Beacon Hill transmitting station

The Beacon Hill transmitting station is an English telecommunications facility located at Beacon Hill, Marldon, Devon. It includes a guyed mast (Beacon Hill A)^[1] and a free-standing lattice tower (Beacon Hill B),^[2] both of which support various antennas.

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill A (left) and Beacon Hill B
Beacon Hill transmitting station (Devon)
Mast height	103.6 metres (340 ft)
Coordinates	50.446389°N 3.610833°W / 50.446389; -3.610833
Grid reference	SX857619
BBC region	BBC South West
ITV region	ITV West Country

History

Beacon Hill A became operational in 1972–3, bringing 625 line PAL colour television to the coverage area of Torbay and south Devon. Beacon Hill B transmits FM radio and DAB radio to the area. In 2007, a third guyed lattice mast was constructed at the site to provide medium wave transmissions for Gold (Exeter/Torbay). The transmitter for Gold was dismantled after the service was discontinued.^[3]

Digital switchover

In April 2009, the analogue television transmissions at Beacon Hill A were turned off, requiring homes in the area to switch to the Freeview service.^[4] The Beacon Hill transmitter group was the first in the South West of England to stop broadcasting analogue television services. BBC Two ceased at 00:50 on 8 April 2009 and the remaining analogue signals were turned off on 22 April 2009 at 00:20.^[5]

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio

Frequency	kW[6]	Service
88.7 MHz	1	BBC Radio 2
90.9 MHz	1	BBC Radio 3
93.1 MHz	1	BBC Radio 4
96.4 MHz	1.8	Heart West
98.4 MHz	1	BBC Radio 1
104.3 MHz	1	BBC Radio Devon
105.5 MHz	1.6	Greatest Hits Radio Devon

Digital radio

Frequency	Block	kW	Operator
220.352 MHz	11C	2	NOW Exeter and Torbay
222.064 MHz	11D	2	Digital One
225.648 MHz	12B	5	BBC National DAB

Digital television Frequency UHF kW Operator System 626.000 MHz 40 10 Arqiva B DVB-T 634.000 MHz 41 20 Digital 3&4 DVB-T 642.000 MHz 42 10 SDN DVB-T 658.000 MHz 44 20 BBC A DVB-T 666.000 MHz 45 10 Arqiva A DVB-T 682.000 MHz 47 20 BBC B DVB-T2 700MHz clearance The 700MHz clearance programme led to the removal of some of the Freeview HD and SD channels from the Beacon Hill transmitter.[7][8] Prior to 27 March 2019, Beacon Hill used to transmit these services: Frequency UHF kW Operator System 570.000 MHz 33 7.3 COM7 DVB-T2 578.000 MHz 34 1 COM8 DVB-T2

Before switchover Frequency UHF kW Operator 721.833 MHz 52- 2 BBC (Mux 1) 738.166 MHz 54+ 2 BBC (Mux B) 753.833 MHz 56- 1 Arqiva (Mux C) 770.166 MHz 58+ 2 SDN (Mux A) 794.166 MHz 61+ 2 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) 818.166 MHz 64+ 1 Arqiva (Mux D)

Analogue television

Analogue television signals ceased in April 2009. BBC2 was closed on 8 April 2009, with ITV Westcountry temporarily moving into its place, followed by the remaining services on 22 April.

Frequency	UHF	kW[9]	Service
727.25 MHz	53	100	Channel 4
759.25 MHz	57	100	BBC1 South West
783.25 MHz	60	100	Westcountry
807.25 MHz	63	100	BBC2 South West