Storeton transmitting station

Storeton

250px Storeton transmitting tower, May 2009
Tower height	45 metres (148 ft)
Coordinates
Grid reference	SJ314841
Built	1980
Relay of	Winter Hill (1980-present) Moel-y-Parc (2009-present)
BBC region	BBC North West (1980-present) BBC Wales (2009-present)
ITV region	ITV Granada (1980-present) ITV Wales (2009-present)

Storeton transmitting station (also commonly known as Storeton transmitter) is a television relay and radio transmitter and mast on Storeton Ridge, Higher Bebington, Wirral, UK (national grid reference: SJ314841). It is a relay of Winter Hill and the only Winter Hill relay to carry all five analogue TV channels prior to digital switchover. The 45 metre-high (150 ft-high) mast is situated at an elevation of 65.5 metres (215 ft). Thus, the top of the mast has an overall height of 110.5 metres (363 ft) above sea level. Construction of the mast was completed in 1980. As of 2009, the transmitter serves approximately 45,000 homes.

History

The Storeton relay was not an original VHF 405-line transmitter. For 625-line analogue services on UHF, the relay covers Winter Hill blind spots in populated areas of Wirral and across the Mersey in south Liverpool. Prior to switchover, all five analogue channels and all six digital multiplexes are broadcast from the relay. Being a relay of Winter Hill, the transmitter is in the BBC North West and ITV Granada TV regions. The radio station Heart North West and Wales also broadcasts from the site.

Although situated in England, the site is within eight miles of the North Wales coast. In conjunction with North Wales' digital switchover in November 2009, the transmitter also began to serve as a relay of Moel-y-Parc, carrying Welsh services to nearby parts of North East Wales, across the River Dee. In official OFCOM documentation the transmitter is listed as Storeton Wales for this purpose. Parts of those areas were previously poorly served with Welsh television services from Moel-y-Parc due to local geography.

The final switchover date for the Winter Hill relay was 2 December 2009. The final date for the Moel-y-Parc relay was 25 November 2009, although the signal was altered a third time on 2 December with limited publicity.

Services available

File:Benkid77 Storeton Transmitter 271201.JPG

The tower as seen from a distance, December 2001

Analogue radio

Frequency	kW	Service
97.1 MHz	1 KW	Capital North West & North Wales

Digital television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator	BBC region	ITV region	System
482.000 MHz	22	0.56	BBC B	North West	Granada	DVB-T2
490.000 MHz	23	0.56	SDN	—	—	DVB-T
506.000 MHz	25	0.56	Digital 3&4	—	Granada	DVB-T
514.000 MHz	26	0.56	Arqiva A	—	—	DVB-T
530.000 MHz	28	0.56	BBC A	North West	—	DVB-T
538.000 MHz	29	0.56	Arqiva B	—	—	DVB-T
730.000 MHz	53	2	Digital 3&4 †	—	Wales	DVB-T
762.000 MHz	57	2	BBC A †	Wales	—	DVB-T
786.000 MHz	60	2	BBC B †	Wales	Wales	DVB-T2

† Horizontally polarised.

Before switchover

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
490.166 MHz	23+	0.056	SDN (Mux A)
514.166 MHz	26+	0.056	BBC (Mux B)
538.166 MHz	29+	0.056	Arqiva (Mux C)
546.166 MHz	30+	0.056	BBC (Mux 1)
570.166 MHz	33+	0.056	Arqiva (Mux D)
578.166 MHz	34+	0.056	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)

Analogue television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
479.25 MHz	22	2.8	BBC One
503.25 MHz	25	2.8	ITV1
527.25 MHz	28	2.8	BBC Two
559.25 MHz	32	2.8	Channel 4
615.25 MHz	39	2.8	Channel 5

See also

• Flint television relay station
• Moel-y-Parc transmitting station
• Winter Hill transmitting station
• West Kirby transmitting station

External links

• Storeton's entry at the mb21 transmitter gallery
• Further information on the Storeton site, featuring some early photographs
• Map showing location of Storeton transmitter site and surrounding areas