mb21 - The Transmission Gallery

	UK Broadcast Transmission

THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY

Photos by Martin Briscoe

Page last updated: 2024-11-27

Lochgilphead

Argyll & Bute

NGR: NR849860	Maps: Google Bing (Ord Surv)		Site Height: 50m		Structure Height: 38.1m
Digital TV:
Analogue TV:
National Radio:	Radio 2: 88.3	Radio 3: 90.5	Radio Scotland: 92.7	Radio Nan Gaidheal: 97.9
Local Radio:
Digital Radio:
Comments:

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Lochgilphead

Lochgilphead was a Band I and Band II relay station located in Ardrishaig and mainly serving the area around Lochgilphead itself. It entered service on 8-May-1967.

405-line BBC 1 television was transmitted on VHF channel 1 with a power of 20 watts, vertical polarisation. For BBC radio the Light Programme was transmitted on 88.3 MHz, the Third Programme on 90.5 MHz with the Home Service on 92.7 MHz at 10 watts each, horizontal polarisation. There was an EP7/506 transmitter on Band I TV, and an EP7/5 transmitter on Band II for Home, Light and Third Programmes. All relayed Kirk O'Shotts. Later band II relayed Black Hill after those services moved there in 1988.

From May 1980 a fourth radio service was added on 97.9 MHz, transmitting the Radio Scotland national service in mono. This transmitter was line fed and also provided the RBL source for the 98.9 MHz transmitter at South Knapdale.

405-line BBC 1 closed on 4-Apr-1983 and the four FM services were closed at the end of the 1990's as the Lochgilphead service area had been well served by the South Knapdale transmitter, since that entered service in September 1980.

Lochgilphead then closed down, but by that time there were site sharers on the tower so it continued without any broadcast services. Most of the Band I and Band II equipment went to the Washford museum.

It was a very typical VHF relay of the period with two bays: left hand has two EP7/5 translators with filters mounted immediately below. At the bottom of the bay is the splitting filter on the receive antenna and the combiner above them.

The right hand bay is the Band I and has two EP7/506 with sound and vision Combiner above. The lower translator is a spare but there was no changeover.

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service. Band II bay on the left. Band I bay on the right.

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Band II bay

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Rear of Band II bay

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Detail of Band II equipment

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Band I bay

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Rear of Band I bay

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Detail of Band I equipment - EP7/506

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Upper aerials are Band I receive 2 x 3 element VP on channel 3.
Lower aerials are Band II receive 2 x 4 element HP.

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Upper aerials are Band II transmit 2 x 3 element.

Lochgilphead - date unknown but Band I still in service.
Lower aerials are Band I transmit 2 x dipoles on channel 1.

Date unknown but after Band I closure.

To permit the addition of the Radio Scotland national service on 97.9 MHz, the band II transmit yagis were replaced with log periodics with these new transmit aerials located below the band I transmit aerials at 26.2m. Transmissions remained horizontally polarised, although from this perspective the aerials appear to be slanted.

Date unknown but after Band I closure.