UK Broadcast Transmission

THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY

Kempston (Bedford MF) Bedfordshire NGR: TL035464 Maps: Google  Bing (Ord Surv)   Site Height: 29m       Structure Height: 73m Digital TV: National Radio: Local Radio: Digital Radio: Comments: Carried BBC local radio on 1161 kHz until April 2020, and ILR on 792 kHz until November 2020. Mast dismantled June 2023.

Show historic services

The Kempston (Bedford MF) site is located behind the Interchange Retail Park to the southwest of the county town. The station transmits AM radio from a directional array consisting of the active mast radiator and a sloping ladder wire reflector which is supported by the mast and descends diagonally to a reflector tuning unit on the ground. It can just be seen to the right of the mast in our first photo, but is seen more clearly in the rest of the pictures. Originally built by the IBA for the Bedford ILR service, Chiltern Radio launched on 1st March 1982 on 792 kHz. A transmitter was added for BBC Radio Bedfordshire which launched on the 24th June 1985 on 1161 kHz.

The base of the ladder reflector

The brick-built transmitter cabin houses the broadcast transmitters. The others hold cellular phone equipment serving aerials on a tower whose base can be seen in this photo.

During 2006 some Copper was stolen from this site. Here are a few photos of the temporary repair (with materials perhaps purchased from a nearby branch of Halfords?) Lets's get this programme (jump) started...

BBC Three Counties Radio coverage area map

Lewsey Farm (Luton MF) | Sandy Heath

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