Storeton transmitting station

Storeton transmitting station[1] (also commonly known as Storeton transmitter[2]) is a television relay and radio transmitter and mast on Storeton Ridge, Higher Bebington, Wirral, UK (national grid reference: SJ314841).[3] It is a relay of Winter Hill and the only Winter Hill relay to carry all five analogue TV channels prior to digital switchover.[3] The 45 metre-high (150 ft-high) mast is situated at an elevation of 65.5 metres (215 ft). Thus, the top of the mast has an overall height of 110.5 metres (363 ft) above sea level. Construction of the mast was completed in 1980.[4] As of 2009, the transmitter serves approximately 45,000 homes.[5]

Storeton
Storeton transmitting tower, May 2009
Storeton transmitting station (Merseyside)
Tower height45 metres (148 ft)
Coordinates53.3499°N 3.03117°W / 53.3499; -3.03117
Grid referenceSJ314841
Built1980
Relay ofWinter Hill (1980-present)
Moel-y-Parc (2009-present)
BBC regionBBC North West (1980-present)
BBC Wales (2009-present)
ITV regionITV Granada (1980-present)
ITV Wales (2009-present)

History

The Storeton relay was not an original VHF 405-line transmitter.[6] For 625-line analogue services on UHF, the relay covers Winter Hill blind spots in populated areas of Wirral and across the Mersey in south Liverpool. Prior to digital switchover, all five analogue channels and all six digital multiplexes are broadcast from the relay.[3] Being a relay of Winter Hill, the transmitter is in the BBC North West and ITV Granada TV regions. The commercial local TV station Liverpool TV with studios in Toxteth, Liverpool, and the commercial dual-regional radio station Capital North West and Wales with studios in Gwersyllt, Wrecsam, are also broadcast from the site.

Although located in England, the site is within eight miles of the North Wales coast. In conjunction with North Wales' digital switchover in November 2009, the transmitter also began to serve as a relay of Moel-y-Parc,[7] carrying Welsh services to nearby parts of North East Wales, across the River Dee. In official OFCOM documentation[7] the transmitter is listed as Storeton Wales for this purpose. Parts of those areas were previously poorly served with Welsh television services from Moel-y-Parc due to local geography, as natural landforms such as hills can block radio waves from being transmitted, resulting in poor radio and television.

The final switchover date for the Winter Hill relay was 2 December 2009. The final date for the Moel-y-Parc relay was 25 November 2009, although the signal was altered a third time on 2 December with limited publicity.[8]

Services available
The tower as seen from a distance, December 2001

Analogue radio
Frequency kW Service
97.1 MHz 1.0 kW Capital FM (North West and Wales)

Digital television
Frequency UHF kW Operator BBC region ITV region System
482.000 MHz 22 0.56 BBC B North West Granada DVB-T2
490.000 MHz 23 0.56 SDN — — DVB-T
506.000 MHz 25 0.56 Digital 3&4 — Granada DVB-T
514.000 MHz 26 0.56 Arqiva A — — DVB-T
530.000 MHz 28 0.56 BBC A North West — DVB-T
538.000 MHz 29 0.56 Arqiva B — — DVB-T
545.833 MHz 30- 0.06 LL (Liverpool TV) — — DVB-T
618.166 MHz 39+ 3.0 Digital 3&4 † — Wales DVB-T
642.000 MHz 42 3.0 BBC B † Wales Wales DVB-T2
666.000 MHz 45 3.0 BBC A † Wales — DVB-T

† Horizontally polarised.

Before switchover
Frequency UHF kW Operator
490.166 MHz 23+ 0.056 SDN (Mux A)
514.166 MHz 26+ 0.056 BBC (Mux B)
538.166 MHz 29+ 0.056 Arqiva (Mux C)
546.166 MHz 30+ 0.056 BBC (Mux 1)
570.166 MHz 33+ 0.056 Arqiva (Mux D)
578.166 MHz 34+ 0.056 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)

Analogue television
Frequency UHF kW Service
479.25 MHz 22 2.8 BBC One
503.25 MHz 25 2.8 ITV1
527.25 MHz 28 2.8 BBC Two
559.25 MHz 32 2.8 Channel 4
615.25 MHz 39 2.8 Channel 5
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See also

References
  1. "Planning Committee 14 February 2008" (PDF). Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  2. "The Broadcasting Committee, minutes of Monday, 9 June 2008". National Assembly for Wales. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  3. "Digital Switchover Transmitter Details: Granada Region" (PDF). Office of Communications (OFCOM). 24 October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  4. "Transmitter Sites On Merseyside: Storeton Hill (Wirral UK)". Jim Lowe, Concept Radio News UK. 1998. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  5. "Storeton transmitter - analogue switch-off". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  6. "Freeview on the Storeton transmitter". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  7. "Digital Switchover Transmitter Details: Wales" (PDF). OFCOM. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  8. "Digital UK help on Moel-y-Parc retune on 2 December 2009". 12 January 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
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