My AM Archive : Hallowe'en 2018

 QUIETLY picking up where one left off, and proceeding with logs of Medium Wave (AM) broadcasts, heard October 2018.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated August 2018, can be found here.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Logs transcribed from the original notes. Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW).

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

October 2018 : Medium Wave

• [Wednesday] 31 October [2018]: 1620 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  Focus on education, female host with a male correspondent on how to get the best out of students and teachers; Female correspondent on funds being held to assist with education, urging educational establishments and students to apply for the funding.
  Male correspondent: Sport: Rugby, Scottish football. 'SportSound' is on air at 6:30pm this evening. Rafa Nadal withdraws from Paris tennis. Gethin Jenkins withdraws due to injury.
  Traffic: Falkirk, Edinburgh, Renfrewshire.
  Drivetime news headlines at 1630 : Death of Saudi journalist.
  Strong to good reception; 100 kW via Burghead / Westerglen.
  News: Glasgow has been selected by Channel 4 as a new creative hub. Jaguar Land Rover report losses.
  Weather: Rain in Glasgow.
  Logged to 1635 UTC.
• 31 October: 1652 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Music: Roy Orbison 'I Drove All Night'.
  Paul Braithwaite on BBC Radio Cumbria, listener texts, listener reaction to a Trisha Yearwood song played earlier on the show.
  BBC Travel at 1657 UTC: A595 closure. Workington / Whitehaven roadworks, Carlisle A6 roadworks. A66 Bridgefoot, A590.
  'Newshour' Adam Powell. 1700 UTC news: Sellafield costs rising. Saudi killing. Machete attack in Cumbria. Channel 4 chooses Leeds as new HQ. University of Cumbria is studying Snow Leopards.
  Sport: Cricket: England v Sri Lanka. Manchester United Football Club.
  Weather.
  Strong to fair reception; 1 kW via Barrow-in-Furness.
  'Newshour' Top story: Sellafield costs rising.
  Logged to 1707 UTC.

1711 UTC: Meal break.

• 31 October: 1820 UTC: 846 kHz: Radio North / Gospel 846  Male speech, American accent, speaks of HBO TV series 'Band Of Brothers', using as an example of the US troops serving in the Middle East; how the US troops detained Saddam Hussein in Iraq and how God lead the troops to find Saddam.
  Contact details for Texas, USA.
  Male speaks of judging the Iraq war.
  Radio North / Gospel 846 transmitting 1 kw via Redcastle, Co Donegal. Strong to fair reception.
  Reading from the Scriptures: "Jesus was made a little lower than the Angels".
  The 'Born To Win' show, Dallas, Texas. Telephone number, online contacts.
  Music: Elvis Presley 'Marie's The Name (Latest Flame)'.
  Logged to 1829 UTC.
• 31 October: 1842 UTC: 855 kHz: Radio Nacional de Espana  Female-led speech in the Spanish language, ID jingle at 1844 UTC - Echo - Split transmitters? [Logbook shows Murcia transmitter] Fast-paced speech from both male and females continues.
  Strong to good reception; 300 kW via Murcia.
  Logged to 1852 UTC.

From the archive: Radio Utopia QSL. Utopia broadcast on 1607 - 1640 kHz, 1996.

Note: 31 October: 1859 UTC: 864 kHz: Male, singing, Arabic? Signal increase in strength at 1900 UTC, good to fair reception. British DX Club for 864 kHz shows TWR [Trans World Radio], Gavar, Armenia for Middle East & Caucasus // ERTU Qur'an programme, Santah, Egypt.
Logged to 1907 UTC.

• 31 October: 1910 UTC: 873 kHz: BBC Radio Ulster  Music: Female vocals, guitar, very much in the style of Katie Melua.
  BBC Radio Ulster, 1 kW via Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
  Live [music] performance! Irish + English speech.
  Strong to fair reception.
  Interview.
  Logged to 1920 UTC.

Cup of tea time!

• 31 October: 1940 UTC: 882 kHz: BBC Radio Wales  Music: Chic 'Everybody Dance (Clap Your Hands)'. Promo for international rugby this Saturday: Wales v Scotland in the Autumn Internationals. Music: The Supremes 'Where Did Our Love Go'. Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales.
  Strong to good reception; Up to 100 kW via Washford, Somerset.
  Janice Long talks of "dashing off to get some sweets from the kitchen!" Song by a vocalist mulling over a last day on earth. Now playing: Annie Lennox 'Love Song For A Vampire'. New music.
  Logged to 1953 UTC.

Note: 31 October: 1956 UTC: 891 kHz: Overspill from Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales, playing The Who 'I Can't Explain'.

• 31 October: 2002 UTC: 900 kHz: Rai Radio 1  Italian football, full commentary, stadium atmosphere.
  Strong to fair reception; 600 kW via Milan, Italy.
  Logged to 2012 UTC.
• 31 October: 2015 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Football: Chelsea 2 - Derby County 2 at Stamford Bridge. Thirteen minutes left in the first half. Scores in Scottish football.
  Goal for Arsenal v Blackpool (League Cup football). Co-commentary by Andy Townsend. West Ham v Tottenham Hotspur. Scott Carson in goal for Derby. Both Chelsea goals were own goals by Derby County - One was Richard Keogh.
  Strong to good reception; Up to 200 kW via Moorside Edge, West Yorkshire.
  Goal: Chelsea 3 (Cesc Fabregas) - Derby County 2. Middlesbrough 0 - Crystal Palace 0. Substitution for Middlesbrough. Latest scores. Half time: Chelsea 3 - Derby County 2.
  Logged to 2030 UTC.

From the archive: Talk Radio UK launched 14 February 1995.

Notes: 31 October: 2035 UTC: 918 kHz: Overspill from BBC Radio Five Live on 909 kHz.
2037 UTC: 927 kHz: Quiet.

• 31 October: 2040 UTC: 936 kHz: Dales Radio  Remix of 'Fast Car' (originally by Tracy Chapman). 'Spotlight on The Dales': Volunteer for The Folly at Settle. 'Settle - Leyburn - Grassington' ID. Music: Madonna 'Like A Prayer'.
  150 watts via Brunt Acres Road, Hawes, North Yorkshire. Strong to fair reception.
  Music from the 'Mamma Mia' soundtrack. Music: Randy Crawford (The Crusaders) 'Street Life'.
  Logged to 2050 UTC.
  [Notes: Dales Radio postal addresses: Colvend, Hebden Road, Grassington BD23 5LB - or - Smithy Farm, Hopperton, Knaresborough HG5 8NX]
• 31 October: 2058 UTC: 945 kHz: Smooth Radio  Ad for 'The Claims Guys' (PPI), Cancer Research UK, window fitters in Sussex, Costa Coffee. ID for Smooth Radio. Music: Berlin 'Take My Breath Away'.
  Smooth Radio - Sussex, 700 watts via Bexhill (Eastbourne). Strong to fair reception.
  Logged to 2108 UTC.
• 31 October: 2102 UTC: 945 kHz: Gold  End of a news broadcast from the Sky News centre, ID for Gold. Music: Elvis Presley 'Way Down'.
  Gold (East Midlands), 200 watts via Quarndon (Derby). Fair to poor reception.
  Logged to 2108 UTC.

"Nice music playing on 945 kHz, from the dominant Smooth Radio.  Closing this DX at 2120 UTC, on 945 kHz.

Goodnight!"

My AM Archive : August 2018

 PICKING UP where one left off, and proceeding with logs of Medium Wave (AM) broadcasts, heard August 2018.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated June 2018, can be found here.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Logs transcribed from the original notes. Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW).

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

August 2018 : Medium Wave

• [Monday] 20 August [2018]: 1753 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Interview with the mountaineer Simon Yates, reflecting on the news of Kay Longstaff, who spent ten hours in the Adriatic sea after falling overboard the Norwegian Star.
  Strong reception via Droitwich (150 kW) / Stagshaw, Northumberland (50 kW).
  Sport: [Crystal] Palace v Liverpool [Football].
  Logged to 1759 UTC.
• 20 August: 1818 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Interview with Lenny Henry - Sir Lenny Henry - with an overview of his career, starting with 'New Faces', working with Sir Trevor McDonald, creating a sketch in honour of Bishop Michael Curry, whose sermon at the Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan stole the show. How his career has changed over the years. Othello.
  Good to fair reception. Most likely to be 10 kW via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland.
  Reflecting on Comic Relief. Sir Lenny Henry has reached 60 years of age.
  The programme has ID as 'Front Row'.
  Logged to 1829 UTC.
  [ Listen to this edition of Front Row, via BBC Sounds, here ]

Note: 20 August: 1843 UTC: 747 kHz: Trace of audio on this frequency - Could it be the newly restored services from the Netherlands, 100 watts? The audio I believe I hear is just not clear enough. I believe I hear music.

• 20 August: 1848 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Interview with Alex, a stone-skimming champion. Johnny I'Anson on BBC Local Radio.
  Music: Stylistics 'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)'. Contact details for listeners to interact. Music: Thompson Twins 'Hold Me Now'.
  Good to fair reception. 1 kW via Carlisle.
  News at 19 UTC (8pm BST): Labour call for Birmingham prison inquiry. Man remanded on attempted murder. Estate agent Countrywide records losses. Gatwick Airport has technical fault with departure board. Measles in EU hits record high. Disabled woman who sailed around the world has died. Weather: Cloudy, drizzle. ID for Johnny I'Anson.
  Logged to 1904 UTC

Brew + 'Eastenders'

Valleys Radio With Compliments note, 1997.

Note: 20 August: 1937 UTC: 765 kHz: There is a trace of audio, but not enough to hear a spoken word... Possibly music.

• 20 August: 1941 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Leeds  Urban music, male host, speaking about the heavy bassline on the previous song, female ID for BBC Radio Leeds - BBC Asian Network opt-out over BBC syndicated show? Music with female vocals, male speech. Female speech, ID. Music.
  Fair to poor reception. 500 watts via Farnley, Leeds.
  Co-channel interference: Spanish football!
  Logged to 1953 UTC.
• 20 August: 2014 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  New music, male ID for BBC Radio Scotland. Clips of new music, accompanied by artist and track name. Music by Moses Sumney. The presenter is Vic Galloway. 80295 is the contact number for texts; email and social media also accessible. The Moses Sumney track was 'Rank And File'. Listener reaction.
  Strong to good reception. 100 kW via Burghead / Westerglen.
  Logged to 2025 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My FM Archive : Spring - Summer 2020

 OVER five months have passed since my last post, for which I apologise. I hope you forgive me!

I am pleased to resume bringing my handwritten radio logs online, with logs of FM broadcasts heard April and August 2020.

A previous post of FM logs, dated December 2018, can be found here.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in MegaHertz (MHz). Logs transcribed from the original notes. Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW).

Receiver used: Sangean ATS-405.

April 2020 : FM

• [Sunday] 19 April [2020]: 1519 UTC: 101.8 MHz: Classic FM  Music, male ID for Classic FM, music, male speech, link into music by Schubert. Music.
  Good to fair reception, 6.4 kW via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire.
  Speech.
  Logged to 1527 UTC.

[Tea Break]

• 19 April: 1549 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  Music: 'Flowers', ID: 'If it's trending, it's here, UK Chart Show, CFM', music: Rita Ora 'How To Be Lonely'.
  Good to fair reception, 815 watts via Broughton Moor, West Cumbria.
  Female host, UK Chart Show on CFM, trending song: Tiesto and Becky Hill, ID, ads: BBC iPlayer 'Killing Eve', People's Postcode Lottery, NHS recruiting now.
  Logged to 1602 UTC.

August 2020 : FM

• [Thursday] 13 August [2020]: 1758 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  Ad break including Benson for Beds. ID: 'From Greatest Hits Network, CFM News'  A-Level results day, rail crash in Scotland. UK economy. Coronavirus outbreak in Northampton - 19 year old in recovery. Cricket latest. CFM weather. CFM ID, male speech. Music.
  Fair to poor reception. 815 watts via Broughton Moor, West Cumbria.
  Music: Harry Styles.
  Logged to 1807 UTC.

Yorkshire Coast Radio logo, from a 'With Compliments' note, July 1996.

• 13 August: 1829 UTC: 102.5 MHz: CFM  Music from Florence And The Machine, ID for CFM, music: Tom Walker.
  Fair - Poor - Inaudible reception. 100 watts via Penrith, Cumbria.
  Logged to 1833 UTC.
• 13 August: 1900 UTC [8pm BST]: 104.5 MHz: BBC Radio Lancashire  News: A-Level results day. Covid-19 outbreak at Northampton. Fall in numbers of hospital admittances. Royal news. ID for BBC Lancashire. Music: The O'Jays 'Love Train'.
  Fair to poor reception. 2kW via Lancaster.
  Male speech, ID for song, ID for BBC Radio Lancashire. Speech about content on the show. Music: Cher 'The Shoop Shoop Song'. Male ID for Cher song; Male host and male co-host with facts regarding 'Left-handers day'.
  [Uplift in signal]
  Music: Keith Urban 'Superman'. Male ID for Keith Urban song; Male host: "Keep nominations coming in for #LancashireLandmark". Promo for Sunday Service. Music: Fat Larry's Band 'Zoom'.
  Logged to 1919 UTC.
• 13 August: 1927 UTC: 105.4 MHz: Heart  Female promo for a competition, female ID for Heart. Music: Mr Probz 'Wave After Wave'. ID for Heart. Music: Katy Perry.
  Fair to good reception. 5 kW for North West England via Winter Hill, Lancashire.
  ID for Heart, music: Robbie Williams 'Feel'. ID. Music.
  Logged to 1936 UTC.

Letter from London-based FM station Xfm, March 1994.

• 13 August: 1948 UTC: 107.7 MHz: Smooth Radio  Female speech with ID for Smooth Radio. Music: Diana Ross 'When You Tell Me That You Love Me'. Smooth Radio ID. Music: Carpenters 'Yesterday Once More'.
  Fair - Poor - Inaudible reception. 5 kW for North East England via Eston Nab, Redcar and Cleveland.
  Male speech. Ad break.
  Logged to 1958 UTC.

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