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The 'AM death watch' thread... |
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#126 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,569
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Quote:
I would love to see 648Khz used for high powered use as it would offer excellant coverage from one of the higher powered transmitters.
Like Radio Caroline http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radio-...tes/update1012 And allowed stations to apply for new MW licences later this year. http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radio-...tes/update1212 So there is a good possibility Caroline may get 648khz or another frequency in time for the 50th anniversary in 2014 but the power may be restricted, however Caroline even if they got a high power licence, may not have the funds from donations for high power anyway. I expect a lot of listeners will use online stereo rather than AM. http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#support_group.html Quote:
990 from Berlin seems to be the next casualty lined up. 3rd September
plus Luxembourg http://www.radioluxembourg.co.uk/ 1440 (currently CRI) and Netherlands Radio 5 747 are due to close in 2014 |
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#127 |
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,268
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For AM listening on an old style standard analogue radio, it has the echo of an empty hall with vinyl or laminate flooring in many cases.
Hearing "Beep beep-beep-beep beep-beep beep-beep-beep-beep beep-beep beep ........." as well whining or whaling and constantly fading in and out when tuned in fully and you're trying to listen is truly horrific. |
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#128 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Herts
Posts: 6,183
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Quote:
Noticed the rest of the German frequencies 153, 207, 549, 756, 1268,
plus Luxembourg http://www.radioluxembourg.co.uk/ 1440 (currently CRI) and Netherlands Radio 5 747 are due to close in 2014 http://radio.nl/778116/radio-5-mogel...-de-middengolf A German speaking contact of mine says the remaining public broadcast frequencies will probably close in 2014. The 990 transmitter was owned by Deutschlandradio. The others are "owned and operated by Media Broadcast, considerable investments (replacing the tube transmitters by new TRAM solid-state units, modifying the antennas) have been done to make these facilities DRM-capable (a good amount of licence fee payers money, wasted), and thus binding transmission contracts are in place until 2016. So cancelling early will presumably require compensations." |
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#129 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,455
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Quote:
For AM listening on an old style standard analogue radio, it has the echo of an empty hall with vinyl or laminate flooring in many cases.
Hearing "Beep beep-beep-beep beep-beep beep-beep-beep-beep beep-beep beep ........." as well whining or whaling and constantly fading in and out when tuned in fully and you're trying to listen is truly horrific. I can't remember hearing anyone else listening to Medium Wave or Long Wave either. I can't imagine anyone apart from the big national broadcasters being able to afford the running costs of high power Medium Wave / Long Wave and most of them would like to find a reason to close it down. |
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#130 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Herts
Posts: 6,183
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Quote:
Are there are any figures for the number listening on Medium Wave? I have not used it for years and would struggle to find it on the car radio. At one time I might try Medium Wave / Long Wave when out of VHF FM coverage but now if out of DAB / VHF FM coverage I put a CD on.
I can't remember hearing anyone else listening to Medium Wave or Long Wave either. I can't imagine anyone apart from the big national broadcasters being able to afford the running costs of high power Medium Wave / Long Wave and most of them would like to find a reason to close it down. "In Q1 2010, AM listening accounted for only 55% of Radio 5 Live’s listening, a figure that should have decreased since as more make the switch away from it." Think I've seen a more recent one. And there must be a large percentage of Talksport and 5 Live listeners who listen on digital at home, AM in the car. |
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#131 |
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Guest
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,240
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Quote:
T
"In Q1 2010, AM listening accounted for only 55% of Radio 5 Live’s listening, a figure that should have decreased since as more make the switch away from it." . |
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#132 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,569
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Quote:
It was suggested on one website that Radio 5 Nostalgie 747 would possibly close early in 2015 and that a decision would be made in June. I haven't read anything else since? I did check this website for any follow up story a couple of weeks ago.
http://radio.nl/778116/radio-5-mogel...-de-middengolf A German speaking contact of mine says the remaining public broadcast frequencies will probably close in 2014. The 990 transmitter was owned by Deutschlandradio. The others are "owned and operated by Media Broadcast, considerable investments (replacing the tube transmitters by new TRAM solid-state units, modifying the antennas) have been done to make these facilities DRM-capable (a good amount of licence fee payers money, wasted), and thus binding transmission contracts are in place until 2016. So cancelling early will presumably require compensations." |
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#133 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 16,967
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It seems that we have gone down the American route with medium wave by largely confining it to talk and golden oldies stations. I only use it occasionally in the car if Wimbledon or the Olympics are on and almost all my listening is now on FM or DAB.
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#134 |
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Guest
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,240
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AM. Say M it's over
Ray M. Pay M. it's rover Lay M, Tay M. It's cover Way M, Flay M. It's mover |
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#135 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: West Kent.
Posts: 425
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Quote:
I would love to see 648Khz used for high powered use as it would offer excellant coverage from one of the higher powered transmitters.
Like Radio Caroline |
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#136 |
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NW England
Posts: 6,792
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Quote:
Who would pay??
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#137 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 555
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Quote:
I would love to see 648Khz used for high powered use as it would offer excellant coverage from one of the higher powered transmitters.
Like Radio Caroline It's a shame all these high powered transmitting stations are being dismantled after closing down, rather than being put out to tender. I'm sure some of the private commercial/pirate stations would love to use such a facility if the price were right. Seems a terrible waste. I think Daventry was demolished some time ago. Daventry would have covered most of the UK by day and night. I think Tullamore and Athlone are still there, as far as I'm aware. Both covered large parts of the UK by day and night as well. |
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#138 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,455
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Quote:
Depends on which antenna they're using if you're talking about Orford Ness. The directional one was abysmal at this location when the BBC World Service were using it, whereas the Omni directional one could be received even during the day.
It's a shame all these high powered transmitting stations are being dismantled after closing down, rather than being put out to tender. I'm sure some of the private commercial/pirate stations would love to use such a facility if the price were right. Seems a terrible waste. I think Daventry was demolished some time ago. Daventry would have covered most of the UK by day and night. I think Tullamore and Athlone are still there, as far as I'm aware. Both covered large parts of the UK by day and night as well. I think Daventry Medium Wave closed many years ago though the mast is still used. |
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#139 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 1,476
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Quote:
AM. Say M it's over
Ray M. Pay M. it's rover Lay M, Tay M. It's cover Way M, Flay M. It's mover |
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#140 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: West Kent.
Posts: 425
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[quote=Hertz;67997359]Depends on which antenna they're using if you're talking about Orford Ness. The directional one was abysmal at this location when the BBC World Service were using it, whereas the Omni directional one could be received even during the day.
It's a shame all these high powered transmitting stations are being dismantled after closing down, rather than being put out to tender. I'm sure some of the private commercial/pirate stations would love to use such a facility if the price were right. Seems a terrible waste. |
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#141 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: West Kent.
Posts: 425
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[quote=G.F.M.;68004501] Quote:
Depends on which antenna they're using if you're talking about Orford Ness. The directional one was abysmal at this location when the BBC World Service were using it, whereas the Omni directional one could be received even during the day.
It's a shame all these high powered transmitting stations are being dismantled after closing down, rather than being put out to tender. I'm sure some of the private commercial/pirate stations would love to use such a facility if the price were right. Seems a terrible waste. |
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#142 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Herts
Posts: 6,183
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Quote:
Wow, that is low-it's probably below 50% by now. Presumably Absolute is lower still?
""Some 39 per cent of listening to 5 live is on a digital platform,with the majority of this on DAB radio. This is the highest proportion of all the BBC network radio stations. BBC management’s submission to the review states that the inconsistent availability of 5 live’s medium wave frequency, as well as the possibility that medium wave will become unsustainable in the long term,has made migrating audiences from medium wave to digital a high priority for the station." Those are Q1 2011 figures. |
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#143 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Herts
Posts: 6,183
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Quote:
I can't imagine a 'private commercial/pirate stations' having a hope of affording one. I don't know how much Arquiva would charge but it would be a lot.
I think Daventry Medium Wave closed many years ago though the mast is still used. http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/daventry/daventry-mb21.php |
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#144 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 555
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Quote:
I think Daventry Medium Wave closed many years ago though the mast is still used..
Nope. Was demolished quite some time ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGFO-ShonEU Quote:
I can't imagine a 'private commercial/pirate stations' having a hope of affording one. I don't know how much Arquiva would charge but it would be a lot
Has anyone ever tried, apart from the Netherlands ?Quote:
Orford Ness would not be the best site for a high power omni directional signal. Half of it would be wasted over the north sea
Well, I was thinking in the context that both antennas are still there. The Omni directional one did cover quite a huge area of the UK by day and even more at night. It was quite audible at this location (Co. Antrim) during daylight even in summer.
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#145 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 555
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It's fine saying most stations are available on the internet, but what happens if the internet ever goes down ? We're stuck. That's the problem with it, and it could take quite a long time to get back up and running again.
Putting all your eggs in one basket is a dangerous strategy. At least good old fashioned AM and FM were impervious to these sort of problems. DRM would have been great if they'd sorted out the receiver problem. Why no one did this is beyond me..They managed it with DAB. Why not DRM ? |
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#146 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX)
Posts: 20,199
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Quote:
DRM would have been great if they'd sorted out the receiver problem. Why no one did this is beyond me..They managed it with DAB. Why not DRM ?
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#147 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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I myself have no really listened to AM radio much for a good few years now, As all the AM stations here are also on DAB. I remember the days lieing in bed going though the old AM trying to see what I could pick up tha was not local or from Scotland.
I still listen to FM at times though. Darren |
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#148 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Just passin' through
Posts: 3,366
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[quote=G.F.M.;68004533] Quote:
Orford Ness would not be the best site for a high power omni directional signal. Half of it would be wasted over the north sea |
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#149 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Just passin' through
Posts: 3,366
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Quote:
I think Tullamore and Athlone are still there, as far as I'm aware. Both covered large parts of the UK by day and night as well.
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#150 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,569
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Spirit radio in Ireland which has an AM licence was going to build a new 100kw site for 612khz but decided it was cheaper to use the existing unused 20kw 549khz site and go for many FM relays in towns Quote:
The remaining Daventry mast now used for DAB at 10kw shown on the mb21 site might have been part of the 250kw shortwave arrays? |
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