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For Craigkelly 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.
Craigkelly TV transmitter from the Royal Yacht Britannia. (Picture Mike Smith)
Craigkelly television transmitter (Pre DSO). (Pictures MB21)
The close up on the right shows (from the top) the digital transmitting arrays for CH39 and CH42 MUXES, the analogue transmitting arrays and the other digital MUXES (under the glass fibre shroud), the FM radio transmitting arrays (note the mixed polarity) and at the bottom, well to be honest I`m not sure what they were !
Craigkelly transmitter at night, picture taken from the southern shore
of the Firth of Forth. (Picture Bill Wright)
Craigkelly transmitter`s channel guides* for before (above) and after [below] the (full nationwide) DSO.
Also check Craigkelly`s nine small repeater transmitters, and Black Hill`s fifty five.
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.
Craigkelly transmitter`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
If you really need a “high gain” aerial for Craigkelly you should try and use a K group.
Note how MUX 6 may be receivable on some A group aerials. Fortunately the 3 main PSB MUXES will be still receivable on an original A group antenna.
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.
Because of wideband antennas poor response at the bottom of the band,
anyone who really requires a “high gain” aerial on a K group transmitter, e.g. Craigkelly, should actually fit a K group !
(Not that many people actually need a high gain aerial anyway........)
Spectrum = Interleaved Spectrum Channels
Some post switchover MUX allocations (particularly CHs 61/62 and 49/50) may well be changed due to the 800MHz clearance.
If you`ve found this site informative and, hopefully, interesting as well,
For Craigkelly`s frequencies see its Channel Allocation Guides for before and after
the (full, nationwide) DSO. These tables also include the same information for some
of the other transmitters receivable in the area, namely Angus, Black Hill, Darvel,
Penicuik, Selkirk and Chatton. This data can be of great use in determining possible
causes of co-
together in an attempt to minimise co-
The Channel Allocation Guides can also be very useful in the diagnosis of co-
interference problems and 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-
There are two interleaved spectrum channels allocated to Craigkelly, CH30 and CH52, 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) K group [or wideband] aerials
The transmitter over looks the town of Burntisland which has rather an interesting history form the railways point of view. From 1847/1848 the town was the Southern terminus of
the Edinburgh & Northern Railway which extended up to Perth and Tay Port. But this was despite being separated from its namesake by 6 miles of water in the shape of the Firth of Forth ! The trains could travel straight onto the pier for transhipment onto ferries to
complete the journey to the Scottish Capital. This anomaly came to an end with the
opening of the fabulous Forth bridge in 1890, although by then the Edinburgh & Northern
had been absorbed by the North British Railway.
Incidentally the aforementioned Forth Bridge was jointly owned by no fewer than four
railway companies, namely the North British, the North Eastern, the Great Northern
and the Midland !
External links
Craigkelly transmitter page on MB21
Craigkelly transmitter page on Wikipedia
Digital UK details of Central Scotland transmitters
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.
Craigkelly transmitter was built in 1971, or rather more accurately it was rebuilt on its present site. The tower was originally in use at Emley Moor in 1956 by the IBA, as the
first of the three transmitters to have been in existence there.
The tower is situated about 8 miles North of Edinburgh, overlooking the Firth of Forth and
the most famous bridge in the world. Its population coverage is about 1 million and it uses nine small repeater transmitters to improve its coverage in fringe areas.
The site altitude is 182m and the structure height is 125m with the transmitting arrays possibly another 10m or so above that, see How High Is High ?
Being a "main transmitter" it is horizontally polarised. Craigkelly was originally an A group but the advent of digital means it`s now a K group (or wideband) because MUXES 4 to 6
are now out of group. That said, if you live in a strong signal area you may well pick them up OK (especially MUX 6), particularly if you have an "enhanced A group antenna".
The original A group only went up to CH 35 but was modified in the mid 90s.
However, the 3 main PSB MUXES should still be receivable on an original A group aerial.
The transmission power for MUXES 1 to 3 is 20kW, and for MUXES 4 to 6 it`s 10kW
(before the June 2011 switchover it was only 4kW and 2kW respectively).
Craigkelly Transmitter OS Grid Ref NT 233 872
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 occurred at Craigkelly between the 1 and the 15 June 2011.
