Ridge Hill transmitting station
  Ridge Hill transmitting station (Herefordshire) | |
| Mast height | 164.6 metres (540 ft) |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°59′51″N 2°32′24″W / 51.9975°N 2.54°W |
| BBC region | BBC West Midlands BBC West |
| ITV region | ITV Central ITV West |
The Ridge Hill transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located 20 miles SW of Worcester in Herefordshire, and close to the border of Gloucestershire. The station transmits the full complement of digital terrestrial multiplexes and an additional ITV West Multiplex. It includes a cable stayed steel lattice mast which has a height of 164.6 metres (540 ft), which in addition to the altitude of the site gives an aerial height of 363 m above mean sea level.
Ridge Hill supplies its signal to 17 relays which allow coverage into "fringe" areas not able to receive a good signal from the main transmitter.
All 5 analogue programme channels were broadcast plus the full 6 digital MUXES although the multiplexes were scattered across the band requiring a wideband aerial for most consumers. Digital switchover was completed on 20 April 2011 where all multiplexes are now located in the Group A antenna band.
In addition to its television output Ridge Hill transmits various radio stations including BBC Hereford and Worcester.
The station covers the south west Midlands, including Herefordshire, and parts of Worcestershire. It also covers parts of the South West, specifically northern Gloucestershire. It does not, however, transmit BBC local programmes for Gloucestershire. These are covered by the Mendip transmitter which cannot be seen from the Gloucester/Cheltenham area.
Since December 4, 2006 Ridge Hill has broadcast ITV West on UHF channel 30 (rebroadcasting the signal from Mendip) in addition to the existing ITV Central service on channel 25. This is known as "Ridge Hill West" This followed the restructuring of ITV Regional News and the abolition of the Central South region. As a result, the existing ITV Central service now carries news from the West Midlands region, with the new West service being provided for viewers in the south east of the service area in areas such as Gloucester and Cheltenham, which are editorially more closely linked to the west country. This change effectively united ITV coverage for Gloucestershire, as the southern half of the county has always been covered by Mendip and its relays. Since the digital switchover, an extra Digital 3&4 multiplex for ITV West has been broadcast on UHF 29.
Services listed by frequency
Analogue radio (FM VHF)
| Frequency | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 88.6 MHz | 10 | BBC Radio 2 |
| 90.8 MHz | 10 | BBC Radio 3 |
| 93.0 MHz | 10 | BBC Radio 4 |
| 94.7 MHz | 2 | BBC Hereford and Worcester |
| 97.6 MHz | 0.8 | Wyvern |
| 98.2 MHz | 10 | BBC Radio 1 |
| 100.4 MHz | 0.9 (H) 3.9 (V) |
Classic FM |
| 106.2 MHz | 1.6 | Sunshine Radio |
Digital radio (DAB)
| Frequency | Block | kW[1] | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 211.648 MHz | 10B | N/A | MuxCo Gloucestershire (yet to launch) |
| 222.064 MHz | 11D | 5 | Digital One |
| 225.648 MHz | 12B | 10 | BBC National DAB |
Analogue television
Since April 2011, analogue television has not been broadcast from Ridge Hill. BBC Two was closed on 6 April and the remaining five services on the 20 April.
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 479.25 MHz | 22 | 100 | BBC One |
| 503.25 MHz | 25 | 100 | ITV1 Central |
| 527.25 MHz | 28 | 100 | BBC Two |
| 543.25 MHz | 30 | 25 (D) | ITV1 West |
| 559.25 MHz | 32 | 100 | Channel 4 |
| 583.25 MHz | 35 | 100 | Channel 5 |
Digital television
|
Before switchover
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See also
References
External links
- Info and pictures of Ridge Hill including co-receivable transmitters.
- Pictures of Ridge Hill from MB21 transmitter gallery.
- Ridge Hill at UK TV For Free
- Ridge Hill West at UK TV For Free
- Ofcom DSO Transmitter Details (West)
- Ofcom DSO Transmitter Details (Central)
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