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Bilsdale television transmitter from the moor below it. (Picture Justin Smith ATV)
Note the repainting in progress (it certainly seems to need it !) and the “Bosun`s Chair”
being used to ascend the mast, see below.
Bilsdale TV transmitter from the B1257, which runs from Helmsley to Stokesley.
Incidentally if you are ever in this area of the beautiful North Yorks Moors National Park it`s worth visiting Rievaulx Terrace and the Abbey below it. (Picture Justin Smith ATV)
“Bosun`s Chair” being used to access Bilsdale whilst it was being repainted in June 2007.
On the right is the winch (and its anchors ! ) to hoist the “chair” up as required.
Below (left) is the same system being used on Redruth in 2005 and on the right the type
of paint used to coat the structures. The masts are galvanised with a 25 year warranty against rust, after that time they`re repainted every 10 years with etching primer then Micaceous Iron Oxide on top of that. And we all love the Forth Rail Bridge don`t we, I do !
Bilsdale TV transmitters pre DSO Channel Allocations, above.
Note the potential co-
Also check Bilsdale`s fifteen smaller relays.
The frequencies given are for the analogue channels, for (most) digital MUXES add 3MHz.
Bilsdale`s Post DSO Channel Allocations (below), apart from its other uses this guide shows clearly that Bilsdale will remain a K group (for three of the six MUXES) after DSO.
Although MUX6 (on CH50) is not technically in the K group our tests reveal it to work at
least as well as a wideband at this frequency.
Note the gaps in the table below for channels 31 to 35, 37, 39 to 40 and 63 to 68, they`re reserved for “other uses”....
Bilsdale`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials
we recommend for it. DM Log Log40 Yagi18K XB10K XB16K
Note the channels out of the original A group of the transmitter, and there are more of them after DSO, i.e. MUXES 4, 5 and 6, not just MUX 6 as at present.
Note that the “original A group curve” is that for post 1995 aerials, when the A group was extended up to CH37 from CH34. Thus the response curve for aerials fitted prior to this
date would be about 3 channels down.
Also see other relevant K group curves.
In fact because of Wideband antennas poor response at the bottom of the band nobody should ever fit a “high gain” wideband on any K group transmitter, e.g. Bilsdale.
If the site is in a poor spot a “high gain” K group aerial should be used.
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. See Bilsdale transmitter`s graph
For Bilsdale we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas,
the Log 40 for medium signal areas, and the Yagi18K or XB10K for poor signal areas,
the latter aerial being particularly well suited to loft mounting
The XB16K is for those with the most marginal signals.
The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be found on the relevant tables.
The predicted date for Bilsdale to switch over is 2012 (possibly in September).
It`s a bit of a shock but it has been confirmed by Ofcom that Bilsdale will NOT be returning to an A at DSO. If one requires all the Digital channels one will need a
K group (or wideband). However the main MUXES 1 to 3 (the PSBs) will still be receivable on an A group.
At switchover Bilsdale`s digital power output will increase from the pre DSO 1.6 to 6kW output up to the post DSO level of 50 to 100kW (the latter for the PSBs).
There are two interleaved spectrum channels allocated to Bilsdale, CH21 and CH24, which are both within the previously announced post DSO group.
For Bilsdale`s frequencies see its Channel Allocations Guides at the foot of the page for before and after DSO. These also include the same information for Pontop Pike, Chatton, Fenham, Emley Moor, Wharfdale, Idle, Keighley, Sheffield, Belmont and Olivers Mount.
All these transmitters are receivable within Bilsdale`s coverage area and this information
can be very useful for identifying causes of co-
a spare channel for a modulated output (e.g. for a Sky box or CCTV system) to be added
to your TV setup/distribution system without suffering from co-
Bilsdale`s radiation pattern (as reported by Ofcom) reflects these co-
External links
Spectrum = Interleaved Spectrum Channels
Some post switchover MUX allocations will be changed due to the 800MHz clearance.
If you`ve found this site informative and, hopefully, interesting as well,
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.
Bilsdale television transmitter (TX) is a "guyed mast" structure (309m in height) and is identical to Waltham and Mendip, though it was built by JL Eves (now Babcock Networks) whilst the other two were constructed by BICC (now Balfour Beatty). The mast is a tubular structure to the top and has in internal lift, though this is out of use following the accident at Belmont. The transmitter was originally owned by the BBC before being sold off to Crown Castle (Castle Transmission International -
Opened in 1969, the transmitter is about 15 miles SSE of Middlesborough and its
population coverage is around a million. Many of those in York, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesborough, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Harrogate can receive Bilsdale`s transmissions. The mast can be seen from the A1 on a clear day. As one travels North it`s on the right. A slightly better view can be had from the railway line (between York and Darlington) as it is a little closer, perhaps 12 miles away. This particular stretch of the East Coast Main Line originally opened in 1841 as the Great North of England Railway.
The A19 from the A1 up to Teeside passes closer still.
Due to the fact the 309m mast (see How High is High ? ) is built on a 376m mountain
(the setting is quite spectacular) the overall aerial height/altitude is 685m (2260ft) and unsurprisingly this is one of the highest in Great Britain. The latter fact obviously helps its transmission range, but like all transmissions they are subject to the “line of sight” rule,
even with a “high gain aerial” ! The transmitter has fifteen smaller relays (or repeaters) to improve coverage in poor reception areas within its coverage area.
Bilsdale puts out 500kW (analogue) which is big power and Digital / Freeview is transmitted at 5 to 6kW, except MUX6/D which is only 1.6kW.
It is horizontally polarised was originally an A group and all 5 analogue programme
channels plus 5 of the 6 Digital MUX`s can still be received with a group A aerial. Unfortunately MUX 6 is out of band (up at CH42) so most people would have to change
their aerial (to a K group or wideband) unless they live in a fairly strong signal area.
Those with A group aerials fitted before the mid 1990s (when the group was extended up to CH 37 from CH 35) would even be less likely to receive MUX6.