UK Broadcast Transmission

THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY

Bethesda North Gwynedd NGR: SH627672 Maps: Google  Bing (Ord Surv) Site Height: 240m       Structure Height: 17m Digital TV: BBC A: 28 D3&4: 25 BBC B: 22 BBC Radio:   Ind. National Radio: Ind. Local Radio: Digital Radio: Comments: Bethesda North is a relay of Llanddona. Power quadrupled at B700.

Unlike the twin towers and troughs of the main Bethesda relay which operates as an active deflector, rebroadcasting the same frequencies as Llandonna, the Gogledd Bethesda (Bethesda North) transmitter, on the opposite side of the valley, is a conventional transposing relay, and is stuffed with SHF antennas, dipoles and mobile phone aerials. Originally a BBC landlord site which opened in 1991, it provides a fill in for those that don't have line of sight to the main Bethesda relay or those houses along the east hillside close enough to receive a stronger signal. The original structure was a 17m lattice pole, but as you will see, this was replaced with a taller stayed mast for additional site sharers in June 2003.

At the base of the mast are three microwave links, above this, a large 10 director yagi seemingly pointing out to sea. The surrounding mounting faces the same direction and looks as if it was originally devised to accept a couple of troughs. Could this be pointing towards Divis in Northern Ireland, a long way off but perhaps a backup, as the only alternative should a breakdown occur to Llanddona??? Next, a pair of parallel log periodics point towards Anglesey and the Llanddona transmitter in Red Wharf Bay. Above this a tall vertical dipole, mobile phone aerials, and then we reach the 4 simple UHF broadcast dipoles near the top of the mast and open to the elements. A few more dipoles cap off the top of the mast.

An open, 4 dipole cardioid type of UHF transmit aerial is used at Bethesda North.

The base of the original 17m structure.

The rest of the original structure laying nearby in a field.

Whilst the Bethesda transmitter is hidden by the surrounding hillside and is quite difficult to spot, Bethesda North sits as a ugly mish-mash of aerials atop a hill overlooking the village.

Bethesda | Llanddona

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