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 •

View on Vocaroo >>

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.

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.

My AM Archive : September 2019

 TRANSMISSIONS received on the Medium Wave (AM) radio wave band, heard September 2019, feature in this post, here on Reporting From The Fox Tower.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated March 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.

September 2019 : Medium Wave

• [Sunday] 1 September [2019]: 1941 UTC: 1197 kHz: Absolute Radio  Documentary regarding the band Oasis, as it is ten years since the band broke up. Music featured: 'Cast No Shadow', 'Talk Tonight'. Ad break. Interview with the band official photographer; with Creation Records' Alan McGee. Music: 'Wonderwall'.
  Good to fair reception. Absolute Radio transmitter sites broadcasting 1197 kHz:
   •  1.1 kW via Brighton (Southwick)
   •  500 watts via Trowell, Nottingham
   •  300 watts via Gloucester
   •  250 watts via Oxford
   •  250 watts via Fern Barrow, Bournemouth.
  Music: 'Don't Look Back In Anger'. Possibility of an Oasis reunion? Music: 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out'.
  Logged to 1953 UTC.
• 1 September: 1957 UTC: 1215 kHz: Absolute Radio  Oasis documentary: Fans view, comments by Paulo Hewitt, photographer of the band and contributor to sleevenotes. Final notes by Ben Burrell (presenter). Documentary was called 'Live Forever'.
  Promo: Dave Berry Breakfast Show. Ads: Clio car. Open University. Specsavers. Nissan car.
  Strong to good reception.
  ID for The Sunday Night Music Club with Danielle Perry, music: The Clash 'London Calling'.
  [Up to] 50 kW via Moorside Edge (Huddersfield).
  ID. Music from a new album by Pixies; Prince: 'Cream' from 1991 album 'Diamonds And Pearls'
  Logged to 2008 UTC.

From the Archive: RTL Radio sticker -
RTL was better known as Radio Luxembourg.

• 1 September: 2019 UTC: 1233 kHz: Absolute Radio  Ad break: McDonald's, Macmillan Cancer Research. Open University. ID: 'New music, live music, and more'. Music: Style Council 'Walls Come Tumbling Down'.
  Fair reception. Originally thought to be 300 watts via Sheffield; was 500 watts via Northampton (King's Heath).
  ID. Music.
  Logged to 2028 UTC.
• 1 September: 2030 UTC: 1242 kHz: Absolute Radio  The Sunday Night Music Club playing Pulp 'Something Changed'. ID: 'Danielle Perry, The Sunday Night Music Club'. Music.
  Fair reception. 1 kW via Stockton-on-Tees (Hardwick), Teesside.
  Link on air by Danielle Perry - New music from Elbow soon. Ad break: New movie 'Ad Astra'. Barbeque at McDonald's. Car. Foster's. TSB Bank. Car. ID. Music: Blondie 'Union City Blue'. Music: U2 'New Year's Day'.
  Logged to 2101 UTC.

My AM Archive : March 2019

 SIX years since originally heard, I present logs of Medium Wave (AM) broadcasts, heard March 2019.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated early 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

March 2019 : Medium Wave

• [Monday] 18 March [2019]: 2002 UTC: 1134 kHz: COPE (Spain)  Male speech in Spanish language, with clips of vox pops recordings.
  Echoes and propagation; Fair reception (COPE broadcasts from multiple sites across Spain).
  Female speech in English language, dubbed into Spanish language. Music.
  Logged to 2011 UTC.
• 18 March: 2027 UTC: 1152 kHz: SRR Radio România Actualitați  Music: Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus 'Nothing Breaks Like A Heart'. Time marker for 2030 UTC (pips), female speech from Bucharest, Romania. Male speech.
  Fair reception (Co-channel music from UK broadcasts on low power).
  Logged to 2037 UTC.
• 18 March: 2041 UTC: 1161 kHz: Tay 2  Music: Boy Meets Girl 'Waiting For A Star To Fall' Male host, talks of songs coming up, including Culture Club. Segue into showbiz news - ID for Tay 2. Speech regarding BBC drama series. Ads.
  (Fade out into Smooth Radio [Details below])
  Tay 2 reception: Strong to fair. 1.4 kW to Dundee via Greenside Scalp.
  Music: Blondie 'Heart of Glass'. Tay 2 ID. Music: Annie Lennox 'Little Bird'.
  Logged to 2050 UTC.
  [Smooth Radio : Playing Enrique Inglesias 'Hero', male talks of Mother's Day coming up, music: Elton John 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight'. ID for Smooth Radio. Music: Lionel Richie.
  Fair reception. 160 watts to Wiltshire via Blunsdon, Swindon.]

From The Archive: 1494 kHz Asfaltstelegrafen - The Asphalt Telegraph QSL, 2019.

21 UTC: Tea ☺

• 18 March: 2113 UTC: 1170 kHz: Greatest Hits Radio  Music: Genesis 'I Can't Dance' ID for Greatest Hits Radio - Playing Genesis for dance school in Liverpool. Music: Mike Oldfield 'Moonlight Shadow', Wings 'Live and Let Die'.
  Strong to good reception. 320 watts via Hardwick transmitter, Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside.
  Music: Culture Club 'Karma Chameleon'.
  Logged to 2122 UTC.

Listening to 10cc 'I'm Not In Love'.

• 18 March: 2132 UTC: 1179 kHz: SER (Spain)  Male and female speech, Spanish language.
  Strong to good reception.
  Round table discussion programme.
  Logged to 2141 UTC.
• 18 March: 2151 UTC: 1197 kHz: Absolute Radio  Female and male speech, this is a low(er) power broadcast from Absolute Radio. Female and male talking about a band and album. Female host was joined in the studio by George Ezra. Female host signing off, back on air tomorrow evening. Music: Paul Simon 'You Can Call Me Al'.
  Strong to fair reception. This signal is relatively clear, possibly 400 watts via Wallasey, Merseyside (Absolute Radio recently turned off / reduced power on AM).
  Ad break, ID, no news at 22 UTC, music: The La's 'There She Goes'.
  Logged to 2205 UTC.

My AM Archive : January - February 2019

 RETURNING to where one left off, and proceeding with logs of Medium Wave (AM) broadcasts heard January 2019, plus test transmissions from Sweden, heard February 2019.

A previous post of Medium Wave logs, dated October 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.

January 2019 : Medium Wave

• [Saturday] 12 January [2019]: 1458 UTC: 999 kHz: Greatest Hits Radio  Ad break: Morrisons food stores. ID: 'Across Lancashire, Greatest Hits Radio' News at 1500 UTC: Rory Stewart wants short prison spells scrapped, Chris Grayling warns against voting against Brexit plan, explosion in France, women could miscarry if exposed to petrol / diesel. Sport: West Ham 1 - Arsenal 0. Sky News Radio.
  Greatest Hits Radio. Music: Queen 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
  Good to fair reception. 800 watts via Longton, for Preston / Blackpool.
  ID: 'Good times sound like this, Greatest Hits Radio' Music: Prince '1999'. ID: 'Greatest Hits Radio, good times sound like this' Music: Alannah Miles 'Black Velvet'.
  Logged to 1515 UTC.

From the archive: Südwestrundfunk (SWR) QSL, 2009.
SWR broadcast on 576, 666, 711, 828, 1017 and 1485 kHz.

Cup of tea time!

• 12 January: 1548 UTC: 1035 kHz: Lyca Dilse 1035  Music, ad break, website, telephone number, music.
  Lyca Dilse 1035, 2.5 kW via Crystal Palace, London.
  Female and male speech for an Asian audience.
  Strong to fair reception.
  'The Afternoon' (Saturday) with Bali Brahmbhatt.
  Sky news at 4pm: Rory Stewart wants prison reform. Arrests following robbery in Manchester. Sport: Football. Weather report by Southall Travel. Travel report.
  Logged to 1606 UTC.
• 12 January: 1609 UTC: 1044 UTC: SER (Spain)  Multiple voices, in the Spanish language, with lots of sound effects.
  Good to fair reception.
  Logged to 1616 UTC.
• 12 January: 1623 UTC: 1053 kHz: talkSport  'Matchday Live' - Poorly synchronised transmitters, many echoes.
  [Most likely] 500 kW via Droitwich + 10 kW via Dumfries.
  Signals settle.
  Strong to good reception.
  Logged to 1632 UTC.
• 12 January: 1637 UTC: 1071 kHz: talkSport  Latest football results on 'Matchday Live': Premier League, Championship, League One.
  Fair reception; [most likely] 1 kW via Wrekenton for Newcastle upon Tyne.
  Faded since first reception.
  Logged to 1645 UTC.
• 12 January: 1651 UTC: 1089 kHz: talkSport  'Matchday Live' Full Time updates at football.
  Good to fair reception - Echoes from transmitters up to 1 second apart!
  [Most likely] 400 kW via Moorside Edge + other high powered transmitters in north of England / Scotland / Northern Ireland.
  Logged to 1702 UTC.

Break.

Note: 12 January: 1930 UTC: 1098 kHz: Speech from a female, with music from a female opera singer. Female speech, music, speech, music. Good to fair reception. Could be any of Iran (200 kW), Saudi (100 kW), Slovakia (25 kW), Spain (10 - 25 kW), Italy (100 watts).
Logged to 1935 UTC.

From the archive: Radio Asia 558 AM, which broadcast to Greater
London via Spectrum Radio 558 AM
('Spectrum International 558')

• 12 January: 1954 UTC: 1134 kHz: COPE (Spain)  Low power transmissions from COPE (Spain), multiple synchronised transmitters, same power, very slight echo.
  Fair reception.
  Logged to 1957 UTC.

"Closing this Roberts R881 DX on the frequency of 1134 kHz at 20:00 UTC. Goodnight! ☺"

February 2019 : Medium Wave

• [Tuesday] 19 February [2019]: 0124 UTC: 1494 kHz: The Asphalt Telegraph  Test transmissions (from Sweden) on new frequency of 1494 (ex - 1476) kHz. Low power of 300 watts. Heavy music (continuous rock music).
  Fair to poor reception (at best).
  Peaks during music, not heard an ID.
  Transmission site is Boras, Sweden.
  Best audio at 0133 UTC, sustained through to 0135 UTC. Speech at 0136 UTC - ID? Music. Bass sounds good.
  Signing off at 0140 UTC.
  Receiver used: Sangean ATS - 405.
• [Sunday] 24 February [2019]: 0119 UTC: 1494 kHz: The Asphalt Telegraph  Test transmissions from Sweden, on air on 1494 kHz on power higher than 300 watts.
  Rock music: Iron Maiden 'Run For The Hills'
  I hear ID for The Asphalt Telegraph with drum track!
  Contacts: 1494 kHz at gmail dot com or radio sweden international dot com
  Male speech.
  Fair to poor reception.
  Male speech and idents for The Asphalt Telegraph. Music at 0126 UTC.
  Transmission via Boras, Sweden.
  Music at 0128 UTC.
  Logged to 0130 UTC.
  Receiver used: Sangean ATS - 405.
  ["Music continues - I'm saying goodnight at 0135 UTC - Thank you Sweden!"]
  

📻

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!"

My AM Archive : August 2018

 PICKING UP where one left off, and proceeding with logs of Medium Wave (AM) broadcasts, heard August 2018.

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

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

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

August 2018 : Medium Wave

• [Monday] 20 August [2018]: 1753 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live  Interview with the mountaineer Simon Yates, reflecting on the news of Kay Longstaff, who spent ten hours in the Adriatic sea after falling overboard the Norwegian Star.
  Strong reception via Droitwich (150 kW) / Stagshaw, Northumberland (50 kW).
  Sport: [Crystal] Palace v Liverpool [Football].
  Logged to 1759 UTC.
• 20 August: 1818 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio 4  Interview with Lenny Henry - Sir Lenny Henry - with an overview of his career, starting with 'New Faces', working with Sir Trevor McDonald, creating a sketch in honour of Bishop Michael Curry, whose sermon at the Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan stole the show. How his career has changed over the years. Othello.
  Good to fair reception. Most likely to be 10 kW via Lisnagarvey, Northern Ireland.
  Reflecting on Comic Relief. Sir Lenny Henry has reached 60 years of age.
  The programme has ID as 'Front Row'.
  Logged to 1829 UTC.
  [ Listen to this edition of Front Row, via BBC Sounds, here ]

Note: 20 August: 1843 UTC: 747 kHz: Trace of audio on this frequency - Could it be the newly restored services from the Netherlands, 100 watts? The audio I believe I hear is just not clear enough. I believe I hear music.

• 20 August: 1848 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Interview with Alex, a stone-skimming champion. Johnny I'Anson on BBC Local Radio.
  Music: Stylistics 'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)'. Contact details for listeners to interact. Music: Thompson Twins 'Hold Me Now'.
  Good to fair reception. 1 kW via Carlisle.
  News at 19 UTC (8pm BST): Labour call for Birmingham prison inquiry. Man remanded on attempted murder. Estate agent Countrywide records losses. Gatwick Airport has technical fault with departure board. Measles in EU hits record high. Disabled woman who sailed around the world has died. Weather: Cloudy, drizzle. ID for Johnny I'Anson.
  Logged to 1904 UTC

Brew + 'Eastenders'

Valleys Radio With Compliments note, 1997.

Note: 20 August: 1937 UTC: 765 kHz: There is a trace of audio, but not enough to hear a spoken word... Possibly music.

• 20 August: 1941 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Leeds  Urban music, male host, speaking about the heavy bassline on the previous song, female ID for BBC Radio Leeds - BBC Asian Network opt-out over BBC syndicated show? Music with female vocals, male speech. Female speech, ID. Music.
  Fair to poor reception. 500 watts via Farnley, Leeds.
  Co-channel interference: Spanish football!
  Logged to 1953 UTC.
• 20 August: 2014 UTC: 810 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland  New music, male ID for BBC Radio Scotland. Clips of new music, accompanied by artist and track name. Music by Moses Sumney. The presenter is Vic Galloway. 80295 is the contact number for texts; email and social media also accessible. The Moses Sumney track was 'Rank And File'. Listener reaction.
  Strong to good reception. 100 kW via Burghead / Westerglen.
  Logged to 2025 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My FM Archive : Spring - Summer 2020

 OVER five months have passed since my last post, for which I apologise. I hope you forgive me!

I am pleased to resume bringing my handwritten radio logs online, with logs of FM broadcasts heard April and August 2020.

A previous post of FM logs, dated December 2018, can be found here.

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

Receiver used: Sangean ATS-405.

April 2020 : FM

• [Sunday] 19 April [2020]: 1519 UTC: 101.8 MHz: Classic FM  Music, male ID for Classic FM, music, male speech, link into music by Schubert. Music.
  Good to fair reception, 6.4 kW via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire.
  Speech.
  Logged to 1527 UTC.

[Tea Break]

• 19 April: 1549 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  Music: 'Flowers', ID: 'If it's trending, it's here, UK Chart Show, CFM', music: Rita Ora 'How To Be Lonely'.
  Good to fair reception, 815 watts via Broughton Moor, West Cumbria.
  Female host, UK Chart Show on CFM, trending song: Tiesto and Becky Hill, ID, ads: BBC iPlayer 'Killing Eve', People's Postcode Lottery, NHS recruiting now.
  Logged to 1602 UTC.

August 2020 : FM

• [Thursday] 13 August [2020]: 1758 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  Ad break including Benson for Beds. ID: 'From Greatest Hits Network, CFM News'  A-Level results day, rail crash in Scotland. UK economy. Coronavirus outbreak in Northampton - 19 year old in recovery. Cricket latest. CFM weather. CFM ID, male speech. Music.
  Fair to poor reception. 815 watts via Broughton Moor, West Cumbria.
  Music: Harry Styles.
  Logged to 1807 UTC.

Yorkshire Coast Radio logo, from a 'With Compliments' note, July 1996.

• 13 August: 1829 UTC: 102.5 MHz: CFM  Music from Florence And The Machine, ID for CFM, music: Tom Walker.
  Fair - Poor - Inaudible reception. 100 watts via Penrith, Cumbria.
  Logged to 1833 UTC.
• 13 August: 1900 UTC [8pm BST]: 104.5 MHz: BBC Radio Lancashire  News: A-Level results day. Covid-19 outbreak at Northampton. Fall in numbers of hospital admittances. Royal news. ID for BBC Lancashire. Music: The O'Jays 'Love Train'.
  Fair to poor reception. 2kW via Lancaster.
  Male speech, ID for song, ID for BBC Radio Lancashire. Speech about content on the show. Music: Cher 'The Shoop Shoop Song'. Male ID for Cher song; Male host and male co-host with facts regarding 'Left-handers day'.
  [Uplift in signal]
  Music: Keith Urban 'Superman'. Male ID for Keith Urban song; Male host: "Keep nominations coming in for #LancashireLandmark". Promo for Sunday Service. Music: Fat Larry's Band 'Zoom'.
  Logged to 1919 UTC.
• 13 August: 1927 UTC: 105.4 MHz: Heart  Female promo for a competition, female ID for Heart. Music: Mr Probz 'Wave After Wave'. ID for Heart. Music: Katy Perry.
  Fair to good reception. 5 kW for North West England via Winter Hill, Lancashire.
  ID for Heart, music: Robbie Williams 'Feel'. ID. Music.
  Logged to 1936 UTC.

Letter from London-based FM station Xfm, March 1994.

• 13 August: 1948 UTC: 107.7 MHz: Smooth Radio  Female speech with ID for Smooth Radio. Music: Diana Ross 'When You Tell Me That You Love Me'. Smooth Radio ID. Music: Carpenters 'Yesterday Once More'.
  Fair - Poor - Inaudible reception. 5 kW for North East England via Eston Nab, Redcar and Cleveland.
  Male speech. Ad break.
  Logged to 1958 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My FM Archive : December 2018

Manx Radio postmark, 3rd April 2018.

 NOVEMBER 2024 is here, though today we are remembering FM broadcasts from December 2018.

A previous post of FM logs, dated May 2018, can be found here.

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

Receiver used: Sangean ATS-405.

December 2018 : FM

• [Friday] 7 December [2018]: 2058 UTC: 97.2 MHz: Manx Radio  Music with a female vocalist and band. Christmas song. Male host: "Stand by for music news and the mystery song challenge - Join me again at 6.30" ID for Manx Radio, 'Manx Radio Classifieds' with short ads including car dealer. Male host with extended speech, music.
  This is Manx Radio, the Isle of Man. Fair reception. 11.3 kW via Carnane, Isle of Man.
  Jazz music.
  Logged to 2108 UTC.
  
  Cup of tea break.
  
  
• 7 December: 2129 UTC: 97.7 MHz: BBC Radio 1  Male introduces music, "Your reactions after this [track]" Music.
  Strong reception. 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
  Pete Tong.
  Logged to 2135 UTC.
• 7 December: 2149 UTC: 99.6 MHz: BBC Radio 1  Pete Tong with listemer reaction and music.
  Strong reception. 10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancashire].
  Logged to 2155 UTC.
• 7 December: 2159 UTC: 99.9 MHz: Classic FM  [Ads] Lidl, flu jab, Branston Chutney, Listerene Nightly Reset. Crisis at Christmas [Charity].
  ID 'This is Classic FM, from Global' Margarita Taylor 'The World's greatest music, Classic FM'.
  Strong reception. 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
  'Smooth Classics, on Classic FM' Congregation sings 'O Come All Ye Faithful' to the Church organ. King's College, Cambridge. Music now: St Martin's In The Field, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner.
  Logged to 2210 UTC.
  
• 7 December: 2218 UTC: 100.7 MHz: Heart - North East  Music from Bruno Mars 'Just The Way You Are' ID for Heart. Music: Katy Perry 'Hot n Cold'.
  Fair reception. 10 kW via Bilsdale.
  Female host with IDs for Bruno Mars & Katy Perry, speaks of Yorkshire, speech and ads: Athletics 2019, booking online. Free spins on Heart bingo. The Claims Guys PPI. Marks & Spencer. O2. Heart website. ID. Music: Shakin' Stevens Christmas song.
  Logged to 2230 UTC.
• 7 December: 2241 UTC: 101.4 MHz: Smooth Radio  Ads: Listerene, Ladbrokes, takeaway or restaurant. ID for Smooth Radio (former frequency of Lakeland Radio). Music: Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes '(Love Lift Us) Up Where We Belong'.
  Fair reception. ID 'You're listening to Smooth Radio'. Music: 'Please Don't Go'.
  100 watts via Keswick Forest, Cumbria.
  Music: 'Silent Night'.
  Logged to 2252 UTC.

A page of information regarding the Keswick Forest transmitter, can be found on mb21.

• 7 December: 2256 UTC: 101.8 MHz: Classic FM  'Smooth Classics on Classic FM, with Listerene Nightly Reset'. 'Classic FM Live, with Land Rover Jaguar'. Ads: Giftcards, M&S, Cotswold Outdoor. Bells. Crisis at Christmas [Charity]. ID. Music.
  Strong to good reception. 6.4 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancashire].
  Logged to 2304 UTC.
• 7 December: 2310 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  Rap track 'Miss Jackson' on CFM - ID: 'Every night, it's chilled. Chilled - on - CFM'. Justin Bieber.
  Good reception. 815 watts via Broughton Moor, West Cumbria.
  Female: Sara Wylde (host). Music: Justin Bieber ft Major Lazer 'Cold Water'. Sia 'The Greatest'. ID, Chris Rea 'Driving Home For Christmas'.
  Logged to 2321 UTC.
• 7 December: 2328 UTC: 102.5 MHz: CFM  McDonald's ad. 'Chilled' CFM.
  Fair reception. 100 watts via Penrith, Cumbria.
  Logged to 2334 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My FM Archive : May 2018

 MY apologies for not posting more regularly, here on Reporting From The Fox Tower!

This is a short post, as I try to return to posting on a regular basis.

A previous post of FM logs, dated April 2018, can be found here.

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

Receiver used: Sangean ATS-405.

May 2018 : FM

• [Friday] 11 May [2018]: 2314 UTC: 107.5 MHz: Eden FM  Penrith, 25 watts via Penrith.
  ID: 'This is your community radio station, Eden FM'. Music: Bryan Adams (+ Chicane?) 'Don't Give Up'; Richard Ashcroft 'Fill The Night With Colour'. ID: 'Your community radio station, Your 107.5 Eden FM'. Music: 'Never Can Say Goodbye'.
  Fair to poor reception - 25 watts via Penrith.
  Music: Tim McGraw + Faith Hill 'The Rest Of Our Life'.
  Logged to 2324 UTC.

I would like to use this space to salute the broadcaster Johnnie Walker, who has retired, due to ill health.

Here is a little video I made of his final rock show, broadcast Friday, 25 October, 2024 on BBC Radio 2. Enjoy.

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

My FM Archive: April 2018

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

A previous post of FM logs, dated September 2011, can be found here.

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

Receiver used: Sangean ATS-405 (making its debut!).

April 2018 : FM

• [Thursday] 12 April [2018]: 1903 UTC: 88.1 MHz: BBC Radio 2  News, Jo Whiley, music: Kings Of Leon 'Sex On Fire'.
  250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria. Excellent reception.
  Logged to 1906 UTC.
  Also: 1918 UTC: 90.0 MHz: Music: Donna Summer 'I Feel Love' Jo Whiley, promo for 'Blood On The Tracks' with Colin Murray. Music.
  Fair to poor reception. 10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancs].
  Logged to 1923 UTC.
• 12 April: 1925 UTC: 90.3 MHz: BBC Radio 3  Piano and orchestra - Very nice.
  Strong reception (Very little bit of noise). 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
  Applause. Steven Osbourne, Scottish Symphony Orchestra, City Hall, Glasgow.
  Beethoven's Piano Symphony.
  Logged to 1930 UTC.
  
  [Cup of tea time]
  
  Also: 1949 UTC: 92.2 MHz: The Piano concert from the City Halls, Glasgow, continues.
  Good to fair reception.
  'Radio 3 In Concert' with Jamie McDougall.
  10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancashire].
  Logged to 1955 UTC.
• 12 April: 1958 UTC: 92.5 MHz: BBC Radio 4  'In Business' with Ms Balderstone. Promo for a new series: 'Chinese Characters'.
  20 UTC news: Chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Child sex abuse in Rochdale. Sir Cliff Richard sues the BBC. Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland. UAE Princess runs away to India.
  'Inside Science' is now on the air. Agriculture.
  Excellent reception. 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
  Logged to 2005 UTC.
  Also: 2020 UTC: 94.4 MHz: 'Inside Science' on Radio 4 continues - with a visit to a particle physics laboratory - Rutherford-Appleton Lab.
  Strong to good reception. 10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancs].
  Logged to 2024 UTC.

Historic BBC Radio Scotland logo.

• 12 April: 2027 UTC: 94.7 MHz: BBC Radio Scotland  'The Quay Sessions' with Sam Fender. Presenter: Roddy Hart. Live music from Sam Fender (and his band).
  Good reception (Little bit of noise). 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria, primarily for South west Scotland (with opt-outs from Dumfries, Scotland).
  Logged to 2034 UTC.
• 12 April: 2041 UTC: 95.6 MHz: BBC Radio Cumbria  Georgey Spanswick with a male author, who has written a book about winds, including the Helm Wind, which blows on the Eden - Pennine fellside in Cumbria. 'Where The Wild Winds Are' is the name of the book.
  Good to fair reception. 15 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
  The author is Nick Hunt. Music: Culture Club 'Karma Chameleon'.
  Logged to 2048 UTC.
  Also: 2053 UTC: 96.1 MHz: Georgey Spanswick. Music: Barry White 'Let The Music Play'.
  Good to fair reception. 3.2 kW via Morecambe Bay.
  Logged to 2056 UTC.
• 12 April: 2058 UTC: 96.4 MHz: CFM  Ad break: McDonald's. PerTemps (recruitment). The Wedding Store, 1 Victoria Viaduct, Carlisle. Bowel screening. Composite doors: Trinity Earth. NatWest. S P Training. CFM Dating.
  21 UTC news: British Government to respond to Syrian chemical attack. Novichock used in Salisbury attack.  CFM ID and song crash into news bulletin (Rochdale, Carpetright) Princess Anne visits Duke of Edinburgh in hospital. News bulletin by Barry Weir. Song which crashed the news continues.
  Good to fair reception. 3 kW via Caldbeck.
  'Mellow CFM' Music: Prince 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World'.
  Logged to 2106 UTC.
• 12 April: 2119 UTC: 96.9 MHz: Heart (North Lancashire)  Music: Beyonce. Female host, speaking of dating disasters. Ad break: Mix of local & national ads, including Mike Hughes Fitted Interiors (Barrow), kart racing, Admiral insurance, MoneySupermarket. Lionel Richie in concert, Brunton Park, Carlisle. Morecambe hotel. Music: Westlife.
  Heart North Lancashire was formerly The Bay.
  Good reception. 3.2 kW via Morecambe Bay.
  Logged to 2127 UTC.
• 12 April: 2134 UTC: 97.2 MHz: Manx Radio  (Isle of Man)  Music: Ella Henderson 'Ghost', male host, Manx Radio covering Commonwealth Games, weather, waters forecast from Ronaldsway. Ads: Jack's Bar & Steakhouse. Pets medical treatment. Walk the Millennium Way on the Isle of Man. Manx Radio + Manx Telecom live from Australia at 8am for the Commonwealth Games. Music.
  Good to fair reception. 11.3 kW via Carnane, Isle of Man.
  Manx Radio ID, male host, 'Roots' song. Chubby Checker 'The Twist'.
  Logged to 2145 UTC.

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

My FM Archive: September 2011

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

A previous post of FM logs, dating back to November 1997, can be found here.

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

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

September 2011 : FM

• [Sunday] 4 September [2011]: 1019 UTC: 88.1 MHz: BBC Radio 2 via Sandale, Cumbria.
  250 kW [kiloWatts]. Full power.
• 4 September: 1024 UTC: 89.0 MHz: Music from Manx Radio, broadcasting 2 kW on this frequency, via Snaefell, Isle of Man.
  Male speech and music.
  Logged to 1033 UTC.
• 4 September: 1041 UTC: 90.0 MHz: BBC Radio 2 via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire.
  10 kW. Full power. Movie review.
  Logged to 1048 UTC.
• 4 September: 1051 UTC: 90.3 MHz: BBC Radio 3 via Sandale, Cumbria.
  250 kW. Full power.
  Also: 1100 UTC: 92.2 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. 10 kW. Good reception.
  'Sunday Morning' ID 'Private Passions' Pottery.
  Logged to 1106 UTC.
• 4 September: 1108 UTC: 92.5 MHz: BBC Radio 4 via Sandale, Cumbria.
  250 kW. Full power.
  Also: 1125 UTC: 94.4 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. 10 kW. Good reception.
  'Just A Minute'.
  Logged to 1131 UTC.
• 4 September: 1133 UTC: 94.7 MHz: BBC Radio Scotland via Sandale, Cumbria, for South West Scotland, 250 kW. Full power.
  Weather forecast.

Sandale transmitter.

• 4 September: 1144 UTC: 95.6 MHz: BBC Radio Cumbria via Sandale [pictured above] 15 kW. Full power.
  Music: George Macrae 'Rock Your Baby'. Promo for BBC Radio Cumbria weekends. ID for John Mann. Music: 'Mary's Prayer', a 1987 song by Danny Wilson.
  Also: 1150 UTC: 96.1 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, 3.2 kW.
  Good reception. The John Mann Show. Music: Bill Wyman.
  Logged to 1155 UTC.
• 4 September: 1157 UTC: 96.4 MHz: Music from SWV 'Right Here' on CFM 'The Golden Sunday' ID, male host. Ad break.
  Good reception via Caldbeck, Cumbria. 3 kW.
  

Break at 1203 UTC.

• 4 September: 1257 UTC: 96.9 MHz: 'Solid Gold Sunday' on The Bay  ID. Music: ABBA 'Super Trouper', ID, John Lennon 'Just Like Starting Over'. ID: 'Kendal, Lancaster, Barrow - The Bay'.
  News at 1300 UTC: Alistair Darling criticises Gordon Brown over his handling of the economy. Libya latest. Rebecca Leighton plans to sue police. Police may make pubs and clubs pay for policing. Mo Farah wins gold medal.
  'The Phantom of the Bay' contest. 'Best of the 80s' Music from Bananarama. Music from Tina Turner 'What's Love Got To Do With It'.
  This is The Bay via Morecambe Bay, 3.2 kW (Studio in Lancaster).
  Music: Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney 'The Girl Is Mine'.
  Good reception. Darren Milby is the host.
  Logged to 1315 UTC.
• 4 September: 1320 UTC: 97.2 MHz: Ad break: Butchers in Douglas. Britannia International branches in Douglas and Port Erin. Presenter: Bob Harrison on Manx Radio ID.
  This is Manx Radio broadcasting 10 kW via Carnane, Isle of Man. Good reception.
  Music: Katie Melua 'A Happy Place'. Cher Lloyd. Toyah Wilcox will be playing live on the Isle of Man soon. Interview with Toyah Wilcox.
  Logged to 1330 UTC.
• 4 September: 1355 UTC: 97.7 MHz: BBC Radio 1  Music: The Verve 'Bittersweet Symphony'.
  Transmission site: Sandale, Cumbria. 250 kW. Full power.
  Dev is the host, 'Resident DJ' feature.
  Also: 1406 UTC: 99.6 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, 10 kW. Strong reception.
  Music: The Noisettes. BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards in October.
  Logged to 1412 UTC.
• 4 September: 1416 UTC: 99.9 MHz: Classic FM via Sandale, Cumbria. 250 kW. Full power.
  Also: 1426 UTC: 101.8 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancs, 6.4 kW. Good reception.
  Violin Concerto.
  Logged to 1430 UTC.

Morecambe Bay transmitter.

• 4 September: 1435 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  ID: 'This is CFM'. Music: JLS. ID, Music: Stereophonics.
  CFM for West Cumbria via Workington, 815 watts. Poor reception.
  Logged to 1442 UTC.
  Also: 1447 UTC: 102.5 MHz: Music: Adele 'Rolling In The Deep', ID for CFM, rap music.
  Fair reception of CFM via Penrith relay, 100 watts.
  Music: Katy Perry 'California Girls'.
  Logged to 1452 UTC.
• 4 September: 1501 UTC: 104.1 MHz: Anne Hopper on BBC Radio Cumbria via Whitehaven, 1 kW. Poor reception.
  Logged to 1506 UTC.
• 4 September: 1508 UTC: 104.5 MHz: BBC Radio Lancashire  Strong reception, music: Glee 'Sway'. Presenter: Gerald Jackson. Contact details: Telephone number, text number, email.
  Pete in Rochdale requests 'Sowing The Seeds of Love' by Tears For Fears.
  Strong reception via Lancaster, 2 kW.
  Dave in Blackpool texts Big Country, Chris Rea.
  Marie Meagan travel news: M6 clear, M55 good, Blackburn lights. Preston-Wigan: bus replace trains. Blackburn reverse one-way system.
  Live Lancashire football. Featured single: Avril Lavigne.
  Logged to 1520 UTC.

Notes:
The Morecambe Bay transmitter.  I must admit, prior to this post, I had not researched the location of the said transmission site. I had pictured it in my mind as a mast on the shores of the Bay, with the sun shining brightly overhead. The Google map above shows a slightly different location to that I had pictured in my mind; A location that is actually within the Askam-Ireleth parish of South Cumbria, to the east of Askam-in-Furness, to the west of Ulverston. Here is a Google maps link to the location within South Cumbria; The location marked by the red pin.

You really do learn something new everyday.

Goodbye, old friends.  You won't find CFM or The Bay on your radio anymore. Bauer Media absorbed CFM into their Greatest Hits brand, whilst Global Media absorbed The Bay into their Heart network.
Similarly, some of the presenters named above have moved on to pastures new.
John Mann, listed above on air for BBC Radio Cumbria, is now on air Monday evenings on Regency Radio.

Darren Milby, listed above on air for The Bay, now broadcasts for BBC Radio Lancashire and Gaydio.

I shall assume Bob Harrison (Manx Radio) and Anne Hopper (BBC Radio Cumbria) have [been?] retired, whilst Gerald Jackson (BBC Radio Lancashire) is now on air Sunday afternoons on Rossendale Radio.

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

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

My Short Wave Archive: May - November 2015

 JOURNALS should not be neglected, which sadly, this one has been. That's myself reprimanded, so let's move on with today's post, continuing the thread of my logbooks of broadcasts heard via Short Wave radio.

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: March 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.

Note: This post takes us through 2015, from May to November, as some logs later in the year contained little detail, or broadcasts were not heard on the selected listening days.

May 2015 : Short Wave

• [Thursday] 7 May [2015]* : 1540 UTC: 15825 kHz: WWCR Nashville TN [USA]  Male speech, reciting a conversation between Jesus and Pilate. This is a Baptist Church / CBC NYC broadcast, also trailers for Words of Hope and Bible Hour.
  This is WWCR Nashville TN, good to fair reception, English language broadcast to Europe, Middle East, Americas via WWCR-1 Nashville TN.
  Male speech regarding Saul and passages from the Bible. Interference at 1546 UTC from another broadcast, possible overspill from 15820 kHz.
  WWCR programming was Tell It From Calvery (David Epstein), on air from 1530 UTC, followed by Radio Bible Hour, on air from 1545 UTC. ID for Radio Bible Hour with their contact details.
  ID for WWCR Nashville.
  Logged to 1555 UTC.
• 7 May* : 1617 UTC: 17790 kHz: Radio Africa (Pan American Broadcasting)  Music: Female vocalist with piano accompaniment. Vocals in English.
  Fair reception, English language broadcast to Africa via Okeechobee FL (WRMI transmission site) [USA].
  Logged to 1626 UTC.

*Thursday 7 May 2015 : UK General Election day.

July 2015 : Short Wave

• [Saturday] 11 July [2015]: 1922 UTC: 17855 kHz: Radio Exterior de Espana  Music on the 16 metre Band, female speech.
  Fair to poor reception, this is Radio Exterior de Espana [Spain] broadcasting to the USA.
  Speech in both Spanish and English.
  Logged to 1934 UTC.

Screenshot of BBC News Hausa, 30 June 2024.

• 11 July: 1945 UTC: 17885 kHz: BBC World Service  Two males in discussion, studio and telephone. Fair to poor reception, this is BBC World Service, on air 1930 - 2000 UTC, 7 days a week, Hausa language broadcast, 250 kW transmission, 55° via Ascension Island to Africa.
  Males continue speaking for a number of minutes. Female speech, music to end of broadcast.
  Logged to 2000 UTC.

September 2015 : Short Wave

• [Monday] 14 September [2015]: 1455 UTC: 25000 kHz: Tentative reception of a time signal broadcast on this frequency: MIKES [Finland] or WWV [USA]. To 1459 UTC.

November 2015 : Short Wave [Tropical Bands]

• [Tuesday] 24 November [2015]: 2011 UTC: 3415 kHz: Shannon Volmet [Ireland]  Continuous weather reports for the airport in Shannon. Female speech.
  Logged to 2022 UTC.
• 24 November: 2044 UTC: 3955 kHz: KBS World Radio [Seoul, South Korea]  Speech from males and females in the German language - This is KBS World Radio, fair to poor reception, German language broadcast to Europe via Woofferton transmission site [UK].
  Music, sport update: boxing. Music, male speech.
  Logged to 2051 UTC.
• 24 November: 2123 UTC: 5000 kHz: WWV [Time signal station, USA]  Fluttery signal.
  Fair to poor reception. To 2125 UTC.
• 24 November: 2128 UTC: 5050 kHz [Spurious broadcast] China Radio International  'Roundtable' programme, English language. Fair to poor reception. To 2137 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My Short Wave Archive: March 2015

 INTERNATIONAL radio broadcasts, heard via Short Wave, received Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: January 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.

March 2015 : Short Wave

• [Tuesday] 10 March [2015]: 2057 UTC: 15490 kHz: Radio Exterior de Espana  Spanish language football commentary, via the new scheduled broadcast on this frequency, 19 - 23 UTC, Monday to Friday, to Middle East / Asia.
  Fair to poor reception.
  Coverage of Real Madrid v Shalke, which is being played tonight, UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Leg 2 of 2. The score is 3-3 on 67 minutes (5-3 on aggregate).
  Programme: Tablero deportivo via Radio Nacional de Espana. [Programme website]
  Logged to 2113 UTC.
  [Record of the match from UEFA can be found here]
  
  

  

  Assignment editors discuss the latest story developments in the VOA newsroom in Washington, D.C.

• 10 March: 2119 UTC: 15580 kHz: "Music - LOUD music - on Short Wave!"  Voice of America  Female vocalist, singing in English, the track was Ariana Grande 'The Only One'. Male host with news the family of Marvin Gaye are suing Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for plagiarising a Marvin Gaye song for 'Blurred Lines' - Playing now.
  [Link: Marvin Gaye estate vs Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams]
  Music: Rihanna 'Don't Stop The Music'.
  Strong to good reception. English to Africa via Greenville, NC, USA (IBB site).
  Music: Mark Ronson 'Uptown Funk'.
  Programme: 'Border Crossings' / 'Top 10' show. Presenter: Larry London. Music: Fergie 'LA Love'. One Direction 'Little Things'.
  Logged to 2139 UTC.
• 10 March: 2143 UTC: 15610 kHz: WEWN  Birmingham AL [USA]  English language broadcast with a studio based female holding a telephone interview with a male guest; Studio based male holds a telephone interview with a male regarding persecution of Christians in Libya.
  WEWN (EWTN - Catholic programming) to Europe and Middle East. Good reception.
  Programme: 'Kresta in the Afternoon' "brought to you from Catholic Business Pages dot com" [sic].  Live broadcast; Close of the show prior to the top of the hour.
  IDs for EWTN Radio WEWN, broadcasting from Birmingham AL.
  Announcement of frequency for this hour: 15610 kHz for 2200 UTC.
  'News Link': The Vatican. Statement from Pope Francis.
  Now on air, for the next two hours: 'Catholic Answers Live'.
  Logged to 2200 UTC.
• 10 March: 2209 UTC: 15770 kHz: "Speech carries over the airwaves from Okeechobee, FL, USA"
  WRMI  World Radio Miami International  - The broadcast is the voice of Brother Stair on the Overcomer Ministry, broadcasting from Okeechobee to Europe and America. Includes a break for music.
  Fair reception.
  English to Europe and America via Okeechobee FL USA.
  Brother Stair talking about the Second World War, the Japanese attack on the American base Pearl Harbour. Break for music. Continued speech.
  Logged to 2221 UTC.

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Remembering Steve Wright MBE

 HIS Life was dedicated to radio, remembering Steve Wright MBE.

Steve Wright's first broadcast was in his High School days; broadcasting a show over the school's speaker system from a store cupboard.  After leaving school, he volunteered on hospital radio, before first joining the BBC as a gramaphone library clerk in 1970.

Steve also worked as a journalist and reporter for LBC, London, 1975, before joining Radio 210, Reading, 1976.  In 1979, Steve joined Radio Luxembourg, though would leave 'The Station of the Stars' to rejoin the BBC, January 1980, where he broadcast Saturday shows on BBC Radio 1.

His first television appearance on Top of the Pops was in 1980, where he would be a regular host until 1989.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon first went on air October 1981, introducing the listeners of BBC Radio 1 to the zoo radio format and 'The afternoon posse'.

31 August 1990: Steve Wright in the Afternoon interview with George Michael.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon would be a fixture at BBC Radio 1 for 12 years, during which time Steve and the posse had success on the UK singles chart - Inspired by the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Arnee and the Terminaters reached number five on the UK singles chart with 'I'll Be Back' ('The Dancefloor Devastation Kick-Up'), 1991.

The last show was broadcast Christmas Eve 1993.

Changes to the schedule at BBC Radio 1 saw Steve and the posse move to the Breakfast show, January 1994, whilst also presenting the television show Steve Wright's People Show on BBC One, 1994-1995.

Wright would leave the BBC to join Talk Radio UK (which broadcast on the medium wave frequencies vacated by BBC Radio 1, 1053 kHz and 1089 kHz), where he presented Steve Wright's Talk Show.

Steve rejoined the BBC in the Spring of 1996, presenting Steve Wright's Saturday Show (which aired until 1999) and Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs for BBC Radio 2.  Top of the Pops 2, scripted and narrated by Steve, went on air on BBC Television in 1997, running to 2008.

BBC World Service brought us Wright Around The World on Saturdays, from January 1999 to October 2003.  Enjoy a sample of Wright Around The World, BBC World Service, courtesy of Ilya B.

 

BBC Radio 2 revived Steve Wright in the Afternoon on July 5, 1999, which replaced Ed Stewart's afternoon programme. Wright's on-air team was Tim Smith, Janey Lee Grace and The Old Woman (Joyce Frost), the show also brought us factoids - Pieces of information we never knew we needed.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon was on the air for 23 years, broadcast for the final time September 30, 2022. The last song on the playlist was Queen 'Radio Ga Ga'.

Steve Wright was awarded an MBE for services to radio in the 2024 New Year Honours List.

'Sunday Love Songs' last aired the day before Wright's death, a Valentine's Day special recorded two days earlier.

Steve succeeded Paul Gambaccini as presenter of Pick of the Pops October 2023, Wright's last Pick of the Pops aired February 10, 2024.

Steve Wright MBE died February 12, 2024.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon Opening Theme BBC Radio 2

Radio Technicolour

Source credit: 31 August 1990: Steve Wright in the Afternoon interview with George Michael picture from the book Radio 1's Classic Interviews Edited by Jeff Simpson, published by BBC Books, 1992. Picture © BBC.

Steve Wright MBE obituary inspired by British DX Club Communication Monthly Journal of the British DX Club Edition 592 March 2024 (pages 17-18).

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