Skriaig is the main transmitter on the island of Skye, but it can't be received in many parts of Trotternish, the northern part of the island. Trotternish is mountainous, and high ground intervenes between Skriaig and many of the populated coastal areas. Luckily Eitshall, the main transmitter on the Outer Hebrides, can be received satisfactorily at many locations along the northern coast of Skye. The signal path crosses 40 or 50 miles of sea though, so field strength is never brilliant and the slightest obstruction will prevent reception.
The villages of Staffin, Stenscholl, and Brogaig have some mighty big hills to the north-north-west, so signals from Eitshal are more or less non-existent. The Staffin transmitter fills the gap. Signals are received from Eitshal. Transmission is from an aerial that is largely non-directional, except for a null to the south. This is surprising because the target area is encompassed by an angle of less than 35 degrees. In other directions there is open sea or uninhabited high ground. I would have thought the traditional log-periodics would have been more effective
|
