Skelton,Cumbria.

[ekcobeach]

Interesting piece about Skelton on The One Show, for those who missed it catch it on BBC iplayer. Colin.

[russell_w_b]

Originally Posted by ekcobeach

Interesting piece about Skelton on The One Show, for those who missed it catch it on BBC iplayer. Colin.

Trouble is, bit of it was a wee bit misleading. We never broadcast to the 'Home Front' from Skelton, or, indeed, on short-wave - unless the home front was in Libya, or Portugal, or the Americas, or Occupied Europe, or wherever... I thought, for the sound effects, they might have played the famous 'V'-Victory bongs that we did broadcast, and of which sound clips are available on the BBC archive.

- And I was edited (as I expected)! The bit I had prepared on the 'Cold War' was cut out, as was the bit where I talked about HF broadcasting from Skelton today.

It was 'Skelton Lite', for soundbite TV.

[Aub]

hi Russell,

I was wondering what's broadcast from there today, as they didnt mention it on the show.

I'd appreciate a quick overview if you have time.

regards

Aub

[russell_w_b]

Hi Aub,

There is a joint BBC/Deutsche-Welle digital HF service to Europe (DRM), currently on 3.995MHz and 5.790MHz. On analogue HF, we broadcast BBC mostly to Africa and parts of the Mid-East in several African languages (Farsi, Pashto, Somali, Biafran etc...).

As well as BBC Overseas transmissions, we also relay the Korean Broadcasting Service (in French, German and English!) and Radio Canada International in French and English. On occasion, we broadcast 'Family Radio' hell-fire and damnation religious zealot stuff (in Arabic, though it has been broadcast in English in the past).

There's a little 'Voice of Vietnam' broadcast in Russian and German as well, one of the few services aimed at Europe. Do bear in mind that the HF broadcast schedule changes twice a year, and that transmissions may be removed or added accordingly!

I did talk about all this when interviewed, but it was cut out of the programme. I would have liked the cold-war stuff to have gone in, as such transmissions were important to Skelton, especially the 'Barrage' transmissions, where eighteen frequencies - all across the HF broadcast spectrum - went out simultaneously carrying the same programme.

All the lights in Penrith used to fluctuate in accordance with the modulation depth!

[Aub]

Thanks very much for that!

73's

Aub

[Mach One]

Originally Posted by russell_w_b

It was 'Skelton Lite', for soundbite TV.

You said it. I thought it was dreadful. All wacky angles and style - never mind the content. I despair.

[dominicbeesley]

Ah come on lads it wasn't too bad a section to say it was for The One Show possibly the fluffiest, lightest programme on the BBC! [I still think this is like a cut down version of Pebble Mill but without the interest of watching the busses go past!]

Its whetted my appetite to find out more about Skelton, do you have any sort of open days Russell?

Dom

[russell_w_b]

Originally Posted by dominicbeesley

Its whetted my appetite to find out more about Skelton, do you have any sort of open days Russell?

Dom

The last time we had an 'open-day' was when we were the BBC, before March 1997. I do, however, show bona-fide groups around by prior arrangement (Scouts, Women's Institute, IET, Local History, Amateur Radio groups, etc...).

I also do an illustrated talk on Skelton to whoever wants one. I do an illustrated talk on lumps of military concrete as well; just thought I'd get that one in .

[dominicbeesley]

I shall have to organise myself into a group then!

Dom