Heathfield transmitting station

50°58′36″N 0°13′50″E / 50.976667°N 0.230556°E / 50.976667; 0.230556Grid referenceTQ566220Built1969BBC regionBBC South EastITV regionITV Meridian (East)

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).

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 Eastbourne, Heathfield, Lewes, Sussex, Newhaven, Crowborough, Hailsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead.


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

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio

Frequency kW[1] 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[2] 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. ^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
  2. ^ 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
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