Why did some stations use half.point frequencies?

[famefm]

Like 88.75 in the past when there was more space in the old days on the dial why not just 88.7 or 88.8 fm

[Albert H]

When listeners had analogue-tuned receivers, the actual frequency didn't matter too much. However, when most listeners started using digitally tuned receivers that go in 0.1MHz steps, stations need to be exactly on those steps to be able to be received without distortion.

[house-every-weekend]

And because PLL TX's were expensive back in the day!

[famefm]

Thanks Albert I always wondered why but never asked anybody

[Albert H]

And because PLL TX's were expensive back in the day!

A PLL added about £3 in parts if you knew what you were doing! In my old doubler exciter, I sampled the ½f with a 74HC4024, then fed that to a 74HC4040 configured as a pre-set divider using diodes to programme it. The reference and reference divider was in a 74HC4060, the phase comparator was either a 4046 or a 74HC7474 and a quad NAND gate. The crystal was (usually) a 4MHz one (40p from Farnell).

I used to build the PLL in its own box (made from PCB material) and used to fill it with epoxy when it was tested and working OK. The w***ers who tried to copy my rigs couldn't open the "black boxes" (the VCO and buffer was frequently gooped too and link receivers were almost always filled with epoxy), and the PAs mostly eliminated trimmers, so if a rig was stolen off a block, they couldn't change its frequency without a lot of work, and couldn't use the link receiver either. I was the only person (apart from Myers) who was supplying UHF links!

[Lordunderground]

Sunrise 88.75, i guess you are referring to. Back then 88-90 the digital tuners would stop on 0.5mhz.
I think they did it to get the optimal frequency; there was lots of cross over from radio two on the adjacent frequencies.

They transmitted in stereo and the modulation was good, one of the first Dance stations 24/7

[famefm]

Yes it was sunrise I was thinking and the old tuners were not very good at separation less than 3 points seems quite good now when you get 886 90.8 and 93.0 working with little problem with the big BBC transmitters only 2 points away .In 1994 when the BBC put new transmitter on 88.8 sunrise changed to 88.4 fm for a short while before closing down anyone remember?

[pure94]

Sunrise did go on88.7 when they went for a licence...but they went on 88.7 as hard-core
L

[famefm]

I didn't know they tried for a licence then because there were non available at that time the brief apearnce on 88.4 was in 1994 after the BBC took 88.8

[Effemm]

I can remember LWR announcing 92:05 every now again back then
Think STARPOINT did it too when they were ‘to the left’ of the dial
Must admit Sunrise’s intro to the weekend on a Friday night was a great listen. Lots of talk when the mic was meant to be off & the classic MFSB track being over modulated was great

[famefm]

LWR was always just above 92.0 or 1 always like to say 92.5 but never were

[teckniqs]

Maybe one half of the management wanted 88.7 but the other wanted 88.8 so they met half way....

[Casual]

Last station I see doing this was Itch on 105.15 around the mid 2000's. They used to get out pretty decent on it from what I remember. I swear Edge FM used the same dial in South/Surrey around 2007/8 too for a brief period.

[famefm]

That's it and was the last 1 and made sense by being 2 and a half from XFM 1049 and same from the 105.4 shit I can't even bear to here that name

[famefm]

I think edge was either 1073 or 6?

[Casual]

Yes you're right, Edge used a few dials 99.7, various 107's, 105.15 & 92.0.

[whitenoisedb]

Itch FM was quality, great DJs. I think they had DJ MK (not the house bod) who was a pretty shit hot turntablist. Also I'm sure they got shutdown after a raid by ofcom who pressured some journalists to grass em up as a result of a magazine article about the station. I'm sure other necks will know the full story....

[Casual]

Itch FM was quality, great DJs. I think they had DJ MK (not the house bod) who was a pretty shit hot turntablist. Also I'm sure they got shutdown after a raid by ofcom who pressured some journalists to grass em up as a result of a magazine article about the station. I'm sure other necks will know the full story....

Totally agree. I love my Hip Hop & Itch were the only pirate (to my knowledge) that were dedicated to that genre 24/7 & did a proper job of it with some top quality music & very skillful/knowledgable DJ's - Even the mixtapes they played on auto-pilot when there were no live DJ's were proper! Whoever it was plastering Soho/West End with Itch FM 105.15 stickers back in the 00's did an excellent job of advertising as this is how I first discovered the station tuning into a very distinctive dial once I'd got home from my travels! The void left since they were taken off the dial in London still hasn't been filled & the dial would be much more interesting/colourful place if they were still on air.

I listen to them occasionally online & it's still a very good listen.