Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23

[Rich Woods]

Does Radio Tirana transmit on 1215khz these days?

[Rich Woods]

Radio Nova on 100.3 MHz from Dublin is worth a listen & has a similar “feel” to Virgin 1215 when it first started. Pretty good reception in much of the North West of Wales. P

[Station X]

Can we really expect broadcasters to continue broadcasting on MW just so that a few vintage radio enthusiasts have something to listen to on their vintage radios?

The average listener just wants to listen to something of their choice and doesn't care about the transmission method.

[G6Tanuki]

Originally Posted by Rich Woods

Does Radio Tirana transmit on 1215khz these days?

Nope.

Following the collapse of Communism around 1989, MW Tirana went off the air. MW and SW masts etc at the Lushnje transmitter site [near the Adriatic coast, which used to run a Megawatt on 1215KHz] now long dismantled.

So no more of Radio Tirana's 'Pickaxe And Rifle' signature tune in the background to Radio1.

Complete list of MW allocations/transmit-power is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...e_transmitters

[Rich Woods]

Originally Posted by Station X

Can we really expect broadcasters to continue broadcasting on MW just so that a few vintage radio enthusiasts have something to listen to on their vintage radios?

The average listener just wants to listen to something of their choice and doesn't care about the transmission method.

Absolutely not, it’s no different from the end of 405 line transmissions. The end of an era for sure but pantry transmitters & community stations will be the way forward for the enthusiast.

I do find the glee expressed elsewhere a little bit naive as no doubt DAB and even internet services such as social media will be superseded at some point & I’m sure that some of those rejoicing at AM’s gradual demise will have something that features in their lives become obsolete at some point & perhaps feel nostalgic too.

[60136 Alcazar]

Originally Posted by Rich Woods

I do find the glee expressed elsewhere a little bit naive as no doubt DAB and even internet services such as social media will be superseded at some point

It's getting to the point where the question is asked "Why would you want to listen (or view) on something that's more than a year or two old??" For TV it seems were heading towards having more channels available than programs to broadcast...

[Julesomega]

Now only the N. Ireland tx running, Lisnawhere'sit, think that's pronounced Lynn Guy
Plus a few low power tx providing a slow beat, should be gone tomorrow

[AdrianH]

Just having a listen here in Blackburn and there is still a signal but much weaker, so I guess this is as Julian said the N.Ireland TX, but very noticeable is another station underneath the carrier breaking through.

Adrian

Just to add there does seem to be more that one broadcast of Absolute still there as one can hear an echo.

[Paul_RK]

Still hearing the Absolute closure message here with nothing else on the frequency, and without leaving England we couldn't be much further from Northern Ireland.

Paul

[Station X]

Same here.

[Jon_G4MDC]

Brookmans Park is QRT, ah read up!
I see they are all pretty much QRT. A sad day really.

[Hybrid tellies]

As of last night and again this morning before I went to work there are only three Absolute AM transmitters running.

On 1215 KHz from Lisnagarney near Belfast.
On 1197 KHz from Nottingham (Trowel)
On 1260 KHz from Lydd in east Kent.

I was picking up the Lisnagarvney signal on 1215 via sky wave very clearly using three of my vintage portable radios, Hacker Hunter RP38A, Original Bush TR130 and my ITT/KB Tiny Super all just using their internal ferrite rod aerials.

[Station X]

I was listening to the announcement on 1215kHz about half an hour ago when the carrier suddenly disappeared leaving just S9+20 noise. The announcement's still there on 1260kHz though.

[Lloyd 1985]

I couldn’t find anything on 1215 or 1242 last night, 1242 was the stronger signal round here.

Regards
Lloyd

[Station X]

1260kHz has now gone too.

[Julesomega]

Still one on 1215, roughly W or E from here: if it's not Lisnagarvey it must be Hull. Spot them disappear one by one!

[Andrew2]

Moorside Edge off now, revealing a weak Absolute sig on 1215 kHz from either ESE or WNW. Sheffield is in roughly the right direction from here, but I'm having difficulty finding a map of Absolute's transmitters.

[Rich Woods]

Weak 1215khz repeating message still coming through on the car radio in Swansea, nothing on 1197 to 1260khz

[Andrew2]

Wherever that TX was it seems to have gone off just now, at 14:16.

[stitch1]

Can't find anything in the NE but I am picking up lots of stations including GOLD from Manchester and Lyca gold from London.

John