106.5

[Albert H]

Yes. Look at the theory of the Yagi aerial. The more "directors" on the front of the aerial, the more forward gain it has and the narrower the beam angle (or acceptance angle if you're receiving).

Originally, I made the reflector into a five-element affair, to improve the front / back ratio - I used two extra pieces of aluminium above, and two below the existing reflector, and attached them using a curved vertical boom attached to the main boom arm. You'll see some TV Yagis that have mesh reflectors - the extra elements were the next best thing. Subsequently, I added thin metal mesh which enhanced the front / back ratio still further.

It's also worth making certain that the antenna has a good match to the feedline. For reception, I use good quality 75Ω TV coax, and I have an Antenna Noise Bridge that will match to that. I can check the whole set-up from the antenna to the plug at the back of the receiver. I also use a test signal source - a little battery-powered PLL oscillator connected to a ¼-wave piece of still wire and modulated with a 880Hz tone. This radiates under a milliwatt, but is great for checking that an aerial actually works!

[famefm]

Thanks Albert that takes some doing? It's is the same coax that I have for the TV ariel

[Albert H]

Thanks Albert that takes some doing? It's is the same coax that I have for the TV aerial

Your problem is that you're try to use washing powder instead of a metal aerial!

Seriously - TV coax is usually pretty good. Be careful with the connections at each end. I connected my two coax leads to the aerial centres (my X - Y aerial has two active elements), secured the coax to prevent it getting pulled out, then filled the centres with hot-melt glue to seal the connections and the ends of the coax. The aerial has been up there for about 15 years, and it measures just as good as when it was installed.

[famefm]

I thought they were just about to come on today but now back to the static again they have never taken this long to return?

[Albert H]

They're going to be completely screwed in a couple of months - 106.5 MHz is one of the frequencies that OFCOM are offering for Community Radio.

The OFCOM licence rules for these four new stations are obviously designed to fail. The station has a very low limit on financial turnover, so you can't make money - it probably can't even pay for itself! That's why stations like Voice Of Africa ran out of money and were shut down. It's a nasty trick, designed to show that Community Radio can't work. Miserable bastards. The sooner OFCOM is shut down (on the cards now with this Government) the better!

[famefm]

Thanks Albert? I didn't know that It's typical? I always liked what project did it was a proper alternative to the mostly tiered sounding pirate stations on now anyway 1065 has been an excellent frequency for me in Windsor Great Park since 1066 closed down and switched off I used to hear project even with the Slough 1066 on but was difficult sometimes I could make the 1066 go away for a few hours but I never could keep it up? So it was typical that what time 1066 went project was hardly ever on as well as for the Slough 1066 frequency it's still vacant? To me we already have 2 proper community station in London that have been around since 1989 lighting in the south and station in the north. But there is one legal station or make that 2 that work and they are rinse and LGR?

[famefm]

Let's all see if global would offer to buy up the pirate stations as well?

[famefm]

Albert can you tell us where and what frequency the other 3 are going to be on and were any of ofcom predecessors any better because I didn't know much about the regulaters my earliest memeries of bitter disappointment was the 1985 community radio experiment that was cancelled and some people thought that it might have been a trick to make pirate stations close down?

[famefm]

I also think it was what made your friend Chris Stewart give up on radio shortly after that ?he really believed that his horizon radio was going to win a licence to be on the air by early 1986

[teckniqs]

I'm guessing 94.0 and 101.4 are included...

[famefm]

Of course I forgot those 2 so that just leaves one more? Come to think of it I can't pick up Hayes fm at the moment is it still on?

[famefm]

Come to think of it? The BBC frequencys are exactly 2.2 spaces apart and they have given 92.0 out a long time ago to Nu soundz somewhere in London so that means that they might give out 94.4 or even 898 and I can just imagine what would happen if they took the mighty station fms frequency?

[Albert H]

But there is one legal station or make that 2 that work and they are rinse and LGR?

There's (sort of) three at the moment - LGR (who have money to burn), Rinse (who're broke and will probably end up as part of the "Time" empire) and Reprezent in Lewisham (who have some kind of government educational grant which will run out shortly).

There are several MW efforts, including the 963kHz and 1035kHz Asians, 1503kHz that seems to be African and the Turks on 1611kHz. There are also various "Premier" religious outlets and Spectrum 558kHz, but they don't have more than a few dozen listeners between them.

OFCOM are offering four FM frequencies in various parts of London and seven or eight MW frequencies. All are restricted financially (deliberately) and can only carry a limited amount of advertising. They're also going to be poorly sited and on low power, so no audience! As I said - they're deliberately designed to fail!

[famefm]

So a bit like trying to play at a disco and wondering why no body can hear the music because the electricity has been cut? As for represent? I knew about their money problem they nearly had to close over a year ago now and also they are on higher power than rinse? Shame it's to much like kids and I would have thought that not to many people liston?

[famefm]

Maybe 4 successful stations what about north west Londons 103.6 station that keeps changing it's name who now have nicked the beat fm name after the 20 year old pirate in the same area? Also 1036 and 1073 get out very well in my Windsor Great Park area?

[Albert H]

Come to think of it? The BBC frequencies are exactly 2.2 MHz apart and they have given 92.0 out a long time ago to Nu soundz somewhere in London so that means that they might give out 94.4 or even 898 and I can just imagine what would happen if they took the mighty Station FM's frequency?

I think Nu Soundz has gone. The frequencies that are quoted in the latest application document are 92 MHz, 94 MHz, 94.5 MHz and 106.5 MHz. There's also a whole bunch of medium wave frequencies, and a number of DAB slots (which are virtually being given away, and don't have the financial restrictions of the AM and FM stations).

[famefm]

94.5? The horizon radio frequency? only taken 31 years to become available on a legal basis?