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thebigtower |
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huntshaw cross |
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| THE HUNTSHAW CROSS TRANSMITTER is the North Devon area UHF main station from where local FM and national DAB radio services are also provided. It is one of five main UHF transmitters located across the south-west of England, the four other main stations being sited at Beacon Hill (South Devon), Caradon Hill (East Cornwall), Redruth (West Cornwall) and Stockland Hill (East Devon). TRANSMISSION STRUCTURE |
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The mast at Huntshaw Cross is a 152-metre (500-ft) triangular cross-section lattice structure, supported by twelve stay-lines which attach in pairs to six ground anchoring blocks. The current main UHF antenna adds a further 12 metres (39.4-ft) at the top of the structure, bringing the total height to 164 metres (538-ft). |
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DIGITAL SWITCHOVER |
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Re-engineering for Digital Switchover took place at Huntshaw Cross from 2007 to 2009 and in addition to ground works typically saw the replacement of the main UHF antenna at the top of the structure and the installation of a circular reserve UHF aerial at a slightly lower position. (See Aerials for images of the current layout). Following the successful switchover's at Beacon Hill and Stockland Hill, Huntshaw Cross and it's dependent relays became the third transmitter group in the south-west region to complete the process, which as usual took place in two stages as follows - Stage 1 (DSO1) - 1 July 2009 |
BBC Two analogue (Channel 62) and Mux1 (Channel 54) ceased broadcasting permanently and PSB1 multiplex (BBCA) launched on Channel 62. Stage 2 (DSO2) - 29 July 2009 |
All other analogue services and pre-switchover low power multiplexes ceased broadcasting permanently and high powered digital multiplexes launched. |
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STATION HISTORY |
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Huntshaw Cross was opened by the Independent Television Authority (ITA) on 22 April 1968, initially as the third and last component of the ITV 405-line VHF Band III transmitter network in the south-west of England. In this capacity, the station complemented the coverage of the two existing stations at Caradon Hill and Stockland Hill across North Devon, providing a vital improvement in ITV reception along the coastal stretch between Westward Ho and Ilfracombe and in-land around Barnstaple and Bideford. Transmitting on VHF Channel 11, the station operated as a relay of Stockland Hill. with an Effective Radiated Power (e.r.p) of just 500 watts required to re-broadcast the signal received from the parent station. As with other significant late entrants into the ITV 405-line network, future UHF transmission was a key consideration in the selection of site location and station facilities, hence the provision from the outset of a 500-ft (152 metre) mast capable of supporting the station's future primary role of main UHF transmitter for North Devon. Of the eventual five UHF main stations in the south-west region, Huntshaw Cross was the last to roll-out the three UHF services, completing in November 1973. |
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| STATION INFORMATION |
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Location: |
Huntshaw Cross, Great Torrington, North Devon |
Grid Reference: |
SS527220 |
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Landlord: |
Arqiva (Legacy: ITA/IBA/NTL Broadcast) |
Ground Height: |
192m |
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BBC Region: |
South-West |
Mast Height: |
164m |
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ITV Region: |
South-West |
Aerial Height: (*) |
360m |
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UHF Tx Number: |
13800 |
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(*) Average UHF aerial height above sea level (a.o.d) |
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Digital Television |
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Analogue Radio (FM) |
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: Ch/Polarisation/e.r.p |
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Service: |
(MHz) |
(e.r.p) |
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PSB1 |
: 62 / H / 20kW |
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BBC Radio Devon: |
94.8 |
675W |
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PSB2 |
: 59 / H / 20kW |
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Heart FM North Devon: |
96.2 |
2.5kW |
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PSB3 |
: 55 / H / 20kW |
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COM4 |
: 48 / H / 10kW |
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Digital Radio (DAB) |
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COM5 |
: 52 / H / 10kW |
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COM6 |
: 56 / H /10kW |
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BBC National (Block 12B) |
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Digital One (Block 11D) |
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North Devon (Block 10C) |
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PRE-DIGITAL SWITCHOVER UHF TRANSMISSIONS |
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(Shutdown completed 29 July 2009) |
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| Analogue Television |
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Service |
Ch/Polar/e.r.p |
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Ch/Polar/e.r.p |
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| BBC1 |
: 55 / H / 100kW |
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Mux1 |
: 54 / H / 4.0kW |
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| BBC2 |
: 62 / H / 100kW |
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Mux2 |
: 58 / H / 4.0kW |
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| ITV1 |
: 59 / H / 100kW |
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MuxA |
: 61 / H / 4.0kW |
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| Ch4 |
: 65 / H / 100kW |
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MuxB |
: 64 / H / 4.0kW |
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| Five |
: 67 / H / 2kW |
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MuxC |
: 53 / H / 4.0kW |
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(+) |
MuxC |
: 51 / H / .08kW |
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MuxD |
: 57 / H / 4.0kW |
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(+) |
MuxD |
: 47 / H / .08kW |
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(+) = Huntshaw Cross B |
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| Beacon Hill Caradon Hill North Hessary Tor Redruth Stockland Hill |
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