BBC Radio 4 on MW - RIP

[outis]

"Effective 15th April, Radio 4 will no longer be available on medium wave. " https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/help-gu ... to-radio-4
On 720khz only and an automatic message now

[Albert H]

That's sad. Iceland on 207 kHz went a month or two ago (I used to like their overnight non-stop music mixes), and RTE 252 went yesterday.

[outis]

That's sad. Iceland on 207 kHz went a month or two ago (I used to like their overnight non-stop music mixes), and RTE 252 went yesterday.

Were 207 and 252 still on air until recently?
On LW I can get (in Surrey) only Radio4 and a station in French (Algiers?)

[jvok]

198LW is still on air til march next year. Its only the MW fill ins that have gone off air

207 and 252 both went in march last year

[Albert H]

207 kHz went off much more recently. One of our guys went over there recently to advise on the re-use of the antenna system masts for other frequencies (possibly MW and certainly SW).

[radionortheast]

I wonder myself why it too so long, I can kind of understand why long wave kept going, radio 1 moved from medium wave 30 years, I remember listening on a crystal set, making a 2 transistor am radio that worked well, amazing radio waves could power a radio

[Albert H]

It was said that the 198 kHz Radio 4 was used to confirm to "our" nuclear submarines that London was still there! Apparently they would surface daily and check that they could hear it.

[outis]

It was said that the 198 kHz Radio 4 was used to confirm to "our" nuclear submarines that London was still there! Apparently they would surface daily and check that they could hear it.

198 is still on - for how long? Who can tell?
But running a 500kw transmitter is too costly

[radionortheast]

It was said that the 198 kHz Radio 4 was used to confirm to "our" nuclear submarines that London was still there! Apparently they would surface daily and check that they could hear it.

198 is still on - for how long? Who can tell?
But running a 500kw transmitter is too costly

teleswitch due to close on the 30th of June 2025, think thats the reason its kept going for so long, suppose they don't want their heating going off, they might blame 198 on having a cold bath
https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/the- ... explained/

it does seem like the end of the world all these close down announcements, greatest hits then absolute, submariness use vlf, it gose under water
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency

[Albert H]

The penetration into seawater of VLF is very limited, and getting any useful coverage at those frequencies requires insanely high power and truly gigantic aerials!

[Persona Non Grata]

It was said that the 198 kHz Radio 4 was used to confirm to "our" nuclear submarines that London was still there! Apparently they would surface daily and check that they could hear it.

I've always been sceptical about such claims seeing as how any countries with the motivation and capability to destroy the UK could easily make fake BBC broadcasts.

It wouldn't even be a new trick. Fake broadcasts (impersonating enemy stations) were made by all sides as far back as WW2.

There's also the whodunnit problem. During the last century the assumption was the only country with the desire and wherewithall to destroy the UK was the USSR/Russia. Whether this is still the case today (and for how long it will remain the case) is highly questionable.

[Albert H]

It would be difficult to fake the "additional" data contained on the 198 kHz carrier. It's very secret!