My AM Archive : May 2021

 INTERFERENCE, noise, propagation (fading), can be a hindrance to some broadcasts, but the feeling when the signal strength lifts and you hear the broadcast you have been waiting to hear - It's as magical as Christmas.

This post brings memories of broadcasts heard May 2021 on Medium Wave.  A previous post of Medium Wave logs, heard April 2021, 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: Sangean ATS-405.

May 2021 : Medium Wave

• [Saturday] 15 May [2021]: 1858 UTC: 1296 kHz: Radio XL 1296 AM  Asian music, followed by news at 19 UTC: Leicester City win FA Cup 1-0 v Chelsea; Israel-Palestine conflict; Tests for Covid-19 continue (Sky News). ID for XL 1296 AM. Sponsor ad: 'XL weather, sponsored by Southall Travel' male speech, music.
  Good to fair reception, 10 kW via Langley Mill (B) Birmingham.
  Ads: Builders skips. ID. OM [male] speech.
  Logged to 1910 UTC.
• 15 May: 1927 UTC: 1332 kHz: Gold Cambridgeshire  Music: The Detroit Emeralds 'Feel The Need In Me' ID: 'Across the UK - Gold' Music: Lou Rawls 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine' ID: 'More of the Soul and Motown you love - Gold'.
  Good to fair reception, 600 watts via Gunthorpe, Peterborough.
  Ads: Christian Aid week, Hearing Aids, Covid-19 tests.
  Music: The Drifters 'Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies' Presenter link: 'Another Soul and Motown double-play on Gold' - The Drifters 'Up On The Roof'.
  Logged to 1938 UTC.
  [Contact details for Gold, noted in my log, are as appear on their website, here]

List of BBC local radio transmitters and their closure dates, as featured in 'Communication', the monthly journal of the British DX Club (BDXC-UK), May 2021.

• 15 May: 1941 UTC: 1341 kHz: BBC Radio Ulster  Recurring retune announcement from the Lisnagarvey transmitter: Male with alternative listening options: Call BBC Reception: 03700 100 700; website, ID for Ulster on 1341 kHz - 'No longer available on this frequency' FM channels.
  Strong to fair reception, 100 kW via Lisnagarvey.
  Logged to 1951 UTC.
  [Listen to the retune announcement, via YouTube]
• 15 May: 2001 UTC: 1368 kHz: Manx Radio  Male host introducing a piece of music: 'Bonegasm'. Specialist (Jazz) music on Manx Radio: 'Jumpin' In' with Howard and Chris Caine (Jazz show).
  Strong to good reception, 20 kW via Foxdale (Isle of Man).
  Speech regarding the band's latest album, female band leader. Music from Mike Read and Greg Ward 'Shotgun Wedding'. 'People, Places and Things: Volume One' album. Tim Holborn, Eric Boone also in band (2013 album). 'The Wishing Stones' album, 2017. New song: 'Two Circles'.
  Logged to 2015 UTC.
  [Listen to the show, via the Manx Radio website, here]
• 15 May: 2020 UTC: 1386 kHz: Radio Baltic Waves International  Music with a 1960's style sound, speech, music. Male speech, female musician: Maria. Flamenco music.
  Strong to good reception, 75 kW via Viešintos, Lithuania.
  Programme: Radio Liberty, Russian / Belarussian service.
  Male speech, music, speech.
  Logged to 2035 UTC.

Returning to previous frequencies:

• 15 May: 2046 UTC: 1305 kHz: Premier Christian Radio  Male speech: 'If God can clear the choas in your life' male and female speech 'God says he will come to you and comfort you' Speaker became an alcoholic, saved by God.
  Good to poor reception, 500 watts via Chingford or North Looe, London.
  [Co-channel: RNE Radio 5  Good to poor reception, up to 25 kW via Ourense, Spain. Spanish language speech]
  Logged to 2056 UTC.
• 15 May: 2100 UTC: 1314 kHz: RNE Radio 5 (Cataluna)  Speech in the Spanish language by female, including 'Madrid' and 'Espana'.
  Fair to poor reception, up to 25 kW via Tarragona / Reus, Spain.
  Logged to 2107 UTC.
• 15 May: 2109 UTC: 1323 kHz: Smooth Radio  Female vocals, ID for Smooth Radio, music: Wet Wet Wet 'Love Is All Around'.
  Fair to poor reception, 500 watts via Southwick, West Sussex.
  Male speech, music: Kool & The Gang 'Cherish The Love'.
  Logged to 2115 UTC.

(WebSDR recording: 17 May 2021, 1435 UTC, 855 kHz via Preston)

• [Monday] 17 May [2021]: 1452 UTC: 855 kHz: BBC Radio Lancashire  Recurring announcement: "No longer broadcasting on this frequency. Retune to 95.5 FM ... on digital radio ... Freeview 720 ... BBC Sounds. Lancashire County Cricket commentary is now online! Check BBC reception website ... 03700 100 700".
  Fair to poor reception, 1 kW via Preston.
  Logged to 1458 UTC.