Heathfield transmitting station explained

Heathfield
Map Name:East Sussex
Map Label:Heathfield
Coordinates:50.9767°N 0.2306°W
Height:135m (443feet)
Gridref:TQ566220
Built:1969
Bbc:BBC South East
Itv:ITV Meridian (East)

The Heathfield transmitting station is a facility for FM and television transmission at Heathfield, East Sussex, UK (grid reference TQ566220). Opened in 1969, its antenna mast is a tall guyed structure, giving the transmitter a height of above sea level. A Group B (or wideband or K group) horizontally polarised aerial is required to receive digital TV signals. The original analogue signals were in the Group C/D band, but all the digital MUXES should still be receivable on a C/D group aerial in reasonable signal areas (see graph).

The station's coverage area suffers from co-channel interference problems, particularly to the south, not only with Brighton (Whitehawk Hill) but with the continent as well. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

The transmitter broadcasts television and radio services to East Sussex and parts of West Sussex. This includes towns such as Eastbourne, Heathfield, Lewes, Seaford, Newhaven, Crowborough, Hailsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead.

Along with Dover, Bluebell Hill and Brighton Whitehawk Hill, Heathfield transmits regional television services from BBC One South East and ITV Meridian (east).

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio

FrequencykW[1] Service
102.4 MHz8.2Heart South
104.5 MHz10BBC Radio Sussex

Digital radio

FrequencyBlockkWOperator
211.64810B1Sussex Coast
222.064 MHz11D2Digital One
225.648 MHz12B5BBC National DAB

Digital television

FrequencyUHFkWOperatorSystem
4020SDNDVB-T
4120BBC ADVB-T
4320Arqiva ADVB-T
4420Digital 3&4DVB-T
4620Arqiva BDVB-T
4720BBC BDVB-T

Before switchover

FrequencyUHFkWOperator
291.6Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)
341.6BBC (Mux 1)
47-1BBC (Mux B)
48-1SDN (Mux A)
51-1Arqiva (Mux D)
541Arqiva (Mux C)

Analogue television

BBC2 closed on 30 May 2012. The remaining analogue services closed on 13 June 2012.

FrequencyUHFkW[2] Service
49100BBC1 South East
52100BBC2 South East
64100Meridian
67100Channel 4

External links

Notes and References

  1. Radio Listeners Guide 2010
  2. Television Viewers Guide 2009