1260 - Smooth from North Wales or maybe Sabras from the East Midlands area or Absolute?
1548 - Gold from London probably
1548 - Gold from London probably
The 'AM death watch' thread...
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Originally Posted by philengland:
“1260 - Smooth from North Wales or maybe Sabras from the East Midlands area or Absolute?
1548 - Gold from London probably”
“1260 - Smooth from North Wales or maybe Sabras from the East Midlands area or Absolute?
1548 - Gold from London probably”
Whatever the Edinburgh service on 1548 is called now is a possibility, I used to hear that at night here in Hampshire if I nulled out London and Brizzle
Originally Posted by Mark C:
“Whatever the Edinburgh service on 1548 is called now is a possibility, I used to hear that at night here in Hampshire if I nulled out London and Brizzle”
“Whatever the Edinburgh service on 1548 is called now is a possibility, I used to hear that at night here in Hampshire if I nulled out London and Brizzle”
True. I get Radio Scotland really well here, so that wouldn't surprise me.
Originally Posted by chriswyatt:
“I live in North Bristol. Does anyone know what I 'might' be able to pick up when 1260 and 1548 disappear?
I usually pick up stuff from the Midlands, so chances are I'll pick up something from there. I looked at this but unfortunately it's old data:
http://www.mediumwaveradio.com/uk.php
..”
“I live in North Bristol. Does anyone know what I 'might' be able to pick up when 1260 and 1548 disappear?
I usually pick up stuff from the Midlands, so chances are I'll pick up something from there. I looked at this but unfortunately it's old data:
http://www.mediumwaveradio.com/uk.php
..”
This is updated regularly, has already posted the date of the Mangotsfield 1548 closure.
http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php
Has there been any mention on Smooth Bristol regarding the demise of 1260, or does absolutely no one listen to them ? 
BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.
AM (MW) is an excellent band - it's the receivers that are useless. This is just a cost cutting exercise because each Kw of power uses 3Kw of electricity.
Originally Posted by MikeBr:
“This is updated regularly, has already posted the date of the Mangotsfield 1548 closure.
http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php”
“This is updated regularly, has already posted the date of the Mangotsfield 1548 closure.
http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php”
Very useful, thanks!
Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies:
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
Ta !
Though I suspect the switch off will be during 'office hours'. What's the point of paying overtime for someone to switch off a service ?
Manor Farm at Reading was switched off just after 9am on a Friday
Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies:
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
Are you able to record this loop please? Thanks.
Originally Posted by Mark C:
“Has there been any mention on Smooth Bristol regarding the demise of 1260, or does absolutely no one listen to them ?”
“Has there been any mention on Smooth Bristol regarding the demise of 1260, or does absolutely no one listen to them ?
”
Well it is a bit of a folly to have a music-based radio station transmitting on an outdated platform in mono nowadays!
Oh! .. hang on ...
this maybe a stupid question but what is planned or happening to the mw spectrum once all stations are shut down?
Originally Posted by Mark C:
“Has there been any mention on Smooth Bristol regarding the demise of 1260, or does absolutely no one listen to them ?”
“Has there been any mention on Smooth Bristol regarding the demise of 1260, or does absolutely no one listen to them ?
”
According to Radio Today's Rajar pages , Smooth West Country (I am looking at the right one here, aren't I ?) has 123,000 listeners.
I'm surprised Global can afford to p*** so many listeners up the wall without even offering an announcement to tell them what is going on.
Originally Posted by swb1964:
“According to Radio Today's Rajar pages , Smooth West Country (I am looking at the right one here, aren't I ?) has 123,000 listeners.
I'm surprised Global can afford to p*** so many listeners up the wall without even offering an announcement to tell them what is going on.”
“According to Radio Today's Rajar pages , Smooth West Country (I am looking at the right one here, aren't I ?) has 123,000 listeners.
I'm surprised Global can afford to p*** so many listeners up the wall without even offering an announcement to tell them what is going on.”
That includes other areas anddigital.
Bristol Smooth AM will probably be 1 to 6k which Eagle extra was on 1566 before it closed?
The only other use for the AM band was DRM as tested in Plymouth but never caught on.
Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“That includes other areas anddigital.
Bristol Smooth AM will probably be 1 to 6k which Eagle extra was on 1566 before it closed?
The only other use for the AM band was DRM as tested in Plymouth but never caught on.”
“That includes other areas anddigital.
Bristol Smooth AM will probably be 1 to 6k which Eagle extra was on 1566 before it closed?
The only other use for the AM band was DRM as tested in Plymouth but never caught on.”
Remember too the Bristol DAB mux has been upgraded the last few months with extra txs , (probably, mainly, as a result of the BBC 'pushing', but of course that will also benefit Global, as Smooth is carried on there too)
Originally Posted by derk weasel:
“this maybe a stupid question but what is planned or happening to the mw spectrum once all stations are shut down?”
“this maybe a stupid question but what is planned or happening to the mw spectrum once all stations are shut down?”
It will probably end up being quite quiet in the daytime, but I think dead spectrum at night will still be a long way off. I remember reading that OFCOM were going to encourage local community stations to use it, so they may relax the licenses a bit there. Perhaps they may even open up some of it to radio amateurs?
There's no point of it sitting there going to waste, but also they wouldn't want it to be filled with just pirates and people saying 'alpha, bravo, *bleepy morse code*' constantly either. Relaxing the licenses and making it easier for smaller, niche stations to broadcast would make the most sense I think. They should even consider loosening the bandwidth restrictions seeing as it will probably be less crowded; however most sets don't support higher AM bandwidth, so that's probably unlikely.
DRM hasn't taken off; otherwise if it had we may have expected a few of those to pop up in the empty space.
Good question though. I'd also like to know as well. It's an interesting (and sad) time for the AM bands.
Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies:
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
That's a good way to handle it. They probably should have had it running for a week. Though the people most affected (old folk) would probably tune in every day. I know my grandparents used to, though they switched to an FM portable maybe about 10 years ago.
Originally Posted by chriswyatt:
“That's a good way to handle it. They probably should have had it running for a week. Though the people most affected (old folk) would probably tune in every day. I know my grandparents used to, though they switched to an FM portable maybe about 10 years ago.”
“That's a good way to handle it. They probably should have had it running for a week. Though the people most affected (old folk) would probably tune in every day. I know my grandparents used to, though they switched to an FM portable maybe about 10 years ago.”
I would expect the loop recording to be there for about a week, therefore it indicates an actual shut down of carrier(s) next Friday, Place your bets !!!
Originally Posted by Mark C:
“I would expect the loop recording to be there for about a week, therefore it indicates an actual shut down of carrier(s) next Friday, Place your bets !!!”
“I would expect the loop recording to be there for about a week, therefore it indicates an actual shut down of carrier(s) next Friday, Place your bets !!!”
I'd be willing to bet a few hundred quid they'd close it on the announced date, i.e. tomorrow night
Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies:
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
“BBC R Bristol on 1548 from just after 1400 today, right in the middle of the news, went to a looped tape message advising listeners of alternative ways to listen, such as FM, DAB, Freeview and online. This message will continue until the transmitter is finally switched off on the night of 19/02 to 20/02.
Smooth is continuing on 1260 as normal with no mention of the forthcoming closure.”
There is no mention of the closure of 1548 on the BBC Radio Bristol website!
Originally Posted by Brightonelectri:
“There is no mention of the closure of 1548 on the BBC Radio Bristol website!”
“There is no mention of the closure of 1548 on the BBC Radio Bristol website!”
BBC LR stations barely have a website at all !!
Originally Posted by chriswyatt:
“I'd be willing to bet a few hundred quid they'd close it on the announced date, i.e. tomorrow night”
“I'd be willing to bet a few hundred quid they'd close it on the announced date, i.e. tomorrow night”
Maybe, but if it's just a loop now and no programmes, then the 'service' has already closed ?
Originally Posted by Brightonelectri:
“There is no mention of the closure of 1548 on the BBC Radio Bristol website!”
“There is no mention of the closure of 1548 on the BBC Radio Bristol website!”
There was a trial 2 week shutdown last year when listeners were encouraged to move to FM http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/news/item44
Originally Posted by chriswyatt:
“[The MW spectrum] will probably end up being quite quiet in the daytime, but I think dead spectrum at night will still be a long way off. I remember reading that OFCOM were going to encourage local community stations to use it, so they may relax the licenses a bit there....DRM hasn't taken off; otherwise if it had we may have expected a few of those to pop up in the empty space....”
“[The MW spectrum] will probably end up being quite quiet in the daytime, but I think dead spectrum at night will still be a long way off. I remember reading that OFCOM were going to encourage local community stations to use it, so they may relax the licenses a bit there....DRM hasn't taken off; otherwise if it had we may have expected a few of those to pop up in the empty space....”
DRM30 and DRM+ capability have quietly been added to all of the modern SoCs and chipsets in the DAB/DAB+ market. Particulary in an automotive setting, the active antennas tuned for MF and LF are all there ready, whereas it's extra component count for consumer kitchen boxes.
DRM may be down, but I wouldn't count it completely out yet despite it's boat having sailed as far as a mainstream deployment in the UK is concerned. I'm intrigued, though, by the Beeb's lack of any major signalling of the end of R5L's medium wave infrastructure; for what else could this be, other than hedging their bets on a future DRM30 rollout? Various wonks-du-jour in the Beeb have been forced to mutter darkly that a "home will be found for R4LW" - this doesn't mean that it'll be on LW, and receivable without a set upgrade.
Given the current political agenda to drive DAB through battering-ram style, it would be impossible for the Beeb overtly to declare this as a future strategy, and we're probably at least a WARC away, more realistically two from a refarming of MF to permit 18/20kHz bandwidth DRM30. But the longer the Beeb keep shelling out for Arqiva to operate and maintain the MF masts, the more likely an eventual move to DRM30 becomes.
Originally Posted by Vectorsum:
“DRM30 and DRM+ capability have quietly been added to all of the modern SoCs and chipsets in the DAB/DAB+ market. Particulary in an automotive setting, the active antennas tuned for MF and LF are all there ready, whereas it's extra component count for consumer kitchen boxes.
DRM may be down, but I wouldn't count it completely out yet despite it's boat having sailed as far as a mainstream deployment in the UK is concerned. I'm intrigued, though, by the Beeb's lack of any major signalling of the end of R5L's medium wave infrastructure; for what else could this be, other than hedging their bets on a future DRM30 rollout? Various wonks-du-jour in the Beeb have been forced to mutter darkly that a "home will be found for R4LW" - this doesn't mean that it'll be on LW, and receivable without a set upgrade.
Given the current political agenda to drive DAB through battering-ram style, it would be impossible for the Beeb overtly to declare this as a future strategy, and we're probably at least a WARC away, more realistically two from a refarming of MF to permit 18/20kHz bandwidth DRM30. But the longer the Beeb keep shelling out for Arqiva to operate and maintain the MF masts, the more likely an eventual move to DRM30 becomes.”
“DRM30 and DRM+ capability have quietly been added to all of the modern SoCs and chipsets in the DAB/DAB+ market. Particulary in an automotive setting, the active antennas tuned for MF and LF are all there ready, whereas it's extra component count for consumer kitchen boxes.
DRM may be down, but I wouldn't count it completely out yet despite it's boat having sailed as far as a mainstream deployment in the UK is concerned. I'm intrigued, though, by the Beeb's lack of any major signalling of the end of R5L's medium wave infrastructure; for what else could this be, other than hedging their bets on a future DRM30 rollout? Various wonks-du-jour in the Beeb have been forced to mutter darkly that a "home will be found for R4LW" - this doesn't mean that it'll be on LW, and receivable without a set upgrade.
Given the current political agenda to drive DAB through battering-ram style, it would be impossible for the Beeb overtly to declare this as a future strategy, and we're probably at least a WARC away, more realistically two from a refarming of MF to permit 18/20kHz bandwidth DRM30. But the longer the Beeb keep shelling out for Arqiva to operate and maintain the MF masts, the more likely an eventual move to DRM30 becomes.”
I don't know why you conclude that 'finding a home for R4 LW' equates to DRM30. I think it much more likely that by the time R4 comes off LW the BBC will have moved at least some of their stations to DAB+ freeing up space for a 'LW' opt out if required. With the population coverage BBC DAB has I don't see the case for starting a wholly new platform using MF frequencies. And the Government is in no mind to help the BBC fund extra services, even for honourable public service reasons.
Whilst it pains radio enthusiasts to admit it, the direction of travel is all towards IP delivery. I'm sure the government would rather spend any subsidy on a multifunctional Mobile IP delivery platform (4G coverage) for the sticks which, by the way, can be used to listen to the radio rather than a single use MF delivery network uniquely implemented in the UK.
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