Heathfield transmitting station

The Heathfield transmitting station is a facility for FM and television transmission at Heathfield, East Sussex, UK (grid reference TQ566220). Opened in 1969, its antenna mast is a 135 m (443 ft) tall guyed structure, giving the transmitter a height of 256 m (840 ft) above sea level. A Group B (or wideband or K group) horizontally polarised aerial is required to receive digital TV signals. The original analogue signals were in the Group C/D band, but all the digital MUXES should still be receivable on a C/D group aerial in reasonable signal areas (see graph).

Heathfield

Heathfield Location in East Sussex
Mast height	135 metres (443 ft)
Coordinates	50.976667°N 0.230556°E / 50.976667; 0.230556
Grid reference	TQ566220
Built	1969
BBC region	BBC South East
ITV region	ITV Meridian (East)

The station's coverage area suffers from co-channel interference problems, particularly to the south, not only with Brighton (Whitehawk Hill) but with the continent as well. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.

The transmitter broadcasts television and radio services to East Sussex and parts of West Sussex. This includes towns such as Hastings, Eastbourne, Bexhill, St Leonards-on-Sea, Heathfield, Lewes, Uckfield, Seaford, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Crowborough, Hailsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead.

Along with Bluebell Hill, Dover and Whitehawk Hill, Heathfield transmits regional television services from BBC One South East and ITV Meridian (east).

Heathfield has 13 local relays: Bexhill, Ham Street, Haywards Heath, Hollington Park, East Dean, Eastbourne, Eastbourne (Old Town), Lamberhurst, Lewes, Mountfield, Newhaven, Sedlescombe and Wye. ^[1]

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio

Frequency	kW[2]	Service
102.4 MHz	8.2	Heart South
104.5 MHz	10	BBC Radio Sussex

Digital radio

Frequency	Block	kW	Operator
211.648	10B	1	Sussex Coast
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 20 SDN DVB-T 634.000 MHz 41 20 BBC A DVB-T 650.000 MHz 43 20 Arqiva A DVB-T 658.000 MHz 44 20 Digital 3&4 DVB-T 674.000 MHz 46 20 Arqiva B DVB-T 682.000 MHz 47 20 BBC B DVB-T Aerial Group: B Polarisation: Horizontal Heathfield completed 700 MHz clearance on 19 July 2018, therefore ceasing the use of UHF 49 and UHF 52.

Before switchover Frequency UHF kW Operator 538.000 MHz 29 1.6 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) 578.000 MHz 34 1.6 BBC (Mux 1) 681.833 MHz 47- 1 BBC (Mux B) 689.833 MHz 48- 1 SDN (Mux A) 713.833 MHz 51- 1 Arqiva (Mux D) 738.000 MHz 54 1 Arqiva (Mux C) Aerial group: W

Analogue television

BBC2 closed on 30 May 2012. The remaining analogue services closed on 13 June 2012.

Frequency	UHF	kW[3]	Service
695.25 MHz	49	100	BBC1 South East
719.25 MHz	52	100	BBC2 South East
815.25 MHz	64	100	Meridian
839.25 MHz	67	100	Channel 4

• Aerial group: C/D
• Polarisation: horizontal

References

1. "Heathfield (including relays)". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
2. Radio Listeners Guide 2010
3. Television Viewers Guide 2009

External links

• The Transmission Gallery: Heathfield Transmitter photographs and information
• Info and pictures of Heathfield transmitter including historical power/frequency changes and present co-receivable transmitters
• Heathfield Transmitter at thebigtower.com