The 'AM death watch' thread...

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A.N.Other

26-01-2015

Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“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.

jimbo

27-01-2015

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

lundavra

27-01-2015

I presume you have read this

Quote:
“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.”

hanssolo

27-01-2015

Originally Posted by A.N.Other:
“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.

jimbo

03-02-2015

Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“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.

jimbo

03-02-2015

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

Colin_London

03-02-2015

I don't think they are big on consultations in Russia....

Colin_London

03-02-2015

Originally Posted by jimbo:
“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.

MikeBr

03-02-2015

Originally Posted by Colin_London:
“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

swb1964

03-02-2015

I wonder how much (or little) Cyprus's expat community will miss this?

Colin_London

03-02-2015

Originally Posted by swb1964:
“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....

swb1964

03-02-2015

Originally Posted by Colin_London:
“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

Colin_London

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by swb1964:
“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

Resonance

04-02-2015

Didn't they close that before and then started broadcasting again after a large outcry?

david16

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by Resonance:
“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.

hanssolo

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by Resonance:
“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/

Mark C

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by swb1964:
“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 ?

hanssolo

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by Mark C:
“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 ? ”

Quote:
“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.

MikeBr

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“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.

MikeBr

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by swb1964:
“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.

hanssolo

04-02-2015

Originally Posted by MikeBr:
“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

Colin_London

04-02-2015

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).

Hybrid tellies

06-02-2015

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.

lundavra

06-02-2015

Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies:
“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.

882657

07-02-2015

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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