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Split AM/FM services 1988 |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 19
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Split AM/FM services 1988
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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#2 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Staffordshire
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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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#3 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: London
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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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#4 |
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Join Date: Jan 2015
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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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#5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
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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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#6 |
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Join Date: Jun 2016
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Quote:
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 Many thanks to you. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: London
Posts: 710
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Quote:
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? 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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#8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Crawley, West Sussex
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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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#9 |
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Worcester
Posts: 506
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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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#10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,446
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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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#11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 8,075
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Quote:
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. 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 Quote:
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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#12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Brough, East Yorkshire
Posts: 24
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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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#13 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: London
Posts: 4,450
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Quote:
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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#14 |
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,446
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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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#15 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 955
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Quote:
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. Chiltern 828kHz was quite strong. Luxembourg 1440kHz was strong after dark. Now, Absolute on 1197kHz is strong in Oxford. |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,780
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Quote:
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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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 955
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Quote:
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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