thebigtower |
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meldrum |
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THE MELDRUM STATION is the main BBC National FM and DAB transmitter for Aberdeenshire. It is sited fifteen miles north of Aberdeen and is named after the nearby town of Oldmeldrum. The BBC FM service covers an approximate 40-mile radius, bounded by the Grampian Hills towards the south-west but taking in almost all of Aberdeenshire, plus some coastal areas of Moray in the north-west and Angus in the south-east. Towards the south-west of Aberdeen, the transmitter is supported by two relays - the first at the Durris main UHF transmitter and the second at Tullich. The BBC National DAB radio service commenced simultaneously from here and the Durris transmitter on 18 February 2004. |
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Aerials> Site and Stay Images Index> Enlarged Landscapes> Supersize Images> BBC Crest |
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TELEVISION HISTORY |
The Meldrum transmitter was originally built as a medium-power installation for the BBC Band I 405-line television network, principally serving Aberdeenshire and parts of the Central Highlands. This extended the BBC television service beyond the central and lowland areas of Scotland as served by the first Scottish television transmitter at Kirk o'Shotts. Regular service from Meldrum commenced on 13 October 1955 with transmissions on VHF Channel 4 at a peak vision e.r.p of 17kW. The next BBC Band I transmitter to open in Scotland was at Rosemarkie from 16 August 1957, serving Inverness and the Moray Firth. Other medium-power 405-line transmitters established by the BBC included Divis, North Hessary Tor, Pontop Pike, Rowridge, Sandale and Tacolneston. Of these stations, Pontop Pike bears the closest resemblance to Meldrum having come into service as a permanent installation the same year. ADJACENT STATIONS and UHF |
The Independent Television Authority (ITA) Band III 405-line transmitter for Aberdeenshire was built at Durris, a non-adjacent site towards the south-west of Aberdeen approximately twenty miles from Meldrum. As with other instances of non-adjacent siting by the ITA, Durris was the preferred choice for UHF transmission. Meldrum therefore continued to provide only a 405-line service for BBC1 until this ceased in January 1985, since when the station has concentrated solely on radio broadcasting. |
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Aerials> Site and Stay Images Index> Enlarged Landscapes> Supersize Images> BBC Crest |
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SITE INFORMATION |
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Location: |
Core Hill, Cross of Jackston, Oldmeldrum |
Grid Reference: |
NJ761329 |
Landlord: |
Arqiva (Legacy: BBC/Crown Castle/NGW) |
Ground Height: |
245m |
ITV Region: |
N/A - Transmitted from Durris |
Mast Height: |
135m |
BBC Region: |
N/A - Transmitted from Durris |
Aerial Height: |
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UHF Tx Number: |
N/A |
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CURRENT TRANSMISSIONS |
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Digital Television |
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Analogue Radio (FM) |
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None - Transmitted from Durris |
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Service: |
(MHz) |
(e.r.p) |
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BBC Radio 1: |
98.3 |
150kW |
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BBC Radio 2: |
88.7 |
150kW |
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BBC Radio 3: |
90.9 |
150kW |
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BBC Radio 4: |
95.3 |
150kW |
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BBC Radio Scotland (Aberdeen opt-out): |
93.1 |
150kW |
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BBC Radio nan Gaidheal: |
104.2 |
150kW |
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classic fm: |
100.5 |
150kW |
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NECR: |
102.1 |
1.25k |
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Digital Radio |
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Service: |
Block |
(e.r.p) |
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BBC National: |
12B |
10kW |
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Switch Aberdeen: |
11C |
8.51kW |
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