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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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1st Dec 2020, 12:34 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
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Westerglen Transmitter
Anyone else having problems with LW from Westerglen - things started going 'strange' earlier this morning with muffled sound and lots of background interference!
I checked the BBC site for faults but it is showing nothing although there was 'essential engineering' back on 27th November:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/chec...mitter-faults/
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1st Dec 2020, 1:07 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Not sure which station your referring to, But a few stations seem to have vanished my end from MW, Only hearing Clyde 2, West sound & Spirit radio
Just googled it, The stations that i'm missing are broadcast from that site, So obviously some problem with it
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Help!! I've been electrocuted by a glass thing that glows Last edited by Radio Scotland; 1st Dec 2020 at 1:17 pm. Reason: more info |
1st Dec 2020, 2:02 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
BBC Radio 4 LW (198KHz) - there really isn't anything else.
Just checked MW and I don't appear to have BBC Radio Scotland - BBC transmitter fault site saying 'Off the air due to essential engineering" Clyde 2 is transmitted from Dechmont Hill so won't be affected.
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1st Dec 2020, 3:18 pm | #4 |
Heptode
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Location: Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Radio 4 good here. Missing Radio Scotland, Talk sport & absolute radio.
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Help!! I've been electrocuted by a glass thing that glows |
1st Dec 2020, 3:24 pm | #5 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
If Westerglen is off then you are hearing R4LW from one of the other transmitters, maybe all the way from Droitwich, though Burghead is more likely - hardly surprising that it sounds a bit distant.
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1st Dec 2020, 3:43 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,869
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
It seems BBC transmitter are being switched off, which is part of their plan for future DAB expansion, and to save money.
In my location ( West Wales) BBC Wales on MW is now difficult to get, however I can receive the Isle of Man and Irish Stations loud and clear! John |
1st Dec 2020, 4:01 pm | #7 |
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Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
There are no immediate plans to retire any of the major MW and LW transmitters.
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1st Dec 2020, 7:02 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK.
Posts: 5,420
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Hi.
Remember that BBC Scotland on 810khz can in some areas be the only receivable Scottish radio station even in this day and age. No FM or DAB and certain patches with no mobile phone signal, some parts of the A9 come to mind and some of the less used routes from Aberdeen toward Dufftown and surrounding areas only have 810khz The broadcasters would need to spend more in transmitters than switch off established AM.
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Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member |
1st Dec 2020, 9:29 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Good news, BBC Radio 4 Long Wave now restored along with BBC Radio Scotland on Medium Wave.
I usually get about half a dozen decent stations on MW but only two on LW up here in Glasgow. I've been tinkering around the edges and considering the addition of a Bluetooth module for some time but maybe this is the extra incentive I need to look at such matters more seriously. A glimpse into a future with no AM broadcasts was not a pleasant experience.
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2nd Dec 2020, 8:58 am | #10 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Basildon, Essex, UK.
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
I was testing a radio I had sold the other day and I could find nothing on LW except a very weak signal where R4 should have been.
I suspect they turn it off periodically just to see how many complaints they get so they can assess the numbers of their listeners. Mike |
2nd Dec 2020, 10:55 am | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
And once again we have:-
”The Westerglen transmitter currently has reported faults." BBC Radio 4 LW, BBC Radio Scotland MW and BBC Radio 5 Live MW "Off the air due to essential engineering." I've logged a complaint at Tell the BBC - I'll Post any response I get!
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2nd Dec 2020, 4:53 pm | #12 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, UK.
Posts: 200
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Jeez, thanks for the heads up. Just put my 830C back together, bolted the chassis to the case, back on. Can't get any stations
What have I done!! Stripped back out, checked everything, twiddled etc, before I remembered this post, checked the net and found this - Are there any planned engineering works or unexpected transmitter faults on the Westerglen (Falkirk, Scotland) mast? AM: Off the air due to essential engineering from 2 Dec 09:08. Off the air due to essential engineering from 1 Dec 09:11 until 1 Dec 16:41. . LW: Off the air due to essential engineering from 2 Dec 09:08. Slightly reduced power due to essential engine BBC.. So checked 10 minutes ago and stations coming in, so they are carrying out work for sure, I live less than 2 miles away as the crow flies. |
2nd Dec 2020, 5:10 pm | #13 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Just after 16:00 and stations starting to come back here on the West coast, so that's good news.
I'm working on three sets currently (yes three) so I guessed that as all three weren't picking up stations then the fault must lie with the transmitter. The major downside is that I can't do any proper testing during the daytime! I'd encourage anyone affected to Tell the BBC. This page has a Works and Warnings link that just times out! Let's see what tomorrow brings!
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2nd Dec 2020, 5:44 pm | #14 |
Pentode
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Thanks Donald.
I bet they wouldn't get away with turning off the TV signals. I'm now OK here in Reddingmuirhead, stations back, radio bolted together, all good.. |
2nd Dec 2020, 6:23 pm | #15 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,869
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Ref. My post #6, I’ve asked the BBC to provide me with MW/LW TX information for my area.
John |
3rd Dec 2020, 11:25 am | #16 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
Everything seems to be back to 'normal' with the Westerglen transmitting station today (3rd December 2020).
I suppose we should be grateful that essential engineering works are still being carried out on these ageing structures. Westerglen is one of the UK's earliest broadcast sites, entering public service way back on 12th June 1932! More details and history here - Westerglen
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3rd Dec 2020, 5:02 pm | #17 |
Octode
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
I'm a bit amazed that I received a response from BBC Audience Services:-
"Thank you for contacting BBC Reception Advice. We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused but there was a fault at Westerglen which meant the engineers had to go and fix the fault during 1st and 2nd December. Unfortunately the equipment does sometimes fail and parts need to be replaced. We can only apologise for the disruption to your service but hope that it has now resumed. If you have any further problems please do contact us."
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5th Dec 2020, 1:06 pm | #18 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
I contacted Tell the BBC again regarding the fact that the Works and Warnings link just times out!
They replied advising:- You are better to use the link below and that is the best place to check in future. https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/works-warnings I've now got that bookmarked and will be checking on a regular basis.
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5th Dec 2020, 3:23 pm | #19 | |
Pentode
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Re: Westerglen Transmitter
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