Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
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Tel : 0114 285 4254
Black Hill television transmitter was first opened in 1957 but the first mast was replaced by a higher structure in 1961, the original was moved to Selkirk and is still in use. It has the fifth highest population coverage of any TV transmitter at around 2.5 million and it is located 14 miles East of Glasgow. For the sake of impariality, that`s about 25 miles West of Edinburgh ! The mast is 307m high, see How High is High ?
The transmitter puts out all 6 digital MUXES at 100kW (before the switchover in June 2011 it was only 20kW). Black Hill is horizontally polarised and was originally a B group for analogue, then temporarily became an E group (or wideband) whilst transmitting both analogue and digital, before reverting back to a B group at switchover. It should be noted that wideband or E group aerials which worked before the June 2011 switchover should continue to work after that date as well.
Black Hill is a main transmitter and it has sixty four (including Torosay`s twenty two) smaller relays (or repeaters) to improve coverage in poor reception areas within its coverage area.
Black Hill transmitters TV Channel Allocation* Guide.
Also check Black Hill`s sixty four* smaller relays
The frequencies given are for the analogue channels, for (most) digital MUXES add 3MHz.
* There are a few retune events (temporary MUX reallocations) just before and after DSO which may not be shown on these tables.
* Including Torosay`s twenty two.
The frequencies given are for (most) digital MUXES, for analogue channels deduct 3MHz.
I suspect that Caldbeck may well have a restricted radiation pattern in a Northerly direction and that “Caldbeck Scotland” will act as a supplementary transmitter (on different frequencies) only transmitting in this direction
Note the gaps in the table below for channels 31 to 35, 37 and 61 to 68, they`re reserved for “other uses”........
For Black Hill`s TV frequencies/channels see its channel allocation guide. This also
includes the same information for other potentially co-
There are two interleaved spectrum channels allocated to Black Hill, CH51 and CH48, plus a possibility of 2 or 3 more MUXES being transmitted between CHs 31 and 37, all of these can be picked up by (decent) B group aerials.
External links
Black Hill Transmitter page at MB21
Black Hill Transmitter page at The Big Tower
Black Hill Transmitter page on Wikipedia
For Black Hill we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for medium signal areas, the Yagi18B for outdoor installs in poor signal areas,the XB10B for loft installations in poor signal areas, and the XB16B for those with the most marginal signals. Unless you have a massive loft we`d normally recommend an XB10B for loft installs (over an XB16) due to smaller size of the former aerial. The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be found on the relevant tables.
Black Hill TV transmitter (Picture MB21)
Black Hill Transmitter OS Grid Ref NS 828 647
Note, as work takes place on various digital transmitters (to prepare for the DSO) you may experience problems, e.g. with certain MUXES disappearing. First try rescanning your TV / set top box (do it manually if possible), but if this fails to work check on transmitter work or call the reception advice phone numbers. Also see basic digital fault finding.
DSO at Black Hill occurred between the 8 June and 22 June 2011.
Those in poor reception areas, can take advantage of the superior performance of a B group aerial over a wideband. If you really need a “high gain” aerial (and most people don`t) a decent B group aerial should be used, see below. On the other hand if the signal is strong (or medium) then, by definition, it doesn`t need a “high gain” antenna anyway ! Under these circumstances a Log Periodic should be fitted instead.
Black Hill`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 Yagi18B XB10B XB16B
Also see other relevant B group curves.
We are more than willing to give advice to those actually purchasing from us. Could those only seeking information please just find the answer somewhere on this site, or ring an aerial installer local to them, or call the reception advice phone numbers.
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