UK Broadcast Transmission |
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WROTHAM
A CHRONOLOGY OF THE WROTHAM SITE
| 1949 | Work started on site construction |
| 1951 | Tests conducted to compare AM and FM transmissions |
| 2-May-1955 | Station in full programme service |
| 28-Aug-1962 | Start of the experimental stereo transmissions using the Zenith GE multiplex system |
| 17-Apr-1966 | The afternoon concert on the BBC Music Programme was broadcast in stereo - the BBC's first live stereo broadcast |
| Jul-1966 | Start of stereo service on Third Programme |
| 1969 | R3 Stereo extended to Sutton Coldfield and Holme Moss - both fed re-broadcast link (RBL) from Wrotham |
| 18-Dec-1970 | BBC Radio Medway transmissions start on 97.0MHz |
| 1972 | PCM digital programme link from Broadcasting House installed to provide much better audio quality allowing stereo broadcasting by R2 and R4 |
| 1979 | Plans are laid to re-equip much of the country's national FM radio service to improve reception on car and portable radios. Wrotham will be the first station to be re-engineered and a new mast will be required. |
| Aug-1980 | Work starts on construction of new mast about 100m away from the existing mast. |
| Jul-1981 | Mixed polarisation aerials by ADC installed on new mast |
| 11-Dec-1981 | New mast, aerials and transmitters in service | BBC Press Release |
| Sep-1982 | Work starts on dismantling original mast |
| 18-Dec-1989 | Radio 1 FM stereo launched on 98.8MHz replacing temporary low power FM stereo transmitter on 104.8MHz at Crystal Palace |
| Sep-1992 | The UK's first independent national radio station launches using frequencies between 99.9-101.9MHz. Transmissions from Wrotham are on 100.9MHz. For several weeks test transmissions consist of a recording of birdsong. |
| 1994 | Work carried out at Wrotham to allow synchronous operation with a proposed filler relay at Crystal Palace. After initial tests rebroadcasting R4 from Crystal Palace on 93.2MHz the service is extended to the remaining national networks from March 1995 |
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