419 Langsett Rd
Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
© 2010 Justin Smith A.T.V
All Rights reserved

Sheffield (MW) Radio Transmitter OS Grid Ref SK 348 849
Sheffield (MW) may well qualify as one of the oldest transmitter "masts" in the country.
One end utilises the old chimney from the boiler house for Heeley swimming pool which
was built from 1907 and opened in 1909. Incidentally it cost £14,000. And that included
Ladies and Gents slipper baths, and a laundry ! If one could still get a 25 yard swimming
pool for that now I`d buy one.... Thus this picture combines two of my four great interests
in life, swimming and television transmission. The other two are railways and my wife,
not necessarily in that order !
Radio Sheffield puts out 1 kW of MW at 1035kHz and whilst talking to a chap at the pool he
complained that it interferes with some of the phones. He moaned that "all we get out of
them is bloody Praise Or Grumble" (one of the programmes) ! Interestingly the TX is not at
any great height. At the MW frequency which it transmits on, "line of sight" is not so vital,
in fact Andy (a "Radio Ham") assures me that a good signal earth is more important.
Thus explaining why many MW TX`s are located near rivers or wetlands.
Sheffield MW transmitter, the wire which actually transmits the signal is just about
discernible stretching to the left from the boiler house chimney, see close up below.
Pictures
Justin Smith (ATV).
Far end anchor point of Sheffield MW`s
transmission wire.