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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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12th Jun 2021, 2:24 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK.
Posts: 1,457
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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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12th Jun 2021, 2:46 pm | #2 |
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Location: Oxford, UK
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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 |
12th Jun 2021, 3:27 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK.
Posts: 1,457
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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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Rick, the annoying object roaming the forum. |
12th Jun 2021, 3:39 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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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.
Lawrence. |
12th Jun 2021, 3:59 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK.
Posts: 1,457
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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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Rick, the annoying object roaming the forum. |
12th Jun 2021, 6:45 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
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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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12th Jun 2021, 8:20 pm | #7 |
Hexode
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland.
Posts: 498
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Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!
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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Dom Less snakes...more ladders! |
13th Jun 2021, 2:14 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,571
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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. |
14th Jun 2021, 1:06 pm | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,869
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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. John |
14th Jun 2021, 3:09 pm | #10 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,571
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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. |
14th Jun 2021, 3:16 pm | #11 |
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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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14th Jun 2021, 3:22 pm | #12 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 1,731
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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. |
14th Jun 2021, 9:24 pm | #13 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,571
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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. |
16th Jun 2021, 9:35 am | #14 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area.
Posts: 2,965
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Re: 657MW seems to be dead!
Quote:
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16th Jun 2021, 10:09 pm | #15 |
Hexode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Box End, Beds. UK.
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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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17th Jun 2021, 10:27 am | #16 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area.
Posts: 2,965
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Re: 657 kHz MW seems to be dead!
The Tywyn transmitter still puts out BBC R5L on 990Khz.
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18th Jun 2021, 1:38 pm | #17 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK.
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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 Aub
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18th Jun 2021, 6:49 pm | #18 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,869
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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. John |
23rd Jun 2021, 11:09 pm | #19 |
Hexode
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland.
Posts: 498
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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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Dom Less snakes...more ladders! |
24th Jun 2021, 11:04 am | #20 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK.
Posts: 1,457
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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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Rick, the annoying object roaming the forum. |