Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
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Bluebell Hill is 3 miles North of Maidstone and was opened in 1974. Its power is 30kW on analogue and 2 to 3kW on Digital / Freeview. The transmitter has (only) three smaller repeaters to improve coverage in poor reception areas within its coverage area. Ofcom quote Bluebell Hill`s maximum population coverage as being about 1.5 million, but that includes households which may well be on another transmitter with overlapping coverage.
Originally Bluebell Hill was an EH group. Only the 4 analogue stations plus MUXES 1, 4, 5 & 6 are available within the E band, see Channel Allocation Guide. A wideband may possibly be required for MUXES 2 & 3 (on channels 24 & 27), see Bluebell Hill`s Graph That said, I`d have thought that most E groups would work fine, unless you`re in a very poor signal area. No analogue Channel 5 is transmitted.
Bluebell Hill transmitter(s).
For Bluebell Hill we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for medium signal areas, the DY14WB for poor signal areas, and the XB22WB for those with the most marginal signals. The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be found on the relevant tables. If requiring a “high gain aerial” in the loft we recommend the DY14WB over the XB22 because of the former aerial`s smaller size.
Bluebell Hill TV Transmitter`s Frequencies/Channel Allocations*
Also check Bluebell Hill`s three smaller repeaters.
The frequencies given are for (most) digital MUXES, for analogue channels deduct 3MHz.
* There are a few retune events (temporary MUX reallocations) just before and after DSO which may not be shown on these tables.
Bluebell Hill`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 DY14WB XB22WB
Note that MUXES 2 and 3 are out of the original E group of the transmitter. But the graph shows quite clearly that the “cut off” for E group aerials is not precipitous and that most people in decent signal areas may well get all the Digital OK off their “old” E group aerial.
At DSO in Jul 2012 Bluebell Hill will become a B group, although all E group and wideband aerials working before switchover will continue to work afterwards. For Bluebell Hill`s frequencies see its channel allocation guide.
Also see other relevant Wideband curves.
Bluebell Hill TV Transmitters
The original analogue tower
is on the left and the one
with the digital transmitting antennas is on the right.
Question. Why is Bluebell Hill so called ? I couldn`t possibly guess, how about you ?
Just like Sandy Heath ?
Now then, not so fast young man.
George Wise contacted us to say that Bluebell Hill isn`t Bluebell Hill at all, it`s actually Blue Bell Hill. Furthermore the moniker has nothing to do with flowers, it refers to a Blue Bell which used to summon the horses to draw the vehicles up the hill between Maidstone and Chatham.
Consultation of a map of the area proves George to be right.
However the transmitter is called Bluebell Hill by the BBC so I must (somewhat regretfully....) stick with the “incorrect” name.
Incidentally the BBC has got a few of the other transmitter names wrong as well, though, as usual, I can`t actually remember which ones they are at the moment !
The nearest railway to Bluebell Hill is, very unusually, one which only opened in 2003, namely the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. In fact the line actually goes under Bluebell Hill in a tunnel which is only about half a mile to the SW of the transmitter.
External Links
Bluebell Hill transmitter page at MB21
Digital UK details of Meridian transmitters
It was revealed by Ofcom (on the 13 June and the 27 June 2012) that Bluebell Hill will become a B group at DSO, in 2012, although all E group and wideband aerials which were working before switchover will continue to work afterwards.
Those still receiving poor digital after switchover will have the use of a B group as an option. Technically CH54 is above the B group, but all B group aerials work fine at this frequency.
At switchover Bluebell Hill`s digital power output will increase from the pre DSO level of 2 to 3kW output up to the post DSO level of 20kW.
There is one interleaved spectrum channel allocated to Bluebell Hill, CH56, plus there is 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.
For Bluebell Hill`s frequencies see its channel allocation guide. This also includes
the same data for some of the other major transmitters also receivable within Bluebell
Hill`s coverage area, namely Crystal Palace, Sandy, Sudbury, Dover, Hastings, Heathfield,
Tunbridge Wells, Whitehawk Hill (Brighton), Midhurst and Reigate. The Channel Allocation
Guides can be very useful in the diagnosis of co-
Those situated to the North or West of Bluebell Hill may find that during certain
weather conditions they can suffer from co-
The transmitter does not have an omnidirectional radiation pattern, see table below.
Bluebell Hill Transmitter OS Grid Ref TQ 757 613
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.
Digital switchover at Bluebell Hill is due on the 13 June and the 27 June 2012.
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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