Showing posts with label BBC Radio 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC Radio 4. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

My AM Archive : November 2020

 CURIOSITY is a personality trait I have, which is probably why I have spent around 35 years exploring the radio bands and jotting down what I hear, then contacting the broadcasters I heard, who in turn have kindly replied with letters, stickers, flyers, leaflets, which I use to illustrate these posts.

This post covers Medium Wave broadcasts I heard November 2020.  A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated October 2020, 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.

November 2020 : Medium Wave
  • [Sunday] 29 November [2020]: 1503 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live  FA Cup football updates, snooker update from Milton Keynes: Ronnie O'Sullivan leads. Premier League football: Alistair Bruce-Ball and Karen Carney commentating on Southampton v Manchester United: Southampton lead 2-0. Dean Henderson replaces David De Gea in the Manchester United goal.
    Strong reception. 150 kW via Droitwich / 50 kW via Stagshaw.
    GOAL in FA Cup: Carlisle United 1 (Mellish) - Doncaster Rovers 2.
    Logged to 1512 UTC.
  • 29 November: 1522 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Drama: 'The Continuing Adventures of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (Deceased)'.
    Good reception. 10 kW via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland.
    Logged to 1527 UTC.
    Flyer from Manchester United Radio
    Broadcast from Old Trafford, first on air March 5, 1994
    Manchester United Radio broadcast on 1413 kHz.
  • 29 November: 1532 UTC: 729 kHz: BBC Essex  Norman's birthday next week (next Sunday), Val and Norman will be travelling next week. Music: 'People Get Ready' Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. "Number 3 on Ian's Top 5 chart" Luther Vandross 'Since I Lost My Baby'.
    Good to poor reception; 200 watts via Manningtree (North Essex).
    Logged to 1544 UTC.
  • 29 November: 1558 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Chris Beech, Carlisle United Football Club manager, speaking to BBC's James Phillips. FA Cup: United 1 - Doncaster Rovers 2, full time. Paul Newton and Chris Lumsdon reply to fans reaction following today's match. Summary of the fans reaction by James Phillips. Next match: Carlisle United v Salford City this coming week.
    Strong to good reception. 1 kW via Carlisle.
    1604 UTC: Now on air: Joe Costin with the Seventies (music) show. Music: 'Ruby Tuesday'.
    Logged to 1607 UTC.
  • 29 November: 1616 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Leeds  Olly Woodcock hosting the afternoon show, female guest is a theatre director and head of Utopia Theatre Company.
    500 watts via Farnley, Leeds.
    Music from Harry Styles 'Adore You'. Co-channel interference from RNE Valencia. Utopia Theatre company developing a play to help African actors. Performances were held between lockdowns. Conversation continues, not at a comfortable audible level.
    Fair to poor reception.
    Logged to 1628 UTC.
Notes: Contact addresses:
    BBC Essex  198 New London Road, Chelmsford  CM2 9XB
    BBC Radio Cumbria  Annetwell Street, Carlisle  CA3 8BB
    BBC Radio Leeds  Broadcasting Centre, 2 St Peter's Square, Leeds  LS9 8AH

Friday, March 13, 2026

My AM Archive : October 2020

 BROADCASTS heard on the Medium Wave band feature in this post, covering broadcasts heard October 2020.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated September 2020, 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.

October 2020 : Medium Wave
  • [Saturday] 24 October [2020]: 1746 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Folk music, male vocal, acoustic guitar, harmonica. Very much in the style of Bob Dylan.  Tré Burt was the artist.
    Interview with Mark Radcliffe regarding a new Folk music chart. ID for BBC Radio 4. Mark Radcliffe has also published a new book.
    Strong to good reception, 2 kW via Wrekenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
    Mark Radcliffe talks about Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath).
    'Loose Ends' was the show, Clive Anderson was the host.
    [Listen via BBC Sounds]
    Logged to 1757 UTC.
  • 24 October: 1804 UTC: 612 kHz: RNE Radio 1  Two male commentators at a football fixture - GOAL! Spanish broadcast, stadium music. Goal for Pamplona v Beti Onak - Music, sound effects, the works.
    RNE Radio 1 via Vitoria, Spain. Good to fair reception. 10 kW transmission.
    Logged to 1816 UTC.
  • 24 October: 1823 UTC: 621 kHz: RNE Radio 1  continuing the football commentary.
    Fair to poor reception via Canaries (300 kW) or Spanish Isles (10 kW).
    Logged to 1830 UTC.
  • 24 October: 1840 UTC: 639 kHz: CRo2 Dvojka  Music: Phil Collins 'In The Air Tonight'. Speech by females. Music: Female vocal, piano, guitar, drums, bass.
    This broadcast is CRo2 Dvojka, Prague, CZE. Strong to good reception. Liblice transmission site, 750 kW. Co-channel interference from RNE Bilbao (Spain).
    Female speech, music: Christina Perry 'Jar of Hearts'.
    Logged to 1855 UTC.
  • 24 October: 1858 UTC: 639 kHz: RNE Radio 1  Bilbao, Spain. Strong to good reception.
    Male commentators at football (Stadium noise evident). La Coruna transmission site, 300 kW.
    Co-channel interference from CRo2 Dvojka.
    Logged to 1906 UTC.
    From the archive:
     Radio Netherlands
    Long Distance Medium Wave Listening guide
    by Steve Whitt, April 1994.

  • 24 October: 1916 UTC: 648 kHz: Radio Caroline  Steve Miller Band 'Climb Aboard A Jet Plane', Status Quo 'Paper Plane' from the album 'Piledriver'.
    Male host, ID for Caroline.
    Strong to fair reception. 1 kW transmission via Orfordness.
    Music: Mike & The Mechanics, ABC 'The Love Inside The Love'. Vocals from Olivia Sparnenn on 'Breathing Space', a song by the band Mostly Autumn. ID jingle. The host of the show is named Lee. Ad break: Meditech, Suffolk Car Company, ACS car sales, Inflight goods website. ID, music.
    Logged to 1936 UTC.
  • 24 October: 1939 UTC: 657 kHz: RNE Radio 5  Spanish speech, males and females. Male on telephone speaking of music.
    RNE Radio 5 via Madrid transmission site, 100 kW.
    Strong to good reception, co-channel interferences and fading (propagation).
    Logged to 1945 UTC.
  • 24 October: 1953 UTC: 684 kHz: RNE Radio 1  Football, male and female speech, ID.
    Strong to good reception, Sevilla, Spain, 200 kW transmission.
    Logged to 2000 UTC.
  • 24 October: 2005 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live  Stephen Nolan is on air on BBC Radio 5 Live; Wales has entered into a Covid-19 lockdown, originally due to last two weeks, but now extended to seventeen days.
    Strong to good reception - Most likely 50 kW via Stagshaw, Northumberland (up to 150 kW via Droitwich, Worcester). Co-channel interference by RNE Radio 1.
    Logged to 2015 UTC.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

My AM Archive : April 2020

 WARM welcome to a continuing thread of Medium Wave radio broadcasts heard by me. This post brings a single log of a broadcast heard on a Sunday afternoon in April 2020, during the UK-wide Covid-19 lockdown.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated February 2020, 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.

April 2020 : Medium Wave
  • [Sunday] 19 April [2020]: 1254 UTC: 1485 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Collection of voices: Female on a telephone, male and female voices. This programme is 'The Listening Project', with 'The Power of Conversation' as the subject, presented by Fi Glover.
    Top of the hour time 'pips' followed by female voice "BBC News..."
    BBC Radio 4 via [Brisco] Carlisle, fair to poor reception. 1 kW via [Brisco] Carlisle.
    Male and female speech [parallel to BBC Radio 4 on 92.5 MHz FM] - Programme on air is 'Gardeners' Question Time', styled as 'GQT At Home', due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Peter Gibbs hosts the show from home.
    Logged to 1312 UTC.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

My AM Archive : February 2020

 VERY warm welcome to a continuing thread of Medium Wave radio broadcasts heard by me. This post brings logs of broadcasts heard February 2020.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated November 2019, 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.

February 2020 : Medium Wave
  • [Friday] 7 February [2020]: 1500 UTC: 1341 kHz: BBC Radio Ulster  News: Change in employment laws in the UK and Northern Ireland. Philip Schofield announces he is gay.
    Sport: Women's Six Nations [Rugby] Championships; South Africa v England Cricket delayed by rain.
    Weather: Storm Ciara due this weekend.
    ID. Travel news: Belfast, Londonderry, sailings. Easyjet flight disruption. ID.
    Male host, looking to Valentine's Day next week. Contacts: 03030 (telephone), 81771 (text).
    "Officially starting your weekend", telephone messages. Music: George Michael medley.
    Good to fair reception. 100 kW via Lisnagarvey, Co Down.
    Music: Gregory Porter 'Revival'.
    Logged to 1514 UTC.
  • 7 February: 1526 UTC: 1368 kHz: Manx Radio  Music: Dermot Kennedy 'Power Over Me'.
    Interview with cast members and director of 'Sound Of Music' production. Female host.
    Strong to good reception. 20 kW via Foxdale.
    Pre-recorded interview with Tony, Liz and Beth - Call the Villa box office for tickets for 'Sound Of Music'. Music: Ingrid Michaelson 'Young And In Love'.
    Female ID, 'Today's Dominoes Pizza Challenge': "How many grapes go into a bottle of wine?"
    Ads: Corkhill Removals, Hydro Hotel, Queen's Promenade, B and B, furniture. ID.
    'Gogglebox Guru': Theme music for 'Antiques Roadshow'. Manx Radio Record of the Week: Gregory Porter 'Revival'.
    Logged to 1543 UTC.
From the Archive: Radio Prague Medium Wave schedule, Summer 2003.
  • 7 February: 1601 UTC: 1413 kHz: BBC Radio Gloucester  Female speech: Shamima Begum loses appeal to return to UK from ISIS camp, male speech on telephone, female speech. BBC News. ID for BBC Radio Gloucester, music: Edwyn Collins 'A Girl Like You'.
    Good to fair reception. 500 watts via Bourton-on-the-Water, East Gloucestershire or 200 watts via Berkeley Heath, South west Gloucestershire.
    Female speech, ID, speech, ID, "Send in your sound recordings of when you're running". Music: Gerry Rafferty 'Get It Right This Time'. Song ID, time check, new version of 'Wind In The Willows' being on stage in Gloucestershire, interview with the cast.
    Logged to 1618 UTC.
  • 7 February: 1629 UTC: 1431 kHz: Smooth Radio  Music: The Police 'Every Breath You Take', ID "This is Smooth Radio" Music: Alicia Keys 'Empire State Of Mind'.
    Fair to barely audible - 350 watts via Southend-on-Sea (Rayleigh) or 140 watts via Reading (Manor Farm).
    Music: Elton John 'Sacrifice'.
    Logged to 1640 UTC.
  • 7 February: 1648 UTC: 1440 kHz: Radio 208  Music: Split Enz 'I Got You', ID for Radio 208. Music: Rockwell 'Somebody's Watching Me'. Speech.
    Good to poor reception. Co-channel broadcast. 300 watts (possibly up to 500 watts) via Ishøj, Copenhagen, Denmark.
    Male speech (in Danish?) with ID. Music.
    Logged to 1705 UTC.
  • 7 February: 1709 UTC: 1449 kHz: BBC Radio 4  News from Wuhan, China, the coronavirus epidemic. Scout association news story. Philip Schofield announces on television he is gay. Female host speaks to male whose parents were gay and lesbian.
    Good to fair reception. 2 kW via Redmoss, Aberdeen.
    Doctors asked to investigate why some medicine stocks are low.
    Logged to 1721 UTC.
  • 7 February: 1729 UTC: 1458 kHz: Lyca Radio  Male speech "I have danced to this song..." Asian music. ID by presenter "Online, on DAB, on AM" music, male host.
    Strong to good reception. 125 kW via Brookmans Park, London.
    ID, music.
    Logged to 1739 UTC.
  • 7 February: 1746 UTC: 1476 kHz: Carillon Wellbeing Radio  Music: Matt Monro 'A Portrait Of My Love' Female host. Music: Lionel Richie; Gloria Gaynor 'I Will Survive'.
    Strong to fair reception via Coalville, 250 watts.
    Music: Justin Hayward 'Forever Autumn'. ID at 1800 UTC.
    Sky News: Philip Schofield, Shamima Begum loses appeal. One hundred and two migrants cross the Channel today alone. Sport: Cricket. Weather.
    ID "Radio about health in Leicestershire, C W R, broadcasting on 1476 kHz" Music: 'I Want Candy', 'I Love My Radio' ! 😊
    Logged to 1806 UTC.
• Evening meal break •
Audio: LBC News retune loop, broadcast on 1152 kHz Medium Wave, October 2024.
  • 7 February: 2006 UTC: 1485 kHz: SER Spain  Male and female speech, with music.
    Good to fair reception. 5 kW transmission.
    Female speech in Spanish language, male speech in Spanish language.
    Logged to 2014 UTC.
  • 7 February: 2019 UTC: 1494 kHz: Asphalt Telegraph  Music, on a channel of very heavy noise.
    Fair to poor reception. 300 watts via Boras, Sweden.
    Music: Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson 'Nothing Breaks Like A Heart'.
    Logged to 2032 UTC.
  • 7 February: 2044 UTC: 1521 kHz: Radio Panj  Mixture of British and Asian voices and music on Radio Panj, Coventry.
    Fair reception. 100 watts via Coventry (Ryton on Dunsmore).
    Male host speaking in Asian language, music.
    Logged to 2051 UTC.
  • 7 February: 2056 UTC: 1530 kHz: Pulse 2  Ad break: Bathrooms and kitchens, Bradford College and Training Services, "Book your services today" Residential services for the elderly.
    Fair to poor reception. 740 watts via Vicar's Lot, Huddersfield.
    Sky news at 9pm (2100 UTC) : Philip Schofield.
    Logged to 2104 UTC.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

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!

Thursday, August 1, 2024

My FM Archive: April 2018

 LOGS of FM broadcasts, heard springtime 2018, is what I hope you will enjoy on this post.

A previous post of FM logs, dated September 2011, 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 (making its debut!).

April 2018 : FM
  • [Thursday] 12 April [2018]: 1903 UTC: 88.1 MHz: BBC Radio 2  News, Jo Whiley, music: Kings Of Leon 'Sex On Fire'.
    250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria. Excellent reception.
    Logged to 1906 UTC.
    Also: 1918 UTC: 90.0 MHz: Music: Donna Summer 'I Feel Love' Jo Whiley, promo for 'Blood On The Tracks' with Colin Murray. Music.
    Fair to poor reception. 10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancs].
    Logged to 1923 UTC.
  • 12 April: 1925 UTC: 90.3 MHz: BBC Radio 3  Piano and orchestra - Very nice.
    Strong reception (Very little bit of noise). 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
    Applause. Steven Osbourne, Scottish Symphony Orchestra, City Hall, Glasgow.
    Beethoven's Piano Symphony.
    Logged to 1930 UTC.

    [Cup of tea time]

    Also: 1949 UTC: 92.2 MHz: The Piano concert from the City Halls, Glasgow, continues.
    Good to fair reception.
    'Radio 3 In Concert' with Jamie McDougall.
    10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancashire].
    Logged to 1955 UTC.
  • 12 April: 1958 UTC: 92.5 MHz: BBC Radio 4  'In Business' with Ms Balderstone. Promo for a new series: 'Chinese Characters'.
    20 UTC news: Chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Child sex abuse in Rochdale. Sir Cliff Richard sues the BBC. Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland. UAE Princess runs away to India.
    'Inside Science' is now on the air. Agriculture.
    Excellent reception. 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
    Logged to 2005 UTC.
    Also: 2020 UTC: 94.4 MHz: 'Inside Science' on Radio 4 continues - with a visit to a particle physics laboratory - Rutherford-Appleton Lab.
    Strong to good reception. 10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancs].
    Logged to 2024 UTC.
Historic BBC Radio Scotland logo.
  • 12 April: 2027 UTC: 94.7 MHz: BBC Radio Scotland  'The Quay Sessions' with Sam Fender. Presenter: Roddy Hart. Live music from Sam Fender (and his band).
    Good reception (Little bit of noise). 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria, primarily for South west Scotland (with opt-outs from Dumfries, Scotland).
    Logged to 2034 UTC.
  • 12 April: 2041 UTC: 95.6 MHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Georgey Spanswick with a male author, who has written a book about winds, including the Helm Wind, which blows on the Eden - Pennine fellside in Cumbria. 'Where The Wild Winds Are' is the name of the book.
    Good to fair reception. 15 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
    The author is Nick Hunt. Music: Culture Club 'Karma Chameleon'.
    Logged to 2048 UTC.
    Also: 2053 UTC: 96.1 MHz: Georgey Spanswick. Music: Barry White 'Let The Music Play'.
    Good to fair reception. 3.2 kW via Morecambe Bay.
    Logged to 2056 UTC.
  • 12 April: 2058 UTC: 96.4 MHz: CFM  Ad break: McDonald's. PerTemps (recruitment). The Wedding Store, 1 Victoria Viaduct, Carlisle. Bowel screening. Composite doors: Trinity Earth. NatWest. S P Training. CFM Dating.
    21 UTC news: British Government to respond to Syrian chemical attack. Novichock used in Salisbury attack.  CFM ID and song crash into news bulletin (Rochdale, Carpetright) Princess Anne visits Duke of Edinburgh in hospital. News bulletin by Barry Weir. Song which crashed the news continues.
    Good to fair reception. 3 kW via Caldbeck.
    'Mellow CFM' Music: Prince 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World'.
    Logged to 2106 UTC.
  • 12 April: 2119 UTC: 96.9 MHz: Heart (North Lancashire)  Music: Beyonce. Female host, speaking of dating disasters. Ad break: Mix of local & national ads, including Mike Hughes Fitted Interiors (Barrow), kart racing, Admiral insurance, MoneySupermarket. Lionel Richie in concert, Brunton Park, Carlisle. Morecambe hotel. Music: Westlife.
    Heart North Lancashire was formerly The Bay.
    Good reception. 3.2 kW via Morecambe Bay.
    Logged to 2127 UTC.
  • 12 April: 2134 UTC: 97.2 MHz: Manx Radio  (Isle of Man)  Music: Ella Henderson 'Ghost', male host, Manx Radio covering Commonwealth Games, weather, waters forecast from Ronaldsway. Ads: Jack's Bar & Steakhouse. Pets medical treatment. Walk the Millennium Way on the Isle of Man. Manx Radio + Manx Telecom live from Australia at 8am for the Commonwealth Games. Music.
    Good to fair reception. 11.3 kW via Carnane, Isle of Man.
    Manx Radio ID, male host, 'Roots' song. Chubby Checker 'The Twist'.
    Logged to 2145 UTC.
Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower - Enjoy listening to your radio!

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

My FM Archive: September 2011

 KNOWLEDGE of the Medium (AM) and Short Wave broadcasts have been plentiful on this blog, so let's take a little break and bring some memories of broadcasts heard on the FM band.

A previous post of FM logs, dating back to November 1997, 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: Roberts R881.

September 2011 : FM
  • [Sunday] 4 September [2011]: 1019 UTC: 88.1 MHz: BBC Radio 2 via Sandale, Cumbria.
    250 kW [kiloWatts]. Full power.
  • 4 September: 1024 UTC: 89.0 MHz: Music from Manx Radio, broadcasting 2 kW on this frequency, via Snaefell, Isle of Man.
    Male speech and music.
    Logged to 1033 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1041 UTC: 90.0 MHz: BBC Radio 2 via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire.
    10 kW. Full power. Movie review.
    Logged to 1048 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1051 UTC: 90.3 MHz: BBC Radio 3 via Sandale, Cumbria.
    250 kW. Full power.
    Also: 1100 UTC: 92.2 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. 10 kW. Good reception.
    'Sunday Morning' ID 'Private Passions' Pottery.
    Logged to 1106 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1108 UTC: 92.5 MHz: BBC Radio 4 via Sandale, Cumbria.
    250 kW. Full power.
    Also: 1125 UTC: 94.4 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. 10 kW. Good reception.
    'Just A Minute'.
    Logged to 1131 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1133 UTC: 94.7 MHz: BBC Radio Scotland via Sandale, Cumbria, for South West Scotland, 250 kW. Full power.
    Weather forecast.
Sandale transmitter.
  • 4 September: 1144 UTC: 95.6 MHz: BBC Radio Cumbria via Sandale [pictured above] 15 kW. Full power.
    Music: George Macrae 'Rock Your Baby'. Promo for BBC Radio Cumbria weekends. ID for John Mann. Music: 'Mary's Prayer', a 1987 song by Danny Wilson.
    Also: 1150 UTC: 96.1 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, 3.2 kW.
    Good reception. The John Mann Show. Music: Bill Wyman.
    Logged to 1155 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1157 UTC: 96.4 MHz: Music from SWV 'Right Here' on CFM 'The Golden Sunday' ID, male host. Ad break.
    Good reception via Caldbeck, Cumbria. 3 kW.
Break at 1203 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1257 UTC: 96.9 MHz: 'Solid Gold Sunday' on The Bay  ID. Music: ABBA 'Super Trouper', ID, John Lennon 'Just Like Starting Over'. ID: 'Kendal, Lancaster, Barrow - The Bay'.
    News at 1300 UTC: Alistair Darling criticises Gordon Brown over his handling of the economy. Libya latest. Rebecca Leighton plans to sue police. Police may make pubs and clubs pay for policing. Mo Farah wins gold medal.
    'The Phantom of the Bay' contest. 'Best of the 80s' Music from Bananarama. Music from Tina Turner 'What's Love Got To Do With It'.
    This is The Bay via Morecambe Bay, 3.2 kW (Studio in Lancaster).
    Music: Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney 'The Girl Is Mine'.
    Good reception. Darren Milby is the host.
    Logged to 1315 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1320 UTC: 97.2 MHz: Ad break: Butchers in Douglas. Britannia International branches in Douglas and Port Erin. Presenter: Bob Harrison on Manx Radio ID.
    This is Manx Radio broadcasting 10 kW via Carnane, Isle of Man. Good reception.
    Music: Katie Melua 'A Happy Place'. Cher Lloyd. Toyah Wilcox will be playing live on the Isle of Man soon. Interview with Toyah Wilcox.
    Logged to 1330 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1355 UTC: 97.7 MHz: BBC Radio 1  Music: The Verve 'Bittersweet Symphony'.
    Transmission site: Sandale, Cumbria. 250 kW. Full power.
    Dev is the host, 'Resident DJ' feature.
    Also: 1406 UTC: 99.6 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, 10 kW. Strong reception.
    Music: The Noisettes. BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards in October.
    Logged to 1412 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1416 UTC: 99.9 MHz: Classic FM via Sandale, Cumbria. 250 kW. Full power.
    Also: 1426 UTC: 101.8 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancs, 6.4 kW. Good reception.
    Violin Concerto.
    Logged to 1430 UTC.
Morecambe Bay transmitter.
  • 4 September: 1435 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  ID: 'This is CFM'. Music: JLS. ID, Music: Stereophonics.
    CFM for West Cumbria via Workington, 815 watts. Poor reception.
    Logged to 1442 UTC.
    Also: 1447 UTC: 102.5 MHz: Music: Adele 'Rolling In The Deep', ID for CFM, rap music.
    Fair reception of CFM via Penrith relay, 100 watts.
    Music: Katy Perry 'California Girls'.
    Logged to 1452 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1501 UTC: 104.1 MHz: Anne Hopper on BBC Radio Cumbria via Whitehaven, 1 kW. Poor reception.
    Logged to 1506 UTC.
  • 4 September: 1508 UTC: 104.5 MHz: BBC Radio Lancashire  Strong reception, music: Glee 'Sway'. Presenter: Gerald Jackson. Contact details: Telephone number, text number, email.
    Pete in Rochdale requests 'Sowing The Seeds of Love' by Tears For Fears.
    Strong reception via Lancaster, 2 kW.
    Dave in Blackpool texts Big Country, Chris Rea.
    Marie Meagan travel news: M6 clear, M55 good, Blackburn lights. Preston-Wigan: bus replace trains. Blackburn reverse one-way system.
    Live Lancashire football. Featured single: Avril Lavigne.
    Logged to 1520 UTC.
Notes:
The Morecambe Bay transmitter.  I must admit, prior to this post, I had not researched the location of the said transmission site. I had pictured it in my mind as a mast on the shores of the Bay, with the sun shining brightly overhead. The Google map above shows a slightly different location to that I had pictured in my mind; A location that is actually within the Askam-Ireleth parish of South Cumbria, to the east of Askam-in-Furness, to the west of Ulverston. Here is a Google maps link to the location within South Cumbria; The location marked by the red pin.
You really do learn something new everyday.

Goodbye, old friends.  You won't find CFM or The Bay on your radio anymore. Bauer Media absorbed CFM into their Greatest Hits brand, whilst Global Media absorbed The Bay into their Heart network.
Similarly, some of the presenters named above have moved on to pastures new.
John Mann, listed above on air for BBC Radio Cumbria, is now on air Monday evenings on Regency Radio.
Darren Milby, listed above on air for The Bay, now broadcasts for BBC Radio Lancashire and Gaydio.
I shall assume Bob Harrison (Manx Radio) and Anne Hopper (BBC Radio Cumbria) have [been?] retired, whilst Gerald Jackson (BBC Radio Lancashire) is now on air Sunday afternoons on Rossendale Radio.

The lost frequencies.  A very small cluster of frequencies did not make the cut in this post - As I did not know who the broadcasters were at the time. I noted I heard an interview with Pixie Lott on a chart show, which was audible at 1605 UTC, on the frequencies of 105.4 MHz (Possibly NW England - Winter Hill), 105.3 MHz (possibly NE England - Burnhope) and 105.6 MHz (Possibly Fenham, 50 watts, NE England).

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower - Enjoy listening to your radio!

Sunday, March 20, 2022

My AM Archive: October 2015

 AUTUMN 2015 brings these memories of Medium Wave radio broadcasts, heard in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, England.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: August 2015, can be found here.

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

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

October 2015 : Medium Wave
  • [Tuesday] 20 October [2015]: 1817 UTC: 531 kHz: Jil FM [Algeria]  Music: Choral singing, speech by female. Music and speech interchanging. French language speech.
    Fair to poor reception.
    Music: The Beatles 'The Long And Winding Road' ['Signal at best level at this point']; Music: Dionne Warwick 'Walk On By'.
    Transmission site: F'Kirina [Algeria] 600 kW.
    Logged to 1840 UTC.
Logo for Kossuth Radio, Budapest, Hungary.
  • 20 October: 1848 UTC: 540 kHz: Kossuth Radio [Hungary]  Speech from male and female, ident, continuation of speech. Strong signal from MR1 Kossuth Radio, broadcasting in the Hungarian language, from Hungary. Reception fading.
    Good to poor reception.
    Top of the hour idents.
    MR1 Kossuth Radio via Solt [Hungary] 2 MW (2 MegaWatts!).
    Logged to 1900 UTC.
  • 20 October: 1914 UTC: 549 kHz: UR1 Pershiy kanal [Ukraine]  Speech, followed by music: Eiffel 65 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)'. Sports programme? Weaker signal. Male speech.
    Fair reception; 550 kW via Mykolaiv/Luch [Ukraine].
    Logged to 1923 UTC.
  • 20 October: 1925 UTC: 549 kHz: Spirit Radio [Ireland]  Pop / rock song, link by female into Spirit Radio ID, segue into next song.
    Good to poor reception; English language via Carrickroe transmission site, Co Donegal. 11 / 25 kW.
    Music at 1934 UTC; Male speech at 1935 UTC. Contact details for Co Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. Programme: Evenings with Olga Kaye.
    Logged to 1945 UTC.
  • 20 October: 1951 UTC: 549 kHz: Deutschlandfunk [Germany]  Long piano piece, applause, male speech in German language.
    Fair to poor reception via Thurnau [Germany] 100 kW.
    Programme: 'Jazz Live' Vijay Iyer.
    Logged to 20:02 UTC.
  • 20 October: 2034 UTC: 576 kHz: RNE Radio 5 [Spain]  Barely audible, but clear, Spanish, male speech.
    Poor reception via Barcelona [Spain] 100 kW.
    Logged to 2041 UTC.
  • 20 October: 2046 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  Sport: Interview with Alan Stubbs, speaking about the standard of refereeing in football; Discussion also included fourth officials and linesmen - Sudden interjection by music! Male host then apologises for interruption by music, returning to football discussion, following tonight's match which was Hibernian FC v Falkirk FC. Programme: 'SportSound'.
    Excellent to fair reception; 2 kW via Dumfries, Scotland.
    10pm [UK time] news headlines: Steelworks in Motherwell & Clyde to be mothballed. Sport & weather updates.
    Programme: 'Another Country' with Ricky Ross: Owen Bradley: The Nashville Sound. Country music show, playing Patsy Cline 'Walking After Midnight' followed by 'Night Train To Memphis'.
    Logged to 2100 UTC.
Google Maps image of the Dumfries transmission site.
  • 20 October: 21:11 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio 4  'The World Tonight' Report regarding China's [President] Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK, meeting the Royal Family.
    Excellent to good reception; 2 kW via Wrekenton (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne).
    Logged to 2121 UTC.
  • 20 October: 2127 UTC: 603 kHz: France Info  Strong, clear speech from France Info! Male speech with regards to Bashar Assad, the leader of war-torn Syria. Speech from female, male, idents and 'stabs'.
    Excellent to fair reception; 300 kW via Tramoyes, Lyon, France.
    Preview of the new 'Star Wars' movie to be released! Football: Champions League football update.
    [Broadcast in French language]
    Logged to 2144 UTC.
  • 20 October: 2157 UTC: 621 kHz: RTBF International [Belgium]  Very faint music, very faint speech, female reading frequencies in kiloHertz. Music. Off air at 2200 UTC.
    Fair reception; 300 kW via Wavre, Belgium.
    Logged to 2200 UTC.
  • 20 October: 2207 UTC: 630 kHz: BBC Three Counties Radio  Music: Petula Clark 'Downtown'. Male speech, man on telephone. Female speech. Music: The Corrs 'What Can I Do' (Clear audio).
    Poor reception.
    Male speech, female speech, phone call. Music: 'My Boy Lollipop'. Male speech.
    Transmission site: Lewsey Farm, Luton. 200 kW.
    Logged to 2235 UTC.
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Sunday, December 26, 2021

My AM Archive: April 2014

 GOOD Friday 2014 was a very good Friday, for listening to the Medium Wave band of the Roberts R881.
This post details what was heard on that date.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: December 2013, can be found here.

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

April 2014 : Medium Wave
  • [Friday] 18 April [2014]: 2028 UTC: 738 kHz: RNE 1 Barcelona  Male speech with brief musical interludes. High speech content in Spanish language.
    Fair to poor reception; Presumed 500 kW transmission?
    Logged to 2042 UTC.
  • 18 April: 2045 UTC: 747 kHz: NOS R5 [Zeewold HOL]  Very strong signal, speech by both a male and female, in the Dutch language. Music at 2047 UTC.
    This is NOS R5, via Zeewold, Holland. The broadcaster is also known as Radio 5 Nostalgia.
    Male speech at 2050 UTC, with male on phone.
    Excellent to good reception; Presumed 400 kW transmission?
    Logged to 2100 UTC.
  • 18 April: 2104 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Music: The Shadows 'Because They're Young'? ID for Joe Costin, voiced by Richard Nankivell. Music: Engelbert Humperdink 'Please Release Me'. Speech by Joe Costin, ID for The Late Show on BBC Radio Cumbria.
    Good to fair reception; 1 kW via Brisco, Carlisle [See image, below].
    Music: Nilsson 'Without You'.
    Co-channel interference from DLF, Germany.
    Logged to 2116 UTC.
  • 18 April: 2129 UTC: 756 kHz: Tentative reception of BBC Radio 4 which would make the transmission site Redruth, Cornwall!
    Poor - fair - poor reception.
    Female speech regarding shipping.
    Co-channel interference from DLF and BBC Radio Cumbria.
    Logged to 2140 UTC.



  • 18 April: 2150 UTC: 756 kHz: Deutschlandfunk [DLF]  "The 'powerhouse' broadcast on this channel after dark".
    Transmission via Ravensburg / Braunschweig, Germany. 100-200 kW.
    Excellent - good - fair reception.
    German male and female speech, operatic pieces.
    Logged to 2200 UTC.
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Sunday, November 14, 2021

My AM Archive: December 2013

 MONDAY, December 9, 2013 was the date of the evening I spent listening to the Medium Wave band at home.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: April 2013, can be found here.

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

December 2013 : Medium Wave
  • [Monday] 9 December [2013]: 2016 UTC: 630 kHz: [Tentative] BBC Three Counties or BBC Cornwall  English language, speech between male and female, lost to propagation.
  • 9 December: 2022 UTC: 639 kHz: RNE 1  Speech from males and a female.
    Good to fair reception. Spanish language via multiple transmitters.
    Music: Coldplay 'Yellow'. Sports programme or a sports update. Time signal at 2030 UTC.
    Logged to 2030 UTC.
  • 9 December: 2033 UTC: 639 kHz: CRo2  Praha (Prague) Czech Republic.  Females in discussion, including telephone caller.
    Good to fair reception, speech in Czech language.
    Speech regarding Nelson Mandela, who passed away Thursday 5 December 2013.
    Logged to 2042 UTC.
BBC Radio York postmark, May 1991.
  • 9 December: 2106 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York  'The unmistakable sound of Queen - Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, Brian May and Roger Taylor' - 'A Kind Of Magic'.
    500 watts, via Fulford (York), carrying the Mark Forrest show - BBC Introducing, stargazing, giving and receiving aid gifts.
    Fair reception.
    Music: Human League 'Don't You Want Me'.
    Logged to 2117 UTC.
  • 9 December: 2126 UTC: 675 kHz: Radio Maria  Male speaker in a clear channel.
    Radio Maria, broadcasting from Lopik, The Netherlands, Holland.
    Propagation present. Excellent to fair reception. Dutch language.
    Beautiful music, male and female speech, Church organ plays in background. Music from a Choir.
    Logged to 2140 UTC.
  • 9 December: 2146 UTC: 684 kHz: RNE 1  Seville, 600 kW. Nice, steady level of reception.
  • 9 December: 2153 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Live football: Swansea City v Hull City 1-1 Full Time at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. Steve Wilson was the commentator, Steve Claridge was the summeriser, Mark Chapman is the studio presenter.
    Dominant broadcast expected to be Droitwich, Worcestershire, 150 kW, with Stagshaw, Northumberland, 50 kW.
    Cricket: Paul Nixon is the studio guest; Geoffrey Boycott's reaction to England falling 2-0 behind in the Winter Ashes series in Australia, after the first two test matches at the Brisbane Gabba and the Adelaide Oval.
    Excellent - Good - Fair reception.
    Logged to 2209 UTC.
  • 9 December: 2225 UTC: 702 kHz: NDR  Flensburg, Germany. Music and speech, overspill from BBC Radio Five Live on 693 kHz.
  • 9 December: 2230 UTC: 711 kHz: France Info  French speaking males in interview.
    France Info via Rennes. 300 kW transmission. Excellent to good reception.
    Speech regarding the French President.
    Logged to 2245 UTC.
A nice note from France Info.
  • 9 December: 2250 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio 4  News from an American correspondent.
    Not good reception.
  • 9 December: 2258 UTC: 738 kHz: RNE 1  Cello music, followed by male speech to the top of the hour (2300 UTC), ID for RNE 1, Barcelona, 500 kW.
    News: Memorial Service for Nelson Mandela.
    Excellent to good reception.
    Logged to 2310 UTC.
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Sunday, September 19, 2021

My AM Archive: March 2012

 WEDNESDAY, March 21, 2012 was a day listening to Medium Wave, the following logs are what was heard that day.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: January 2012, can be found here.

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

March 2012 : Medium Wave
  • [Wednesday] 21 March [2012]: 1130 UTC: 1440 kHz: Tentative reception of Marnach, Luxembourg  Speech by a female, speech by a male, brief piece of music which may have been an ident, speech by male.
    Poor - fair - poor reception.
    Speech by female.
    600 kW.
    Logged to 1150 UTC.
  • 21 March: 1157 UTC: 1458 kHz: BBC Newcastle  North East Weather, male host with male and female guest previewing the 2012 budget. Weather report from Paul Mooney.
    1200 UTC news: British woman has been released by hostage takers in Africa. Budget 2012 preview. Report from Whitley Bay. Sport update. Weather report. Male speech, telephone number for the 'jambuster' traffic telephone line. Male speech, 'guess the year' competition. Music: Jacksons 'Can You Feel It'.
    Good to fair reception.
    Male host with details of the year featured in the competition.
    2 kW via Wrekenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
    The year is 1981.
    Logged to 1215 UTC.
  • 21 March: 1231 UTC: 1485 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Live coverage of the 2012 Budget.
    Fair reception.
    1 kW via Carlisle.
    2012 Budget speech by Chancellor George Osbourne, live from the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London.
    Logged to 1245 UTC.
  • 21 March: 1258 UTC: 1521 kHz: "Music, followed by slow speech by male. Unidentified broadcast  Music.
    Fair to poor reception.
    Male speech. Broadcast I cannot identify
    ".
    Logged to 1308 UTC.
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Saturday, February 20, 2021

My AM Archive: May Bank Holiday 2008

MY AM Archive is a continual thread of my Medium Wave logbooks, bringing them online for posterity, and for other like-minded radio listeners to enjoy.

Logs of Short Wave broadcasts are also on this blog, under the My DX Archive thread.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: Winter 2007-2008, can be found here.

Logs in this post are dated Monday, May 5, 2008.

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

May 2008 : Medium Wave
  • [Monday] 5 May [2008]: 0705 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Fair reception; 10 kW via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland. News: Childline director says more should be done to help children. Medieval artefact to go on display. Paul Gascoigne involved in incident in West London hotel. Interview with an advisor of Gordon Brown. To 0717 UTC.
  • 5 May: 0739 UTC: 747 kHz: Radio 747 / Radio 5  Old-time dance hall music, with speech in Dutch, from Holland. Fair reception; 400 kW via Flevoland. Male host, music, female caller on telephone. Music. To 0747 UTC.
  • 5 May: 0753 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Gordon Swindlehurst, interview with crew member of Barrow in Furness Lifeboat, music: Texas 'Say What You Want'. Excellent to good reception; 1 kW via Carlisle.
    Traffic & Travel news: Martin Plenderleith, "4 minutes to nine" weather, motorways, cattle on Temple Sowerby bypass A66. A595-A596 road works, Ambleside gas works, Hilltop. Buses & trains: Virgin Euston - Birmingham New Street (Rugby - Milton Keynes). 0845 305 3939 Travel line. 0845 305 1122 to call Gordon & Martin.
    0800 UTC (0900 BST) news: Will Tillotson. Cocaine seized. Employers prosecuted for hiring illegal immigrants. Prisoners in open prisons. Gordon Brown gets support. Josef Fritzl is mentally ill. Business is down in Lakes. To 0809 UTC.
  • 5 May: 0821 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Leeds  ID, music: Isley Brothers 'This Old Heart of Mine', male host, details of forthcoming guests on BBC Radio Leeds. Music: Randy Crawford 'Rainy Night in Georgia'. Male speech, ID for BBC Radio Leeds, caller to the station, mention for John.
    0930 (BST) traffic & travel: M62 / A62, junction of M1 ? ID for BBC Radio Leeds.
    Music: The Police 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic'. Fair reception; 500 watts via Farnley, Leeds. Male speech, ID, time check "25 to ten", Kate has contact the show. Music: Robbie Williams 'Let Me Entertain You'. Speech by male, music: Elton John 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me'. To 0838 UTC.
BBC Radio Leeds information pack, c.1997.

  • 5 May: 0858 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  'Good Morning Extra' Male host, caller regarding overcrowding in prisons. Fair reception; 100 kW via North and / or Central Scotland.
    0900 (10 BST) news: Man in hospital believed to be father of dead children. Referendum in Scotland? Parents of young children passed out in Portuguese hotel room after heavy drinking, children in care. Typhoon overseas. Employers prosecuted for illegal immigrant workers. Aberdonians have bad lifestyle. Sport: Football: SPL, Euro, Prem. Snooker, cricket, tennis.
    Travel. Weather. To 0910 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1125 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Val Armstrong live from the Isle of Man, interview with the former Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, Sir Miles Walker.
    Excellent to good reception; 1 kW via Barrow in Furness. ID from Val, traffic & travel news: M6 ok, A596, A595 road works. Birmingham New Street - London Euston rail works. 0845 305 3939. Trailer for TV Licensing. 'The Guide' Car boot sale at Lanercost Priory - Cartmel. May Day Carnival in Penrith. To 1141 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1143 UTC: 855 kHz: BBC Radio Lancashire  Two men speaking on the subject of Cricket; Live coverage of Lancashire CCC! Fair reception; 1 kW via Preston. Lancashire v Scotland? Two man commentary team of cricket. To 1155 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1204 UTC: 882 kHz: BBC Radio Wales  Sport: Ronnie O'Sullivan leads snooker final, travel news from Wales, weather, ID for BBC Radio Wales, trailer for Wales national football team. Neil Kinnock presents part 7 of 'Alive & Kicking' history of Wales National football team: Failing to qualify for Euro 2004.
    Excellent to good reception; Up to 100 kW (1 kW Forden, Powys; 5 kW Tywyn, Gwynedd; 10 kW Penman, Gwynedd; 100 kW Washford, Somerset). To 1219 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1228 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Live football from the City Ground, Nottingham: Women's FA Cup Final: Arsenal Ladies v Leeds Ladies, 0-0 at 30 minutes.
    Excellent to good reception; Up to 200 kW (Moorside Edge, West Yorkshire).
    Leeds have a goal ruled offside. Mark Clemmitt at pitchside. To 1238 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1357 UTC: 936 kHz: Fresh Radio  Music: Shaun Mullins 'Lullaby'. ID for website, ads: Skipton Self Store, Freshfields community care, Roger & Jim Car Radio Skipton.
    1400 (1500 BST) news: Trailer but no newscast! News ticker but no news, re-run of news ticker... News is on now. Cyclone in Burma.
    Excellent reception; 1 kW via Hawes, N Yorks. To 1405 UTC.
Google Street View of the 936 kHz transmission site.
  • 5 May: 1423 UTC: 999 kHz: Magic 999  Ad for Sainsbury's, ad for Legal Discount, ad for Lufthansa, ID for Magic 999, music: Ben E King 'Stand By Me'.
    Fair reception; 800 watts via Longton, Preston - Blackpool. Music: Jackie Wilson. ID. Stevie Wonder 'Superstition'. To 1435 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1447 UTC: 1053 kHz: TalkSport  traffic & travel update: Surrey, Bristol (M4), Oxfordshire (M40), Blackpool (M55).
    St James' Park: Newcastle v Chelsea, ko 4pm.
    Good to fair reception; Up to 500 kW (Droitwich).
    Text messages. Snooker Championship at the Crucible. Movies: 'Rocky' is voted best movie in sport circles. To 1456 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1506 UTC: 1071 kHz: TalkSport  Speech regarding the relegation from The Championship to League One of Leicester City. Update from snooker: O'Sullivan v Carter.
    Fair to poor reception; 1 kW via Wrekenton (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne). To 1518 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1525 UTC: 1089 kHz: TalkSport  Poor reception; Up to 400 kW [Presumed Brookmans Park]. Male speech. To 1530 UTC.
  • 5 May: 1553 UTC: 1170 kHz: Magic 1170  Music: 'Mustang Sally'. ID for Magic, music: 'Listen To The Music' by The Doobie Brothers, male reading schedule for rest of today.
    Traffic & travel: Trailer 01642 607111. Ads: Sainsbury's home insurance. Magic Breakfast. Solicitor. British Gas. Barrett Homes. Island Cruises with Nick Wright.
    News (16 UTC / 17 BST): Mother pays tribute to her dead sons. Murders in Scotland, Leeds, Rugby, Warwickshire. Burma cyclone. Prince Harry receives medal. Russia to waive visa for Champions League final. Newcastle 0 - Chelsea 0 at start of second half.
    'Motown Magic' Good to fair reception; 320 watts via Stockton on Tees, Teesside. To 1615 UTC.
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Sunday, February 14, 2021

My AM Archive: Winter 2007-2008

WHAT more could you ask for, on Valentine's Day, during a pandemic, than memories of medium wave radio broadcasts, thirteen to fourteen years ago. Well, that's the situation we're in, so let's make the most of it.

My AM Archive is a continual thread of my Medium Wave logbooks, bringing them online for posterity, and for other like-minded radio listeners to enjoy.

Logs of Short Wave broadcasts are also on this blog, under the My DX Archive thread.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: October 2007, can be found here.

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

December 2007 : Medium Wave
  • [Thursday] 27 December [2007]: 1650 UTC: 1557 kHz: France Info  French speaking female with French speaking male on telephone. Monitoring Monthly [magazine] (February 2006) shows France Info via Nice, France, 300 kW. Fair to poor reception - Poor signal. Female speech at 17 UTC, stronger signal: Excellent to good reception. Male and female speaking to a reporter regarding an explosion and murder of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. Fade out to 1710 UTC.
  • 27 December: 1718 UTC: 1575 kHz: Voice of Russia  Female and male speech - British DX Club indicates Voice of Russia via Berg, Germany - German language broadcast. Fair to poor reception. Female speech in German language, to 1740 UTC.
BBC Radio Nottingham logo, early 1990s.
  • 27 December: 1743 UTC: 1584 kHz: BBC Radio Nottingham  Male speech, ID at 1744 UTC for BBC Radio Nottingham - Male host (Alan Clifford) in conversation with male on telephone: "Tell me about yourself"; Music: America 'Horse With No Name'; Baccara 'Yes Sir I Can Boogie'. Female speech, music, female on phone. Music: 'You've Got A Friend'.
    Co-channel interference from a commercial radio station - Ad break - British DX Club shows Tay AM / London Turkish - Most likely Tay AM.
    BBC Radio Nottingham details: 1 kW via Nottingham (Clipstone). Drivetime with Alan Clifford.
    Female speech at 1800 UTC: "Six o'clock news"... Reaction to murder of Benazir Bhutto... Weather. Music: Gerry Rafferty 'Baker Street'.
    Tay AM details: 210 watts via Perth (Friarton Road) but no IDs. To 1805 UTC.
  • 27 December: 1812 UTC: 1602 kHz: Radio Vitoria  Voices and sound effects from Radio Vitoria via Vitoria, Spain. Good to fair reception, 25 kW. Female and male voices. Spanish language broadcast. To 1824 UTC.
  • 27 December: 1834 UTC: 1611 kHz: Vatican Radio  Male voice, broadcasting to Central and East Europe - Poor reception, Lithuanian language. 1840 UTC: Vatican Radio ID signature tune, Latvian language on Europe 2nd Programme. Speech, music, female speech, tune, male speech. To 1855 UTC.
February 2008 : Medium Wave
  • [Saturday] 23 February [2008]: 0842 UTC: 567 kHz: RTE Radio 1  Excellent reception; 500 kW via Tullamore. 'Positive Age' programme: Doctor Pierce Lyons returns to Ireland from USA to discuss food production on a global scale. Next week's guest: Professor Gerry Boyle.
    'Farmweek' hosted by Damian O'Reily. Ad break.
    0900 UTC: RTE News: Arrests in Cork. Fire at Shell oil depot in Co Mayo. Drogheda drugs raid. Aer Lingus new works practices. Weather. Press review. Sport: Ireland v Scotland in Rugby Union Six Nations match. Ad break.
    Eammon Dirvan interviews Martin Maguinness. To 0928 UTC.
  • 23 February: 0950 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  Excellent reception; 2 kW via Dumfries. Gregor Townsend in the studio to discuss Scotland in the Six Nations Rugby Union Championship. 'Sports Weekly'.
    10 UTC news: British Airways employees tribunal. No plans for DNA database. Shannon Matthews of Dewsbury still missing. Stealth bomber crashes in Guam. Stamp duty rose to 60%. Sport: 6 Nations: Ireland v Scotland, Wales v Italy, France v England. SPL football; Golf. England lose to New Zealand in Cricket. Travel news, weather.
    The Janice Forsyth Show: Music: The Associates 'No Sign Of Life' from 'Young America' album. Parakeets in Scotland. Music: Ryan Adams. Today's guest is Omid Djalili. Music: Sting 'Englishman in New York'; Aswad 'Shine'. To 1030 UTC.
  • 23 February: 1151 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Excellent reception; 2 kW via Wrekenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 'From Our Own Correspondent' hosted by Kate Adie: Report from an eyesight clinic in Bangladesh. Producer: Tony Grant. Trailer: Eric Coates.
    12 UTC news: DNA. To 1203 UTC.
BBC Cymru Wales postmark, July 2005.

  • 23 February: 1216 UTC: 657 kHz: BBC Radio Wales  Two male hosts with ID for BBC Radio Wales, fair to poor reception, 2 kW via Wrexham. Build up to Six Nations Rugby: Wales v Italy, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Singing of Italian National Anthem. To 1230 UTC.
  • 23 February: 1254 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York  Music: Sheryl Crow. ID for BBC Radio York. Traffic and travel. Richard Allinson, The Albums Show. Music: Joni Mitchell. Excellent to good reception; 500 watts via Fulford, York.
    13 UTC news: Bedale man wins £1 Million at a betting shop in Thirsk. Shannon Matthews of Dewsbury still missing. School visits to Auschwitz. Thefts. Knaresborough Castle restoration. Sport: Football: York City; Harrogate Town. Six Nations rugby; Cricket. Weather.
    Richard Allinson, The Albums Show: Music 'Here Come The Girls'; The Rolling Stones 'Start Me Up'; Holly Rose 'Apple'. To 1330 UTC.
  • 23 February: 2045 UTC: 675 kHz: Radio Maria Netherlands  Continual music, with a religious theme, with choirs, with songs from musicals. Excellent reception. To 2101 UTC.
  • 23 February: 2126 UTC: 684 kHz: RNE 1  Live La Liga football on RNE 1 via Seville, E (Spain), 600 kW. Excellent to good reception. Fixtures: Sevilla v Real Zaragoza. Valencia 1 - Rec Huelva 1. To 2136 UTC.
  • 23 February: 2140 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  France 13 - England 24. Excellent to good reception. Multiple transmissions. Six Nations Rugby Union live commentary: France 13 - England 24 Full Time. Ian Robertson commentary from Stade de France, Paris. Interview with Nick Easter of England. To 2151 UTC.
  • 23 February: 2208 UTC: 711 kHz: France Bleu / France Info  French speaking female. Excellent to good reception; 300 kW via Rennes. Sport report from Stade de France, Paris: Two males, French language, Six Nations Rugby Union result: France 13 - England 24. To 2214 UTC.
WDR QSL.
  •  23 February: 2223 UTC: 720 kHz: WDR 2 Germany  Good to fair reception; 85 kW via Langenberg, D (Germany). Music, speech by male host. Music: Cornershop 'Brimful of Asha'; Queen 'We Will Rock You'. To 2235 UTC.
  • 23 February: 2241 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Excellent to fair reception; 10 kW via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland. Round-table discussion regarding suicide. To 2248 UTC.
Notes:
Contact details:

Radio Maria Nederland
Postbus 67, 5482 WH SCHIJNDEL (Holland)
[Email address withheld]

RNE 1
Radio Nacional de España, Casa de la Radio, Emisioñ Inglesa, PO Box 156.202 MADRID 28080 ESPAÑA (Spain)
[Email address withheld]

WDR 2
Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln, 50600 KÖLN (COLOGNE) (GERMANY)
[Email address withheld]

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Sunday, January 3, 2021

My AM Archive: Winter 2006-2007 : December 2006

 WINTER 2006-2007 was a very productive time for listening to the Medium Wave band, so the logs for December 2006 through to February 2007 will be posted as individual months, rather than the full [quarterly] season. This post brings logs from December 2006.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: October 2006, can be found here.

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

December 2006 : Medium Wave
  • [Saturday] 2 December [2006]: 1645 - 1653 UTC: 711 kHz: Rennes [France] Transmitter: France Info / France Bleu  300 kW; Good reception. French speech from female and male, politics, food, male speech.
  • 2 December: 1657 - 1705 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio 4  10 kW; Fair reception via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland. 'Woman's Hour'.

  • 2 December: 1709 - 1716 UTC: 729 kHz: RTE Radio 1  10 kW; Fair to poor reception via Cork, Ireland. Co-channel interference from RNE - 1 [Radio Nacional Espana] (Spain).
  • 2 December: 1720 - 1728 UTC: 738 kHz:  RNE 1  500 kW; Good to fair reception via Barcelona, Espana [Spain]. Two males speaking, music.
  • 2 December: 1735 - 1744 UTC: 747 kHz: Radio 5  400 kW; Excellent to good reception via Flevoland, Holland. Female and male interview female over telephone.
  • 2 December: 1746 - 1758 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  1 kW; Excellent to good reception via Carlisle. 'Saturday Sport' Paul Newton.
  • 2 December: 1828 - 1835 UTC: 756 kHz: Deutschlandfunk  100-200 kW; Excellent to good reception via Germany. Report: Bundesliga football.
  • 2 December: 1953 - 2000 UTC: 765 kHz: Option Musique  600 kW; Excellent to good/fair reception via Sottens, Switzerland. Live music.
Option Musique sticker.
  • 2 December: 2006 - 2012 UTC: 774 kHz: RNE 1  Spain; 20-100 kW; Excellent to good reception via Spain. Spanish language sports commentary, fast speech.
  • 2 December: 2021 - 2028 UTC: 783 kHz: Radio Mirimar  Barcelona; 50 kW; Good to fair reception via Barcelona, Spain. Male sports commentary.
  • 2 December: 2031 - 2036 UTC: 783 kHz: MDR Info  100 kW; Fair to poor reception via Leipzig, Germany. Female and male speech in German language.
  • 2 December: 2045 - 2054 UTC: 792 kHz: France Info  300 kW; Excellent to good reception via Limoges, France. Female speech, male speech, politics.
  • 2 December: 2057 - 2104 UTC: 792 kHz: BBC Radio Foyle / Ulster  1 kW; Fair to poor reception via Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Live Rugby, male speech.
  • 2 December: 2110 - 2116 UTC: 801 kHz: Bayern  100 kW; Excellent to fair reception via Munich, Germany. Music from Tony Bennett.
Letter from David Lowe, verifying reception of BBC Radio Devon (below).

  • 2 December: 2122 - 2150 UTC: 801 kHz: BBC Radio Devon  2 kW; Good to fair reception via Barnstaple. Co-channel interference from Munich, Germany and RNE-1, Spain.
    Programme Details: David Lowe receives email regarding Josef Locke, piece of music played on air by Dennis Noble, recorded 1939, for listener in Cornwall. Time Check: "28 minutes past 9". Competition: Bing Crosby CD's: 'Forever Bing' & 'Christmas Memories'. Call 0845 301 1034, email. Music [recording of "Always" by Josephine Baker] by Irving Berlin, loss of signal at 2148 GMT.
    [Above log taken from original reception report sent to BBC Radio Devon; Information in italics was the "minor piece of detail" David Lowe added to the report.]
  • 2 December: 2220 - 2226 UTC: 801 kHz: RNE 1  10-20 kW; Excellent to good reception via Spain. Several males speaking.
  • 2 December: 2230 - 2239 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  100 kW; Excellent reception via Burghead / Westerglen. Partick Folk Festival.
  • 2 December: 2252 - 2302 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  1 kW; Good to poor reception via Barrow-in-Furness. John Caine's Rock Show.
  • 2 December: 2305 - 2312 UTC: 837 kHz: France Info  200 kW; Excellent to fair reception via Nancy, France. Female and male speech in French language.
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Sunday, October 4, 2020

My AM Archive: April 2005

APRIL 10, 2005 was the 100th day of the year 2005 in the Gregorian calendar.
I spent that day - A Sunday - Listening to Medium Wave and here are the results of what was heard that day.
The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: Winter 2004-2005, can be found here.
Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

April 2005 : Medium Wave
  • 10 April [2005]: 0948 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio Four Good-fair-good reception. 2 kW via Wrekenton, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Omnibus edition of 'The Archers'. Emma gives birth.
  • 10 April: 1010 UTC: 648 kHz: BBC World Service Poor to barely audible reception. Transmission site: Orford Ness, Suffolk, 500 kW. Male and female voices.
  • 10 April: 1027 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York Good to fair reception via Fulford, York, 0.5 kW. Man on telephone from Australia! Websites for Scarborough and Scarborough Beach, Perth, South West Australia. James Watt (host), Tel: 0845 300 3000, Text: 07786 203000, email address.
  • 10 April: 1249 UTC: 675 kHz: Arrow Classic Rock Excellent-good-fair reception via Lopik, Holland, 120 kW. Music: Roxy Music 'Virginia Plain' ID, news: Monaco Royalty. Hilversum, Amsterdam Arena (sport). Music: Santana ft Rob Thomas 'Smooth', Lynard Skynard 'Sweet Home Alabama'.
  • 10 April: 1321 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live Excellent reception 'Sport on Five' Masters Golf, Tiger Woods in the lead. Interview with Martin O'Neil, Manager of Celtic Football Club. Masters Golf update. Football: Tottenham Hotspur - Newcastle United.
BBC Radio 4 artwork for new schedule
announcement, April 1998.
  • 10 April: 1356 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio Four Fair-good-fair reception. News at 1400 UTC (3pm BST): Michael Howard (Conservative), Tony Blair (Labour) and Charles Kennedy (Liberal Democrat) on the General Election campaign trail. MG Rover closure.
  • 10 April: 1428 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria Excellent to good reception via Carlisle, 1 kW. Rugby League: Whitehaven 20 - Halifax 6.
  • 10 April: 1623 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland Fair reception 'Cover Stories' programme. Trailer for 'Be Bop to Hip Hop'. Trailers for Wednesday. ID 'Values Added' programme: Pope John Paul funeral; Marriage of Charles Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker-Bowles.
  • 10 April: 1644 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria Good to fair reception via Barrow in Furness, 1 kW. Anne Hopper 'Music Box'.
Time has moved on in the fifteen and a half years between that day and this; Transmitter closures over a recent period means it is most likely you would now not hear BBC World Service and BBC Radio York on the above frequencies. If you now tune to 648 kHz, a former frequency of the BBC World Service, you will hear Radio Caroline, broadcasting its albums stream on a Community Radio license.

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Sunday, August 2, 2020

My AM Archive: April 2003

Letter acknowledging reception of BBC Scotland, April - May 2003.
SPRINGTIME 2003 is the source of the following Medium Wave logs, heard 12 April 2003.
The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: Winter 2002-2003 can be found here.
Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

April 2003 : Medium Wave
  • 12 April [2003]: 1903 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland Excellent to good reception. Dumfries transmitter. 'Take The Floor' Programme dedicated to Scottish dancing. 'Diary' feature, send contributions to 'Beechgrove Terrace, Aberdeen' or by email. Music, conversation with guest bands.
  • 12 April: 1955 UTC: 585 kHz: RNE 1 Madrid. Good reception. 200 kW transmitter. Football: Barcelona v Deportivo La Coruna.
  • 12 April: 2056 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio Four Excellent to good reception. Wrekenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 2 kW. 'The Classic Serial'.
  • 12 April: 2111 UTC: 612 kHz: RTE Radio 2FM Excellent to good reception. Athlone transmitter, Ireland, 100 kW. '626 Live' John Power. 'Late Night Session' Music: Lisa Lashes. Music: Afterburn 'Summer Sun'. Ad break. Tel: 1850 715 922. Chuck D / Public Enemy. Giles Paterson. Website.
  • 12 April: 2200 UTC: 630 kHz: BBC Three Counties Radio Fair to poor reception. Lewsey Farm transmitter, Luton, 0.2 kW. Male host speaking to female listener. Letters. Reviewing 'Clockwork Orange'. Contact: PO Box 3CR, Hastings Street, LUTON LU1 5XL Telephone: 01582 637400 / 01582 441000 "Check our website".
  • 12 April: 2243 UTC: 630 kHz: NRK Vigra, Norway. Excellent to good reception. Music: Shania Twain "That Don't Impress Me Much".
That concludes the logs for April 2003.

Letter verifying reception, BBC Three Counties Radio, 12 April 2003, 2200 UTC, 630 kHz.

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