subject: Winter Hill Transmitting Station - China Beaded Bracelet Watch - Bangle Bracelet Watch Manufacturer [print this page] Height Height
The main mast structure is 309.48metres (1,015ft) tall and has a diameter of 2.75metres (9.0ft). During the period of parallel digital and analogue transmissions, the DTT antenna attached to the top of the mast brought the overall height to 315.4metres (1,035ft), however as part of the Digital Switchover plans, this antenna has now been removed, reducing its overall height to 309.48metres (1,015.4ft). It is one of the tallest structures in the United Kingdom, the tallest being the mast at Belmont with a height of 387.75metres (1,272.1ft), however at 778.1metres (2,553ft) above sea level, Winter Hill has the highest television transmitting antenna in the UK.
Construction
A view of the mast from beneath, illustrating the tubular structure
Unlike most masts, which are of a lattice design, Winter Hill mast is of a tubular construction. Five other masts in England share this design (Belmont, Bilsdale, Mendip, Waltham and the original ill-fated structure at Emley Moor). Support wires, to hold the mast vertical, are pitched at 120 when viewed from above. These are connected at 5 heights, giving 15 supports in total. In recent years, these wires have been strengthened, and 152 metric tons (150 tons) of dampening chains have been fitted by Arqiva (then NTL Broadcast) to reduce the oscillations caused by high winds that were a factor in the collapse of Emley Moor's original structure in 1969.
Maintenance
An advantage of the tubular design is that engineers can ascend the inside of the mast and not be subject to adverse weather, which is a problem on frame structures. Maintaining the outside of the mast is typically performed using a bosun's chair.
The mast has always had a series of red aircraft warning lights but in October 2006 these lights were substantially brightened making the mast far more visible to passing aircraft. These lights can be maintained from the inside, as the bulbs swing inwards for maintenance.
Eight external platforms encircle the mast along its height, these can be accessed from the inside of the mast, and are used to maintain the supporting wires, and the ILR antennas.
Coverage
The station's coverage includes approximately 6.3 million people. Although not the 'correct' television region, it is the preferred region for some in North Wales, mainly because it carries Channel 4 (as opposed to S4C), Five and a much more powerful digital terrestrial output than the Welsh transmitters. The region's ITV franchisee, Granada Television (which launched in 1956), was also on air much earlier than North Wales' franchisee, WWN (Teledu Cymru) (which launched 1962), giving viewers more choice than they would with the Welsh transmissions. After digital switchover, the Welsh transmitters will be broadcasting DTT at a much higher power than present, of which Channel 4 and Five are included in the line-up. However, because of terrain and rough landscapes of North Wales, many will find it easier to stay with Winter Hill (as small local relays will only broadcast a limited range of the digital channels). In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that Winter Hill would be remaining a C/D group transmitter after DSO (digital switchover).
Output
Television
Digital television
Only digital terrestrial television transmissions are carried from the site since 2 December 2009. Five of the six multiplexes are at 100kw, but MUX6/Arqiva B (on channel 55) will only be transmitted at 12.5kW until September 2011 due to co-channel interference issues with the Sutton Coldfield transmitting station's MUX6/Arquiva B which is also on channel 55.
As principal transmitter for the Granada region, in 2009 Winter Hill became the first in the UK to broadcast digital television in high-definition.
Analogue television transmissions from Winter Hill ceased officially at 00:12 GMT on the morning of 2 December 2009. The stations began to disappear from 23:57 on 1 December, with the loss of BBC One. This was followed on 2 December by Channel 4 at 00:03 GMT, ITV1 at 00:06 GMT and finally Five at 00:12 GMT. The transmitting station now only broadcasts digital terrestrial television signals.
Radio
FM
BBC Radio 1: 98.2MHz
BBC Radio 2: 88.6MHz
BBC Radio 3: 90.8MHz
BBC Radio 4: 93.0MHz
BBC Radio Lancashire: 103.9MHz (2KW)
Rock FM: 97.4MHz (2KW)
Smooth FM: 100.4MHz (5KW
Real Radio: 105.4MHz (5KW)
4KW Relays the signal from Holme Moss to cover South and Central Lancashire
DAB
CE Manchester: 11C - 220.352 MHz (250 watts)
CE Manchester broadcasts from a directional aerial to cover Greater Manchester)
Digital One Network: 11D - 222.064 MHz (10kW)
EMAP Central Lancashire: 12A - 223.936 MHz (1.5KW)
(EMAP Central Lancashire broadcasts from a directional aerial to cover Central Lancashire (Wigan, Preston, Southport, Blackpool and surrounding areas))
BBC National DAB: 12B - 225.648 MHz (10KW)
MXR North West: 12C - 227.360 MHz (2KW)
Plane crash
Main article: Winter Hill (air disaster)
On 27 February 1958, a Silver City Bristol 170 Freighter (G-AICS) travelling from the Isle of Man to Manchester crashed into Winter Hill (also known as Rivington Moor) several hundred yards away from the mast. 35 people died and 7 were injured. The weather that night was so severe that none of the engineers working in the transmission centre were aware of the crash. Several feet of snow hampered rescue efforts, and a snow cat vehicle had to be diverted from the A6 to cut a path for emergency vehicles.
Timeline
1956: Granada Television commences black and white television broadcasting prior to main mast construction.
1982: Additional ILR transmitter put into operation for further local radio. Channel 4 commences transmission.
1983: Channel 4 set up relay service.
1997: Channel 5 commences transmission
1998: Century FM radio start broadcasting from the main mast.
2009: Analogue TV signals were switched off in two phases on Wednesday 4 November 2009 (BBC Two Switched off) and 2 December 2009 (remaining analogue channels).
See also
List of masts
List of tallest structures in the United Kingdom
List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
References
^ a b Chorley Council - Planning Applications - Ref: 07/00056/FUL
^ The Transmission Gallery - Winter Hill
^ "Freeview set for HD channels". Ofcom. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/features/hdfree. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
^ "Ofcom confirms three Freeview HD channels 'by end of next year' The Register". www.theregister.co.uk. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/17/freeview_hd_2009/. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
^ "Winter Hill Switchover Dec 2nd 2009 Digital Spy Forums". www.digitalspy.com. http://www.digitalspy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1173715&page=2. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
^ a b Radio Listeners Guide
^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
^ "Digital UK - Granada TV Region". www.digitaluk.co.uk. http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/granada. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
Further reading
The Devil Casts His Net, Steve Morrin, ISBN 0-9534503-1-7, The Winter Hill Air Disaster.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Winter Hill
MB21 Winter Hill index.
Info and pictures of Winter Hill including co-receivable transmitters.
Winter Hill photo gallery at www.the-moores.co.uk
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b2455
Winter Hill scrapbook Section on the stay blocks for the mast
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