Monday, December 25, 2006

Seasons Greetings


Merry Xmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Winter Solstice, or simply Seasons Greetings.

Tropo is still evident. In Bolsover this evening, from 18:30, the following were heard.

On 88.1 was Frequency FM, the Leeds pirate (confirmed by announcements). Surprisingly reasonable signal.

At the same time, there was evidence of substantially enhanced reception of stations from the south west. On 97.6 was Wyvern FM from the Herefordshire and Worcestershire area, while Beacon Radio 97.2 from Wolverhampton was strong enough for the RDS to be receivable
( _BEACON _ )

Also from the south west, on 87.7 was an Asian RSL with speech and chanting in an Asian language. Although virtually unidentifiable from announcements, an advert was heard for a supermarket in Smethwick, Birmingham. Ofcom RSL lists appear to identify the station as Radio Dashmesh.

Closer to home, Amber FM from the Heanor area was on 87.9. Very weak. Was playing Northern Soul music at the time.


So, quite a "catch" today. I doubt if Santa could do better on the radio in his flying sleigh :-)

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Sunday, December 24, 2006

Sound of the Midlands Underground


Midlands Underground 107 was heard in the very early hours of this morning (just after midnight) on 107.0 FM. Mono only, no RDS. Format was rap and R&B music.

No location was mentioned, but a Google search found a station of that name serving the Wolverhampton area (myspace area) ! Could this have been the one I received? Not impossible, considering there was tropospheric ducting (and fog) at the time. Won't have been the first time either - on Xmas eve into Xmas day 1988, Power House Radio of the Black Country was heard here in Clowne.

On the other hand, the signal seemed quite stable with no apparent fading (unusual for tropo).

The DJ on the station commented that it was now "officially Xmas eve", and asked listeners to text in and say what they're doing over Xmas.


Onto other news: At the same time, on 87.8 was a station playing classical music, with announcements in a foreign language. By then, Caz FM on 87.7 had disappeared.

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We traverse afar ...

so said the "three kings of orient" in the Xmas carol. And today, so do radio waves, on the VHF FM band at least.

The high pressure over the UK which is currently causing the annoying fog is also responsible for the tropospheric ducting, well they say it's an ill wind that blows no good :-)

Following stations were noted in Clowne, from 17:00 -

87.7 CAZ FM. Dutch, probably from Flevoland on the north Holland coast. With scrolling RDS (at one point, "CAZ" was on the RDS). Mostly in a foreign language, Xmas greetings from pop stars (including Destiny's Child) were in English. Format is pop music, both recent and oldies.

91.7 Unidentified. Sounds German. Playing what sounded like Xmas music.

100.7 Q-Music. Belgian. Heard before. Freq not listed (perhaps West Vlaanderen on 100.8?)

106.4 Kiss FM from East Anglia. English (when some rap records played, still in English - just about!). RDS = __KISS__

106.9 Again unidentified, language sounded French.

No chance of "following yonder star" until the fog lifts, however ...

Seasons Greetings!

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Thursday, December 21, 2006

Adverts drive me to drink

I always said the official broadcast media was full of pro-Establishment propaganda. So I guess I shouldn't be shocked when Crimestoppers start an advertising campaign - like the ads currently heard on local radio stations (including Trax FM) - encouraging people to help in the crack-down on "under-age" drinking.

Alright, so it flies in the face of all the adverts encouraging us to drink more over Xmas. I know I've had a lot more hassle from "over age" drinkers (ie over 18s) than from those under 18, and the coppers rarely want to know. But we all know, in the eyes of the Establishment, that's different.

I have very little time for age restrictions, which I see as not only discriminatory but also counter-productive. Banning products to groups of people, in a way which is often seen as unfair, is a sure-fire way to give them an un-deserved "cool" or "rebellious" image.

What is striking about the current Crimestoppers campaign is the level of scaremongering used. The ad starts by commenting how intimidating young drinkers can be, the tone gradually becoming more menacing as the advert progresses. So, if you weren't intimidated by young drinkers before hearing the advert, you may well be after hearing this pile of carp (mis-spelling) which has all the impartiality of a Sun editorial.

Part of the reason for young people congregating on the streets is that, unlike adults who can meet in pubs etc, there is often nowhere for the kids to go. The alcohol licencing laws, as they stand, aggravate this problem by effectively barring young people from many discos etc which are held in pubs and other licenced premises.

Many readers of this Blog will probably now accuse me of condoning illegality. Ah well, I may as well hang for a sheep as a lamb.

So BIG UP! for Peoples FM, Notorious FM, Bounce FM, Fresh FM, Radio Frequency, and all the other free radio stations who broadcast free from Establishment control. And free from Establishment propaganda!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

KBFM back again

Asian station heard today on 87.7 FM, in the Kippax area. Believed to be KBFM from Leeds, doing another RSL.

Asian music heard, mostly Bhangra.

Thought to be scrolling RDS, briefly appeared with what looked like a telephone number.

Hajj FM from Bradford also still on-air, and audible on 87.9.

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Sunday, December 17, 2006

Amber FM 87.9

RSL Amber FM of the Amber Valley was heard today on 87.9 FM. Centre of Amber FM's coverage map appears to be Belper.

Signal heard very weakly in Clowne, with a weak but listenable signal in the high part of Bolsover.

Stereo (very hissy) but no RDS received.

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Hajj FM 87.9 Bradford

Today and yesterday I heard an Asian station on 87.9 FM.

This morning, I heard the station announce as Hajj FM from Bradford, broadcasting to Muslims in Bradford and across West Yorkshire.

Signal in Kippax, near Leeds, is weak but listenable. No RDS or stereo was received though.


Tonight, I left the Kippax area later than average - approx 18:45, in fact - after the work Xmas dinner. As a result, I heard Fresh FM 95.6 on-air (wasn't on air at 16:00), implying they broadcast each evening with longer broadcasting times at weekends.


Heard Bounce FM 88.0 on the way home. Quite strong signal where the M18 meets the M1 at junction 32, which seems to confirm my suspicions that Bounce FM is from the Sheffield area.
Mono only, no RDS. Signal still audible as far as Clowne.

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Saturday, December 09, 2006

Fresh FM Leeds


On way home from work at 16:00, Fresh FM 95.6 heard.

RDS = FRESH-FM

Jingle heard was "95.6 in the mix, that's how we're doin' it".

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Friday, December 08, 2006

Bounce-ing around

Pirate station Bounce FM 88.0 was heard tonight from 8:35 pm, while parked at the gale-swept peak of Hickenwood Lane near Clowne. Thought to be from Sheffield, but not sure.

Format was rap and R&B music.

Also heard at the same location was Vixen FM 87.9 from Market Weighton, with a listenable signal. Interestingly, 87.7 was totally vacant.

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Saturday, December 02, 2006

Radio Frequency 88.1 Leeds


Radio Frequency 88.1 was heard this evening, from just after 16:00. Announced as broadcasting from Leeds. Frequency was (obviously) 88.1 FM.


Understood to be a free radio station.
Several adverts heard, mostly for raves, but occasional public service adverts - including one for the drug advice service Frank - were heard!

Long periods of blank carrier (several minutes) were noted.

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