UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Vintage Radio (domestic)

Notices

Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 1st Dec 2020, 12:34 pm   #1
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default 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/
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 1:07 pm   #2
Radio Scotland
Heptode
 
Radio Scotland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Posts: 671
Default 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
__________________
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
Radio Scotland is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 2:02 pm   #3
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default 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.
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 3:18 pm   #4
Radio Scotland
Heptode
 
Radio Scotland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Posts: 671
Default Re: Westerglen Transmitter

Radio 4 good here. Missing Radio Scotland, Talk sport & absolute radio.
__________________
Help!! I've been electrocuted by a glass thing that glows
Radio Scotland is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 3:24 pm   #5
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
Default Re: Westerglen Transmitter

Quote:
Originally Posted by DonaldStott View Post
Anyone else having problems with LW from Westerglen - things started going 'strange' earlier this morning with muffled sound and lots of background interference!
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.
paulsherwin is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 3:43 pm   #6
John10b
Nonode
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,869
Default 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
John10b is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 4:01 pm   #7
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
Default Re: Westerglen Transmitter

There are no immediate plans to retire any of the major MW and LW transmitters.
paulsherwin is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 7:02 pm   #8
murphyv310
Dekatron
 
murphyv310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK.
Posts: 5,420
Default 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.
__________________
Cheers,
Trevor.
MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member
murphyv310 is offline  
Old 1st Dec 2020, 9:29 pm   #9
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Thumbs up 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.
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2020, 8:58 am   #10
crackle
Rest in Peace
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Basildon, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,100
Default 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
crackle is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2020, 10:55 am   #11
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default 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!
__________________
BVWS Member

Last edited by DonaldStott; 2nd Dec 2020 at 11:06 am.
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2020, 4:53 pm   #12
Scotorvm
Pentode
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, UK.
Posts: 200
Default 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.
Scotorvm is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2020, 5:10 pm   #13
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default 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!
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2020, 5:44 pm   #14
Scotorvm
Pentode
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, UK.
Posts: 200
Default 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..
Scotorvm is offline  
Old 2nd Dec 2020, 6:23 pm   #15
John10b
Nonode
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,869
Default Re: Westerglen Transmitter

Ref. My post #6, I’ve asked the BBC to provide me with MW/LW TX information for my area.
John
John10b is offline  
Old 3rd Dec 2020, 11:25 am   #16
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default 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
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 3rd Dec 2020, 5:02 pm   #17
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default 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."
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 5th Dec 2020, 1:06 pm   #18
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default 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.
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Old 5th Dec 2020, 3:23 pm   #19
Scotorvm
Pentode
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, UK.
Posts: 200
Default Re: Westerglen Transmitter

Quote:
Originally Posted by DonaldStott View Post
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.
Cheers Donald
Scotorvm is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:29 am.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.