Skelton Transmitting Station
| Location | Skelton, Cumbria, England |
|---|---|
| Mast height | 365 metres (1,198 ft) |
| Coordinates | 54°43′56″N 2°53′01″W / 54.73222°N 2.88361°W |
| Built | 2001 (current) |
The Skelton Transmitting Station is a radio transmitter site at grid reference NY433376 near Skelton, Cumbria, England, about 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Penrith. It is operated by Babcock International and owned by the Ministry of Defence. Shortwave broadcasts from the station ended on 30 March 2023, with services transferred to Woofferton.[1] At 365 metres (1,198 ft), Skelton's lattice mast is the tallest structure in the United Kingdom.[2]
History
Construction
The site was built by J. L. Eve Construction during the Second World War, for long-distance short-wave transmissions, across Europe.
Transmissions
In 1946 the BBC described the site as "the World's largest and most powerful (shortwave) radio station".[3]
Its primary function was shortwave broadcasting. The station was capable of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) transmission on at least 3955 kHz and 3975 kHz (75m broadcast band), beamed at 121° towards Germany and Central Europe.[4][5] Known AM frequencies included 5995 kHz and 6195 kHz (49-metre band), 9410 kHz (31-metre band), and 12095 kHz (25-metre band).[6]
A Royal Navy very low frequency (VLF) transmitter is also located on the site. It is used to transmit encrypted orders to submarines, including the Trident SLBM fleet.[7] Its aerial is a 365-metre (1,198 ft) guyed steel lattice mast, insulated from the ground and the tallest structure in the United Kingdom. The transmitter entered service in 2001.[2]
See also
- List of masts
- List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain
- List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
- List of VLF-transmitters
References
- ^ "radioeins.de: Rundfunkbetrieb in Skelton endet". 18 February 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ a b Meredith, Nigel P.; Horne, Richard B.; Clilverd, Mark A.; Ross, Johnathan P. J. (July 2019). "An Investigation of VLF Transmitter Wave Power in the Inner Radiation Belt and Slot Region" (PDF). Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 124 (7): 5246–5259. Bibcode:2019JGRA..124.5246M. doi:10.1029/2019JA026715. S2CID 197563530.
- ^ Lowery, G. P.; Garlick, Chris (2007) [1990]. Ellen, Martin (ed.). "Skelton Transmitting Station 1942 to 1998 - Over half a century of short wave broadcasting". BBCeng.info. Pictures provided by Barnes, Russell W. Archived from the original on 9 March 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ "DRM schedule". Baseportal. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "DRM". Mediumwave Info. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "Bandscan". Listener's Guide. Archived from the original on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ Abaimov, Stanislav; Ingram, Paul (June 2017). "Hacking UK Trident: A Growing Threat" (PDF). Basic. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 September 2023.