Black Hill Transmitter

A.T.V. (Aerials and Television)

419 Langsett Rd
Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL

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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.

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 5 analogue programmes at 500kW and Digital/Freeview MUXES at 20kW. Black Hill is horizontally polarised and was originally a B group but MUXES 5 & 6 now require an E group (or wideband) aerial. It should be noted that MUX5 is transmitted on CH 55 and so will still be receivable with a B group antenna (though this may not apply to some Contract aerials though) but MUX6 is up on 65 so will probably require a change of aerial unless you live in a strong reception area.
Black Hill is a main transmitter and it has fifty five smaller relays (or repeaters) to improve coverage in poor reception areas within its coverage area.

Black Hill transmitters TV Channel Allocation Guides, above for before the DSO in
2011 and for below for after. Also check Black Hill`s fifty five smaller relays

The frequencies given are for the analogue channels, for (most) digital MUXES add 3MHz.

Note that Torosay, Darvel and Caldbeck transmit on the same frequencies. 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, just like Winter Hill and Winter Hill B do now.
Angus and Rosneath also transmit using the same frequencies.
On the “Post DSO” guide (below), large gaps in the spectrum - for other uses - are present
on channels 31 to 35, 37, 39 to 40 and 63 to 68.

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 Ya gi18E DY14WB X B16 E

Note the channels out of the original B group of the transmitter.

(see Channel Allocations Guides)

The graph below illustrates Black Hill`s channels in relation to B group aerials which are

an alternative for those in particularly bad signal areas. A group B aerial will work better

than an E group (or wideband) but will not pickup analogue MUX 6 until after DSO.

Post DSO all channels will be within the compass of our B group aerials.

Also see other relevant E group curves, and Contract aerials inconsistent gain curves.

For Black Hill`s TV frequencies/channels see its Channel Allocation Guides for before

and after the DSO. These also include the same information for other potentially

co-receivable transmitters within Black Hills coverage area, namely Craigkelly, Angus, Torosay, Rosneath, Darvel, Caldbeck, Selkirk, and Chatton. This information can be very useful for identifying possible causes of co-channel interference or other transmitters which may give a superior signal. It can also be invaluable if you are trying to find 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-channel.

Ofcom report that the transmitter has minor restrictions in power to the SE and the NW on all six digital MUXES.

DSO is due for March 2011. Unsurprisingly it has been confirmed by Ofcom that Black Hill will be returning to a B group at DSO.

Black Hill is planned to transmit a pre switchover low power HDTV MUX (on CH59 at 10kW)

from Feb 2010. Due to co-channel interference issues its radiation pattern will be restricted so just because you can get all six standard digital MUXES, this does not mean you`ll necessarily get the temporary low power pre switchover HD MUX. You will need a Freeview HD set top box though, due on the market from 2010.

There are two interleaved spectrum channels allocated to Black Hill, CH51 and CH48,

which are both within the previously announced post DSO group.

External links

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 Yagi18E or the DY14WB for poor signal areas,

and the XB16E for those with the most marginal signals.

The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can be found on the relevant tables.

See Black Hill E Group Graph.

Those in the poorest reception areas (who need a really high gain aerial) could forsake MUX6 (MUX5 would normally be picked up fine) and go for a XB16B to maximise their reception of everything else ! See Black Hill B Group Graph.

One should bear in mind that Black Hill will return to its original B group at DSO.

If requiring a “high gain aerial” in the loft we recommend the DY14WB over the XB16 because of the former aerial`s smaller size.

Gain curves of the E group aerials we recommend for Black Hill, apart from the Tri Boom.....

Black Hill TV transmitter (Picture MB21)

Gain curves of the B group aerials we recommend for Black Hill, apart from the Tri Boom.....

Spectrum = Interleaved Spectrum Channels

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