Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
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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.
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.
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”....
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 Yagi18E DY14WB XB16E
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-
Ofcom report that the transmitter has minor restrictions in power to the SE and the NW on all six digital MUXES.
DSO is on the 8 June and 22 June 2011. Unsurprisingly it has been confirmed by Ofcom that Black Hill will be returning to a B group at DSO.
At switchover Black Hill`s digital power output will increase from the pre DSO 20kW output up to the post DSO level of 100 kW.
Black Hill is planned to transmit a pre switchover low power HDTV MUX (on CH59 at 10kW)
from Feb 2010. Its radiation pattern is the same as that for analogue C5, which is concentrated in a cross shape, due N, S, E and W, i.e. it is nominally omnidirectional
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 MB21
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.
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.
Black Hill TV transmitter (Picture MB21)
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,