Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

stuie319 · 2nd Apr 2010, 12:25 am

As seems now to be a routine around their Easter birthday Caroline have fired up on 531 KHz from the Ross Revenge, at Tilbury, just moments ago.
I have no idea what the erp is (very low i suspect if its an RSL) but the if recent years programming is anything to go by its certainly entertaining listing. Just like the old days......

Regards
Stu

Station X · 2nd Apr 2010, 8:55 am

Good signal in Ipswich.

Sideband · 2nd Apr 2010, 9:11 am

Not so good here in Croydon. Mind you I'm only trying on the TR82 at the moment. We're going up to Suffolk later so.....

Rich.

Andrew2 · 2nd Apr 2010, 10:22 am

Me and a friend went down to Clacton to see the Ross do an RSL back in 1993-ish. Driving down from Manchester, we couldn't hear a thing on 1503 KHz because of BBC Radio Stoke. Until we got onto the M25...and it quickly came up in strength. By the time we hit Essex it was like a ton of bricks, amazing for 1-watt erp

I must say I find these broadcasts a little bit sad. When you think back to Caroline's glory days of the 60's, 70's and 80's, all this footling about (with a licence!!!) seems really weedy and embarrassing.

michamoo · 2nd Apr 2010, 11:59 am

Coming in steadily here in Cambridge all but with the volume control to max.

Sammyboy · 2nd Apr 2010, 4:06 pm

I was probably been a bit optimistic but just tried here in Staffordshire and didn't get a peep with a Roberts R303, probably too far north!

Boom · 2nd Apr 2010, 6:11 pm

Nowt at all in Wiltshire

Dave

murphyv310 · 2nd Apr 2010, 8:33 pm

Hi.
Going to give it a go up here on a beverage (1KM) but tomorrow, the only problem here is the Faroe islands on the same frequency.

kalee20 · 2nd Apr 2010, 11:23 pm

Am I missing something or is this just outside the MW band? Most of my radios go to 550m, 565m no way! (Unless I start tweaking them of course).

Station X · 2nd Apr 2010, 11:29 pm

531 KHz is the very first 9 KHz channel at the low frequency end of the MW Band.

Under the old system used in the 1960s and probably earlier Channel 1 was 529 kc/s or 567m.

Even 520 KHz or 577m has been used for broadcasting.

kalee20 · 3rd Apr 2010, 12:10 am

Thanks Graham. Bush DAC90a, Vidor 420a, Cossor 500 no good but the fourth radio I tried, Ferguson 373RG tunes this low, there is a station broadcasting non-stop pop music with English lyrics, no announcer for last 20 minutes or so, not even going past midnight. Reception reasonable in Lynton, N. Devon (I am using 15 feet of wire as aerial), bit of fading, but not into oblivion - Caroline?

Station X · 3rd Apr 2010, 9:54 am

During the hours of darkness the Caroline signal is drowned out by a foreign station the language of which I don't recognise.

Back loud and clear now though. Main problem with reception is nulling out interfence using a frame or ferrite rod aerial. If using a long piece of wire (someone will pull me up if I say long wire) an aerial matching unit helps.

Boom · 3rd Apr 2010, 11:43 am

Just got back from Bratton Fort at the White Horse at 11:30am and despite the height the signal is only just there and mixing with a foreign station on the car radio. Not really usuable.

Dave

alanmoore · 3rd Apr 2010, 2:47 pm

Very weak reception in Mitcham Surrey on a Murphy A186.

Sideband · 3rd Apr 2010, 8:06 pm

Went up to Suffolk yesterday but still very weak signal and not really useable on the car radio. I was quite surprised that there was not really a lot of difference between the signal there and the signal here in Croydon.

Rich.

Aub · 4th Apr 2010, 10:44 am

Up here in North Warwickshire, just trying it now on my 1990's Target Comms. Receiver. There is a song being played, but its so weak I can't make out what it is. There is also very fast QSB, making sound like a tremelo unit. Amazing though to think that, if it is and RSL, which I believe only allows 1W ERP, I can hear anything at all!.

Cheers

Aub

Station X · 4th Apr 2010, 11:36 am

It's advertised as broadcasting to South Essex and North Kent, so reception anywhere else is a bonus.

The main problem with weak signal reception is interference, not signal strength at the receiver.

kalee20 · 5th Apr 2010, 12:06 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalee20

there is a station broadcasting non-stop pop music with English lyrics, no announcer for last 20 minutes or so, not even going past midnight. Reception reasonable in Lynton, N. Devon

But during daytime, nothing. So, reading above posts, would not have been Caroline.

murphyv310 · 5th Apr 2010, 2:59 pm

Hi.
Nothing up here even on a 1KM Beverage that's roughly in the correct direction.

Boom · 5th Apr 2010, 3:19 pm

If all else fails but there isn't much left to go now.

http://radiocaroline.servemp3.com/

2nd Apr 2010, 12:25 am	#1
stuie319 Pentode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 229	Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. As seems now to be a routine around their Easter birthday Caroline have fired up on 531 KHz from the Ross Revenge, at Tilbury, just moments ago. I have no idea what the erp is (very low i suspect if its an RSL) but the if recent years programming is anything to go by its certainly entertaining listing. Just like the old days...... Regards Stu Last edited by Station X; 2nd Apr 2010 at 8:54 am. Reason: Thread split.

2nd Apr 2010, 8:55 am	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,287	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Good signal in Ipswich. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

2nd Apr 2010, 9:11 am	#3
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,567	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Not so good here in Croydon. Mind you I'm only trying on the TR82 at the moment. We're going up to Suffolk later so..... Rich. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

2nd Apr 2010, 10:22 am	#4
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,037	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Me and a friend went down to Clacton to see the Ross do an RSL back in 1993-ish. Driving down from Manchester, we couldn't hear a thing on 1503 KHz because of BBC Radio Stoke. Until we got onto the M25...and it quickly came up in strength. By the time we hit Essex it was like a ton of bricks, amazing for 1-watt erp I must say I find these broadcasts a little bit sad. When you think back to Caroline's glory days of the 60's, 70's and 80's, all this footling about (with a licence!!!) seems really weedy and embarrassing. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

2nd Apr 2010, 11:59 am	#5
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Coming in steadily here in Cambridge all but with the volume control to max.

2nd Apr 2010, 4:06 pm	#6
Sammyboy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lichfield, UK Posts: 141	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. I was probably been a bit optimistic but just tried here in Staffordshire and didn't get a peep with a Roberts R303, probably too far north!

2nd Apr 2010, 6:11 pm	#7
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Nowt at all in Wiltshire Dave

2nd Apr 2010, 8:33 pm	#8
murphyv310 Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 5,421	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Hi. Going to give it a go up here on a beverage (1KM) but tomorrow, the only problem here is the Faroe islands on the same frequency. __________________ Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member

2nd Apr 2010, 11:23 pm	#9
kalee20 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK. Posts: 7,079	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Am I missing something or is this just outside the MW band? Most of my radios go to 550m, 565m no way! (Unless I start tweaking them of course).

2nd Apr 2010, 11:29 pm	#10
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,287	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. 531 KHz is the very first 9 KHz channel at the low frequency end of the MW Band. Under the old system used in the 1960s and probably earlier Channel 1 was 529 kc/s or 567m. Even 520 KHz or 577m has been used for broadcasting. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

3rd Apr 2010, 12:10 am	#11
kalee20 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK. Posts: 7,079	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Thanks Graham. Bush DAC90a, Vidor 420a, Cossor 500 no good but the fourth radio I tried, Ferguson 373RG tunes this low, there is a station broadcasting non-stop pop music with English lyrics, no announcer for last 20 minutes or so, not even going past midnight. Reception reasonable in Lynton, N. Devon (I am using 15 feet of wire as aerial), bit of fading, but not into oblivion - Caroline?

3rd Apr 2010, 9:54 am	#12
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,287	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. During the hours of darkness the Caroline signal is drowned out by a foreign station the language of which I don't recognise. Back loud and clear now though. Main problem with reception is nulling out interfence using a frame or ferrite rod aerial. If using a long piece of wire (someone will pull me up if I say long wire) an aerial matching unit helps. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

3rd Apr 2010, 11:43 am	#13
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Just got back from Bratton Fort at the White Horse at 11:30am and despite the height the signal is only just there and mixing with a foreign station on the car radio. Not really usuable. Dave

3rd Apr 2010, 2:47 pm	#14
alanmoore Tetrode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London, UK. Posts: 74	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Very weak reception in Mitcham Surrey on a Murphy A186.

3rd Apr 2010, 8:06 pm	#15
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,567	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Went up to Suffolk yesterday but still very weak signal and not really useable on the car radio. I was quite surprised that there was not really a lot of difference between the signal there and the signal here in Croydon. Rich. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

4th Apr 2010, 10:44 am	#16
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Up here in North Warwickshire, just trying it now on my 1990's Target Comms. Receiver. There is a song being played, but its so weak I can't make out what it is. There is also very fast QSB, making sound like a tremelo unit. Amazing though to think that, if it is and RSL, which I believe only allows 1W ERP, I can hear anything at all!. Cheers Aub __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.

4th Apr 2010, 11:36 am	#17
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,287	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. It's advertised as broadcasting to South Essex and North Kent, so reception anywhere else is a bonus. The main problem with weak signal reception is interference, not signal strength at the receiver. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

5th Apr 2010, 2:59 pm	#19
murphyv310 Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 5,421	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. Hi. Nothing up here even on a 1KM Beverage that's roughly in the correct direction. __________________ Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member

5th Apr 2010, 3:19 pm	#20
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Radio Caroline now on 531KHz/565m MW. If all else fails but there isn't much left to go now. http://radiocaroline.servemp3.com/