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 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.

Listening to the radio.

FIRST of all, welcome to December. Thoughts with those who have been involved in the Cumbrian floods, as a result of Storm Desmond.

This post leads with the logs of listening to the Tropical band late November, followed by logs of the Medium Wave band in early December. As always, times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz).

24 November 2015 (Tropical band):

• 2011 UTC, 3415 kHz : Shannon Volmet (Republic of Ireland). Fair to poor reception, Shannon Volmet, also known as Shannon Aeradio, North Atlantic Communications. Female voice reading data - 'Zero, Zero' - Service for weather reports and other information at Shannon Airport, Republic of Ireland. Continuous weather reports for the airport and times: 'Zero - Six - Zero - Zero'. To 2022 UTC.
• 2044 UTC, 3955 kHz : KBS World Radio (Seoul, South Korea). Fair to poor reception. German language service to Europe via Woofferton, UK. Speech from males (OM) and females (YL) in the German language. Music, speech: Sport - Boxing? Music, speech from male. To 2051 UTC.
• 2123 UTC, 5000 kHz : NIST Radio Station WWV (Boulder, Colorado, USA). Fair to poor reception. Time Signal broadcast, fluttery reception. To 2127 UTC.

3 December 2015 (Medium Wave):

• 1630 UTC, 639 kHz : CRo2 (Prague, Czech Republic). Good to fair reception. Two males in conversation. 750 - 1500 kW transmission via Prague, TCH (Czech Republic). Speech, audio stab, speech includes telephone interview. Czech language programme. To 1652 UTC.
• 1720 UTC, 666 kHz : BBC Radio York (UK). Good to fair reception. Male host 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. BBC York traffic and travel. ID and time check. Music: Roy Orbison 'Only The Lonely'. North Yorkshire Christmas drink drive campaign launched, interview with the Deputy Chief Constable. 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 Committe. Snooker in York: Robertson v Higgins. Hockey. 500 watt transmission via Fulford, York. Weather update with Paul. To 1736 UTC.
• 1748 UTC, 684 kHz : RNE Radio Nacional (Seville, Spain). Fair reception. Male speech in Spanish, including sound effects of emails being received, text messages and voicemails - Including speech from a female. 600 kW transmission via Seville, Spain. Male and female speech, music. Time signal for 1800 UTC, IDs by female and male voices at the top of the hour. To 1800 UTC.
• 1824 UTC, 693 kHz : BBC Radio 5 Live (UK). Strong to good reception. 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 and Anna...'. Mass shootings in California. News headlines at 1730 UTC. Sport headlines: Gary Neville is the new Valencia manager. FIFA vice President David Gill and committee meet in Zurich, Switzerland. Snooker. Hockey. Weather and travel updates. 50 kW transmission via Stagshaw, Northumberland (North East England). Football promo. UN climate change conference continues in Paris. How can the UK reduce food waste? To 1840 UTC.

• 1850 UTC, 711 kHz : France Info (Rennes, France). Strong to good reception. French speaking female mentions 'Supermarché', also a mention of US President Barack Obama. Male speech, female speech - Travel update? Male voice: Sport with Bernard. ID at the top of the hour (1900 UTC). Continuous speech in a roundtable discussion. 300 kW transmission via Rennes, France. News headlines at 1915 UTC: Californian shootings, terrorism. To 1911 UTC.
• 1923 UTC, 720 kHz : BBC Radio 4 (UK). Fair reception. 'Front Row' (Arts programme). Male host speaks to female guest - An actress. The host brings in another male who introduces a song from a soundtrack. 10 kW transmission via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland. Male vocalist talks about being inspired by Marvin Gaye and Nat 'King' Cole. To 1934 UTC.
• 2110 UTC, 738 kHz : RNE Radio Nacional (Barcelona, Spain). Good reception. Male speaks of Alexis Tsipras, the Greek Prime Minister. ID. Female speaks of terrorism. 500 kW transmission via Barcelona, Spain. Female speaks of Barack Obama. Music: Adele. Male speaks of Adele, her current album is '25'. To 2121 UTC.
• 2132 UTC, 756 kHz : Deutschlandfunk (Germany). Good reception. Classical concert, loud applause. German speech, female 'Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra', also 'New York Philharmonic Orchestra'. Next piece plays. Transmission via Ravensburg (100 kW) or Braunschweig [Brunswick] (200 kW). Classical piece from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra continues. Female host: 'Royal Philharmonic Orchestra'. Tone. Two 'Deutschlandfunk' ID's. Female speech: Corruption of FIFA, new arrests, links to the USA. To 2145 UTC.

• 2152 UTC, 756 kHz : BBC Radio Cumbria (UK). Fair reception. Male host promoting Georgie Spanswick (presenter). Music: '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'. 1 kW transmission via Carlisle. Music: Roy Orbison 'Dreams of You'. 'Lilliburlero'. Text the studio. New music from Elton John, new music from Little Mix.. To 2210 UTC.
• 2231 UTC, 765 kHz : BBC Essex (UK). Poor reception. 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'. Facebook task: 'Four Seasons or Three Degrees'. Text message; Email: "Could you please play my fab five?" Music: Frank Sinatra 'You Make Me Feel So Young'. 500 watt transmission via Chelmsford, Essex. Music: Glen Campbell 'Dreams of the Everyday Housewife', Michael Buble: 'Home'. To 2244 UTC.

I do hope that is comprehensive enough. Take care, catch up soon.