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Old 12th Jun 2021, 2:24 pm   #1
Glowing Bits!
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Default 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

I think this is the correct part of the forum for this, mods, please move if need be.
I read on the forum's Facebook page that Radio Wales on 657 is gone, I tuned into it today to find a repeat message telling people to migrate elsewhere, does this mean it's now dead?
When will the transmitter officially be turned off?
Is Caroline going to claim it? I hope so.
This means it's now time to invest in a pantry TX setup, AM is dead as far as I'm concerned.
RIP Wrexham site. 1946 - 2021.
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Old 12th Jun 2021, 2:46 pm   #2
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Default Re: 657MW seems to be dead!

It does look as if 657 is dead. Washford has also had its power reduced. This seems to be a matter of simple cost cutting.

I certainly hope the Wrexham transmitter is used for something else. It travels well, covering most of NW England and the Midlands as well as North Wales. It even gives a usable daytime signal here in Oxford.

I can imagine that lots of people in Wales will be pretty hacked off about this, given its hilly and rural character.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/work...d-mw-reduction
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Old 12th Jun 2021, 3:27 pm   #3
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Default Re: 657MW seems to be dead!

Given how it outputs 2000w, I would expect the signal to go at least 100 miles on a good day.
It is unknown what the future holds at the moment, the repeat message is advising people to tune in to FM & digital/streaming.
Streaming is something not many people do around here, they prefer bog standard instead.
TBH, I haven't really listened to it much since Chris Needs died last year, radio died when he did.
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Old 12th Jun 2021, 3:39 pm   #4
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Default Re: 657MW seems to be dead!

If people don't do streaming for the radio program then maybe that's where the problem lies, most folks just aren't interested these days, period.

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Old 12th Jun 2021, 3:59 pm   #5
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Default Re: 657MW seems to be dead!

Where I live, people would be happy using DAB but the streaming thing ain't quite caught on yet.
Broadband speeds are not an issue, it averages 40 meg but the general population is split between new age millennials and old timers.
DAB reception here can be a bit hit & miss at times, the main networks can come from any TX, I can receive primarily from the Midlands, Winter Hill sometimes works and Liverpool on a good day.
There are too many regions on DAB, it's confusing at times trying to figure out where it's coming from, I usually stick to Kisstory, it's regional and plays old skool, nowt wrong with that.
P.S. I'm a 90's kid with an interest in 60's stuff, go figure.
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Old 12th Jun 2021, 6:45 pm   #6
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

I wonder what 'interesting' MW DX will emerge now that the local signal on that frequency has gone? A bit of Googlism suggests italy and Spain also use the frequency, along with several African countries.
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Old 12th Jun 2021, 8:20 pm   #7
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

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Originally Posted by G6Tanuki View Post
I wonder what 'interesting' MW DX will emerge now that the local signal on that frequency has gone? A bit of Googlism suggests italy and Spain also use the frequency, along with several African countries.
There certainly some overlap around 657kHz as sometimes I'd get another station breaking through when listening to R Wales on 657 at the time. I will however miss the almost perfect reception on my AM only sets. I'd like to know if there will be an Optimod going cheap as my pantry TX sounds thin and tinny, not having a particular audio frequency response. I'll look for a graphic equaliser down the car booty tomorrow .
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Old 13th Jun 2021, 2:14 pm   #8
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Sorry to see another one go. I used to listen to Radio Wales a fair bit and sometimes used 657 though generally 882 was best with me.

However, in another respect it is good news: I will be able to listen to Caroline without the splatter, especially on my Hacker Sovereign.
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Old 14th Jun 2021, 1:06 pm   #9
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

I can receive Radio Wales on 882Khz, albeit a weak signal. I’m not sure which tx I’m picking up, any suggestions?
I used to receive Tywyn, which is almost line of sight across Cardigan the bay, but I understand that am tx stopped some time ago.
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Old 14th Jun 2021, 3:09 pm   #10
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Always willing to be corrected on this but I think Washford is the only Tx left on 882, or if not soon will be.

I understand Penmon 882 has been breaking into programmes to run a closure announcement. If you don’t hear an announcement then you’re getting Washford.

Washford is reducing power. In theory, removing an S point, for example, would take it down to 25kW.
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Old 14th Jun 2021, 3:16 pm   #11
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Yes, Washford is going to be the only Radio Wales MW transmitter, which is ironic as it's actually in England Washford does cover the south coast and valleys quite well, but if you're a Gog you're out of luck.
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Old 14th Jun 2021, 3:22 pm   #12
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Radio Caroline is an excellent station in my humble opinion. Offers something a little different, and somehow sounds 'right' on 648Khz.

Given that they still appear to be heavily supportive of MW, it certainly would be an opportunity for them to expand their reach if they took over one or two of the old BBC frequencies.
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Old 14th Jun 2021, 9:24 pm   #13
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Given that Caroline runs on volunteers and Support Group donations, etc., I suspect that the current arrangement is as good as it gets. There have been some mutterings about upping the power on 648. I don’t think there would be much official opposition as, given it’s one of the oldest stations around, Caroline has become the radio equivalent of a heritage steam railway, though for all that its programming, so different from the regular narrow-playlist dominated stations, is very welcome.

It’s just a shame that with all the closures it is not on a clear channel as the beating makes it useless at a distance at night.
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Old 16th Jun 2021, 9:35 am   #14
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Default Re: 657MW seems to be dead!

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulsherwin View Post
It does look as if 657 is dead. Washford has also had its power reduced. This seems to be a matter of simple cost cutting.

I certainly hope the Wrexham transmitter is used for something else. It travels well, covering most of NW England and the Midlands as well as North Wales. It even gives a usable daytime signal here in Oxford.

I can imagine that lots of people in Wales will be pretty hacked off about this, given its hilly and rural character.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/work...d-mw-reduction
I have not noticed any difference in the reception of BBC R Wales on 882 AM, both by day or night, since Washford reduced its power from 100kw to 50Kw. On my radio which does have a signal strength meter on AM instead of showing all 5 bars its now flitting between 4-5 bars. Its now only BBC R5L from the 50Kw transmitter at Clevedon on 909 which shows all 5 bars.
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Old 16th Jun 2021, 10:09 pm   #15
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Tywyn masts etc looked complete when I walked past it a couple of weeks ago, but what it was actually sending out obviously I couldn't tell by looking
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Old 17th Jun 2021, 10:27 am   #16
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

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Originally Posted by trsomian View Post
Tywyn masts etc looked complete when I walked past it a couple of weeks ago, but what it was actually sending out obviously I couldn't tell by looking
The Tywyn transmitter still puts out BBC R5L on 990Khz.
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Old 18th Jun 2021, 1:38 pm   #17
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

That's interesting Simon. I always listen to 990 when I'm visiting my sister in Cardigan.

Cheers

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Old 18th Jun 2021, 6:49 pm   #18
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Further to my post #5, so it’s Watford that I’m receiving, thank you Paul. Also thank you HT for the information.
Picture of Tywyn masts.
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Old 23rd Jun 2021, 11:09 pm   #19
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

The 657 transmitter is now silent. No doubt the masts are soon to be demolished.
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Old 24th Jun 2021, 11:04 am   #20
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Default Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!

Yep, it's dead.
Just tried the radio on full blast, nothing more than background static and nothing else.
I think it's now time to start an anti-demolition protest, there seems to be protests for everything else!
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