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Split AM/FM services 1988


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Old 04-01-2017, 10:39
mick.monty62
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Hi all. So back in the 1980,s as well as frequency changes and the introduction of Radio 1 to FM, why did some BBC locals have to lose their am frequencies?

Yet many were allowed to continue and at the moment many still are on AM.

What was the reason for this please?

Thanks in advance.
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Old 04-01-2017, 10:44
paulx23
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Not entirely sure, but was it something to do with the FM coverage area?
If the AM coverage matched the FM, then they lost it, but if AM reached areas that FM could not, then they kept it?

Happy to be corrected.
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Old 04-01-2017, 11:10
commseng
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That sounds about right.
For example Oxford and Northampton both lost their AM transmitters early on, and I don't recall either having many split transmissions, and their FM coverage was very similar to the AM one.

The frequencies were in demand for other services, although not in the same locations.

Radio Kent's 1035kHz ended up being used for a Country music station in London for example. Radio Oxford's 1485kHz was used in Basingstoke for a Classic Gold station.

It is discussed in this old thread.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1389283
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Old 04-01-2017, 12:56
swb1964
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I don't think Oxford ever got an oldies service did it?

I know Fox FM was FM only from day one..unless Chiltern Gold reached the city?
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Old 04-01-2017, 15:07
Shrewn
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I think BRMB split at weekends around 1986 with a sort of normal service on AM and FM being used to more 'worthy' output
BBC WM lost their AM frequency to create the Asian Network
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Old 04-01-2017, 16:17
mick.monty62
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That sounds about right.
For example Oxford and Northampton both lost their AM transmitters early on, and I don't recall either having many split transmissions, and their FM coverage was very similar to the AM one.

The frequencies were in demand for other services, although not in the same locations.

Radio Kent's 1035kHz ended up being used for a Country music station in London for example. Radio Oxford's 1485kHz was used in Basingstoke for a Classic Gold station.

It is discussed in this old thread.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1389283
I've just looked at this link. It tells me all I needed to know. Very informative.

Many thanks to you.
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Old 04-01-2017, 16:30
commseng
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I don't think Oxford ever got an oldies service did it?

I know Fox FM was FM only from day one..unless Chiltern Gold reached the city?
Oxford was always a bit of a hole for MW reception - Radio 1 in the 275 / 285 days wasn't good on either. Fox FM was erm, FM only, and Radio Oxford lost their MW tx as discussed.

None of the surrounding ILR stations would have had much of a signal into Oxford, maybe you could DX some, but for the normal listener there wouldn't have have been a reliable service.
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Old 04-01-2017, 17:08
radamfi
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Oxford was a latecomer to Independent Local Radio so by that stage new stations were given FM or AM but not both. As Fox FM got FM, it never got an AM service.
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Old 04-01-2017, 18:58
Andrew Rogers
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I lived in Oxford from 1983-86 and reception of other ILRs was extremely variable. In my fourth floor room (no lift) you were rewarded with

95.8 Capital Radio
96.4 Wiltshire Radio/GWR
96.6 County Sound
97.0 Radio 210
97.3 LBC
97.6 Chiltern
102.8 Hereward Northampton
103.6 Radio Mercury

The ground floor room was easier to get to but I could only pick up Chiltern on FM there. On AM Chiltern came in during daytime only, I think. Chiltern Supergold came much later.
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Old 04-01-2017, 19:47
swb1964
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Good to hear from you Andrew. I still miss UK Radio Forums.

Yeah Chiltern Gold was post 1990 I think. Sister station was branded Chiltern Hot FM

You could just about get Chiltern FM in Burton upon Trent most of the time, it had a massive signal.
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Old 04-01-2017, 19:52
Mark C
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That sounds about right.
For example Oxford and Northampton both lost their AM transmitters early on, and I don't recall either having many split transmissions, and their FM coverage was very similar to the AM one.

The frequencies were in demand for other services, although not in the same locations.

Radio Kent's 1035kHz ended up being used for a Country music station in London for example. Radio Oxford's 1485kHz was used in Basingstoke for a Classic Gold station.
Yes, 1485 was technically there to replicate the 102.9 FM coverage for 2-Ten, the Tx
was just south of Newbury. It closed in May 2015, because the Reading 1431 AM Tx at Manor Farm had to be removed for the area to redeveloped. As the two transmitters formed the same service licence, 1485 had to go too. More dogmatic behaviour from Ofcom

The final post in that thread is surprising !

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...6&postcount=34

BRMB, Beacon, and BBC Brum (now WM) receivable on FM in Betws-y-Coed

Really ?!
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Old 04-01-2017, 20:34
kcsvenson
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Whilst at Viking around 86, they also split frequencies on weekend afternoons..

On a Saturday, Sport was on FM and a Music programme was on AM

On Sunday Afternoons, FM had a Country Music Programme. In the Winter months, they would have a Rugby League show on AM, and in the Summer, they would have a music show.

This happened until they split frequencies 24/7 in 1988.
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Old Yesterday, 00:22
Ennerjee
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The final post in that thread is surprising !

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...6&postcount=34

BRMB, Beacon, and BBC Brum (now WM) receivable on FM in Betws-y-Coed

Really ?!
It wouldn't surprise me back then. There were fewer stations and a lot more room on the frequency bands as well as open countryside into Wales. Beacon did "soup up" their signals and 303m and 97.2 were very well audible about just as far Eastwards.
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Old Yesterday, 06:37
swb1964
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Is Betws high up or in a valley? The distance as the crow (or radio signal) flies isn't that far, it's all about the terrain.
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Old Yesterday, 07:42
N.Dean
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Oxford was always a bit of a hole for MW reception - Radio 1 in the 275 / 285 days wasn't good on either. Fox FM was erm, FM only, and Radio Oxford lost their MW tx as discussed.

None of the surrounding ILR stations would have had much of a signal into Oxford, maybe you could DX some, but for the normal listener there wouldn't have have been a reliable service.
Radio 2 on 693kHz was usable most of the time ( not 909kHz, due to to CCI between Brokmans Park and Clevedon ).
Chiltern 828kHz was quite strong.
Luxembourg 1440kHz was strong after dark.

Now, Absolute on 1197kHz is strong in Oxford.
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Old Yesterday, 09:09
Shrewn
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Is Betws high up or in a valley? The distance as the crow (or radio signal) flies isn't that far, it's all about the terrain.
The village is a valley but the signals travel through for some reason. I live not too far away and the midlands stations come through well. I live in an old cottage and it's original to areal received midlands tv when I moved in pre switch off
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Old Yesterday, 13:01
N.Dean
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That sounds about right.
For example Oxford and Northampton both lost their AM transmitters early on, and I don't recall either having many split transmissions, and their FM coverage was very similar to the AM one.

The frequencies were in demand for other services, although not in the same locations.

Radio Kent's 1035kHz ended up being used for a Country music station in London for example. Radio Oxford's 1485kHz was used in Basingstoke for a Classic Gold station.

It is discussed in this old thread.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1389283
Radio Northampton's 1107kHz was taken for Talk Radio ( now talkSPORT ) in The Wash area. The MW transmissions used to get over the hills to the south of Northampton, but VHF doesn't.
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