Free Radio ad gets played out on GEM 106 >>> https://soundcloud.com/ian-loomes/ge...-radio-cock-up

Thanks for the upload mate, looks like Gem 106 id didn,t fire and also there was silence at the end, plus the big top 40 being faded up late too. I love technical problems

I'l have a look at the listen again.

Couldn't find it on Capital listen again

Next week, I could record the full switch over on IRN 3. The Wireless Group network show end, followed by confidence tones and the end of the Capital London show, Marvin's 1/2 minutes and the start of the show.

That sounded like IRN 3 was faded up manually rather than a scheduled Chart On macro. Now we know why Gem's local ID isn't firing, there is something in the macro that tells Zetta/whatever playout system they use, to check for the code which comes through the demux box.

That will be good. ☺

Gem playout provider is Genisiys which Global stations mostly use, so it looks like Genisys isn,t recognizing the codes.

Wouldn't it be easier for you two to just text each other?

What, and deprive the rest of us the latest news on the latest wrong jingle atrocity or 4 seconds of dead air?

This thread is for all of us to discuss The Big Top 40! Not just certain individuals. As you can see others have participated. I'm not going to get into any immature cat fights like some which have taken place in other threads. I am here to discuss with others, topics which interest me.

If you're not interested, don't read. Let's respect each other, and have civilised conversations. These forums are turning into a place where people continuously attack and pick on one another. Such ashame.

Ignore those two posters my friend, they have way to much time on their hands.

Says the man who records silences on radio stations.

All I'll say is, I am here to discuss, learn and teach on specific topics I'm interested in and do not want to be dragged into any immature cat fighting.

None of us have done anything wrong at all, so let's not stir up any mischief. Everyone deserves to have a voice.

"Please ensure your reply is constructive and adds to the discussion" springs to mind when it comes to a certain individual's posts. These constant facepalm moments may have been the catalyst of recent ridicule.

I'm fairly confident Radiogram's mocking tone wasn't targeted directly at you, as such, as your contributions would be considered constructive, regardless of who it might (or might not) appeal to.

I know and I appreciate that, I'm just ensuring that people are sticking to the discussion and making sure that they aren't personally attacking people. Everyone who participates here deserves a voice.

The forums are for people like yourself, others & I, who do contribute constructively and not for those who wish those who wish to cause trouble, and pick on individuals. We can learn from each other, teach each other, and most importantly, discuss the things we're interested in.

well if you want to know I've got taped recordings of technical problems dating back to as far as 2003 to present, and even more exciting i've just bought a pack of 5 cassettes from my local Tesco store and did you not know, xmas eve/day is BIG for technical probs.

For the third straight week (maybe longer as only been checking for the last 3 weeks) a Free Radio ident went out on GEM.

Additionally on both GEM and Free Radio they started Big Top 40 off with Taylor Swift - Bad Blood

I really don't like that the Big Top 40 are now way behind schedule by the time they get in the top 10 forcing them to cut short all the songs in the top 10. They even inserted an extra ad break making things even worse. They don't play the top 10 in full like they used to.

Audio? something odd happened on Rock fm as well the Capital London ID fired off as well at the start of the Big top 40 as well, sadly Rock fm dosen,t seem to have a listen again. But Spire fm and some ukdr stations have a listen again so il try and find if they had any technical problems too.

DId they play the opening credits of the Big top 40 show or did it just go straight to Taylor Swift with Bad Blood?

Very odd indeed. Spire didn't have any issues, nor did Eagle or any others apart from Rock FM, which you mentioned, as far as I can see. Not sure about other Bauer stations. Don't know how this could've happened, as Rock/Bauer stations take the show by IRN 3 I believe. And there was no Capital London ident on the satellite feed, as I was listening and Spire/Eagle definetley carry the show by IRN 3 as I've seen their Zetta logs.

I heard yesterday, they cut Rockabye (the number 1) short as they were obviously running overtime. Marv just faded it down and brought the show to a close. Spire, Eagle and a lot of stations have Zetta/whatever playout system they use switching IRN 3 on/off through a macro. The macro also contains code that asks Zetta to listen out for the local ID trigger.

If they run overtime, they have to cut things short and if they run undertime they drop an advert or two in at the end, sometimes even a clip of the No.1 song or mentioning of a competition. As you mention, I did also notice the extra ad break in the 6PM hour.

They usually have ad breaks at:

16:30
16:45
17:00
17:20
17:50
18:00 (now a 'Breakers' feature)
18:15
18:30
18:58 (if running under time).

Here are the audios so far:

Week One
Week Two
Week Three