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THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY
DROITWICH
| Photos by Alexander Heath and David Foord | Page last updated: 2023-02-15 |
| The Droitwich site is considered to be one of the most important in the country because it transmits the Radio 4 Long Wave service. This high power (500 kW) transmission can be heard throughout most of England, Wales and Ireland and also in parts of Western Europe. There are two other 198 kHz Long Wave transmitters in Scotland at Westerglen and Burghead providing the R4 service there. Long Wave transmissions have a high degree of penetration but reception is very prone to interference. The carrier frequency of the Droitwich Long Wave transmitter is a long established frequency standard (until 1-Feb-1988 it was 200kHz) and is carefully monitored by the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, Middx. |
| Cutting from NewsLink Feb/March 1988. (MCSL journal). History of services transmitted from Droitwich Droitwich was the fifth transmitter site opened as part of the BBC's regional scheme, replacing both the long wave 5XX, and medium wave 5GB transmitters at Daventry. 7-Oct-1934. National Programme entered service on 200 kHz at 150 kW. 17-Feb-1935. Midland regional programme entered service on 1013 kHz at 50 kW. 1-Sep-1939. National programme on long wave closed and the medium wave transmitter re-tuned to 767 kHz, and carried the Home service (Northern group). Early 1940. 2 kW transmitter brought into use for the Forces programme on 877 kHz. Later replaced by 20 kW unit. 20-Oct-1941. New 400 kW transmitter entered service carrying the European service on 1149 kHz. 16-Nov-1941. Long wave transmitter brought back into use carrying European service on 200 kHz. 1943. 300ft Blaw Knox tower erected. Used for European service on 1149 kHz from 19-Dec-1943. 29-Jul-1945 the BBC resumed peacetime operation with the new Light programme on 200 kHz long wave and the Midland Home service on 1013 kHz. 29-Sep-1946 the Third programme entered service on 583 kHz at 25 kW. 15-Mar-1950, Copenhagen plan frequency changes implemented. Midland Home service changed to 1088 kHz. Long wave transmitter power increased to 400 kW. Third programme closed. Service transferred to Daventry. 25-Jun-1950, Midland Home service transmitter power increased to 150 kW. 8-May-1961 Midland Home service transmitter replaced by units recovered from the wartime station at Ottringham. 18-Sep-1962. Long wave transmitter also replaced by units recovered from Ottringham. 30-Sep-1967. The Home service reserve transmitter brought into use for the start of Radio 1 on 1214 kHz at 30 kW. 2-Sep-1972. Plan to de-regionalise Radio 4 in England, releasing frequencies for local radio, come into effect. Radio 4 frequency changed from 1088 kHz to 1052 kHz. 8-Feb-1976. New replacement transmitter entered service for Radio 1 on 1214 kHz. BBC Doherty 50 kW unit. 23-Nov-1978. GE75 frequency changes implemented. Radio 4 transferred onto 200 kHz long wave, Radio 1 transferred onto 1053 kHz, (was 1052 kHz) Radio 3 onto 1215 kHz, (was 1214 kHz). New transmitter brought into use on 693 kHz for Radio 2. 3 x Marconi B6034, 50 kW units. 3-Nov-1981. New replacement transmitter entered service for Radio 1 on 1053 kHz. 3 x Marconi B6034 units. 1983 - 1985 Masts C & D constructed, replacing the Blaw Knox tower. Then used for Radio 1 & Radio 3 on 1053 & 1215 kHz. June 1987. A new replacement 500 kW long wave transmitter was brought into use. 2 x Marconi B6042, 250 kW units. 1-Feb-1988. Long wave frequency changed to 198 kHz. 27-Aug-1990. Radio 5 replaces Radio 2 on 693 kHz. 28-Feb-1992 Radio 3 on 1215 kHz closed. 30-Apr-1993. INR 2 (Virgin Radio), launches on 1215 kHz. 30-Jun-1994 Radio 1 closes on 1053 kHz. 14-Feb-1995. INR 3 (Talk Radio), launches on 1053 kHz. 20-Jan-2023 INR 2 (Absolute Radio) 1215 kHz closed. |
Burghead | Chase Farm | Daventry | Westerglen
National Physical Laboratory
Midland Regional (5GB) Aerial, Droitwich. BBC RD 1934
Reception of Droitwich in Scotland. BBC RD 1935
Service area boudaries of the London, Midland, North & West Regional Transmitters. BBC RD (1935)
Midland Regional (Droitwich) Aerial system and field strength measurements. BBC RD 1935
Blaw-Knox mast at Droitwich. BBC RD 1944
Synchronisation of the Radio 4 transmitter chain on 200 kHz. BBC RD 1979
Ottringham. BBC website article
History of Droitwich
Droitwich Technical Instructions Feb 1937
Droitwich BBC booklet 1934
The history of the engineering of the UK LF broadcast sites and services (Signal issue 74)
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