The Chesterfield transmitting station is a television and radio transmitter which serves the town of Chesterfield in Derbyshire and surrounding areas. It transmits digital television which it is line fed from Sheffield . The Chesterfield transmitter sits on a hillside to the north of the town and transmits digital television and radio services. Before the digital switchover, it was one of the few transmitters in the UK to transmit digital television, but not analogue channel Channel 5, and a number of its digital multiplexes were transmitted on the same channels as Emley Moor so it was not uncommon for co-channel interference to be an issue; similar problems still exist with Sutton Coldfield and Waltham. These co-channel issues with Emley meant that its output was attenuated to the North. The transmitter is vertically polarised as are most relays/repeaters. The altitude of the transmitting aerials is 231 metres, the actual tower being around in height and of a similar design to many of the repeaters around the UK. In the early 2000s, an extra smaller tower was added at the side of the larger tower possibly for mobile phone use. Digital radio is broadcast from this site and it is just possible to receive digital radio in Chesterfield from other transmitters, specifically Tapton Hill in Sheffield. From 8 November 2007, the transmitter has broadcast the Digital One DAB Multiplex. Since then, the BBC National DAB Multiplex and the Bauer South Yorkshire have been added. The Chesterfield transmitter is owned by Arqiva.
Transmitted services
Analogue radio
Digital radio
Digital television
In July 2007, it was confirmed by Ofcom that Chesterfield would be remaining a wideband transmitter after DSO, although the first three of the six multiplexes will still be available within the original A group. The Chesterfield transmitter had its analogue services switched off on 10 & 24 August 2011. The frequencies for the digital multiplexes also changed, and the power for most multiplexes increased to 400W, apart from BBC B which increased to 800W. Arqiva A & B were restricted to 40W until 12 October 2011. On 5 February 2020, BBC A and Digital 3&4 moved to UHF 31 and UHF 37 respectively, with a power increase to 800W, in accordance with the 700MHz clearance programme.
