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THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY
MELVAIG
| Photos by TCPD | Page last updated: 2023-06-08 |
| Melvaig was built by the BBC to extend 405-line BBC 1 and BBC FM radio to northwest Scotland and the Isle of Lewis. TV transmissions on VHF channel 4 entered service on 26-Apr-1965 and closed on 4-Jan-1985. Transmission of the Scottish Home Service on 93.5 MHz commenced on 26-Apr-1965. The Light and Third Programmes on 89.1 & 91.3 MHz were added during March 1966, with a fourth service transmitting the MF version of Radio Scotland on 98.7 MHz added in 1980. For the re-engineering of Melvaig for mixed polarisation FM radio transmissions, a new tower was constructed. TCPD's pictures were taken during the change-over period. Mixed polarisation and stereo transmissions from the new tower commenced on 1-Dec-1988. The original mast with Band I TV and HP FM antennas was then removed. Radio's 1 & 4 were added on 11-May-1992. |
| On the old mast we see four tiers of pairs of vertical dipoles for 405 line TV, mounted on a steel cylinder. Below are four tiers of single horizontally polarised Band II dipoles. On the new tower we see the (then) new Siras, six tiers of four panels. AGL at 34.6 m. Also to be seen are the SHF antennas providing the TV programme feeds to Eitshal and Skriaig, as well as the PCM/Nicam radio feeds for Melvaig. The antenna at the top of the tower is receiving from Glen Docherty, the antenna near the base on the left is transmitting TV to Eitshal, the antenna on the right is transmitting TV to Skriaig. |
| Martin Briscoe adds an interesting snippet of Tx-related history: When Melvaig was built in the mid 1960s, Gairloch and Melvaig was very remote with a limited number of houses available. So the BBC built a pair of houses in Gairloch for the two members of staff. Eventually one became the Gairloch team base and the other was sold. Both are now privately owned. |
Eitshal | Glen Docherty (link site) | Skriaig
BBC Research Report on Melvaig
BBC Engineering: The SHF Link System from Rosemarkie to Eitshal (Page 30 onwards)
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