Burghead Transmitting Station facts for kids
Burghead masts from the east
|
|
 Location in Moray
|
|
| Location | Burghead, Moray |
|---|---|
| Mast height | 153.6 metres (504 ft) (North) 154.2 metres (506 ft) (South) |
| Coordinates | 57°41′56″N 3°28′11″W / 57.698889°N 3.469722°W |
| Grid reference | NJ125685 |
| Built | 1936 |
The Burghead transmitting station is a special place near Burghead in Scotland. It's like a giant radio station that sends out radio signals. These signals let you listen to your favorite radio shows!
This station started working a long time ago, on October 12, 1936. A company called Arqiva owns and runs it. Burghead sends out signals for different radio channels, including BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Radio Scotland.
Contents
What Does a Transmitting Station Do?
A transmitting station is a place with powerful equipment. It takes sounds, like music or news, and turns them into radio waves. These waves then travel through the air. Your radio at home catches these waves and turns them back into sound.
The Burghead station uses two main types of radio waves: long wave and medium wave. These waves travel differently and are used for various radio channels.
The Tall Masts of Burghead
The Burghead station has three very tall structures called masts. These masts are like giant antennas. They are made of strong metal in a triangular shape.
Two of the masts are super tall. The northern mast is about 153.6 meters (504 feet) high. The southern mast is even taller, at about 154.2 meters (506 feet). To give you an idea, that's taller than many skyscrapers!
One of these big masts sends out medium wave radio signals. The other big mast sends out long wave signals. There's also a third, smaller mast. This smaller mast is a backup antenna, just in case one of the main ones needs a break.
Radio Channels You Can Hear
The Burghead station broadcasts several popular radio channels. These channels use different frequencies to send their signals. Think of a frequency like a specific address for a radio channel.
Radio Channels on Long Wave
Long wave signals can travel very far. This is why they are great for channels like BBC Radio 4.
| Frequency (Radio Address) | Power (How Strong) | Radio Channel |
|---|---|---|
| 198 kHz | 50 kW | BBC Radio 4 |
Radio Channels on Medium Wave
Medium wave signals are also used for broadcasting. Burghead sends out two well-known channels using medium wave.
| Frequency (Radio Address) | Power (How Strong) | Radio Channel |
|---|---|---|
| 693 kHz | 50 kW | BBC Radio 5 Live |
| 810 kHz | 100 kW | BBC Radio Scotland |
