Manningtree was originally built in the days of 405 line VHF TV to improve reception of BBC TV in the hinterland between Crystal Palace (ch 1) and Tacolneston (ch 3). It operated on ch 4 and opened 22-May-1962. The programme feed was originally by reception of Tacolneston (ch 3) at Wickhambrook and then via a GPO SHF link. This was later changed to a two hop, BBC self provided, 7 GHz SHF link from Tacolneston via Aldeburgh, once Aldeburgh had been constructed (1967).
After the closure of 405 line TV on 4-Jan-1983, the site was temporarily redundant (at least as far as broadcasting was concerned) but from 5-Nov-1986 started transmitting local radio with the launch of BBC Essex on 729 kHz. BBC Essex had originally been planned on 558 kHz from a site at Little Waltham, but the presence of various well known North Sea Pirate Radios at various times on that frequency led the BBC to think again, and the current arrangement was the outcome.
The BBC decided to press Manningtree into service for VHF/FM national radio from 20-Feb-1989. (Radio 1 added 11-Jan-1994). Radio Suffolk launched on 12-Apr-1990, so Manningtree has the odd distinction of transmitting two different local radio services on different wave-bands. |
