Croydon transmitting station

broadcasting and telecommunications facility in London

The Croydon transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications transmitter. It is in Upper Norwood, Croydon, London, England.[1] It is owned by Arqiva. It was built in 1955. It originally used a small lattice tower. The tower currently used was made in 1962. The mast is 152 metres (499 ft) high.

Croydon
Mast height152 meters (499 feet)
Coordinates51°24′35″N 0°05′09″W / 51.4097°N 0.0858°W / 51.4097; -0.0858
BBC regionBBC London (backup)
ITV regionITV London (backup)
Local TV serviceLondon Live (backup)
Digital switchover18 April 2012

The transmitter is also a maintenance base for transmitter maintenence teams. It also used to have one of four Regional Operations Centres.

History

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It was made by the Independent Television Authority to broadcast ITV on VHF Band III. After UHF television began, the Crystal Palace transmitting station was used. After VHF television ended in January 1985, the Croydon transmitter was not used until 1997.

In 1997, a new directional UHF antenna was given to the transmitter so it could transmit Channel 5 in London. Directional antennas were chosen so it wouldn't interfere with transmitters on continental Europe. It transmitted Channel 5's analogue signal until April 2012, when digital switchover meant that analogue signals were turned of in London. The digital Channel 5 signal was transmitted from Crystal Palace. Croydon also had backup transmitters for BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4. The backup transmitters were only used during engineering works or an issue at Crystal Palace.

After the digital switchover, no television has been transmitted from Croydon.

Channels by frequency

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Analogue (FM) Radio

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Frequency kW Service
94.9 MHz - BBC Radio London
95.8 MHz 4 Capital London[2]
97.3 MHz 4 LBC[2]
97.8 MHz 4 Croydon FM[2]
100.0 MHz 4 Kiss[2]
102.2 MHz 4 Smooth London[2]
105.4 MHz 4 Magic[2]
106.2 MHz 4 Heart London[2]

† Backup for the Crystal Palace transmitter.

Digital (DAB) Radio

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Frequency Block[2] kW Multiplex[2]
218.640 MHz 11B 2.5 DRG London
223.936 MHz 12A 5[source?] Switch London
227.260 MHz 12C 5 London 1

Analogue television

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22 September 1955 - 3 January 1985

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The first ITV companies which served London were Associated-Rediffusion on weekdays and Associated Television (ATV) on weekends. They started transmitting on 22 September 1955. They were the first ITV franchises to go on air. After the mast was rebuilt in 1962 the transmitter power was increased from 60 kW to 400 kW. In 1968, Thames and London Weekend Television (LWT) replaced the first two companies, with Thames replacing Rediffusion and LWT replacing ATV. On the 3 January 1985, the VHF television service stopped.

Frequency VHF kW Service
194.75 MHz 9 400 Rediffusion/ATV (1955-1968)
Thames/LWT(1968-1985)

30 March 1997 - 18 April 2012

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Channel 5 started on 30 March 1997. It started from Croydon and other retired IBA VHF transmitters in the UK. Later on, backup transmitters for ITV and Channel 4 were added in case Crystal Palace couldn't transmit the channels. Sometime later, BBC1 and BBC2 reserve transmitters were also added.

Frequency UHF kW Service
487.25 MHz 23 - ITV London
543.25 MHz 30 - Channel 4
599.25 MHz 37 1000 Channel 5

† Backups for Crystal Palace.

Digital television

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18 April 2012 - present

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Since 18 April 2012, no television has been transmitted from Croydon. The backups are still usable should any issues happen at Crystal Palace.

Frequency UHF kW Service System
490.000 MHz 23 200 BBC A† DVB-T
514.000 MHz 26 200 Digital 3&4 DVB-T
545.833 MHz 30- 200 BBC B† DVB-T2

† Backups for Crystal Palace.

References

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