My AM Archive : January 2021

 EASTER 2026 has been and gone, Early May Bank Holiday has been and gone - Apologies for the lack of a post since March!  We are, once again, visiting the archive of my loggings of radio broadcasts heard years gone by - Some broadcasters still on air, some aren't - This blog hopes to reflect the changes, especially on the Medium Wave band, that have taken place in recent years.

This post brings memories of broadcasts heard January 2021 on Medium Wave.  A previous post of Medium Wave logs, heard December 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.

January 2021 : Medium Wave

• [Tuesday] 12 January [2021]: 1330 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Bradford  Strong to good reception, 500 watts via Farnley, Yorkshire.  Programming: Music: Kellie Marie 'Feels Like I'm In Love' Traffic and travel update with details relating to the [Covid] lockdown. Weather with Lisa Gallagher. Music: One Direction 'Story of My Life' Female host Charlie Smith says it is Zayn Malik's birthday (28). Music: Doobie Brothers 'Listen To The Music' ID, trailer for Planet North.
  Razwan Ul-Haq is an artist from Bradford, who is exhibiting his art, Industrialised Heart, Solo Exhibition, at Bradford Industrial Museum. Music: Kygo + Tina Turner 'What's Love Got To Do With It' Sanchez Payne and Beth Parsons had their own bake off - Bread making. Host Charlie Smith, along with [colleagues] Richard and Neil, judged the BBC Bradford bake off.
  Logged to 1352 UTC.

                 Break

• 12 January: 1543 UTC: 900 kHz: RAI Radio 1  'Viva Voce' Female host with male speaking on the phone, male often uses 'politica' during the speech, female host speaks of a 'recovery plan'
  Strong to fair reception, 50 kW via Milan, Italy.
  Logged to 1555 UTC.
  [ Listen via RaiPlaySound ]
• 12 January: 1559 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live  Drivetime News: Irish homes for Children and Mothers, Covid - Largest number of deaths in 2020, highest since 1940. Police fines rise. Supermarkets will decline customers without face masks. Supply chains must not promote slave labour. Space junk. ID. Travel update.
  Strong to good reception, up to 200 kW via Moorside Edge, West Yorkshire.
  Main interference / noise is like a stop-start buzzer. Multiple transmission audio, too.
  Logged to 1611 UTC.

Images: Demolition of Trasmettitore Milano Rai 900kHz, c. October 2023, images from Google Maps - Original Google Street View imagery featured in this blog post.

Listen to the last closedown announcement of RAI Radio Uno on 900 kHz, courtesy of Josh's Radio Paradise YouTube post.

• 12 January: 1624 UTC: 936 kHz: Dales Radio  Music: Snow Patrol 'Take Back The City' Keith Fletcher is the host. Update from the County Council, regarding recycling centres. Music: Pointer Sisters 'I'm So Excited'.
  Strong to good reception, 150 watts via Brunt Acres Road, Hawes, North Yorkshire.
  Ingleton Post Office open one day a week. Rob Stevens will be on air later. Music: Bill Withers 'Lovely Day' ID, music: Bob Marley 'Buffalo Soldier'.
  Logged to 1636 UTC.
• 12 January: 1646 UTC: 954 kHz: Český rozhlas Dvojka  Music: Boney M 'Holiday' ID, programme: Kolotoč, presented by Terezou Stýblovou. Music.
  Dvojka, Strong to good reception, up to 200 kW via Dobrochov, Czechia.
  Music: Milli Vanilli 'Girl I'm Gonna Miss You' 1700 UTC news: Oxford Astra-Zeneca [Covid] vaccine; Czech President; Israel; Marks And Spencer in Prague; Brexit. Music at 1704 UTC.
  Logged to 1705 UTC.
• 12 January: 1708 UTC: 963 kHz: Sunrise Radio  'What's on TV tonight - Watch comedy on Sky channel - ' 'This is the biggest Asian station' Music. Paul Shah on air 'Back to back songs, by the Sunrise app' Bollywood anagram: B A H A M A H A R T. Programme: 'Drive on Sunrise' Ad break: Cooking sauces, Covid ad, Southall Travel, Police recruitment, ceramic tiles importer. Boilers, Covid ad (2), Bollywood on Sony Max 2.
  Strong to poor reception, 950 watts via Hackney.
  Sunrise time check (5:18pm), travel. Bollywood music.
  Logged to 1723 UTC.
  [Sunrise Radio, Unit 2, 694-712 London Road, HOUNSLOW TW3 1PG]
• 12 January: 1731 UTC: 972 kHz: Sunrise Radio  Ads: McDonalds, Covid-19, contact the ads team at Sunrise Radio. Programme: 'Drive on Sunrise' Traffic and travel update. Sunrise Radio available via Amazon Smart Speaker and YouTube channel. Music.
  Good to poor reception, 1 kW via Southall.
  Male host Paul Shah speaks about song just played; Bollywood anagram competition.
  Logged to 1741 UTC.
  [Main switchboard: 0208 574 6666]
• 12 January: 1744 UTC: 981 kHz: Radio Algerienne - Chaine 2  Male speech, Arabic language programming, music.
  Strong to poor reception, up to 300 kW via Ouled Fayet, Algeria (ALG).
  Music. Male speech at 1752 UTC. Music.
  Logged to 1754 UTC.
• 12 January: 1758 UTC: 990 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live  Conor McNamara with live football commentary of Sheffield United v Newcastle United.
  Good to poor reception, 1 kW via Tywyn, Wales.
  Logged to 1822 UTC.
  

  

  Frequencies, contacts for Great Yorkshire Gold

• 12 January: 1758 UTC: 990 kHz: BBC Radio Devon  Music: Lenny Kravitz 'It Ain't Over, 'Til It's Over' Traffic and travel at 1804 UTC: Exeter, Ilfracombe, Newton Abbot - Call BBC Radio Devon travel line on 0808 100 2829. Music: Keane 'Somewhere Only We Know'.
  Good to poor reception, 1 kW via Exeter, Devon.
  Music: Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus 'Prisoner' BBC Make A Difference update: Donate a laptop. Music: Erasure 'Love To Hate You'.
  Logged to 1824 UTC.
  [BBC Radio Devon, PO Box 1034, Plymouth PL3 5BD - Main switchboard 01752 260323]

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

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.

My AM Archive: October 2006

Arrow Classic Rock Radio sticker.

REPRESENTING the autumn season of 2006, the following logs of Medium Wave broadcasts come from October 2006.

My AM Archive is a continuous thread of logs of Medium Wave broadcasts, heard years gone by.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: Summer 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.

October 2006 : Medium Wave

• 26 October [2006]: 1915 - 1950 UTC: 675 kHz: Arrow Classic Rock  Excellent to good reception; 120 kW via Lopik, Holland.  Music: U2 'One', Sheryl Crow, Pink Floyd.
• 26 October: 2003 - 2008 UTC: 684 kHz: RNE 1 Seville  Good to fair reception; 600 kW via Seville, Spain.  Male and female speech.
• 26 October: 2011 - 2017 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live  Excellent to fair reception via multiple transmitters.  Boxing discussion with a live audience.
• 26 October: 2030 - 2034 UTC: 711 kHz: Radio Bleu Rennes  Excellent to good reception via Rennes, France; 300 kW.  French language programming with male and female speech.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

📻

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.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower.

My AM Archive: November 1996

VISITING my Medium Wave logs of November 1996 - But first, housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

November 1996: Medium Wave

• [Monday] 11 November [1996]: 2025 UTC: 612 kHz: RTE 2FM (Ireland) Dave Fanning plays 'First Band On The Moon' by The Cardigans, 'Hang Up Your Disco Suit' by (Belfast Band) Tunic, Lightning Seeds 'What If', Gene: 'Fighting Fit'. Music from Lionel Richie, Elton John.
• 11 November: 2045 UTC: 648 kHz: BBC World Service Report from Harare, Zimbabwe.

• 11 November: 2115 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live Football discussion: Alan Green debates refereeing in the UK and Europe.
• 11 November: 2120 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria 'Night Network' Classical music. Interference from DLF (Deutschlandfunk), Germany.
• 11 November: 2124 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland Music: Men At Work 'Down Under'.
• 11 November: 2136 UTC: 873 kHz: AFN [Armed Forces Network; For US forces based in Germany] Frankfurt 'Good Time Rock 'n' Roll': The Beatles 'Eight Days A Week'.
• 11 November: 2156 UTC: 882 kHz: BBC Radio Wales 'Country Corral' Country music show: Rita McEntire: 'It Don't Matter', Bradley Foster 'Last Chance For Love'. BBC Radio Wales via Washford, 100 kW.
• 11 November: 2159 UTC: 963 kHz: YLE Radio Finland via Pori, Finland. English broadcast, internet information.

The Big Workshop, Helsinki, YLE headquarters.

• 11 November: 2202 UTC: 1053 kHz: Talk Radio UK: News. James Whale: Discussions: The Royal British Legion, Teachers. Live from Newcastle. Telephone 0500 10 53 89 Callers: Brenda in Newcastle, Colin in Llanelli, Scott in Fife, Sean in Manchester.
• 11 November: 2231 UTC: 1179 kHz: Radio Sweden: News: Al Simon. Nordic meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. Swedish Police arrest an Iranian. Danish journalists detained in Sri Lanka. Weather report. 'Sixty Degrees North': Bill Schiller reports from the Nordic Council meeting.
• 11 November: 2240 UTC: 1197 kHz: Virgin Radio Music from the Bee Gees 'You Win Again'.
• 11 November: 2243 UTC: 1278 kHz: RTE 2FM (Ireland) Music: BabyBird 'You're Gorgeous'.
• 11 November: 2246 UTC: 1368 kHz: Manx Radio, Isle of Man. Transmitter: Foxdale. 'The Late Show' History of Douglas, Isle of Man, visiting Woodside Terrace, Victoria Terrace. Music: The Bee Gees 'Words'. Music: Whitney Houston: 'Run To You'. Independent Radio News: Prime Minister John Major, The European Court of Justice. Manx Radio News: New Parliament Buildings.
• 11 November: 2309 UTC: 1386 kHz: Radio Netherlands 'A Good Life' reports on food security in Africa, Ginger Da Silva reports from Kenya. Trailer for 'Music 52/15', postal address for 'On Target', the Radio Netherlands printed schedule. Details of the Radio Netherlands direct telephone numbers. 'Press Review': Sport: Boxing, football: Holland 7 - Wales 1. Reporters: Robert Green, Dave Durham.

• 11 November: 2338 UTC: 1467 kHz: Trans World Radio - Transmitter: Monte Carlo. Programme: 'Words of Hope' - 'How To Get To Heaven' Life or Death, we will be with the Lord. Music. 'Day's End' with Victor Pearce, tour of the Holy Land. Closing announcements by Andrew Pettinger.

That concludes this visit to my Medium Wave archive.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

📻

Tuning the Roberts R881, Medium Wave, June 2018

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

June 2018: Medium Wave

• [Saturday] 16 June [2018]: 1713 UTC: 549 kHz: Spirit Radio Music, ID: 'Spirit Radio, Passion For Life', music. Good to moderate reception. Promotion for GymPlus.ie followed by ID and music. 11/25 kW via Carrickroe, Co Donegal. Male host, message to say hi to a listener, text on 087 888 9292. Music: Westlife 'What About Now' [Spirit Radio contacts: Telephone: 01 272 4760, spiritradio.ie] ID: 'The music we play might make your heart race! Spirit Radio, Passion For Life'. Music: The Script 'The Man Who Can't Be Moved'. [The male host earlier mentioned this is a jukebox format] Male host with FIFA World Cup latest: Peru 0 - Denmark 1. Music 'Feels Like Heaven'. Female speech regarding Co Wicklow centre for festival and commemorative events - Spirit Radio events guide? Music, male speaks of a female artist. To 1740 UTC.
• 16 June: 1755 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland Music: Neil Young 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart', conclusion of an interview with Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). 7pm news: The Macintosh Centre, Glasgow Centre of Art, club and other buildings damaged by fire. Glasgow has a shortage of doctors. Twelve year old epileptic child can be treated with cannabis oil. Sinn Fein vote to support abortion. Seven people hurt when taxi runs into people in Russia. Sport: Andy Murray. World Cup: Peru 1 - Denmark 1; Argentina 1 - Iceland 1; France 2 - Australia 1. Weather: Uplands forecast, cloud base: 300 metres, inshore waters - 'Take The Floor' programme crashes the weather! Gary Innes with 'Take The Floor'. Strong to good reception, 2 kW via Dumfries. Music from David Kennedy Band. To 1810 UTC.
• 16 June: 1926 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio 4 The narration of a boxing match between Joe Lewis and Max Schmelling - Lewis hits the canvas from a Schmelling punch - The contest continued to the twelfth round, Schmelling win. Strong to good reception, 2 kW via Wrekenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Profile of Lewis. To 1936 UTC.

• 16 June: 2003 UTC: 657 kHz: BBC Radio Wales Commentary of a rugby fixture, male commentator confirms I am listening to BBC Radio Wales. Speech referred to the TMO (Television Match Official) and referee, audio from the referee mic can be heard. This is commentary of the rugby union international between Argentina and Wales. Referee mic picks up his instructions at scrummage. Male host commentator states 78 minutes (of 80) have been played - Wales lead? Moderate to poor reception, 2 kW via Wrexham. To 2016 UTC.
• 16 June: 2033 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York Music: Male rendition of 'Son Of A Preacher Man' (Live, before an audience, with full band). Namecheck for Craig Pattinson. Now performing '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'. Female vocalist performs 'Blowin' In The Wind' and 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T' on BBC Radio York 'BBC Music Introducing in York'. Strong to good reception. The backing band is from the University of York, with Martin the sound engineer. The crowd are baying for more. Max Dalton was one of the musicians. Now performing 'Stand By Me'. Compere mentions everyone involved in this concert is a volunteer, donations to BBC Children In Need will be welcomed. 500 watts via Fulford, York. Now performing 'God Only Knows'. End of the 'BBC Introducing' broadcast; Phil Butler to Leeds, York, Sheffield and Humberside on air next. To 2059 UTC.
• 16 June: 2115 UTC: 684 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional de Espana Female speech in the studio, with male on telephone. RNE via Seville, Spain, 600 kW. ID, male speech into sports report with female interviewing female. ID and speech continuing, regarding Spain. ID for RNE, female speech into male speech. Good reception. Spanish language. To 2130 UTC.
• 16 June: 2133 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live A mother in Northern Ireland speaks to Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio Five Live. Good to moderate reception. Echo on broadcast! Could reception be both Droitwich (150 kW) AND Stagshaw (50 kW)? [Logged as Stagshaw, Northumberland, 50 kW.] News bulletin included Scotland's reaction to the Macintosh Centre fire, the mother featured on the show is the mother of an epileptic boy being treated with cannabis oil. Sport update: Rugby union internationals, FIFA Football World Cup 2018: Argentina 1 - Iceland 1. Golf update. Brexit update. Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope blocks yet another bill; The Tory wanker blocked - Objected to - the 'Upskirting' bill. Interview with a Police Officer, whose Police Dog was stabbed on duty - Tory Chope blocked a bill to make this a crime. The Dog Survived! To 2158 UTC.

📻

All for now.

Medium Wave, March - May 1996

SPRINGTIME 1996 is the next stop on the visit to my listening archives, with extensive logs from March, April and May that year. A gentle reminder of the housekeeping notes regarding abbreviations in the logs: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

March 1996: Medium Wave

• March 1996: New Talk Radio UK address: Talk Radio UK, PO Box 1089, LONDON W1A 1PP (Moz Dee).

April 1996: Medium Wave

• 8 April: 1823 UTC: 567 kHz: RTE Radio 1 (Ireland) 500 kW transmission. Patti Page performs 'Tennessee Waltz' on 'O'Brien on Song', hosted by Jack O'Brien.
• 8 April: 1857 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland 2kW transmission from Dumfries. Music programme: 'Jump The Q'.
• 8 April: 1859 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio 4 2kW transmission. Monday Play: 'Uganda'
• 8 April: 19 UTC: 612 kHz: RTE 2FM (Ireland) News: Paul Reynolds reports from the Apprentice Boys stand-off in Belfast, Beef crisis, vandalism at Co Galway fish farm. Weather. Dave Fanning plays Radiohead: 'Street Spirit'. 2FM via Athlone transmitter. Music from Nirvana 'In Bloom', 'Heart Shaped Box'.
• 8 April: 1931 UTC: 648 kHz: BBC World Service Interview with Ian Paisley regarding the Apprentice Boys march in Belfast.
• 8 April: 1934 UTC: 675 kHz: 675 Radio 10 Gold Amsterdam, Holland. Jos Van Heerden presents 'Super Gold' Beatles 'Strawberry Fields'. The Move 'Flowers In The Rain'.
• 8 April: 1955 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live Sport: Feathered Gale won the Irish Grand National, Workington Town got beat by Sheffield Eagles in Rugby Super League. Live football: Newcastle United 0, Blackburn Rovers 0.

• 8 April: 2032 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live Sport: Alan Green commentates on the football match Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers, the score is 0-0. Faustino Asprilla has been substituted.
• 8 April: 2038 UTC: 963 kHz: YLE Radio Finland News from Sweden, report from Helsinki. Easter comment. Heavy interference.
• 8 April: 2043 UTC: 1053 kHz: Talk Radio UK Ronnie Barbour discusses family values. Tony from Luton discusses accents. Ad break: Ford Transit vans. News: Belfast, NYSE, slimming pills, skier killed in France. Football result: Newcastle United 1 - Blackburn Rovers 2. James Whale on the air. Callers: David in Glasgow, Deirdre in Belfast.

May 1996: Medium Wave

• 14 May: 1720 UTC: 567 kHz: RTE Radio 1 500 kW transmission from Tullamore, Ireland. 'Farm News' programme, weather forecast now on air.
• 14 May: 1730 UTC: 585 kHz (513 metres?) BBC Radio Scotland : 2kW transmission from Dumfries. 'Coastlines': Ecology report.
• 14 May: 1755 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York 'North Yorkshire Sport' with racing results. 500 watt transmission from Fulford. Traffic reports: Whitby A174, A684 via Leyburn. 'North Yorkshire Tonight': Report from a hospital union in Sheffield.

• 14 May: 1818 UTC: 675 kHz: Radio 10 Gold 120 kW transmission from Lopic, Holland. Music: Sandie Shaw, 'Puppet On A String'.
• 14 May: 1833 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria 1kW transmission from Carlisle. Music with Mark Paxton.
• 14 May: 1837 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Leeds 500 watt transmission via Farnley. 'Yorkshire Sport': Top table of Neil Back (rugby), Geoffrey Richmond (football) and Mike Edge (swimming coach) discuss tolerance of behaviour by sportsmen towards officials. Cricket report by Jonathan Agnew. 'Night Sport' looks towards Euro 96. Call 0113 244 3222 (Leeds).
• 14 May: 1911 UTC: 882 kHz: BBC Radio Wales. 100 kW transmission via Washford. Sport: Cardiff Arms Park hosts Neath v Pontypridd (Live Rugby). Sending off: Steve Lewis, red card, headbutt. Neath are Champions!
• 14 May: 1924 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five 909 kHz = 330 metres. Live Rugby League: Wigan 20 - Halifax 0. Transmitter: Moorside Edge, 200 kW transmission. Rugby League result. Topical sport broadcast: 'Inside Edge' with Rob Bonner.
• 14 May: 1958 UTC: 1179 kHz: Radio Sweden Solvesborg transmitter, 600 kW transmission. English programme: 'Sixty Degrees North' with Sara Larsch, Swedish Youth Culture, Techno art.

• 14 May: 2011 UTC: 1197 - 1215 kHz: Virgin Radio Music : The Police - 'Every Breath You Take'. Ad break. Highlights of this morning's 'Russ And Jono's Breakfast Experience'.
• 14 May: 2017 UTC: 1386 kHz: Voice of Russia Transmitter site: Bolshakovo or Kaliningrad, 2500 kW transmission. Classical music.
• 14 May: 2023 UTC: 1440 kHz: Radio Netherlands Dutch language broadcast via RTL Marnach, LUX (Luxembourg). 1200 kW transmission.

Thank you for reading this post on Reporting From The Fox Tower.

📻

Medium Wave: March 2017

ANOTHER Sunday afternoon, another selection of radio broadcasts I have heard. From the logbook, an evening of broadcasts heard on Friday 3 March 2017. Housekeeping notes for those new to these posts: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz) and transmission powers in watts or kiloWatts (kW).

March 2017 : Medium Wave.

• 3 March: 1813 UTC: 639 kHz: CRo2 Dvojka, Czech Republic. Strong to good reception, 1500 kW via Prague. 'Radio Club Junior' with Klara Novakova and guest David Svoboda, a London 2012 Olympian. Music, speech including the phone-in segment of the show, various greetings in the Czech language, including the informal 'Ahoj'. Music, speech.
• 3 March: 1835 UTC: 639 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain. Good reception, up to 600 kW via various transmission sites. Speech from a female, brief speech from a male, female speaking at length. Male speech with ID: 'Radio Nacional Espana'. Music: Leonard Cohen?.
• 3 March: 1856 UTC: 657 kHz : Rai RadioUno, Italy. Good reception, 100 kW via Pisa. 'Zapping' - A programme dedicated to looking at the week's news in small segments: Male in studio, male on phone. Male and female voices.

• 3 March: 1924 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York, UK. Strong to moderate reception, 500 watts via Fulford, York. Music from George Harrison 'My Sweet Lord', female host - Georgie Spanswick, talking about what is coming up on the show and the topic of a 'free lunch' - Listener reaction with food and drink related stories, reaction from Simon with a red wine story. Text: 81333, Idents for Georgie Spanswick and BBC Radio York. Music: Jackson Five 'I Want You Back'. Traffic + Travel report - Call in on 0330... Music: Eric Carmen 'Hungry Eyes'. Call the show on 0345... [Notes: BBC Radio York was the dominant broadcast on the channel. The above QSL card, verifying reception in 1996, is from my collection.]
•  3 March: 1954 UTC: 684 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain. Strong to moderate reception, 600 kW via Seville. Strong, clear, male speech, music (a Zither!). Time signal for 20 UTC. Female speech - News headlines? Speech is TOO QUICK for me to understand the words! Brief speech from male, female continues speaking. News from France: Marine Le Pen. Feeds from the Friday night football fixtures. Female completes the bulletin, handover to new programme with males. Music: Fatboy Slim 'Praise You'.
• 3 March: 2016 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live, UK. Strong to good reception, up to  150 kW via Droitwich, Worcestershire / 50 kW via Stagshaw, Northumberland. The 'Friday Football Social' - Studio guest is Michail Antonio. Live updates from current sporting fixtures: Leeds United v Birmingham City; Cricket: West Indies 147-4 against England in Antuiga; Rugby League updates. Michail Antonio (West Ham United) talking about being called up for England and life as a Premier League player. 2030 UTC news update: Northern Ireland politician Mike Nesbitt has resigned.

• 3 March: 2048 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio Four, UK. Good to moderate reception, 10 kW via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland. 'Test Match Special' - West Indies v England LIVE from Antigua. A West Indian wicket had fallen just as I tuned in, the next Windies batsman is now at the crease and the over has begun. Male commentator with female summariser.
• 3 March: 2116 UTC: 738 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain. Good to moderate reception, 500 kW via Barcelona. Male and female Spanish voices, female speaks of Casablanca.
• 3 March: 2137 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria, UK. Moderate to poor reception, 1 kW via Brisco, Carlisle. Music from Rod Stewart 'Maggie May', speech from Georgie Spanswick, speaking to a female on the phone about her plans for the weekend.

• 3 March: 2155 UTC: 756 kHz: Radio Romania Actualitati, Romania. Moderate reception, 400 kW via Sibiu, Romania. Male speech, folk music, male voice with ID, off air at 2200 UTC.
• 3 March: 2205 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria, UK. Moderate reception, 1 kW via Brisco, Carlisle. [BBC Radio Cumbria 'in the clear'] Two Beatles songs back to back: 'Please Please Me' and 'Penny Lane' on the 'Decades Show' with Joe Costin. Music: The Strawbs 'Part of the Union'. Val Armstrong with the lyrics quiz 😊 Music: Bonnie Tyler 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'. ["Joe Costin: The World's Oldest Man" - R. Nankivell]
• 3 March: 2230 UTC: 774 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain. Good to moderate reception, 20 - 100 kW via various transmission sites. Male conversation at length, includes a clear mention of Brexit!

That concludes the logs for March 2017.

Until the next time, keep listening!

📻

Medium Wave, February 2016

WEEKENDS are a time for enjoying the finer things in life. For me, that is tuning a radio.
Here is the log of broadcasts received on Medium Wave, Saturday 6 February 2016. Times in UTC (Universal Time Coordination; Same as GMT), frequencies in kHz (kiloHertz), transmission powers in kW (kiloWatts):

• 2000 UTC: 774 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain. Multi transmitters, 20-100 kW. ‘Tablero deportivo’ (Sport). Good reception. To 2012 UTC. Website.
• 2020 UTC: 783 kHz: [Presumed] Radio Of Syrian Arab Republic, via Tartus, Syria 600 KW. Speech, half-hour time pips, speech. Moderate to poor reception. To 2030 UTC. Website.
• 2035 UTC: 792 kHz: BBC Radio Ulster, 1 kW via Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Male reporter at a sporting event. Moderate to poor reception. To 2050 UTC. Website.
• 2105 UTC: 801 kHz: [Tentative] BBC Radio Devon, 2 kW via Barnstaple, Devon. ‘BBC Introducing in Devon’. Moderate to poor reception. To 2120 UTC. Website.

• 2125 UTC: 801 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain, via Burgos, 10-20 kW. ‘Tablero deportivo’ (Sport). Good reception. To 2135 UTC. Website.
• 2140 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland, via Burghead or Westerglen, 100 kW. ‘Pipeline’ with Gary West. Good reception. To 2155 UTC. Website.
• 2210 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria, 1 kW via Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. Anne Hopper. Moderate reception. To 2220 UTC. Website.

• 2225 UTC: 846 kHz: Radio North, 1 kW via Redcastle, Co Donegal, Ireland. ‘Night Music’. Moderate reception. To 2235 UTC. Website.
• 2240 UTC: 855 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain, 300 kW via Murcia. ‘Tablero deportivo’ (Sport). Good to strong reception. To 2250 UTC. Website.
• 2300 UTC: 882 kHz: BBC Radio Wales, up to 100 kW (Washford, Somerset). Adam Walton. Good to strong reception. To 2315 UTC. Website.
• 2323 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio 5 Live, up to 200 kW (Moorside Edge, West Yorkshire). Stephen Nolan. Good to strong reception. To 2335 UTC. Watch live webcam.

• 2345 UTC: 936 kHz: Dales Radio, 150 watts via Brunt Acres Road, Hawes, North Yorkshire. ‘Stress Busters’. Good to strong reception. To 00:05 UTC. Website.

That completes the log for February 2016.

Do please click on the weblinks.

Thank you.