Mass Media & Technology

Long Distance MW Radio Reception

(April 2020)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
LL
London Lite Founding member
To be fair, 1458 switched off years ago in London, not an issue that I recall, same for Radio Kent's 1035 frequency which also switched off in the 90s. Both were handed over to London commercial stations.
RW
Robert Williams Founding member
To be fair, 1458 switched off years ago in London, not an issue that I recall, same for Radio Kent's 1035 frequency which also switched off in the 90s. Both were handed over to London commercial stations.


There was a brief period in late 1993, in between the closure of GLR on 1458 and the commencement of the station that took over (Sunrise?) when the frequency was clear and, after dark, I was able to pick up (in Surrey) all the other BBC Local Radio stations - Newcastle, Cumbria, Devon, WM and GMR - that still used that frequency, just by moving the radio about.

I recorded a jingle each from Radios Newcastle, Cumbria and Devon which I recently uploaded in amongst my compilations of BBC Local Radio jingles from the South East: https://youtu.be/FNG_s_K33Gs?t=1915
MA
Markymark
To be fair, 1458 switched off years ago in London, not an issue that I recall, same for Radio Kent's 1035 frequency which also switched off in the 90s. Both were handed over to London commercial stations.


There was a brief period in late 1993, in between the closure of GLR on 1458 and the commencement of the station that took over (Sunrise?) when the frequency was clear and, after dark, I was able to pick up (in Surrey) all the other BBC Local Radio stations - Newcastle, Cumbria, Devon, WM and GMR - that still used that frequency, just by moving the radio about.

I recorded a jingle each from Radios Newcastle, Cumbria and Devon which I recently uploaded in amongst my compilations of BBC Local Radio jingles from the South East: https://youtu.be/FNG_s_K33Gs?t=1915


Glasgow's Radio Clyde (1151 kHz/261m) had listeners in London at night when it first opened, this was after Radio 4 had vacated the frequency in the North East, but before any other ILR stations (including LBC) opened or adopted the frequency.
ST
Ste Founding member
On 1530Khz at night I normally get Voice of America in English coming from São Tomé which is off the coast of Gabon in Africa, it is on air until 2200GMT and plays English or African music around this time. 1575Khz used to have Radio Farda in Farsi from the UAE as quite an easy catch too but this has been discontinued. 1386Khz Russian language broadcasts from Lithuania from NHK World Radio and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
IS
Inspector Sands
Bauer seem to be reviewing their MW services, they announced today that City Talk in Liverpool is closing at the end of May and its MW license will be handed back.

Last week, without any notice they ended their license for the two ex-Beacon MW transmitters in Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury which were relaying Absolute Classic Rock, and the ex-Mercia MW service in Coventry will be closed soon too
LL
London Lite Founding member
Bauer seem to be reviewing their MW services, they announced today that City Talk in Liverpool is closing at the end of May and its MW license will be handed back.

Last week, without any notice they ended their license for the two ex-Beacon MW transmitters in Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury which were relaying Absolute Classic Rock, and the ex-Mercia MW service in Coventry will be closed soon too


The Rajar for Greatest Hits Radio in Coventry is tiny. AM radio at least for local commercial providers is dying.
LL
London Lite Founding member
Worth noting that 1215 Khz/247m in old money is currently playing 1940s music for the day to celebrate VE Day instead of the usual contemporary rock from Absolute Radio.
IS
Inspector Sands

The Rajar for Greatest Hits Radio in Coventry is tiny. AM radio at least for local commercial providers is dying.

It is on FM for a lot of that area. According to the thread on this on DS, Bauer weren't even doing Rajar on the two Absolute Classic Rock MW outlets they closed and they weren't publicised. I suspect they kept them for a year or so in case they had something useful for them.


Birmingham's on the other hand is licensed for a few years yet
NW
nwtv2003
Bauer seem to be reviewing their MW services, they announced today that City Talk in Liverpool is closing at the end of May and its MW license will be handed back.


An end of an era in sort for Radio City, as prior to City Talk being on Medium Wave, the frequency was occupied by Radio City2 (before they swapped with City Talk on FM) which in turn was Radio City’s original MW frequency before the split in the late 1980’s. With the licence being handed back then that ends Radio City’s legacy on that frequency, I can’t imagine any parties declaring an interest in taking the frequency in the future.
VM
VMPhil
Shocked that they’re sacking Pete Price after so long.
NW
nwtv2003
Shocked that they’re sacking Pete Price after so long.


This too, I forgot he’s been with City for 40 years. Given his popularity (I appreciate he’s a marmite figure) he’ll probably be picked up elsewhere, but given the direction that Bauer is taking with the Hits Radio Network then it won’t be City.
LL
London Lite Founding member
It leaves Alan Robson as the last heritage talk show presenter on a Bauer station, now on GHR in the North East.

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