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The 'AM death watch' thread...


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Old 26-01-2015, 08:57
A.N.Other
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At one time Russia was keen on using DRM on it's AM transmitters, a Russian set maker made a DRM prototype set, but never went into production, so looks like Russian towns will get FM to replace AM, and outside the towns listeners will have to use the internet or satellite.
A read of http://www.bloombergview.com/article...htens-its-belt (ignore the "propaganda" tag and read for its financial data on RTR). Price of oil -> ruble fall -> budget cuts for RT & RTR. I'd guess those FM replacements will be a long time coming. They'll run on minimum-needed MW.
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Old 27-01-2015, 00:18
jimbo
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Radio Bristol on 1548 kHz is not currently on air according to Reception ADvice

http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/news/item44

It does NOT say that there is a message on 1548 or whether the transmitter is switched off.

Can anyone who is in that area please check 1548 and let me know if anything is heard here at all?

The station will be off air here until 9 February
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Old 27-01-2015, 06:51
lundavra
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I presume you have read this

Monday, 26 January 2015
BBC Radio Bristol Medium Wave switch-off trial
The BBC has commenced its latest Medium Wave closure trial, affecting the broadcaster's local radio station for Bristol.
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Old 27-01-2015, 07:36
hanssolo
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A read of http://www.bloombergview.com/article...htens-its-belt (ignore the "propaganda" tag and read for its financial data on RTR). Price of oil -> ruble fall -> budget cuts for RT & RTR. I'd guess those FM replacements will be a long time coming. They'll run on minimum-needed MW.
Thanks for the link, I notice RTR just cuts off the high power AM transmissions with hardly any advance notice, as on LW, whereas in the UK we have trial AM shutdowns and consultations before any AM switchoff.
Even the lower power AM sites below 15kw will cost more to run than 15kw FM so if RTR do find the money for FM sites will save them money long term, but the rush seems to be making savings ASAP with the high power AM sites.
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Old 03-02-2015, 19:54
jimbo
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Thanks for the link, I notice RTR just cuts off the high power AM transmissions with hardly any advance notice, as on LW, whereas in the UK we have trial AM shutdowns and consultations before any AM switchoff.
Even the lower power AM sites below 15kw will cost more to run than 15kw FM so if RTR do find the money for FM sites will save them money long term, but the rush seems to be making savings ASAP with the high power AM sites.
Apparently all the proposed medium wave closures in Russian did take place on 1 February.
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Old 03-02-2015, 19:55
jimbo
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BBC World Service on 1323 kHz from Zygi in Cyprus, which broadcast the English service, is to close on 25 April 2015.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/sta...mw-eastern-med
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Old 03-02-2015, 20:10
Colin_London
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Thanks for the link, I notice RTR just cuts off the high power AM transmissions with hardly any advance notice, as on LW, whereas in the UK we have trial AM shutdowns and consultations before any AM switchoff.
Even the lower power AM sites below 15kw will cost more to run than 15kw FM so if RTR do find the money for FM sites will save them money long term, but the rush seems to be making savings ASAP with the high power AM sites.
I don't think they are big on consultations in Russia....
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Old 03-02-2015, 20:13
Colin_London
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BBC World Service on 1323 kHz from Zygi in Cyprus, which broadcast the English service, is to close on 25 April 2015.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/sta...mw-eastern-med
Just at the moment when the middle east is in crisis.

However I guess the English service is not as important as the Arabic service on 639kHz & 720kHz.
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Old 03-02-2015, 20:36
MikeBr
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Just at the moment when the middle east is in crisis.
1323 is English, BBC World Service Arabic's audience is increasing.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/me...-10001667.html
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Old 03-02-2015, 20:48
swb1964
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BBC World Service on 1323 kHz from Zygi in Cyprus, which broadcast the English service, is to close on 25 April 2015.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/sta...mw-eastern-med
I wonder how much (or little) Cyprus's expat community will miss this?
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Old 03-02-2015, 21:14
Colin_London
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I wonder how much (or little) Cyprus's expat community will miss this?
It's only on from 5am - 9am, and 3pm - 9pm local time.

I would imagine BFBS on FM was more popular....
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Old 03-02-2015, 21:58
swb1964
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It's only on from 5am - 9am, and 3pm - 9pm local time.

I would imagine BFBS on FM was more popular....
I think that only covers the area around the military base, though? Not sure how far the signal goes across the rest of the island.

It looks like Cypriot Radio provides at least some programming in English as well, though. http://www.cybc.com.cy/en/index.php/radio
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Old 04-02-2015, 00:22
Colin_London
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I think that only covers the area around the military base, though? Not sure how far the signal goes across the rest of the island.

It looks like Cypriot Radio provides at least some programming in English as well, though. http://www.cybc.com.cy/en/index.php/radio
http://fmscan.org/net.php?r=f&m=m&it...xf=BFBS+Cyprus

http://fmscan.org/net.php?r=f&m=m&it...f=BFBS+Radio+2
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Old 04-02-2015, 06:22
Resonance
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BBC World Service on 1323 kHz from Zygi in Cyprus, which broadcast the English service, is to close on 25 April 2015.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/sta...mw-eastern-med
Didn't they close that before and then started broadcasting again after a large outcry?
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Old 04-02-2015, 06:45
david16
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Didn't they close that before and then started broadcasting again after a large outcry?
Some people will just never invest in newer affordable technology.

But why the BBC keeps caving in to petitions is a joke whether here in the UK such as BBC Radio Surrey 1368kHZ and other BBC local AM's recent intended permanent closure e.g., or whether it's abroad. It's complete nonsense.
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Old 04-02-2015, 08:12
hanssolo
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Didn't they close that before and then started broadcasting again after a large outcry?
MW and SW was reduced, but not fully shut.
http://swling.com/blog/2012/10/bbc-s...-service-cuts/
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Old 04-02-2015, 09:41
Mark C
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I wonder how much (or little) Cyprus's expat community will miss this?
It was never aimed solely at them, its purpose was to serve the Eastern Med, notably Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Egypt etc. But hey, there's not much happening round there
these days is there ?
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Old 04-02-2015, 10:06
hanssolo
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It was never aimed solely at them, its purpose was to serve the Eastern Med, notably Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Egypt etc. But hey, there's not much happening round there
these days is there ?
Director of BBC World Service, Fran Unsworth, says: “Our English language service will still be available via satellite and on the internet - which is increasingly how our audiences tune in. However, we cannot identify a financially viable method by which to continue medium wave radio. It is for this reason that we have decided to end these transmissions.“

Audiences in the region will be able to listen to BBC World Service English 24 hours day through the direct-to-home satellite service on Eutelsat 13 (13o East, 11,117 MHz Vertical) or through the internet at BBCWorldservice.com
The Arabic service is still on AM.
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Old 04-02-2015, 11:49
MikeBr
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The Arabic service is still on AM.
The current schedule has 8 hours a day Arabic from Cyprus 500kw on two frequencies, one at 180 degrees, one at 110 degrees. There is still some shortwave and mediumwave to the Middle East but it's from Oman. Television is more important than radio in the region in terms of audience reach for a news format.
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Old 04-02-2015, 11:51
MikeBr
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I think that only covers the area around the military base, though? Not sure how far the signal goes across the rest of the island.
BFBS has 25kw FM transmitters at Akrotiri and Dhekelia and a 1.5 kw one in Nicosia carrying BFBS 1 and BFBS 2.
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Old 04-02-2015, 12:22
hanssolo
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BFBS has 25kw FM transmitters at Akrotiri and Dhekelia and a 1.5 kw one in Nicosia carrying BFBS 1 and BFBS 2.
Cyprus Broadcasting and some commercial stations also have English language programmes on FM as it seems widely spoken on the Island, so no need for AM.
http://www.cybc.com.cy/en/index.php/radio
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Old 04-02-2015, 21:01
Colin_London
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Don't know why the BBC is quoting Eutelsat 'Hotbird' 13 when the best satellite for DTH reception in the area is Eutelsat 7 (which carries BBC World Service English for Europe radio, BBC World Service News Radio & BBC World Service Australia & New Zealand (??!) radio).
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Old 06-02-2015, 13:19
Hybrid tellies
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Crazy thinking about closing the BBC WS 1323Khz transmitter down at this time considering the current situation in the Middle East. On a happier not BBC Radio Bristol on 1548 reopens on Monday.
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Old 06-02-2015, 13:23
lundavra
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Crazy thinking about closing the BBC WS 1323Khz transmitter down at this time considering the current situation in the Middle East. On a happier not BBC Radio Bristol on 1548 reopens on Monday.
Hasn't the tendency been to put the investment into foreign language services rather than the English language World Service? Just there are more moans from expats when the World Service is cut back.
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Old 07-02-2015, 02:52
882657
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Given people in Syria and Iraq are bombed out and have no electricity, its daft to tell them to use the internet to access BBC WS.
Medium Wave from Cyprus carries across Palestine Syria Iraq where people need reliable news and information. Far from closing medium wave from Cyprus they should be increasing its power, hours and frequencies.
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