Trouble in t'Republic? (Bilsdale transmitter fire)

ozumo said:
Ah thanks, I didn't realise the Satback region had ever changed, it makes sense that it would have.

I know Arncliffe Wood has a log antenna pointed at Pontop Pike, but also in January had larger dishes installed :confused

I'll fire up the DVD recorder and see what's coming from Arncliffe.

Edit: correct region and local radios are transmitted from Arncliffe so must be using a terrestrial feed.

Looking at mb21, recent relays at Masham, Leyburn, Ripon, Kirkbymoorside, and Helmsley, all are fed by satellite only.
Click to expand...

My memory might be playing tricks but I'm fairly sure I took a look at the Intelsat 27.5°W version of BBC One SD in the later part of last year (after the Bilsdale incident) and it was carrying the NE&C version.

When I've looked at it before that it's carried a "network" version of BBC One that isn't otherwise broadcast anywhere - it has the BBC News Channel stuff at 1:30pm/6:30pm rather than any regional news. In the morning I'd guess it carried London like BBC One HD does but I never checked that to be sure.

I'm guessing they have it set-up so that it can be quickly replaced with whatever version of BBC One SD they want at short notice, depending on which transmitters are at fault.

I did have a look for the local radios to see if they were hidden in the Intelsat transponder stream somewhere, but there was no sign of them, so that probably does remain the best way of telling if something is being fed via satellite or not!
 
I am actually out walking adjacent to Bilsdale Moor at this very moment. Not sure the Phone Cam has cut the mustard, though ....IMG_20220517_114329.webp
 
Ah, now I'm home I can see the mustard was indeed not cut. I did take a couple more but they are even worse!
 
"Arqiva understands that the root cause of the fire has been attributed to water ingress to an electrical component connected to third-party equipment"

Code: 
https://www.bilsdalemast.co.uk/latest-news/posts/arqiva-update-on-investigations-into-cause-of-fire-at-bilsdale-mast/

The story mentions doing "specific tests of radio frequency feeders for TV and radio" on other masts.
 
Still silent here ........
 
The D3&4 multiplex channels have appeared on 28.2°E 11607 H 15480 that previously carried an Arqiva test card. Video is encrypted but audio isn't.

edit: Going by signal strength it's on a Europe beam.
 
Last edited:
Construction of the new Bilsdale mast begins, photos on mb21

Code: 
http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=744&pageid=4258
 
02/12/2022
D3&4 multiplex channels have re-appeared on
11607 H 15480 Astra 2 (28.2e)
Audio is FTA, Video seems encrypted
 
mikeisyou said:
02/12/2022
D3&4 multiplex channels have re-appeared on
11607 H 15480 Astra 2 (28.2e)
Audio is FTA, Video seems encrypted
Click to expand...
Probably encrypted in Director - thats what they were encrypted in before.
 
AFAIK they never left as some of the temporary relays are fed by satellite only.
 
I'd have thought they'd be happy more people were watching on iPlayer :-doh
 
ozumo said:
New mast will begin transmitting on Monday 22nd May.

www.bilsdalemast.co.uk

Bilsdale mast to begin transmitting TV signals on Monday 22 May 2023 | Bilsdale Mast: Project Restore

www.bilsdalemast.co.uk www.bilsdalemast.co.uk
Click to expand...

"A small number of households may temporarily lose HD services for a few weeks until additional antenna are installed. Viewers should note that these HD channels will be available to watch in Standard Definition."

They can't even seemingly turn it on without downtime of weeks for some... No wonder the BBC is sueing them.
 
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