| 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 |
