Trouble in t'Republic? (Bilsdale transmitter fire)

[ozumo]

Additional (replacement?) 80m temporary tower to go live in the new year after main construction work was completed:

https://www.recognitionpr.co.uk/clients/arqiva-/helicopter-lifts-final-sections-of-a-temporary-transmitter-at-bilsdale-/

Whether they'll run both temporary transmitters in tandem or switch off the quarry mast remains to be seen. I suspect the latter after they said the first mast wasn't expected to survive the winter.

 

[ozumo]

New relay in Masham is now live, one is also planned to begin transmissions in Leyburn in the coming few days.

https://www.recognitionpr.co.uk/clients/arqiva-/new-tv-relay-site-switched-on-as-latest-step-in-project-restore/

 

[ozumo]

Just noticed channels on the 28.2°E 11306 H 27500 Freeview D3&4 transponder include 7-day EPG data, quite a novelty at this position!

 

[ozumo]

The planning application for the replacement 306m mast:

 http://planning.northyorkmoors.org.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=817376&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/NorthYorkMoors/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=&DAURI=PLANNING

The mast is due to be a 306m guyed lattice design (original mast was 312m guyed tube). The interesting stuff is in the Application Documents section.

 

[scopus]

The planning application for the replacement 306m mast:

 http://planning.northyorkmoors.org.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=817376&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/NorthYorkMoors/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=&DAURI=PLANNING

The mast is due to be a 306m guyed lattice design (original mast was 312m guyed tube). The interesting stuff is in the Application Documents section.

Was the temporary one at Emley Moor ever sold at the Peaker Pattison auction? Maybe that could be the replacement??

 

[ozumo]

Was the temporary one at Emley Moor ever sold at the Peaker Pattison auction? Maybe that could be the replacement??

The temporary Emley mast is still on-site so perhaps it didn't sell. It's only a short helicopter journey to Bilsdale too.

 

[scopus]

The temporary Emley mast is still on-site so perhaps it didn't sell. It's only a short helicopter journey to Bilsdale too.

I believe it is as the work was delayed. I think it was due to be taken down in the Autumn, now next spring...

 

[ozumo]

Have scanned through the documents, work is due to start on 01/03/22 and finish by 01/05/23, though some of the documents also mention a February/March start with no specific date.

Some additional anchor points will be installed, existing ones will also be used.

Also confirmed in the documents is confirmation the 80m Bilsdale Quarry mast will be switched off and dismantled once the 80m temporary tower on original site goes live.

 

[ozumo]

Since Arqiva maintenance at Arncliffe Wood last week received signal quality has noticeably dropped here. Only have percentages to go by but BBC A ch29 & D3&4 ch31 vary between 40%-60% now, previously they were usually 100% with occasional drops to around 80%.

For reference before the new temporary transmitter goes live, from Bilsdale Quarry:

D3&5 ch24 100%
BBC A ch27 100%
ARQ B ch40 100%
SDN ch43 22%
ARQ A ch46 100%

SDN and ARQ A are extremely variable, some days SDN goes up to around 80%, ARQ A sometimes falls below lock. One is always significantly better than the other, both are never strong at the same time

 

[ozumo]

Looks like the Arncliffe Wood temporary transmitter has had some decent size dishes installed, presumably this was part of the recent maintenance work.

 

[Lazarus]

I do wish you wouldn't keep reminding me of what I'm missing!

 

[ozumo]

Photos of the new temporary Bilsdale tower (on the same site as the original mast) now on mb21:

mb21 - The Transmission Gallery

tx.mb21.co.uk

Also photos of the other recently installed relay transmitters are on mb21 in the new section:

mb21 - The Transmission Gallery

tx.mb21.co.uk

A few of them look to be repurposed mobile cell towers.

 

[ozumo]

I do wish you wouldn't keep reminding me of what I'm missing!

Late 2023 is the current target for normal service to be resumed

 

[Adam792]

Are the BBC National radio stations (89.0/91.2/93.4/98.6) still totally off? With BBC Tees on 95.0, TFM 96.6, etc all still from Eston Nab instead?

I wonder if/when that situation with the radio stations will become permanent. After all there doesn't seem to have been the same level of outcry about missing radio reception, if there's been any at all!

 

[ozumo]

Are the BBC National radio stations (89.0/91.2/93.4/98.6) still totally off? With BBC Tees on 95.0, TFM 96.6, etc all still from Eston Nab instead?

I'm still not receiving any BBC National stations on those frequencies however they have always been available on alternative frequencies with good signal here, which is probably why there hasn't been much said about them. It may be more difficult in the North Yorkshire Moors but I've never lost Radio 2 on any of the main roads north & south (A1/A19/A167/A168).

BBC Tees is also now available on 104.0 from Patches Lane in Darlington. The other commercial stations I believe are still Eston Nab only but the FM from there is much easier to receive than the DVB-T!

There is due to be FM broadcasts from the new temporary tower at Bilsdale so those BBC National frequencies may return in the next few weeks.

 

[Lazarus]

No issues for me on FM or DAB, despite no TV reception.

 

[ozumo]

"Interim" mast tower to be switched on next month, up to 2500 homes on Durham coast will lose signal - Arqiva to repoint aerials towards Pontop Pike on affected homes free of charge.

The replacement 303m (306m in planning documents) mast is hoped to be in place by autumn this year and be switched on by spring 2023. Mentions working with steel suppliers to speed up construction time, so perhaps the temporary Emley Moor mast won't be recycled for use at Bilsdale after all.

Project Restore Plan for 2022 | Bilsdale Mast: Project Restore

www.bilsdalemast.co.uk

 

[ozumo]

From 31/1/22 to 5/2/22 the Arqiva tour bus will be visiting areas where signals are expected to disappear once the new interim tower takes over from the mast at Bilsdale Quarry.

Arqiva goes on the road in East Durham to support ‘not spot’ households | Bilsdale Mast: Project Restore

www.bilsdalemast.co.uk

 

[Channel Hopper]

From 31/1/22 to 5/2/22 the Arqiva tour bus will be visiting areas where signals are expected to disappear once the new interim tower takes over from the mast at Bilsdale Quarry.

Arqiva goes on the road in East Durham to support ‘not spot’ households | Bilsdale Mast: Project Restore

www.bilsdalemast.co.uk

View attachment 140609
View attachment 140610

Looks like the easiest licence evasion sting going.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/SadNewEnglishpointer-mobile.mp4

Don't fall for it !

 

[ozumo]

Looks like the easiest licence evasion sting going.

Don't fall for it !

A cunning plan...

Connecting FM radio to TV outlet

Hello, Firstly would connecting the external aerial antenna provide signal to an FM radio? If so where can I found a cable or just the female plug for the radio side? Thanks!

www.satellites.co.uk