF
!kW
!Operator
!System
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=33}}
|33
|10
|[[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]]
|[[DVB-T]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=34}}
|34
|1
|Local TV
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=36}}
|36
|10
|[[Arqiva]] A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=39}}
|39
|20
|[[BBC]] A
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=42}}
|42
|20
|[[Digital 3&4]]
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=45}}
|45
|20
|BBC B
|[[DVB-T2]]
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=48}}
|48
|10
|Arqiva B
|DVB-T
|-
|{{UK DVB-T|ch=55}}
|55
|5
|COM 7
|DVB-T2
|}

==See also==
*[[List of masts]]
*[[List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain]]
*[[List of radio stations in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Angus transmitting station}}
*[http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=819 Photographs and information] at '' The Transmission Gallery''
*[https://www.thebigtower.com/live/Angus/Index.htm Angus Transmitter] at ''thebigtower''
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023164054/http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=826 |title=Tay Bridge at The Transmission Gallery}}

{{Television transmitters in the UK}}
{{Durris VHF 405-line Transmitter Group}}

[[Category:1965 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Infrastructure completed in 1965]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1965]]
[[Category:Transmitter sites in Scotland]]