Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
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you may experience reception problems, e.g. with certain MUXES disappearing.
First try rescanning your set top box and if this fails to work check on Transmitter work
or phone reception advice on 08700 100 123 (BBC) or 0844 881 4150 (ITV).
Bilsdale television transmitter (TX) is a "guyed mast" structure (309m in height) and is Horizontally polarised. Opened in 1969, the transmitter is about 15 miles SSE of Middlesborough and it`s 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 to Teeside passes closer still.
Due to the fact it`s 309m is built on a 376m mountain (the setting is quite spectacular) the overall aerial height/altitude is 685m (2260ft). Unsurprisingly this is one of the highest in
Great Britain. The latter fact obviously helps transmission to Sheffield, but it is around 69 miles from here so don`t expect too much 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.
Digital / Freeview is transmitted at 5 to 6kW, except MUX6/D at only 1.6kW.
It 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/D is out of band (up at channel 42) so most people would have to change their aerial, to a K group or wideband.
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 it`s 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. (Pictures Justin Smith ATV)
Bilsdale TV transmitters pre DSO Channel Allocations, above.
Note the potential co-
Also check Bilsdale`s fifteen smaller relays.
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 XB16K
Note the channels out of the original A group of the transmitter, and there are more of them after DSO ! (see Channel Allocation Guides below)
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 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.
We recommend the DM log aerial for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for medium
signal areas, the Yagi18K for poor signal areas and the XB16K for those with the most marginal signals. The dimensions and test performance of the antennas can be found
on the relevant tables. The prices of the aerials are on the Sales page.
The predicted date for Bilsdale to switch over is September 2012.
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.
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-