In the early 2000’s, I can recall talking to engineering colleagues at the then Crown Castle who took over operating the BBC transmitters from BBC Transmission and few of those engineers thought the MF services will be switched off by 2010 and this would coincide with the switching off of analogue TV.
One colleague worked in the original Moorside Edge building in the late 1970’s and at the time was still was operating the Marconi transmitters from 1931. He mentioned that he might get to see Droitwich, and Moorside Edge dismantled before his retirement. The same engineer also had chance to work on the installation of then new Marconi B6034 Doherty transmitters at Moorside Edge and the various associated combiners/feeder facility units in the early 1980’s. He retired around 2010 and MF is still used for broadcasting and sites like Moorside Edge might be in service for another 10 years (2028) unless government decide otherwise.
I recall in the early 2000’s, Crown Castle were replacing the wire antennas and stay greasing of the MF structures and as MF is still in use some 16 year to 18 years later, it was decided these masts needed attention. I suppose the structural failures at Burghead and Start Point might be part of decision.
For the period of stay greasing the transmitters are off for the full site and several Tx engineers will be on site cleaning air filters, replacing and servicing various electronic parts. Other broadcast essential work also takes place which normally would require the equipment to be powered down.
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