Bilsdale transmitter fire

[Senex]

Many if not most people in York can also receive Freeview from Emley Moor or Belmont. But that would typically mean turning the aerial around which for most people means paying someone to get up on the roof. Many if not most people will be using old cabling or aerials from before digital switchover. The quality of the cables and aerial may be good enough for Bilsdale as it is the strongest signal but these items might need replacing if people decided to switch to weaker signals. If you are going to do that then you might as well get a satellite dish.

York is within range for Bilsdale, Emley Moor, and Belmont, but the set-up of aerials varies even between adjacent houses, so even if we wanted to go through the exercise of turning aerials for the duration it wouldn't work in many cases. In my own case the neighbouring properties aere mostly set up for Emley Moor, but for me the sight-line in that direction is blocked by a substantial stone building, taller than my house and just a few feet away, whereas there is a clear line towards Bilsdale. That's why the (modern) aerial installation chose that transmitter (which in normal circumstances suits me very well: I'd far rather get the real northern coverage rather than concentration on Leeds/Bradford). I don't think Belmont was considered here, but I suspect the tall intervening building question would arise for that one too.
You're right that if one were going to have to pay someone to get up on the roof to turn the aerial (and then come back eventually to do it again), then one might as well get a satellite dish. Others are also of course right that you can watch TV on line. However, sitting at one's desk in front of a PC is not an ideal way of "enjoying" one's entertainment, and tablets and mobile phones limit one to have to hold the thing all the time and view on a very small screen—also, it seems one can't Chromecast live TV to s full-size set in the case of a number of the broadcasters. And there's no cable here, so that isn't an option.

 

[johncrossley]

Others are also of course right that you can watch TV on line. However, sitting at one's desk in front of a PC is not an ideal way of "enjoying" one's entertainment, and tablets and mobile phones limit one to have to hold the thing all the time and view on a very small screen—also, it seems one can't Chromecast live TV to s full-size set in the case of a number of the broadcasters. And there's no cable here, so that isn't an option.

Suitably equipped boxes/TVs already use the internet for some channels such as Arise News on channel 264 so all they need to do is add extra channels to Freeview where the regular aerial channels work off broadband instead of the aerial.

 

[Darandio]

Now this does surprise me.

Bilsdale transmitter fire: TV Licence refund offered to worst affected

While most TV services have been restored after a transmitter fire, some will be able to claim.

www.bbc.co.uk

Viewers unable to watch television for more than a month due to the Bilsdale transmitter fire are to be offered a partial refund to their TV Licence.
A million people were impacted by the blaze across Teesside, North Yorkshire and County Durham.
The majority of homes affected - more than 400,000 - have had services restored.
All services were due to be completed by today but a legal wrangle has led to delays.
The fire broke out on 10 August at the site on the North York Moors and also affected Freeview, DAB, and FM radio
The refunds will be offered to people who have been unable to receive TV coverage for more than a month, and who are unable to view BBC programming via BBC iPlayer and on cable and satellite platforms.

Mast operator Arqiva said talks were ongoing with the landowner to reach an agreement so it could put up a 260ft (80m) temporary mast.
Homes that had a signal restored within a month will not be eligible for a refund.
Addresses will be cross-referenced with postcodes impacted by the coverage outage.
A TV Licensing spokesperson said: "Customers in the affected area who have been unable to receive TV coverage for over a month, and who are unable to view BBC programming through BBC iPlayer and on cable and satellite platforms, will be eligible for a refund or be offered a free extension to their TV Licence to cover the months affected.
"We are continuing to work with our suppliers Arqiva to ensure services in the affected area are resumed as soon as possible."
Customers will be able to request an extension to their licence through the TV Licensing website, or via calling TV Licensing call centre on 0300 790 6096 after 10 September.

 

[skyhigh]

Now this does surprise me.

Bilsdale transmitter fire: TV Licence refund offered to worst affected

While most TV services have been restored after a transmitter fire, some will be able to claim.

www.bbc.co.uk

That seems unexpectedly generous to me, especially considering the majority of people affected would have been able to use iPlayer etc.

 

[Dai Corner]

That seems unexpectedly generous to me, especially considering the majority of people affected would have been able to use iPlayer etc.

The refunds will be offered to people who have been unable to receive TV coverage for more than a month, and who are unable to view BBC programming via BBC iPlayer and on cable and satellite platforms.

 

[skyhigh]

Missed that bit. Not quite as generous as I first thought then!

 

[Senex]

How many people nowadays have a mobile phone that can't access the internet? The BBC is playing gesture politics (and no doubt hoping the courts give access permission in the next few days so something can be got up before the month is past).

 

[Dai Corner]

How many people nowadays have a mobile phone that can't access the internet? The BBC is playing gesture politics (and no doubt hoping the courts give access permission in the next few days so something can be got up before the month is past).

Probably very much the same people who only have Freeview.

Even if they did have a smartphone, how much would the data to watch a month's worth of TV cost?

 

[wireforever]

Don't know the area well.Never had a aerial on the roof.The house was built in 1963 and all the houses on the estate had a tv aerial in the loft.Still got a newer aerial in the loft to pick up freeview from Winter Hill transmitter

 

[dgl]

Don't know the area well. Never had a aerial on the roof. The house was built in 1963 and all the houses on the estate had a tv aerial in the loft. Still got a newer aerial in the loft to pick up freeview from Winter Hill transmitter

In most cases a new UHF antenna was very much not required for DSO, it was only if the channels were "out of group" of the existing antenna and the signals weren't strong enough to overcome that restriction, now with the 800 & 700Mhz clearances antenna grouping can rear it's ugly head but again for most people it wont be an issue. The actual transmission is still an analogue wave it just had a digital signal modulated on to it rather than an analogue one. One of my Gran's loft antennas was an ancient Telefield that looked like it was from the start of UHF in Britain and the TV reported both signal and quality at 100%!

Looking on Twitter there seems to be some idiots complaining at Freeview/Arqiva about the lack of TV transmissions, how it should have been foreseen and that it should have been sorted within 24hrs. Yeah because replacing the coverage of a 1000ft mast is really easy, and if they used another site then potentially people would have to get their aerials moved, not necessarily a good idea for a temporary solution.
Naturally not even Arqiva know how long this is going to take as it's an event that has only happened a few times whilst a transmitter has been in service (Emley Moor (collapse), Durris (antenna fire), Peterborough (collapse, affected FM Radio/DAB only)).

 

[SteveP29]

But that would typically mean turning the aerial around which for most people means paying someone to get up on the roof.

Yep, we don't want any more examples of Rod Hull's demise by doing it themselves.


My parents must be aligned to Pontop Pike, as I was at theirs over the weekend (Chester le Street, makes sense seeing as they are that close to it) and they had no issues

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is the replacement Bilsdale transmitter operational now?

 

[skyhigh]

Is the replacement Bilsdale transmitter operational now?

As far as I'm aware, no.

 

[dgl]

Is the replacement Bilsdale transmitter operational now?

No updates that I've seen from Arqiva yet, still must be having legal issues, note also that the temporary tower/mast will be significantly shorter and I would assume running at much, much lower power than the main mast meaning that some areas may still have poor service even after it is in service, although so long as the relays can get a usable signal that will be something.

 

[Senex]

An item on the BBC1 regional news yesterday said that nothing has been done yet. Aparently access is needed to two distinct sites at Bilsdale. One is to get at the tower itself to examine it and assess what has to be done, and permission to do this has now been obtained, so that work can begin. But the other is to the land needed for the temporary tower, and there is still no agreement with the landowner about that. It seems that the reluctance all round to name the landowner involved and get an on-air interview with him/her continues.
There was further reference to the rebate on the TV-tax from 10 September if service is still not resumed, but only if you haven't even got an iPad capable of getting iPlayer. How do they propose to check on what people have or don't have, and is the BBC really telling us that an iPad or a mobile phone screen is an adequate way to receive its "quality" programming (and can it speak for the other via-aerial broadcasters we have to pay the BBC to receive their programmes)?

 

[dosxuk]

It's being reported in a couple of places that there is a "bulge" in the tower structure, resulting in the exclusion zone still being in place.

There are still issues with the land owners, and bureaucratic issues with the land needed being protected against development for environmental reasons. It sounds like there are exceptions for emergency requirements, which a temporary mast would be a permitted development, but it's not allowed to make any permanent changes to the land (not easy when you're trying to stop a 80m pole built on peat from falling down). Furthermore, in the event of a complete rebuild being required, the planned temporary mast may require replacing after a short time with a less-temporary mast which will require full environmental and planning consent.

 

[dgl]

Another update from Arqiva, looks like mast replacement is potentially on the cards,

"Arqiva’s view is that the damage caused by the fire means it is probable that the existing mast will have to be dismantled."

An update on our efforts to restore services following the incident at the Bilsdale mast

Updated 08/09/2021

Arqiva’s Bilsdale Service Restoration Update

– Arqiva Chief Executive to meet local leaders and community groups as latest new transmitter comes online at Sutton Bank

– Around 500,000 households now returned to a Freeview coverage area

– Arqiva will be meeting local organisations to discuss support for the most vulnerable affected

North Yorkshire, UK, 08 September 2021: Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure and media services provider, today provided an update on Bilsdale Mast following the recent fire that affected services across the region.

Chief Executive Officer, Paul Donovan, will be meeting council and community leaders across the area to discuss the restoration of services and how to prioritise the most vulnerable people affected, and he returned to the site to view progress. A new, temporary mast has today restored some TV services to over 100,000 more people in North Yorkshire.

While investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the implementation of the company’s recovery plans has now resulted in around 500,000 households being returned to a Freeview coverage area.

Arqiva’s view is that the damage caused by the fire means it is probable that the existing mast will have to be dismantled.

The company has used a combination of its existing sites and new, temporary structures to restore services and was today able to announce that an additional new transmitter site at Sutton Bank was now providing Freeview TV signals to over 100,000 households in areas including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Pickering, Ripon, Masham, Leyburn and northern parts of York.

The next stage of the plan is to build an 80 metre-high temporary mast on land near the existing mast at Bilsdale.

A team of around 100 people are in place to undertake the site preparation, helicopter lift for the mast structure and transmission set up. Working with local authorities, planning bodies, central Government, broadcast customers and regulators, the national park and others, good progress has been made in recent days. It is expected that this temporary mast will restore Freeview TV services to over 90% of affected households in the coming weeks.

Speaking close to the damaged mast, and after meeting council leaders, Chief Executive Paul Donovan said:

“First and foremost, I want to apologise again to those who people who have had their services disrupted by the fire at Bilsdale Mast; and especially to those who rely on television for companionship.

“Our absolute priority is to restore services as quickly as we can. We have a detailed recovery plan which continues to progress as quickly as possible. This morning Freeview television services were restored for over 100,000 more homes in the region.

“However, this is a complex task and there is clearly a lot more to do, so we are working with our partners as quickly and safely as possible. I would like to extend a special thank you to all those people who have been supporting friends and neighbours who may not have access to the internet or other sources of information and entertainment. We will prioritise the most vulnerable people affected.

“Our teams are doing everything in their power to restore services for as many people as possible as quickly as we can and we will provide further updates on progress.”

– Ends –

Edit:
There is now video from Arqiva about erecting the temporary 80M mast which will take ~3 weeks to complete, so things are progressing.

ay one of the temporary mast construction following the Bilsdale mast incident. A team of around 100 people are working day and night to construct the mast and set up the transmitter. Working with local authorities, planning bodies, central Government, broadcast customers and regulators, the national park and others, good progress is being made. It is expected that this temporary mast will restore a Freeview TV signal to over 90% of affected households in the coming weeks. Find out more about the situation here: www.arqiva.com

 

[dgl]

...and it's gone!

The fire damage was too great for the mast to be repaired so felling it was the only option in the end, I guess a conventional lattice mast will take it's place as I doubt Arqiva would want the hassle of another tubular structure, of which there are only 4 out of 6 left now in the UK (Waltham, Winter Hill. Mendip and Belmont).

 

[Senex]

Fascinating videos, and a really dramatic fall of the mast. If only the replacement could go up equally quickly! But I wish they were being equally open about coverage not only from installations like the new station at Sutton Bank but also what's going to be available from the temporary mast. The map that was produced a few day ago is far too small to shew much, and although it sounds as if they do have information about expected coverage in terms of post-codes, none of this seems to have been made public. As for the ultimate replacement,how long does it take to build and commission a 1000-foot mast? Surely into years rather than just months?

 

[dgl]

Whilst I expect there will be some RF behaviour differences between a tubular and lattice mast I would guess they should just be able to build the new mast with everything in the same place as the old one unless they see advantages to not doing so (technology has advanced since when the original site tests and mast design were done).
The main job will be clearing the base of the old mast ready for the new one as tubular masts sit on a plinth rather than sitting on a base at ground level for a lattice mast (they are actually sitting on a ball/spherical surface to allow the mast to move in the wind).

The TX gallery has a feature on the construction of masts and there will also be pictures from the various recent mast builds that were done at DSO, Rowridge being an example.

Mast construction: http://txfeatures.mb21.co.uk/construction/index.shtml

Tubular masts: http://txfeatures.mb21.co.uk/construction/tubular.shtml

Construction could probably be done in under a year once the site is ready, but preparing the site and looking at the old mast for any signs of how it failed (so as to provide information to help maintain the other 4 tubular structures) may take a while.

 

[najaB]

Construction could probably be done in under a year once the site is ready...

Based on the speed that I've seen other masts go up, under three months once the steel is on site - the biggest contribution to the time taken will be getting the workers as there aren't many companies with the skills and equipment needed and they're probably already booked out on other jobs.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Into October now. Still no restoration of TV transmission in the area?

 

[dosxuk]

The temporary 80m mast is nearing switch-on which will restore services to a good chunk of those still affected by the fire. The winter 80m mast planning is done and believe is nearly ready to start construction - this is a more robust mast that will be used while the main 300m mast is rebuilt, with the temporary mast being taken down once the winter mast is operational.

With no repair of the main mast possible, we're into timescales of years for full service reinstatement.

 

[Ediswan]

...and it's gone!

Arqiva are stretching the meaning of the word 'dismantle' somewhat. Does anybody know if the mast was expected to crumple so tidly, or whether that was a bonus ? Tubular masts are not common and I can't find any other record of one being brought down intentionally.

 

[XAM2175]

Does anybody know if the mast was expected to crumple so tidly, or whether that was a bonus ?

It was intended, I should expect, but maybe not with 100% confidence.

 

[Senex]

Into October now. Still no restoration of TV transmission in the area?

The commissioning of Sutton Bank brought BBC1 and BBC2 back here in central York about a month ago, but there's nothing else usable (signal for ITV etc doesn't even build a momentary complete picture).

 

[dgl]

An update, a planning application has been lodged for a new 306m (1003ft) lattice mast at Bilsdale,
NYM Planning application for new Bilsdale mast

Mast will be in EXACTLY the same loaction of the felled original mast, using the old masts foundations for it's base (quite sensible really).

Arqiva are also in the process of getting more tempoary relay sites on line, plus another more permenant tempoary tower at Bilsdale, on the corner of the main transmitter site as the current one is not designed for the rigours of winter.

 

[The Lad]

I'm a bit surprised by the number of, and addresses of some of the agricultural tenents and land owners, some in London.

 

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @bearhugger to provide an update.

 

[bearhugger]

Thanks @Cowley for re-opening the thread. Announced on BBC Radio Tees' Facebook page that the new Bilsdale Transmitter is due to be switched on today - nearly two years since the fire that destroyed the original mast. The BBC Sounds link to a segment by local radio presenter Amy Oakden gives a bit more detail. (apologies that I can't quote a transcript for the linked audio).
I would assume that some people may need to retune equipment at some point today.