Craigkelly transmitting station

Craigkelly

250px
Tower height	125 metres (410 ft)
Coordinates
Grid reference	NT233872
Built	1971
BBC region	BBC Scotland
ITV region	STV Central
Local TV service	STV Edinburgh

The Craigkelly transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located at Craigkelly (grid reference NT233872) north of the Firth of Forth above the town of Burntisland in Fife, Scotland. It has a 125-metre tall free-standing lattice tower.

The station came into service in 1968 to improve coverage of BBC 2 to the Edinburgh area, which has a number of hills blocking good reception from Black Hill. In September 1971 it also started broadcasting BBC1 and STV on 625 lines in colour and though considered a 'main' station, it actually rebroadcast the signal from Black Hill, like a relay. Nowadays its tower also carries antennas for many broadcasting and private radio organisations. This structure was previously used at Emley Moor.

The transmitter was originally an A group but has become a K group (or wideband) with the advent of Channel 5 and Digital. Craigkelly is one of the few main transmitters which didn't return to its original group at DSO. In fact after the switchover even less of its Digital output is receivable on an A group aerial than before. The three PSB multiplexes are still receivable on an A group as this graph shows.

The tower can be clearly seen from many parts of Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth on its prominent position atop the hill known as The Binn.

Transmitted services

Analogue radio

Frequency	kW	Service
97.3 MHz	9.8	Forth 1
101.1 MHz	10	Heart Scotland
104.1 MHz	5	BBC Radio nan Gaidheal
105.7 MHz	10	Capital Scotland

Digital radio

Frequency	Block	kW	Operator
227.060 MHz	12C	0.78	Switch Scotland
223.936 MHz	12A	6.8	Digital One
225.648 MHz	12B	5	BBC National DAB
229.072 MHz	12D	1	Bauer Edinburgh

Digital television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator	System
474.166 MHz	21+	20	PSB3 (BBC B)	DVB-T2
498.000 MHz	24	20	PSB2 (D3&4)	DVB-T
522.000 MHz	27	20	PSB1 (BBC A)	DVB-T
546.000 MHz	30	5	LTVmux	DVB-T
570.000 MHz	33	9.3	COM7 (ARQ C)	DVB-T2
578.000 MHz	34	3	COM8 (ARQ D)	DVB-T2
618.166 MHz	39+	10	COM6 (ARQ B)	DVB-T
642.000 MHz	42	10	COM4 (SDN)	DVB-T
666.000 MHz	45	10	COM5 (ARQ A)	DVB-T

Before switchover

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
489.833 MHz	23-	4	SDN (Mux A)
513.833 MHz	26-	4	BBC (Mux B)
538.000 MHz	29	4	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)
570.000 MHz	33	4	BBC (Mux 1)
618.000 MHz	39	2	Arqiva (Mux D)
642.000 MHz	42	2	Arqiva (Mux C)

Analogue television

Analogue television transmissions ceased from Craigkelly on 15 June 2011.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
471.25 MHz	21	100	Channel 4
495.25 MHz	24	100	STV
519.25 MHz	27	100	BBC Two Scotland
551.25 MHz	31	100	BBC One Scotland
687.25 MHz	48	4	Channel 5

See also

• List of towers

External links

• Craigkelly's entry at mb21
• Info & pictures of Craigkelly including co-receivable transmitters
• Multimap link
• Craigkelly Transmitter at thebigtower.com