My AM Archive: December 2015

FIRST, may I apologise for not posting  for five weeks.

This post concludes, for the time being, logs of radio broadcasts heard on Medium Wave in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, England.

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

December 2015 : Medium Wave

[ [Thursday] 3 December [2015]: 1615 UTC: 630 kHz: Music: Anastasia 'I'm Outta Love', I can hear speech, but nothing in the clear. ]

• 3 December: 1630 UTC: 639 kHz: Czech Radio 2 - CRo2 [Czech Republic]  Speech, accompanied by noise. Two males in conversation.
  This transmission is from Prague - Liblice, Czech Republic, radiating 750 kW.
  Excellent to fair reception.
  Speech continues with telephone interview, slight fade on the signal.
  Logged to 1652 UTC.

[ 3 December: 1659 UTC: 648 kHz: Inaudible broadcasts. ]

[ 3 December: 1703 UTC: 657 kHz: Very faint, but audible, female speech in the Spanish language - Very recognisable. Fades into the noise. Most likely to have been RNE R 5, Madrid (Spain). Logged to 1717 UTC. ]

• 3 December: 1720 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York  Male speaking to representatives of a hospital support group - See more on the BBC York Facebook page.
  ID for BBC Radio York. Trailer for 'Northern Powerhouse' programme, Friday 11:30am.
  BBC York traffic and travel ID. Time check.
  Music: Roy Orbison 'Only The Lonely'.
  North Yorkshire Christmas Drink Driving campaign launched today; Interview with Deputy Chief Constable.
  Excellent to fair reception.
  1730 [UTC] News: Military action in Syria. Sport: York City Football Club, non-league football in the FA Vase competition. Gary Neville joins Valencia. FIFA Committee. Snooker in York: Robertson beats Higgins. Hockey.
  Transmission: 500 watts via Fulford, York.
  Weather update with Paul.
  Presenter: Jules Bellerby.
  Logged to 1736 UTC.
  

  

  BBC Radio York logo.

  
  [ 3 December: 1742 UTC: 675 kHz: Inaudible broadcast on this frequency. ]
  
  
• 3 December: 1748 UTC: 684 kHz: RNE 1 [Spain]  Male speech in Spanish, includes sound effects of emails being received, text messages and voicemails - Including speech from female.
  Broadcast: RNE Radio 1, Seville, E (España / Spain); Good to fair reception; 600 kW.
  Music. Time signal for 1800 UTC, IDs by female and male.
  Logged to 1800 UTC.
• 3 December: 1824 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Male host speaking to correspondent with regards to British Prime Minister David Cameron's plan to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.
  'Drivetime with Tony Livesey'. Mass shooting in California.
  News headlines at 1830 UTC.
  Sport headlines: Gary Neville is the new Valencia Manager. FIFA vice President David Gill and committee meet in Zurich, Switzerland. Snooker: Robertson beat Maguire.
  GB men lose to India in Hockey.
  Excellent to good reception.
  Weather. Travel.
  Transmission site most likely to be Stagshaw, Northumberland (North East England) 50 kW.
  Football promo.
  UN Climate change conference continues in Paris. How can UK reduce food waste?
  Logged to 1840 UTC.
• 3 December: 1850 UTC: 711 kHz: France Info  Strong signal, female speaking in French, speech regarding US President Barack Obama. Speech from male, speech from female.
  Promo, IDs, top of the hour: 1900 UTC. IDs for France Info.
  Excellent to good reception via Rennes, France, 300 kW.
  News headlines at 1915 UTC: Californian shootings.
  Logged to 1911 UTC.
  [ "Thank you France Info" - This was the last time France Info would broadcast on this frequency. ]
• 3 December: 1923 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio Four  The current edition of 'Front Row', an arts programme focussed on theatre, cinema, on BBC Radio Four.
  Male host speaking to actress in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. Song from the soundtrack.
  Fair reception.
  Transmission site most likely to be Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland. 10 kW.
  Male vocalist, inspired by Marvin Gaye, Nat 'King' Cole.
  Logged to 1934 UTC.
• 3 December: 2058 UTC: 729 kHz: Radio Nacional de España  Music: Fleetwood Mac 'Little Lies'. 2100 UTC: ID, male and female speech, Spanish language.
  Fair reception.
  Logged to 2106 UTC.
  
• 3 December: 2110 UTC: 738 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional  Speech in Spanish - Strong signal - Male speech mentions Alexis Tsipras, the Greek Prime Minister. ID. Female speech referencing terrorism.
  This is RNE Radio Nacional via Barcelona, E (Spain) 500 kW.
  Excellent to fair reception.
  Music: Adele.
  Logged to 2121 UTC.
  [ Image below: The impressive Barcelona transmitter! ]

• 3 December: 2132 UTC: 756 kHz: Deutschlandfunk [Germany]  Classical concert, loud applause. German speech, female, 'Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra' also 'New York Philharmonic Orchestra'. Next piece plays.
  Excellent to good reception via Ravensburg / Braunschweig, 100-200 kW.
  Classical piece from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra continues.
  Logged to 2145 UTC.
• 3 December: 2152 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Georgie Spanswick playing 'Best of My Love'.
  ID for BBC Radio Cumbria.
  2200 UTC news: Reaction following the implementation of RAF military action in Syria. Aftermath of the shootings in California. David Cameron seeks reform of the EU. Breastfeeding mum has baby taken off her.
  Ian Timms with news headlines here in Cumbria - Roads and railways affected by rain and flooding.
  BBC Radio Cumbria IDs; "Take care if out and about" - Ian Timms.
  Music: UB40 'Red Red Wine'.
  Fair to poor reception. 1 kW via Carlisle.
  Music: Roy Orbison 'Dreams of You'; 'Lillibullero'; Elton John; Little Mix.
  Logged to 2210 UTC.

[ "When Deutschlandfunk and BBC Cumbria fade, I hear English speech referring to current news stories - This could be BBC Radio 4, 2 kW via Redruth, West Cornwall... ]

• 3 December: 2231 UTC: 765 kHz: BBC Essex  Music: Paul McCartney and Wings 'Silly Love Songs'. Male speech: "Hello to Bob, he's a truck driver just starting the night shift, so this is Bob's morning show" Music: Little Mix 'Love Me Like You'.
  On Facebook: 'Four Seasons or Three Degrees'. Text message.
  Email "Could you please play my Fab Five?" Music: Frank Sinatra 'You Make Me Feel So Young'.
  BBC Essex via Chelmsford, 500 watts.
  Fair to poor reception.
  Glen Campbell 'Dreams of the Everyday Housewife'; Michael Buble 'Home'.
  Presenter: Nick Risby.
  Logged to 2244 UTC.
• 3 December: 2250 UTC: 774 kHz: RNE 1 (Spain)  Spanish speech, female and male, multiple transmitter arrangement on full power? Time pips for the top of the hour at 2300 UTC.
  Excellent to fair reception, 20-100 kW.
  Logged to 2303 UTC.

• [Monday] 14 December [2015]: 1425 UTC: 936 kHz: Dales Radio  Test transmissions! Music: Phyllis Nelson 'Move Closer'; Mark Morrison 'Return of The Mack'; 'Yackety Yack'; Prince 'Kiss'.
  ID for Dales Radio.
  Excellent to fair reception.
  150 watts? via Hawes, North Yorkshire.
  ID: "Test Transmission for Dales Radio in the Yorkshire Dales, coming soon on AM, FM and online".
  Music: ELO 'Mr Blue Sky'.
  ID: "Across the beautiful Yorkshire Dales - Dales Radio".
  Logged to 1455 UTC.
• [Saturday] 26 December [2015]: 1218 UTC: 936 kHz: Dales Radio  Male ID "This is a test transmission for Dales Radio, coming soon on AM, FM and online. Keep listening".
  Music: Duffy 'Mercy'; Beach Boys 'Surfin' USA'.
  ID: "Great songs - This is Dales Radio". Music: Gloria Estefan '1,2,3'.
  Excellent to good reception, 150 watts? via Hawes, North Yorkshire.
  Logged to 1237 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

📻

Wallpaper of the Week: A memory.

WALLPAPER of the Week takes in a view of the River Eamont leaving Ullswater at lunchtime on March 25, 2015. This image, looking towards Ullswater, was taken from the Pooley Bridge, destroyed during the storms over the first weekend of December 2015.

Carlisle United, December 2015

STORM Desmond early in December flooded Brunton Park and the surrounding area of Carlisle. Unprecedented rainfall brought flooding throughout Cumbria from Thursday 3rd December (West Cumbria), through Friday 4th and Saturday 5th (Eden Valley) to Sunday 6th (Carlisle & North Cumbria). This has impacted on Carlisle United, as only three fixtures have been played in December. The results of which are as follows:

Sky Bet League Two - Season 2015-2016.

The FA Cup, Round Two : Sunday 6th : Welling United 0 - United 5 (Attendance: 2028)

League : Saturday 12th : Oxford United 1 - United 1 (Attendance: 5936)

League : Saturday 19th : United 3 - Notts County 0 [Match played at Deepdale, Preston] (Attendance: 3336)

Getty Images captured an image of Brunton Park from the air, when the flood waters were at their highest:

In the aftermath of the flooding, the Club and fans came together to support the community. In the days following the Welling United game, the players volunteered their time to help residents of Warwick Road and surrounding areas remove flood damaged goods from their homes:

United players Michael Raynes, Joe Thompson and Jason Kennedy (Pictured left to right, above) removing flood damaged goods. United also appealed to fans who could safely get to Brunton Park to help them with the clear out of flood damaged areas of the Club. The following video from Carlisle newspaper News & Star shows the fans helping to clear out Brunton Park.

As the results at the head of post show, United fulfilled their fixtures away at Oxford United on Saturday 12th and the home fixture against Notts County on Saturday 19th was played at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End. United playing their 'home' fixtures at other grounds was to the chagrin of John Coleman, the Accrington Stanley manager, whose own team have had matches postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. United were due to play Stanley at The Wham Stadium on Boxing Day (Saturday 26th), but this was postponed, due to... A waterlogged pitch.

United were due to play Hartlepool United at home on Bank Holiday Monday (28th) - It would have been United's final fixture of the year - But this match has been postponed. It has been rescheduled for the evening of Tuesday 23rd February. It was rumoured Newcastle United's St James' Park could have staged the game.

Following the visit to Deepdale for the Notts County match, United will be on a tour of Lancashire for their next two home fixtures: United will play a League Two fixture against Plymouth Argyle at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers, on Saturday 2nd January; United will play Yeovil Town in Round Three of the FA Cup at Bloomfield Road, the home of Blackpool, on Sunday 10th.

United's other scheduled fixtures for January: Barnet (away), York City (home) and Dagenham & Redbridge (away).