Westerglen transmitting station

Westerglen
The four masts at the Westerglen transmitting station
The four masts at the Westerglen transmitting station
Location2 miles (3 km) south west of Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Coordinates55°58′30″N 3°49′6″W / 55.97500°N 3.81833°W / 55.97500; -3.81833
Grid referenceNS868773

The Westerglen transmitting station is a facility for longwave and mediumwave broadcasting established in 1932 at Westerglen Farm, 2 miles (3 km) southwest of Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland (grid reference NS868773).

Three medium-wave radio programmes are broadcast from the site on frequencies of 810, 909 and 1089, and a long wave service on 198 kHz. The transmitter also carried Absolute Radio on 1215 kHz until Bauer ended all station transmissions on MW in January 2023.[1]

There are three guyed steel lattices mast radiators on the site, which are insulated against the ground. These carry combinations of the above services. There is a shorter fourth mast that carries non-broadcast services.

One of the masts carries the long wave transmission in a synchronised group with the transmitters at Droitwich and Burghead on the same frequency (until 1989 200 kHz, now 198 kHz). This mast is of guyed steel lattice construction with triangular cross-section, and it carries a 'capacity hat', which increases the antenna's efficiency, at the top.

The site is owned and operated by Arqiva.

The medium-wave broadcast is strong enough to be heard as far south as Cornwall at certain times of the day, and in south-western Germany at night with good conditions.

Services available

Frequency kW[2] Service
198 kHz 50 BBC Radio 4
909 kHz 50 BBC Radio 5 Live
810 kHz 100 BBC Radio Scotland
1089 kHz 50 Talksport

See also

References

  1. ^ "Absolute Radio ends AM broadcasts". Digital Radio Choice. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010