Brookmans Park Transmitter
Encyclopedia
The Brookmans Park transmitting station is a facility for medium wave broadcasting north of London . The station was built by the BBC as the first of a network of regional dual ("twin wave" was the term then used) transmitter stations, replacing the city based ones used previously, and this was to cover the Home Counties
, London and South East. The first station, on 842khz, 50kw, went into service in on October 21 1929, the second on 1148khz, initially 30kw, followed on March 9 1930.
The original antenna configuration for the station was two T-antenna
s hung from four 200ft (61m) towers, one T-antenna to the north of the station and the other to the south of the station.
Shortly after commencement of transmissions, the channels were identified by a name denoting its function. The National channel was carried on 842khz, and a "Regional" service on 1148khz.
The transmitting station itself featured the latest transmitters from the Marconi Company
. No public electricity supply was available so large generators were installed and extensive support staff was recruited and trained by the BBC.
In 1939 a 91.4 m mast was built on the south side of the station, which along with the existing south T-antenna made a directional array
pointing towards central London. This antenna configuration would be used after the war for the BBC Light Programme.
During the second world war an extension was added to the northern side of the transmitter building and a 140 kW STC
transmitter was installed.
In the mid 1950s a 152.4 m mast radiator was constructed on a field around half a mile north of station for the BBC Home Service and the original north T-antenna would be become a reserve antenna for that service.
The station was re-engineered in the late 1970s and an extra T-antenna (mini T) was hung between two 18.3 m poles constructed a few hundred feet north from the original north T-antenna, and new transmission equipment was installed replacing the original Marconi transmitters, the 140 kW STC transmitter, and other BBC-designed transmission equipment which was installed in the 1960s.
After the re-engineering the south T-antenna and the 91.4 m mast transmitted BBC Radio London and Radio 3; the north T-antenna along with the newly installed mini T-antenna was used for Radio 1, and the 152.4 m mast was used for Radio 2.
In the years since the re-engineering little has changed to the antenna and structure layout of the station, but the services have changed and the station now transmits Virgin Radio instead of Radio 3, Sunrise Radio instead of BBC Radio London, TalkSPORT instead of Radio 1, and BBC Radio 5 Live instead of Radio 2.
Much development has taken place and the station now is now the home to many communications companies who operate various satellite and communication services.
The station is owned by Arqiva
.
Analogue radio (AM
Digital radio (DAB
Home Counties
The home counties is a term which refers to the counties of South East England and the East of England which border London, but do not include the capital city itself...
, London and South East. The first station, on 842khz, 50kw, went into service in on October 21 1929, the second on 1148khz, initially 30kw, followed on March 9 1930.
The original antenna configuration for the station was two T-antenna
T-antenna
A T-antenna is an antenna whereby "a vertical or sloping wire is connected to the approximate centre of a straight horizontal top wire" . This forms its characteristic "T"-shape.-External links:*...
s hung from four 200ft (61m) towers, one T-antenna to the north of the station and the other to the south of the station.
Shortly after commencement of transmissions, the channels were identified by a name denoting its function. The National channel was carried on 842khz, and a "Regional" service on 1148khz.
The transmitting station itself featured the latest transmitters from the Marconi Company
Marconi Company
The Marconi Company Ltd. was founded by Guglielmo Marconi in 1897 as The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company...
. No public electricity supply was available so large generators were installed and extensive support staff was recruited and trained by the BBC.
In 1939 a 91.4 m mast was built on the south side of the station, which along with the existing south T-antenna made a directional array
Directional array
In broadcast engineering, directional array refers to an antenna array arranged such that the superposition of the electromagnetic waves produce a predictable electromagnetic field...
pointing towards central London. This antenna configuration would be used after the war for the BBC Light Programme.
During the second world war an extension was added to the northern side of the transmitter building and a 140 kW STC
Standard Telephones and Cables
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd was a British telephone, telegraph, radio, telecommunications and related equipment R&D manufacturer. During its history STC invented and developed several groundbreaking new technologies including PCM and optical fibres.The company began life in London as...
transmitter was installed.
In the mid 1950s a 152.4 m mast radiator was constructed on a field around half a mile north of station for the BBC Home Service and the original north T-antenna would be become a reserve antenna for that service.
The station was re-engineered in the late 1970s and an extra T-antenna (mini T) was hung between two 18.3 m poles constructed a few hundred feet north from the original north T-antenna, and new transmission equipment was installed replacing the original Marconi transmitters, the 140 kW STC transmitter, and other BBC-designed transmission equipment which was installed in the 1960s.
After the re-engineering the south T-antenna and the 91.4 m mast transmitted BBC Radio London and Radio 3; the north T-antenna along with the newly installed mini T-antenna was used for Radio 1, and the 152.4 m mast was used for Radio 2.
In the years since the re-engineering little has changed to the antenna and structure layout of the station, but the services have changed and the station now transmits Virgin Radio instead of Radio 3, Sunrise Radio instead of BBC Radio London, TalkSPORT instead of Radio 1, and BBC Radio 5 Live instead of Radio 2.
Much development has taken place and the station now is now the home to many communications companies who operate various satellite and communication services.
The station is owned by Arqiva
Arqiva
Arqiva is a telecommunications company which provides infrastructure and broadcast transmission facilities in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The present company, with headquarters located at Crawley Court in the village of Crawley, Hampshire, was formed by National Grid Wireless...
.
Analogue radio (AMAmplitude modulationAmplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
Medium Wave)
| Frequency | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 909 kHz | 150 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... |
| 1089 kHz | 400 | Talksport TalkSPORT Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom.... |
| 1215 kHz | 125 | Absolute Radio |
| 1458 kHz | 125 | Sunrise Radio Sunrise Radio Sunrise Radio is the United Kingdom's first Independent Local Radio station to cater specifically for the Asian community. Dr Avtar Lit is the chairman and chief executive of this media group which also operates kismat radio,buzz asia,punjabi radio as well as sunrise tv-Transmission:It initially... |
Digital radio (DABDigital audio broadcastingDigital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
)
| Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.64 MHz | 11B | 2 | DRG London DRG London DRG London is a Digital Audio Broadcasting multiplex available in the London area that has been broadcasting since January 2002. It is also referred to as the Greater London 3 multiplex... |
External links
- The Transmission Gallery: photographs and information
- A History of Brookmans Park Transmitting Station
- The London Twin-Wave Broadcasting Station Brookmans Park
- http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b20122