Tapton Hill transmitting station


The Tapton Hill transmitting station, more generally known as the Sheffield transmitting station, is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility which serves Sheffield in South Yorkshire and is located on a hill in the suburb of Crosspool to the west of the city.

Transmission

It transmits digital television, analogue radio and DAB digital radio. It was a relay of Emley Moor for analogue television until the signals were turned off permanently following the Digital Switchover in August 2011. The site is owned by Arqiva and its aerials are at a height of above mean sea level. It also feeds the Chesterfield Transmitter with its digital television signal by means of an underground fibre optic cable.
The transmitter was originally an A group for television broadcasts, but to accommodate analogue Channel 5, as well as digital television, it became a wideband until its switchover in 2011. At that point, technically, it became a K group although wideband aerials would still work. The three main PSB MUXES are all receivable on an A group aerial. Sheffield transmitter's 700MHz clearance was due in February 2020 when none of the main six MUXEs were due to change frequency, though MUXES #7 and #8 were due to be switched off.

History

The site opened as a VHF radio transmitter on Monday 2 September 1963.

Transmitted services

Digital television

  • Aerial group: A/K
  • Polarisation: vertical

Before switchover

† On UHF 39 until 17 March 2010.

Analogue television

Analogue television broadcasts permanently ended from Tapton Hill on 24 August 2011. BBC Two transmissions previously ceased on 10 August.
FrequencyUHFkWService
215Channel 4
245Yorkshire
275BBC2 Yorkshire
315BBC1 Yorkshire
672.5Channel 5

  • Aerial group: A/W
  • Polarisation: vertical