Christchurch Sugarloaf
Encyclopedia
The Sugarloaf in Christchurch
's Port Hills
is a landmark to the south of the city. The Sugarloaf communications tower is an iconic transmission mast located on top of the hill.
volcanic rock. It is situated approximately 50 m behind the main transmission building, which combined with the tower is visible from most parts of Christchurch
city.
networks. There are two main shielded cable runs that go between the transmission house and back to the tower. This building has been unmanned for several years.
The above television frequencies however are subject to 'Analogue Switch Off' otherwise known as 'Digital Switch Over' (DSO), which is planned for the Sugarloaf and the rest of the South Island in April 2013.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
's Port Hills
Port Hills
The Port Hills form the northern rim of the ancient Lyttelton volcano, separating the port of Lyttelton from the city of Christchurch in Canterbury, New Zealand...
is a landmark to the south of the city. The Sugarloaf communications tower is an iconic transmission mast located on top of the hill.
Geography
The tower is situated at an elevation of 493.78 m on the top of the Port Hills, near Dyers Pass. This area is officially known as Sugarloaf Scenic Reserve. This reserve land occasionally doubles as a sheep farm and includes a car park lookout point for general public use.Communications tower
With a height of 121 m, the lattice steel structured tower is founded on a 5 metre deep concrete pad underlain by basaltBasalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
volcanic rock. It is situated approximately 50 m behind the main transmission building, which combined with the tower is visible from most parts of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
city.
Visual Appearance
At a closer glance, the red and white tower includes an array of antennas including parabolic dishes, dipoles and microwave links. The tower has three main service decks for authorised technicians only with access ladders that run vertically along the eastern side. At night the tower is illuminated with three red beacons which span across the mast from top to bottom. On a clear night and viewed from the city you can often see the beacons and some fluorescent lighting coming from a room inside transmission house.Transmission House
The tower is located 50 m behind a single storey transmission building which houses multiple transmission gear. The main equipment room is fully air conditioned and known to local technicians as the great transmitter hall. The building is approximately 40 m in width and 20 m in depth. On the roof of this building there are several satellites, small antennae and multiple parabolic dishes for private WiFiWIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
networks. There are two main shielded cable runs that go between the transmission house and back to the tower. This building has been unmanned for several years.
Site Access
The entire transmission site is surrounded by a mesh security fence and a continuous hedge mixed with foliage. Access to the tower is highly restricted to authorised personnel only and climbing the tower is strictly prohibited. Vehicle access to the actual site itself is restricted via a locked gate, however there is a car park lookout point located 200m in front of the tower with panoramic views of Canterbury. Access to this reserve is permitted to the general public until approximately 6:00PM. After this time the gate between Summit Road and Service Lane is locked until the following morning.Technical Aspects
There are six main antennas that transmit TV and FM signals in the 45 MHz to 800 MHz range. The composite total power fed to all of the transmitting antennas is approximately 64 kW while the antenna gain values range from 7.8 to 16.5 dBd. Multiple services operate off the tower including television, radio, emergency response, aviation, cellular and other data signals.Transmission Frequencies
The following table contains television and radio frequencies currently operating at Sugarloaf:| TV Channel | Transmit Channel | Transmit Frequency | Band | Radio Station | Transmit Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV One | 3 | 62.25 MHz | VHF | The Edge | 95.30 MHz | |
| TV Two | 6 | 189.25 MHz | VHF | Concert FM Concert FM Radio New Zealand Concert is a publicly-funded non-commercial New Zealand FM radio network owned by Radio New Zealand, which broadcasts classical and jazz music, as well as regular news updates from Radio New Zealand News.... |
89.70 MHz | |
| TV Three TV3 (New Zealand) TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand... |
8 | 203.25 MHz | VHF | Tahu FM | 90.50 MHz | |
| FOUR Four (New Zealand TV channel) Four is a television station operating in New Zealand and owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. The channel launched 6 February 2011 at 6pm. The channel broadcasts on channel frequencies previously used by C4 with some shows previously screened on TV3 and C4 now screening on... |
11 | 224.25 MHz | VHF | ZM ZM (New Zealand) ZM is a New Zealand contemporary hit radio network owned by The Radio Network. It broadcasts 19 markets throughout mainland New Zealand via terrestrial FM, and worldwide via the Internet. The network targets the 15–39 demographic specialises in a chart-music playlist of pop, rock, hip hop and dance... |
91.30 MHz | |
| More FM More FM MORE FM is a New Zealand radio network playing adult contemporary music or Pop music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.MORE FM broadcasts in 22 centres throughout New Zealand with local programming in most markets between 6am and 1pm and networked programming the rest of the day... |
92.10 MHz | |||||
| Solid Gold Solid Gold (radio) Solid Gold FM is a New Zealand radio network owned by MediaWorks New Zealand and dedicated to the music of the 1960s and 1970s. It began broadcasting in late 1997... |
92.90 MHz | |||||
| CTV Canterbury Television Canterbury Television is an independent television station broadcasting in Canterbury, New Zealand.The name is synonymous with regional television in New Zealand as it was the name of the first regional broadcaster to operate in New Zealand. CTV produces and screens more than twenty hours of... |
44 | 655.25 MHz | UHF | The Rock The Rock (New Zealand) The Rock is a New Zealand rock music radio station. It currently holds the #1 ratings spot out of the music stations nationwide. The station is known to broadcast material of a controversial nature, and The Rock has in the past had some issues with the Broadcasting Standards Authority with a number... |
93.70 MHz | |
| Digital Multiplex A (TVNZ) | 47 | UHF | The Breeze The Breeze (New Zealand) The Breeze is a group of New Zealand easy-listening radio stations owned by RadioWorks, a MediaWorks New Zealand company. The Breeze plays easy-listening music from the 1970s to the present day, aimed at a 35–54 year old female audience... |
94.50 MHz | ||
| Digital Multiplex 2 (MediaWorks) | 49 | UHF | Plains FM Plains FM Plains FM, is a community access radio station in Christchurch, New Zealand broadcasting to Canterbury on 96.9FM since 1989.The station provides training and facilities to groups and individuals in Canterbury who wish to make their own radio programmes by, for and about their communities... |
96.90 MHz | ||
| Digital Multiplex 3 (Kordia) | 50 | UHF | Radio Live Radio Live Radio Live and Radio Live Sport are nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sports radio networks owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand... |
99.30 MHz | ||
| Prime TV | 62 | 799.25 MHz | UHF | Nui FM | 104.10 MHz |
The above television frequencies however are subject to 'Analogue Switch Off' otherwise known as 'Digital Switch Over' (DSO), which is planned for the Sugarloaf and the rest of the South Island in April 2013.
Case Studies
An RF emissions report conducted on 9 February 1998 by the National Radiation Laboratory found that maximum exposure levels of 8 μW/cm2 were detected in the car park area, immediately below the Sugar Loaf antenna. This is 4% of the maximum of 200 μW/cm2 specified for public exposure levels in NZS 6609.1:1990. As the distance from the antenna increased, the exposure levels decreased markedly and, in general, were below 2 μW/cm2. The report concluded that the site is operating in accordance with NZS 6609.1:1990.Management
The tower and building are currently owned and maintained by Kordia, previously known as Broadcast Communications Limited (BCL NZ).External links
- Sugarloaf Communications Tower as seen in Google Maps
- Panorama View from Sugarloaf Scenic Reserve
- Kordia Limited
- Christchurch City Council Reserve Information
- Port Hills Visitor Information
- Digital Switch Over Information for New Zealand
- 1998 RF Emissions Report for The Sugarloaf Communications Tower (Adobe PDF Format)
- 2005 Tower Upgrade Contract (Adobe PDF Format)
- Sugarloaf Scenic Reserve Dog Control Map (Adobe PDF Format)