Bressay transmitting station is a broadcasting transmission facility for the Shetland Islands, located on the isle of Bressay, owned and operated by Arqiva (previously National Grid Wireless). The transmitting station is based on the Ward of Bressay, the island's highest peak.
The facility includes two steel lattice towers both over 70m high. It first came into service on 1 April 1964 transmitting BBC Television on Band I VHF channel 3 and the Scottish Home Service, Light Programme and Third on Band II VHF, using the same frequencies as today. (Home Service now Radio Shetland, Light R2 and Third R3).
Services listed by frequency
Analogue radio FrequencykWRadio Listeners Guide 2010Service88.3 MHz43BBC Radio 290.5 MHz43BBC Radio 392.7 MHz43BBC Radio Shetland94.9 MHz43BBC Radio 496.2 MHz15†SIBC97.9 MHz43BBC Radio 1
† Licensed to transmit at 50 kW.
Digital television FrequencyUHFkWOperatorSystem21+2Arqiva BDVB-T22+2BBC BDVB-T2242Arqiva ADVB-T252Digital 3&4DVB-T272SDNDVB-T282BBC ADVB-T
Before switchover FrequencyUHFkWOperator211BBC (Mux 1)24-1Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)27-1SDN (Mux A)31-1BBC (Mux B)661Arqiva (Mux C)671Arqiva (Mux D)
Analogue television Analog tv is now ceased. BBC2 was switch off on UHF 28 on the 5th of MAY 2010, followed by the 3 services on the 19th of May 2010. Channel 5 was never radiated from Bressay (It maybe because of Bressay being Rural) FrequencyUHFkWService2210BBC One Scotland2510STV (North) (Grampian)2810BBC Two Scotland3210Channel 4
Digital switchover The digital switchover happened in two stages.
In Stage One, BBC Two Scotland was switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV need to retune. BBCA was launched on 28 (expect for Voe & Weisdale where BBC1 Moved to the old BBC2 analogue number)
In Stage Two, analogue was permanently switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV needed to re-tune again. The date for this stage was 19 May 2010.
HD and high-powered Freeview services replaced the analogue signals.
See also List of masts List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
References
External links The Transmission Gallery: Bressay Transmitter photographs and information The Transmission Gallery: Television coverage map The Transmission Gallery: Radio coverage map www.mds975.co.uk: Images and info on Bressay transmitter