Caldbeck transmitting station

The Caldbeck transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated close to the village of Caldbeck, in Cumbria, England (Grid Reference: NY299425). It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

It includes a Template:Convert guyed steel lattice mast, which is the third highest structure in the United Kingdom. The transmission antennas surmounting the structure are contained within a fibreglass cylinder.

History

The station was originally commissioned by the Independent Television Authority to bring ITV signals (provided by Border Television) to South West Scotland and Northern parts of Cumberland and Westmorland, including Carlisle and Dumfries using 405-line on VHF Channel 11 (Band III). Constructed in 1961, it originally included a Template:Convert tall guyed steel lattice mast that came into service on 1 September of that year. The BBC's VHF television and radio services were carried by the nearby Sandale transmitting station.

When UHF television started in the UK in 1969, Caldbeck was selected to carry all the 625-line services for the area. The original three channel line-up came into service in September 1971. Channel 4 began from Caldbeck from its launch in November 1982. 405 line television was discontinued in the UK in 1985.

In 1993, CFM Radio launched from Caldbeck on 96.4 MHz FM, and later in 2001 the national digital multiplex Digital One entered service.

Digital switchover

Caldbeck was one of the first transmitters in the UK to be upgraded to high power digital only TV broadcasting. The Digital Switchover took place between June & July 2009. At this time, the analogue signal was permanently switched off. Extra multiplexes for BBC Scotland and ITV Border (Scotland) were added to the transmitter at the time.

Caldbeck underwent major engineering work to accommodate the new transmitters and aerials. The work entailed complete replacement of the existing mast with a brand new Template:Convert mast, work on which began on 26 April 2007. Construction of the new mast structure was completed at the beginning of March 2008. Once installation of the transmitting aerials on the new mast was complete, the old one was dismantled.

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio (FM VHF)

Frequency	kW	Service
96.4 MHz	3	Greatest Hits Radio Cumbria & South West Scotland

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency	Block	kW	Operator
222.064 MHz	11D	2.8	Digital One

Digital television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator	BBC region	ITV region	System
Template:UK DVB-T	21-	50	BBC B	Scotland	Border (Scotland)	DVB-T2
Template:UK DVB-T	22-	100	BBC B	NE & Cumbria	Border (England)	DVB-T2
Template:UK DVB-T	23-	50	SDN	—	—	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	24-	50	Digital 3&4	—	Border (Scotland)	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	25-	100	BBC A	NE & Cumbria	—	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	26-	50	Arqiva A	—	—	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	27-	50	BBC A	Scotland	—	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	28-	100	Digital 3&4	—	Border (England)	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	29	4	LTVmux	—	—	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	30-	50	Arqiva B	—	—	DVB-T
Template:UK DVB-T	33	5	LTVmux	—	—	DVB-T

Before switchover

Digital television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
Template:UK DVB-T	23	15	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)
Template:UK DVB-T	25	10	BBC (Mux 1)
Template:UK DVB-T	26+	15	SDN (Mux A)
Template:UK DVB-T	39	3.2	BBC (Mux B)
Template:UK DVB-T	42	1.6	Arqiva (Mux D)
Template:UK DVB-T	45	1.6	Arqiva (Mux C)

Analogue television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
Template:UK System I	28	500	Border
Template:UK System I	30	500	BBC1 North East
Template:UK System I	32	500	Channel 4
Template:UK System I	34	500	BBC2 North East
Template:UK System I	56	10	Channel 5

See also

• List of masts
• List of tallest structures in the United Kingdom
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

External links

• Help, tips and advice as Cumbria leads the way to digital television Template:Webarchive
• The Transmission Gallery: Caldbeck Transmitter photographs and information
• The Transmission Gallery: TV Coverage Map
• http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b61323
• http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b61324
• Arqiva Caldbeck Mast Build Mini-site
• Caldbeck Transmitter at thebigtower.com