Foel Fynyddau is at the top of one of my favorite local climbs on the mountain bike. As far as I'm aware this wasn't a broadcast transmission site until a BBC DAB transmitter was installed on the largest of the 4 towers in the summer of 2009. BBC DAB service date, 31st July 2009.
In the 1990's when BBC distribution provision was transferred from BT to Energis, Foel Fynyddau was used as an SHF link site relaying BBC 1 & 2 and BBC NICAM radio distribution, from Wenvoe to Carmel and onwards to Blaenplwyf via Mynydd Pencarreg. Wenvoe was where the Energis fibre circuits terminated.
Local community station AfanFM used this site for their RSL in 2003 (87.7MHz 25W V), but much of their target area of Neath and Port Talbot is shadowed, so reception was mixed. Coverage of Swansea, the North Devon coast, large parts of Carmarthenshire, and even Pembrokeshire was very good however. This site is visible for miles!!
The site also used to be home to a 70cms (WG) Amateur Radio repeater, however this closed in the late 1990's. |
