Showing posts with label BBC Ulster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC Ulster. Show all posts

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, September 9, 2025

My AM Archive : November 2019

 UNDERSTANDING how Medium Wave (AM) radio works, how the broadcasts logged in this post arrive at my radio receiver, can be introduced in this short piece by the United States Federal Communications Commission, which you can read here.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated September 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.

November 2019 : Medium Wave
  • [Tuesday] 12 November [2019]: 1540 UTC: 1242 kHz: Starting with an ad break on Absolute Radio  Deliveroo, ID, travel update.
    Strong to fair reception; 1 kW via Stockton-on-Tees (Hardwick), Teesside.
    Music from Blur and Nickelback.
    Logged to 1549 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1556 UTC: 1251 kHz: Smooth Radio  Ad for homebase, Postcode Lottery, Calgon.
    News bulletin: Floods in UK, fires in Australia, weather update. News from the Global Newsroom, ID 'This is Smooth Radio'. Music: Lady Antebellum 'Need You Now'.
    Good to poor reception.  I presume this to be Smooth Radio - Suffolk, 760 watts via Gt Barton, Bury St Edmunds.
    Logged to 1610 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1621 UTC: 1260 kHz: BBC Radio York  Battling to hear the broadcast through a lot of noise. Male speech.
    500 watts via Scarborough.
    Logged to 1626 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1629 UTC: 1269 kHz: COPE  Female speech in the Spanish language, Music: Culture Club 'Karma Chameleon'. Speaking to phonecallers. Male and female speech. Ads.
    10 kW via Badajoz or 5 kW via Zamora, Spain.
    Fair reception.
    Male speech.
    Logged to 1638 UTC.
From the Archive: Radio Rovers logo from a letterhead, dated 8 November 1996.
  • 12 November: 1643 UTC: 1278 kHz: Pulse 2  Male speech, music, female speech, ads. Music: Steve Winwood 'Valerie'.
    Fair to poor reception via Tyersal Lane, Bradford. 430 watts.
    Logged to 1658 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1701 UTC: 1287 kHz: Unidentified broadcast  Music at 1705 UTC, missed ID - "On Medium Wave" male voice.
    Music: Queen 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', crossfade into male speech. Music: Middle Of The Road 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep'.
    Logged to 1712 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1715 UTC: 1296 kHz: Radio XL  Interview between male host and female guest, the guest speaks about opportunities open to her family in India.
    Fair reception; 10 kW via Langley Mill B, Birmingham. Co-channel interference from Spain.
    Ad break: Legal matters solved, call 0121; Dishwashers in Birmingham, call 0121; Event to mark a 550th Anniversary. ID for Radio XL with 'Radio XL' sung three times. Music.
    Logged to 1727 UTC.
Meal break at 1735 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1826 UTC: 1305 kHz: Greatest Hits Radio  Ad for People's Postcode Lottery.
    Interference from a co-channel broadcast in the Spanish language. Music: Chicago 'If You Leave Me Now'.
    Greatest Hits Radio, South Yorkshire, 150 watts via Barnsley / Ardsley.
    Logged to 1841 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1843 UTC: 1314 kHz: RNE Radio 5  Speech and music. Broadcast becomes inaudible due to rising noise.
    25 kW via Tarragona, Spain.
  • 12 November: 1854 UTC: 1332 kHz: Unidentified broadcast  Music: John Lennon 'Just Like Starting Over'.
From the Archive: Red Dragon Radio With Compliments note, 1991.
Red Dragon Radio operated two services: Touch 1359 & 1305 AM and Red Dragon FM.
  • 12 November: 1900 UTC: 1341 kHz: BBC Radio Ulster  'BBC Northern Ireland - BBC Radio Ulster News': Syrian refugees are settling in Northern Ireland. Weather: Wind and wet weather increasing. Music at 1903 UTC. Programme in local language dialect.
    Fair to poor reception; 100 kW via Lisnagarvey, County Down, Northern Ireland. Noise on the broadcast.
    BBC Children In Need promo.
    Logged to 1909 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1916 UTC: 1359 kHz: BBC Radio Solent  Male speech: Male in studio with male guest on the telephone. Music. Losing to noise.
    BBC Radio Solent via Fern Barrow, Bournemouth, 850 watts.
  • 12 November: 1922 UTC: 1368 kHz: Manx Radio  Music: Bananarama 'Cruel Summer', Seal 'Crazy'. Male host with speech, music: Savage Garden 'To The Moon And Back'.
    Excellent to fair reception; 20 kW via Foxdale, Isle of Man.
    Ads: Manx Cover; Just Care Mobility products; Just Bathrooms showroom in Ramsey. Harmony Homes. Music ID: Manx Radio 'Greatest Hits' programme. Music: Shakira 'SheWolf'. Breakfast show promo. Music: INXS.
    Logged to 1935 UTC.
  • 12 November: 1958 UTC: 1386 kHz: Radio Svoboda  Male and female speech, IDs, male speech at 20 UTC: news bulletin. Male speech with music sweeper.
    Strong to fair reception. Radio Svoboda, a broadcast of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, via Radio Baltic Waves International, Viešintos, Lithuania. 75 kW.
    Logged to 2009 UTC.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

My AM Archive : Hallowe'en 2018

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

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

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

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

October 2018 : Medium Wave
  • [Wednesday] 31 October [2018]: 1620 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  Focus on education, female host with a male correspondent on how to get the best out of students and teachers; Female correspondent on funds being held to assist with education, urging educational establishments and students to apply for the funding.
    Male correspondent: Sport: Rugby, Scottish football. 'SportSound' is on air at 6:30pm this evening. Rafa Nadal withdraws from Paris tennis. Gethin Jenkins withdraws due to injury.
    Traffic: Falkirk, Edinburgh, Renfrewshire.
    Drivetime news headlines at 1630 : Death of Saudi journalist.
    Strong to good reception; 100 kW via Burghead / Westerglen.
    News: Glasgow has been selected by Channel 4 as a new creative hub. Jaguar Land Rover report losses.
    Weather: Rain in Glasgow.
    Logged to 1635 UTC.
  • 31 October: 1652 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Music: Roy Orbison 'I Drove All Night'.
    Paul Braithwaite on BBC Radio Cumbria, listener texts, listener reaction to a Trisha Yearwood song played earlier on the show.
    BBC Travel at 1657 UTC: A595 closure. Workington / Whitehaven roadworks, Carlisle A6 roadworks. A66 Bridgefoot, A590.
    'Newshour' Adam Powell. 1700 UTC news: Sellafield costs rising. Saudi killing. Machete attack in Cumbria. Channel 4 chooses Leeds as new HQ. University of Cumbria is studying Snow Leopards.
    Sport: Cricket: England v Sri Lanka. Manchester United Football Club.
    Weather.
    Strong to fair reception; 1 kW via Barrow-in-Furness.
    'Newshour' Top story: Sellafield costs rising.
    Logged to 1707 UTC.
1711 UTC: Meal break.
  • 31 October: 1820 UTC: 846 kHz: Radio North / Gospel 846  Male speech, American accent, speaks of HBO TV series 'Band Of Brothers', using as an example of the US troops serving in the Middle East; how the US troops detained Saddam Hussein in Iraq and how God lead the troops to find Saddam.
    Contact details for Texas, USA.
    Male speaks of judging the Iraq war.
    Radio North / Gospel 846 transmitting 1 kw via Redcastle, Co Donegal. Strong to fair reception.
    Reading from the Scriptures: "Jesus was made a little lower than the Angels".
    The 'Born To Win' show, Dallas, Texas. Telephone number, online contacts.
    Music: Elvis Presley 'Marie's The Name (Latest Flame)'.
    Logged to 1829 UTC.
  • 31 October: 1842 UTC: 855 kHz: Radio Nacional de Espana  Female-led speech in the Spanish language, ID jingle at 1844 UTC - Echo - Split transmitters? [Logbook shows Murcia transmitter] Fast-paced speech from both male and females continues.
    Strong to good reception; 300 kW via Murcia.
    Logged to 1852 UTC.
From the archive: Radio Utopia QSL. Utopia broadcast on 1607 - 1640 kHz, 1996.
Note: 31 October: 1859 UTC: 864 kHz: Male, singing, Arabic? Signal increase in strength at 1900 UTC, good to fair reception. British DX Club for 864 kHz shows TWR [Trans World Radio], Gavar, Armenia for Middle East & Caucasus // ERTU Qur'an programme, Santah, Egypt.
Logged to 1907 UTC
.
  • 31 October: 1910 UTC: 873 kHz: BBC Radio Ulster  Music: Female vocals, guitar, very much in the style of Katie Melua.
    BBC Radio Ulster, 1 kW via Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
    Live [music] performance! Irish + English speech.
    Strong to fair reception.
    Interview.
    Logged to 1920 UTC.
Cup of tea time!
  • 31 October: 1940 UTC: 882 kHz: BBC Radio Wales  Music: Chic 'Everybody Dance (Clap Your Hands)'. Promo for international rugby this Saturday: Wales v Scotland in the Autumn Internationals. Music: The Supremes 'Where Did Our Love Go'. Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales.
    Strong to good reception; Up to 100 kW via Washford, Somerset.
    Janice Long talks of "dashing off to get some sweets from the kitchen!" Song by a vocalist mulling over a last day on earth. Now playing: Annie Lennox 'Love Song For A Vampire'. New music.
    Logged to 1953 UTC.
Note: 31 October: 1956 UTC: 891 kHz: Overspill from Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales, playing The Who 'I Can't Explain'.
  • 31 October: 2002 UTC: 900 kHz: Rai Radio 1  Italian football, full commentary, stadium atmosphere.
    Strong to fair reception; 600 kW via Milan, Italy.
    Logged to 2012 UTC.
  • 31 October: 2015 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Football: Chelsea 2 - Derby County 2 at Stamford Bridge. Thirteen minutes left in the first half. Scores in Scottish football.
    Goal for Arsenal v Blackpool (League Cup football). Co-commentary by Andy Townsend. West Ham v Tottenham Hotspur. Scott Carson in goal for Derby. Both Chelsea goals were own goals by Derby County - One was Richard Keogh.
    Strong to good reception; Up to 200 kW via Moorside Edge, West Yorkshire.
    Goal: Chelsea 3 (Cesc Fabregas) - Derby County 2. Middlesbrough 0 - Crystal Palace 0. Substitution for Middlesbrough. Latest scores. Half time: Chelsea 3 - Derby County 2.
    Logged to 2030 UTC.
From the archive: Talk Radio UK launched 14 February 1995.
Notes: 31 October: 2035 UTC: 918 kHz: Overspill from BBC Radio Five Live on 909 kHz.
2037 UTC: 927 kHz: Quiet
.
  • 31 October: 2040 UTC: 936 kHz: Dales Radio  Remix of 'Fast Car' (originally by Tracy Chapman). 'Spotlight on The Dales': Volunteer for The Folly at Settle. 'Settle - Leyburn - Grassington' ID. Music: Madonna 'Like A Prayer'.
    150 watts via Brunt Acres Road, Hawes, North Yorkshire. Strong to fair reception.
    Music from the 'Mamma Mia' soundtrack. Music: Randy Crawford (The Crusaders) 'Street Life'.
    Logged to 2050 UTC.
    [Notes: Dales Radio postal addresses: Colvend, Hebden Road, Grassington BD23 5LB - or - Smithy Farm, Hopperton, Knaresborough HG5 8NX]
  • 31 October: 2058 UTC: 945 kHz: Smooth Radio  Ad for 'The Claims Guys' (PPI), Cancer Research UK, window fitters in Sussex, Costa Coffee. ID for Smooth Radio. Music: Berlin 'Take My Breath Away'.
    Smooth Radio - Sussex, 700 watts via Bexhill (Eastbourne). Strong to fair reception.
    Logged to 2108 UTC.
  • 31 October: 2102 UTC: 945 kHz: Gold  End of a news broadcast from the Sky News centre, ID for Gold. Music: Elvis Presley 'Way Down'.
    Gold (East Midlands), 200 watts via Quarndon (Derby). Fair to poor reception.
    Logged to 2108 UTC.
"Nice music playing on 945 kHz, from the dominant Smooth Radio.  Closing this DX at 2120 UTC, on 945 kHz.
Goodnight!"

Sunday, August 15, 2021

My AM Archive: Summer 2011

 JUNE and August 2011 are the focus of this post, bringing logs of Medium Wave broadcasts of the time into this blog.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: April 2011, 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.

June 2011 : Medium Wave
  • [Thursday] 9 June [2011] [Receiver used: Hitachi TRK 5854-E]: 2120 UTC: 828 kHz: Radio 10 Gold  Speech from female host with male guest in the Dutch language - This is Radio 10 Gold.
    Excellent to good reception. Dutch via Heinenoord, HOL. Long speech, interview. Music: Rumer 'Am I Forgiven'.
    Logged to 2135 UTC.
  • 9 June: 2146 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Music by Robbie Williams 'Strong' on the Richard Nankivell show on BBC Radio Cumbria.
    Good to fair reception. Richard Nankivell with Wispy Witherslack. Music: Amy Winehouse 'Valerie'.
    1 kW via Barrow in Furness.
    Logged to 2153 UTC.
  • 9 June [Receiver used: Lloytron N-401 Galaxy]: 2243 UTC: 837 kHz: France Info  Speech by a male in the French language. Music. Speech by male host, interview with male guest on telephone.
    Good reception. 200 kW via Nancy, France.
    Logged to 2257 UTC.
  • [Thursday] 16 June [2011] [Receiver used: Roberts R881]: 1901 UTC: 837 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Music: Bob Dylan 'Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 [Everybody Must Get Stoned]'. Speech from Joe Costin. Music. Speech from Joe Costin.
    Fair to poor reception. 1 kW via Barrow in Furness.
    Logged to 1912 UTC.
Joe Costin (BBC Radio Cumbria) promotional photocard.
  • 16 June: 1936 UTC: 882 kHz: BBC Radio Wales  Female and male speech. Music: Carl Douglas 'Kung Fu Fighting'.
    Fair to poor reception, up to 100 kW (Washford, Somerset).
    ID at 1950 UTC. Music: The Monkees 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' (1967). Music: Julian Cope. Weather, traffic & travel, news headlines. Weather forecast.
    Logged to 1958 UTC.
  • 16 June: 2034 UTC: 900 kHz: RAI Uno  Female speech.
    200 kW via Milan. Good to fair / poor reception.
    Logged to 2057 UTC.
  • 16 June: 2112 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Live coverage of the US Open Golf Tournament from Maryland, USA. Interview with Luke Donald.
    Excellent to poor reception, up to 200 kW (Moorside Edge, West Yorkshire).
    ID for 'Five Live Sport'. Speech regarding Ian Poulter. Rory McIlroy on the Fifth green - Rory McIlroy is the leader on the afternoon of the opening day of the US Open.
    Logged to 2121 UTC.
  • 16 June: 2133 UTC: 918 kHz: Radio Slovenia 1  Continual music.
    Fair reception, up to 300 kW via Domzale.
    Radio Slovenia 1 : The First Programe of Slovenia. Tavčar 17, 1550 LJUBLJANA  SLOVENIA
    Logged to 2148 UTC.
  • 16 June: 2200 UTC: 936 kHz: Fresh Radio  Music: Tina Arena 'Sorrento Moon (I Remember)'. ID for Fresh Radio. 'Sky News Centre' 11pm news. UK economic recovery. Richard Branson may purchase Northern Rock. Wembley Stadium will host 2016 Champions League Final. Royal Ascot Ladies Day. ID for Fresh Radio 'Stress Busters'. Music. Phil Collins?
    Excellent to good reception. 1 kW via Hawes, Yorkshire Dales. Van Morrison 'Whenever God Shines His Light' with Cliff Richard.
    Fresh Radio, The Watermill, Broughton Hall, SKIPTON BD23 3AG
    Logged to 2210 UTC.
  • 16 June: 2215 UTC: 945 kHz: France Info  Male speech, French language.
    Good reception. 300 kW via Toulouse, France.
    Jingles, speech, recordings, male and female speech, with male telephone caller. Overspill from Fresh Radio on 936 kHz. Female telephone caller.
    Logged to 2227 UTC.
Radio Slovenia verification card, June 2011.
August 2011 : Medium Wave
  • [Saturday] 13 August [2011]: 1415 UTC: 1053 kHz: TalkSport  Live football scores with Adrian.
    Fair to poor reception.
    'Matchday Live'
    Up to 500 kW via Central England (Droitwich, Worcestershire).
    Ad break: WWE Championship. Live football commentaries this evening: Newcastle v Arsenal. ID. Score: Liverpool 1 - Sunderland 0. Rugby Union: Wales 6 - England 6 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales. England have won the Third Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, v India, replacing India as the number one team in the world in Cricket.
    Football: Wigan 1 - Norwich 0. Blackburn Rovers 1 - Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Liverpool 1 - Sunderland 0. Fulham 0 - Aston Villa 0.
    Logged to 1425 UTC.
  • 13 August: 1518 UTC: 1170 kHz: Magic 1170  Quincy Jones on 'Eighties Magic'. Ad break: Autoglass, Cancer Research UK, Vauxhall Corsa at local dealer. Business web design. Road cycles, 'Outdoor Fitness' magazine. Gordon's Gin...? 'Call 222555' - Magic 1170 ID 'Teesside and North Yorkshire'. Music: Chicago 'Hard Habit To Break'.
    Fair to poor reception. 320 watts via Stockton, Teesside.
    Host Dave Campbell? Music: 'Girls On Film' Duran Duran. ABC 'The Look Of Love'. ID. Billy Joel / Fyfe Dangerfield 'She's Always A Woman To Me'.
    Logged to 1537 UTC.
  • 13 August: 1600 UTC: 1215 kHz: Absolute Radio  Football scores on 'Rock 'n' Roll Football'. Full Time: Bury 0 - Carlisle United 2. Ad break for ESPN.
    Poor reception. Up to 200 kW, Moorside Edge, West Yorkshire, for North England.
    Ads: The People newspaper, Go Compare insurance. ID. 'Call Ian Wright now...' Football phone-in with Ian Wright.
    Logged to 1612 UTC.
  • 13 August: 1624 UTC: 1242 kHz: Absolute Radio  Football talk with Ian Wright and guests: Speech regarding Arsenal FC prior to kick off v Newcastle at 1630 UTC.
    Fair reception, 1 kW via Stockton-on-Tees.
    Ad break: Flora, X Box 360, WWE Championship. Mazda test drive, The People newspaper. Promo for the Christian O'Connell breakfast show. ID for 'Rock 'n' Roll Football' on Absolute Radio, Facebook link, continued speech re: Newcastle v Arsenal.
    Logged to 1637 UTC.
  • 13 August: 1653 UTC: 1341 kHz: BBC Radio Ulster  Superbikes: The Ulster Grand Prix (Motorcycling).
    Fair reception. 100 kW via Lisnagarvey, Co Down, Northern Ireland.
    Logged to 1701 UTC.
Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

📻

Sunday, July 1, 2018

My AM Archive: April 1997

WELCOME to an extensive post on Reporting From The Fox Tower, of Medium Wave memories from the month of April 1997, including as-it-happened logs of a major breaking news story. First, housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

April 1997: Medium Wave

  • 5 April [1997]: 1311 UTC: 567 kHz: RTÉ Radio One : Sport: UK football: Arsenal 3 (Wright, Platt, Bergkamp) - Chelsea 0. Music: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas 'Dancing In The Streets' on 'Saturday Two Til Five' presented by Tony O'Donoghue, strong reception. Snooker: Hendry v Williams. Racing from Aintree. Football: Derry City v Shelbourne.
  • 5 April: 1343 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland Scottish football: Raith Rovers v Celtic. Morton v St Johnstone. Airdrie v Clydebank. Aberdeen v Motherwell.
  • 5 April: 1405 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio Four Strong reception, Newcastle-upon-Tyne transmitter. Afternoon play.
  • 5 April: 1408 UTC: 612 kHz: RTÉ 2FM : Athlone transmitter. Moderate to strong reception. Lorcan Murray. Music: 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel', Spice Girls 'Who Do You Think You Are'. UK football: Aston Villa 0 - Everton 1, Southampton 1 - Nottingham Forest 0, Manchester United 0 - Derby County 0. Music: Orbital 'The Saint'. Breaking news from Aintree: Grand National postponed, bomb warning.
RTE QSL: 5 April 1997
  • 5 April: 1439 UTC: 648 kHz: BBC World Service Moderate to good reception via Orfordness transmitter. 'Sportsworld' Live reports from Aintree with Ian Payne and Charlie Brookes. Ian Brown updates the UK football scores: Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 0, Manchester United 0 - Derby County 1. Cricket report. Live at Aintree: Interview with Jenny Pitman. Cricket update. Football scores: Manchester United 0 - Derby County 2, Aston Villa 1 - Everton 1.
  • 5 April: 1500 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York Good to strong reception via Fulford transmitter. 'North Yorkshire Sport' Telephone 01904 641 641, Football at Bootham Crescent, York City v Notts County. Report from Aintree. Goal: York 0 - County 1. Report from Northampton v Scarborough: 0-0. Football round-up: Aston Villa 2 - Everton 1, Manchester United 1 - Derby 2, Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 0. Update from Aintree. Rugby Union report: Harrogate 72 - Clifton 0. Goal: Northampton 1 - Scarborough 0. Return to Aintree for statements. Football: Carlisle United 1 - Fulham 2. Darlington 0 - Doncaster Rovers 2. Traffic Report: A66 closed to all high sided vehicles between Penrith and Scotch Corner.
  • 5 April: 1527 UTC: 675 kHz: Radio 10 Gold Strong to good reception via Lopik, Utrecht, Holland, 120 kW, Dutch language: Music: John Miles 'Music'. Men At Work: 'Down Under'. OMD: 'Joan of Arc'. Tight Fit 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. News bulletin: The Martell Aintree Grand National abandoned following bomb warning. Weather report. Music: Elvis Presley.
  • 5 April: 1606 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live Strong to good reception - via Droitwich? Classified football results: Carlisle United 1 - Fulham 2. [BBC Radio Five Live Aintree podcast: Click HERE]
  • 5 April: 1611 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio Four Interview with Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw regarding Sinn Fein / IRA, possibly responsible for the Aintree bomb warning. Interview with Michael Howard, Home Secretary of the Conservative Government.
  • 5 April: 1619 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria Strong to good reception via Carlisle. Relay of BBC Radio Five Live: Gary Lineker interviews Des Lynam live at Aintree. Nick Barnes reports from Brunton Park following Carlisle United's 2-1 loss to Fulham, interview with Mervyn Day. Report from Aintree. Football: Barrow v Colwyn Bay. Premier League football results: Manchester United 2 - Derby 3. Report from Southampton - Nottingham Forest. Newcastle 1 - Sunderland 1. Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 0. Aston Villa 3 - Everton 1. Reports from Ian Brown and Alan Green. Report from Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Round-up of all results from football and Rugby Union.
  • 5 April: 1644 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Leeds Good to strong reception, Farnley transmitter. West Yorkshire Sport: Report regarding Everton Football Club. Coca Cola Cup: Middlesbrough v Leicester City. The 1996 Coca Cola Cup Final was contested by Leeds United and Aston Villa. Classified football results. Report from Aintree. Football reports: Huddersfield Town, Halifax Town. Manchester United v Derby review. Bolton Wanderers promoted to Premier League football. Travel news: M1 motorway Junction 43, M62 Dewsbury, A650 Bradford. 17 UTC News: Aintree Grand National bomb warning, car crash in Leeds. Hull sweet factory takes legal action. Police caution children playing on railway lines. Leader of the Opposition, Tony Blair, releases a statement. Violence in Yemen. Weather report. Music: Lionel Richie 'Night Shift'.
  • 5 April: 1718 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live 'Alan Green's Sportstalk'. Strong to good reception.
  • 5 April: 1722 UTC: 1053 kHz: Talk Radio UK Strong to good reception - via Start Point transmitter? Danny Baker, phone-in: Football: Walsall fan travels to the match in an ice cream van! Dave Wood faxed in from London, Rob in Dartford. Ad break: No1 Ska Album, Mail On Sunday, Jammie Dodgers. Postal address: Talk Radio UK, PO Box 2460 LONDON W1A Fax from Helen Jones. Simon in Leicester. Sue in Middlesex.
  • 5 April: 1745 UTC: 1062 kHz: Danmarks Radio, Denmark. Strong to good reception. Music: Lisa Stansfield.
  • 5 April: 1754 UTC: 1170 kHz: Great North Radio Good to moderate reception. Music: Average White Band 'Let's Go Round Again'. Music: ABBA.
  • 12 April: 1430 UTC: 1170 kHz: Great North Radio Music: Wet Wet Wet 'With A Little Help From My Friends'.
  • 12 April: 1434 UTC: 1215 kHz: Virgin Radio Strong to good reception. Ad break: All request weekend, Wimpey, 'Fever Pitch' book, Gillette Sensor Excel, British Airways.
  • 12 April: 1440 UTC: 1278 kHz: RTÉ Radio 2FM Strong to good reception, transmitter: Dublin / Cork? Presenter: Lorcan Murray? Music: Brannigan 'Self Control'.
  • 12 April: 1446 UTC: 1341 UTC: BBC Radio Ulster Football: Cliftonville 1 - Lochall 1 Paul Stokes & Nicky Griffen report from Windsor Park, Belfast. 'Sportsround' programme. Adam Coates is the presenter. Football scores: Sherbourne 1 - Derry 0. Barnsley 2 - Charlton 0, QPR 0 - Sheffield United 0. Rugby: All-Ireland league: Shannon are the holding Champions. Men's hockey: Lisnagarvey lead a match. Football update: Blackburn 1 - Manchester United 2, Arsenal 1 - Leicester 0. Racing: Tony Dobbin. 15 UTC News: Attempted murder of Pope in Bosnia. 'SportSound': Scottish Cup: Celtic 0 - Falkirk 0. Transmitter: Lisnagarvey, strong reception.
  • 12 April: 1525 UTC: 1368 kHz: Manx Radio Moderate to good reception via Foxdale. The Afternoon Show Music: Kula Shaker 'Hey Dude'. 'Flightwatch At Ronaldsway Airport'. Music: U2 'Staring At The Sun'. Ad break: The Tile Shop, Isle of Man Post Office, Music: The LA's 'There She Goes'; Paul Weller : 'Peacock Suit'.
  • 12 April: 1554 UTC: 1422 kHz: West Coast Radio Ireland Moderate reception. Gentlemen speak of reception reports received by the station.
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Sunday, December 3, 2017

DX Notes, October - November 2017

WELCOME to my radio listening logs for October - November 2017, covering Short Wave and Medium Wave. All broadcasts were received on the Roberts R881.
[Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), transmission powers in watts and kiloWatts (kW)]

Short Wave : Friday 20 October 2017
  • 20 October: 1925 UTC: 9730 kHz: The Short Wave Band is very noisy these days. I believe I hear China Radio International in Spanish / Portuguese language, spoken at length by a male, with music in the background - Not sure if the music is the same broadcast. China Radio International in Portuguese via Kashi-Saibagh, 500 kW, though Voice of Vietnam is also on air on this frequency: English language to 1930 UTC; French from 1930 UTC via Hanoi-Santay, 100 kW. Moderate reception of this frequency; To 1930 UTC.
  • 20 October: 1935 UTC: 9810 kHz: IRIB Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran. Moderate reception, 500 kW via Sirjan, Iran. Male speech in English! The male speaks of the Russian Foreign Minister, who says Washington DC should withdraw the US nuclear weapons. Russia hopes to speak to Pyongyang. English language to Europe and Africa. News from Madrid. News from Istanbul, an explosion. News of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the International Atomic Agency. IDs, times and frequencies, contact details. Music. To 1952 UTC.
  • 20 October: 2041 UTC: 11580 kHz: WRMI Radio Miami International, USA. Moderate reception, 100 kW via Okeechobee FL USA. Deep, male voice in American English; English to Europe and Americas. To 2049 UTC.
Sunday 5 November 2017

5 November: 1820 UTC: 5935 kHz: Radio Romania International. Strong reception, 300 kW via Tiganesti, Saftica, Romania. Listener's Day broadcast: Richard Cole, Pennsylvania, USA, points to Donald Trump as a source of fake news, as does a listener in Alabama, USA. Listener in Nevada USA shares their views on Donald Trump. Comments from a listener in Brazil.
Martin Cowin (Me!) at 1825 UTC with views on fake news, the subject of today's programme. UK listener with views of fake news on social media. English to Europe. Listeners in the USA on sources of fake news on social media. To 1840 UTC.

Medium Wave: Saturday 25 November 2017
  • 25 November: 2042 UTC: 1314 kHz: RNE Radio 5, Spain. Strong to moderate reception. Classical orchestral works, which have featured speech at two intervals. The speech was male, I believe it to be Spanish. I believe the music to also be Motion Picture Soundtracks. The male speech has an 'echo', so I believe I hear more than one transmitter. To 2058 UTC.
  • 25 November: 2102 UTC: 1323 kHz: Smooth Radio, Sussex, UK. Strong to moderate reception, 500 watts via Southwick, Brighton. Music: Madonna 'Crazy For You', male voice with 'Smooth Radio' ID, Cyndi Lauper 'Time After Time'. Female voice: 'Your relaxing music mix, Smooth Radio' ID. KC & The Sunshine Band 'Please Don't Go'. 'Smooth Sanctuary'. George Benson 'In Your Eyes'. Male presenter with a link. Alicia Keys 'Empire State of Mind (Part 2)'; The Bee Gees. To 2120 UTC.
  • 25 November: 2138 UTC: 1332 kHz: Smooth Radio, Cambridgeshire, UK. Good to moderate reception, 600 watts via Gunthorpe, Peterborough. Music: Lady Antebellum 'Need You Now'. Male host with ID for Smooth Radio prior to a lengthy ad break, including ads for Christmas! Ad for a pantomime. Music: John Lennon 'Woman'. Female ID, Fleetwood Mac 'Dreams'. 'The Smooth Sanctuary', male host. Female ID, Simply Red 'Holding Back The Years'. To 2151 UTC.

  • 25 November: 2158 UTC: 1341 UTC: BBC Radio Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK. Strong to good reception, 100 kW via Lisnagarvey, County Down, Northern Ireland. Gaelic speech with music to 22 UTC. News: Arrests following stabbings at York Road, Belfast. Libyan coastguard says migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean have died. British Transport Police detain two men following incident in London on Friday night. Time Magazine v Donald Trump. Sport: Rugby Union: Ireland lose to Argentina. Weather, BBC News. 'The Saturday Club': Mystery voice, television theme, look at the news of the week, from the archive, female guest. Dedications by text: 81771, email jb @ bbc . co . uk and via Twitter @ bbcradioulster. Music: Maureen Evans 'Like I Do'. Recap of contact details. John is the host. He had to clean out the car! Music: Andy Williams 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'. To 2216 UTC.
[Following BBC Radio Ulster on 1341 kHz, I tuned to 1350 kHz, which was quiet. Tuned to 1359 kHz, which carried a 'Black Friday Event' ad, which ruled out BBC Radio Solent, but could have ruled in Free Radio 80s (Shilton, Coventry) or Smooth Radio (South Wales / Essex). Signal did not carry, so moved on to tune to 1368 kHz.]
  • 25 November: 2225 UTC: 1368 kHz: Radio Caroline North courtesy of the Radio Caroline Support Group, via Manx Radio! Strong to good reception, 20 kW via Foxdale, Isle of Man. Inclusion of an ID for 648 kHz - Caroline is going on the old BBC World Service frequency! Male host, contact from a listener at Heddon-On-The-Wall, ad break which included the Ross Revenge having to change location - Documentary available to purchase from the webshop. Weather for the Isle of Man. Music. Male ID 'This is Radio Caroline North'. Music from Status Quo; Music from The Temptations. Competitions: Listeners in Norfolk and Walsall. David Knight has been in contact with the show. Music, jingles for Radio Caroline North 1368 kHz! To 2250 UTC.

[1377 kHz was quiet]
  • 25 November: 2252 UTC: 1386 kHz: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Lithuania. Good to moderate reception, via Viešintos, Lithuania, ID as 'Radio Svaboda'. Speech from male and female, sounds quite emotional! Eastern Europe / Russian language IDs at 2259 UTC, male with news at 23 UTC: Vladimir Putin; Islamic terrorists; Angela Merkel; France: President Macron. Mugabe leaves power in Zimbabwe. To 2308 UTC.
  • 25 November: 2312 UTC: 1395 kHz: Radio Seabreeze AM, Holland. Moderate reception, via Grou, Holland, 100 watts - From a transmitter BELOW sea level! Music: Mumford & Sons, male speech, web address, link into next song: Fleetwood Mac 'Dreams'; Meatloaf & Cher 'Real Dead Ringer For Love'; Duran Duran; Pretenders 'Don't Get Me Wrong'. To 2331 UTC.
[1404 kHz was quiet]
  • 25 November: 2336 UTC: 1413 kHz: Premier Christian Radio, London, UK. Good to moderate reception, 500 watts via Heathrow (West London) / Dartford Marshes (East London). Male voice with a weather forecast, ID for Premier Christian Radio, music with male speech, 'God is in the moon' - Song by female vocalists, 'Church On The Moon'. 'Gospel Tonight' is the name of the show. Male ID. Echo from both transmitters. To 2354 UTC.
  • 25 November: 2356 UTC: 1413 kHz: BBC Radio Gloucestershire, UK. Good to moderate reception, 500 watts via Bourton-On-The-Water / 200 watts via Berkeley Heath. "This is the Late Show from the BBC" male host, music: Texas 'I Don't Want A Lover'. Male ID for the song and the 'Late Show' - Guess the item competition - Ten minutes of the competition left! Guess from a listener in Falmouth. ID for the BBC. Music: Lynyrd Skynyrd 'Sweet Home Alabama'. [QRM from Premier Christian Radio] More guesses in the competition: A walkaway cooker?! Music: Bee Gees 'Tragedy'. The mystery items were mortar and pestle (for grinding up food). Music: Moody Blues 'Question'. To 0015 UTC.
[1422 kHz was quiet]
  • [Sunday] 26 November: 0018 UTC: 1431 kHz: Smooth Radio, UK. Good to moderate reception, 350 watts via Rayleigh ( Southend-on-Sea, Essex) / 140 watts via Manor Farm, Reading, Berkshire. 'Smooth Love Songs, on Smooth Radio' Emeli Sandé & Labrinth 'Beneath Your Beautiful', ID, Wham! 'Last Christmas' - Hoping to be the Christmas Number One for 2017, to mark one year since the passing of George Michæl on Christmas Day 2016. Now playing: Vanessa Williams 'Saving The Best For Last'; Rod Stewart 'I Don't Want To Talk About It'; Shania Twain 'You're Still The One'. To 0032 UTC.
That completes the logs for October - November 2017. My intention is to spend some of the festive - New Year period listening to broadcasts, with the hope that the logs will appear on Reporting From The Fox Tower at the close of 2017 and / or the first days of 2018. Until then, Good Listening!

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