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Bluebell Hill Transmitter                           OS Grid Ref TQ 757 613

Note, as work takes place on various digital transmitters (to prepare for the DSO) you may

experience problems, e.g. with certain MUXES disappearing. First try rescanning your

TV / set top box (do it manually if possible), but if this fails to work check on transmitter work

or call the reception advice phone numbers.   Also see basic digital fault finding.

Bluebell Hill is 3 miles North of Maidstone and was opened in 1974. Its power is 30kW

on analogue and 2 to 3kW on Digital / Freeview. The transmitter has (only) three

smaller repeaters to improve coverage in poor reception areas within its coverage area.

Ofcom quote Bluebell Hill`s maximum population coverage as being about 1.5 million,

but that includes households which may well be on another transmitter with overlapping

coverage.

Originally it was an EH group. Only the 4 analogue stations plus MUXES 1, 4, 5 & 6

are available within the E band, see Channel Allocation Guide. A wideband may

possibly be required for MUXES 2 & 3 (on channels 24 & 27), See Bluebell Hill`s Graph

I`d have thought that most E groups would work fine, unless you`re in a pretty poor spot.

No analogue Channel 5 is transmitted.

The transmitter does not have an omnidirectional radiation pattern, see table.

Bluebell Hill is due to revert to an E group at DSO, in July 2012.

There is one interleaved spectrum channel allocated to Bluebell Hill, CH56, which is within the previously announced post DSO group.

For Bluebell Hill`s frequencies see its Channel Allocations Guides for before and after the DSO. These also include the same data for some of the other major transmitters also receivable within Bluebell Hill`s coverage area, namely Crystal Palace, Sandy, Sudbury, Dover, Hastings, Heathfield, Tunbridge Wells, Whitehawk Hill (Brighton), Midhurst and Reigate. The Channel Allocation Guides can also be invaluable if you are trying to find a spare channel for a modulated output (e.g. for a Sky box or CCTV system) to be added

to a TV setup/distribution system without suffering from co-channel.

Those situated to the West of Bluebell Hill may find that during certain weather condition they can suffer from co-channel interference as their aerials are pointing towards the continent. If you are on Bluebell Hill and suffer this type of co-channel you may find the

use of an attenuator helps alleviate the problem.

Bluebell Hill transmitter(s).

For Bluebell Hill we recommend the DM log for strong signal areas, the Log 40 for

medium signal areas, the DY14WB for poor signal areas, and the XB22WB for those

with the most marginal signals. The dimensions and test performance of the aerials can

be found on the relevant tables. If requiring a “high gain aerial” in the loft we recommend the DY14WB over the XB22 because of the former aerial`s smaller size.

Bluebell Hill TV Transmitter`s Pre DSO Frequencies/Channel Allocations (above)

Also check Bluebell Hill`s three smaller repeaters.

The frequencies given are for the analogue channels, for (most) digital MUXES add 3MHz.

Bluebell Hill`s Post DSO Channel Allocations (below), note the gaps in the table

below for channels 31 to 35, 37, 39 to 40 and 63 to 68, they`re reserved for “other uses”....

Bluebell Hill`s channels in relation to the UHF TV band and the gain curves of the aerials

we recommend for it.   DM Log    Log40     DY14WB     XB22WB

Note that MUXES 2 and 3 are out of the original E group of the transmitter. But the graph shows quite clearly that the “cut off” for E group aerials is not precipitous and that most people in decent signal areas may well get all the Digital OK off their “old” E group aerial.

At DSO in Jul 2012 Bluebell Hill will return to an E group and the power is going to be increased by a large margin. For Bluebell Hill`s frequencies see its Channel Allocation Guides for before and after the DSO.

Also see other relevant Wideband curves.

Bluebell Hill TV Transmitters

The original analogue tower

is on the left and the one

with the digital transmitting antennas is on the right.

Question. Why is Bluebell Hill so called ? I couldn`t possibly guess, how about you ?

Just like Sandy Heath ?

Now then young man, not so fast.

George Wise contacted us to say that Bluebell Hill isn`t Bluebell Hill at all,

it`s actually Blue Bell Hill. Furthermore the moniker has nothing to do with flowers,

it refers to a Blue Bell which used to summon the horses to draw the vehicles up

the hill between Maidstone and Chatham.

Consultation of a map of the area proves George to be right.

However the transmitter is called Bluebell Hill by the BBC so I must (somewhat regretfully....) stick with the “incorrect” name.

Incidentally the BBC has got a few of the other transmitter names wrong as well, though, as usual, I can`t actually remember which ones they are at the moment !

Answers on a postcard to.....

The nearest railway to Bluebell Hill is, very unusually, one which only opened in 2003, namely the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. In fact the line actually goes under Bluebell Hill in a tunnel which is only about half a mile to the SW of the transmitter.

Spectrum = Interleaved Spectrum Channels

Some post switchover MUX allocations will be changed due to the 800MHz clearance.

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