Mast height 50 metres (164 ft) ITV region ITV Yorkshire | BBC region BBC Yorkshire Local TV service Sheffield Live TV | |
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The Chesterfield transmitting station is a television and radio transmitter which serves the town of Chesterfield in Derbyshire and surrounding areas. It transmits digital television which it is line fed from Sheffield (Crosspool) (also known as the Tapton Hill transmitting station). The Chesterfield transmitter sits on a hillside to the north of the town and transmits digital television and radio services. Before the digital switchover, it was one of the few transmitters in the UK to transmit digital television but not analogue channel, Channel 5, and a number of its digital multiplexes were transmitted on the same channels as Emley Moor so it was not uncommon for co-channel interference to be a problem; similar problems still exist with Sutton Coldfield and Waltham (see external links). These co-channel issues with Emley meant that its output was attenuated to the North.
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The transmitter is vertically polarised as are most relays/repeaters. The altitude of the transmitting aerials is 231 metres, the actual tower being around 50 metres (164 ft) in height and of a similar design to many of the repeaters around the country. In the early 2000s an extra smaller tower was added at the side of the larger tower possibly for mobile phone use. Digital radio is broadcast from this site and it is just possible to receive digital radio in Chesterfield from other transmitters, specifically Tapton Hill in Sheffield. From 8 November 2007, the transmitter has broadcast the Digital One DAB Multiplex. Since then, the BBC National DAB Multiplex and the Bauer South Yorkshire have been added. The plans for the upcoming NOW Derbyshire DAB multiplex, which was due to start broadcasting by July 2008 (but now delayed), state that the Chesterfield transmitter is to be used to broadcast this service along with another four transmitters across Derbyshire. The Chesterfield transmitter is owned by Arqiva (previously NTL).
Digital radio
† Awarded but yet to launch.
Digital television
In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that Chesterfield would be remaining a wideband transmitter after DSO (Digital Switchover), though the first three of the six multiplexes will still be available within the original A group. The Chesterfield transmitter had its analogue services switched off on 10 & 24 August 2011. The frequencies for the digital multiplexes also changed, and the power for most multiplexes increased to 400W, apart from BBC B which increased to 800W. Arqiva A & B were restricted to 40W until 12 October 2011.
Analogue television
Analogue television signals are no longer transmitted from Chesterfield. BBC Two was switched off on 10 August 2011 and the remaining three on 24 August.