Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 - Page 4 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Catkins · 22nd Jan 2023, 12:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamid_1

Did anyone record that final tribute compilation before it shut down?

I made a video of the 1934 GEC radio playing it. I can put it up on you-tube if the general opinion is it won't infringe.

Catkins

G8KBG Tony · 22nd Jan 2023, 12:55 am

Hi Hamid,

I didn't record it, but it's on YouTube. Here's one.

Regards,

Tony.

Sorry Catkins, we overlapped.

Catkins · 22nd Jan 2023, 1:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catkins

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamid_1

Did anyone record that final tribute compilation before it shut down?

I made a video of the 1934 GEC radio playing it. I can put it up on you-tube if the general opinion is it won't infringe.

Catkins

I've uploaded it here https://youtu.be/pZtRZ35WkwM

Catkins · 22nd Jan 2023, 1:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by G8KBG Tony

Sorry Catkins, we overlapped.

No problem. If others have put it up, I thought there should not be an issue ...

BTW I've added some photos of the set last month before restoration.

Catkins

hamid_1 · 22nd Jan 2023, 1:56 am

Thankyou for posting that. It brought back some memories. The reception in the clip posted by G8KBG Tony was far better than I could obtain at night. Daytime reception worked well for me - the signal was quite strong, but at night there was an echo from hearing local and distant transmitters at the same time, plus occasional distortion rather like Radio Luxembourg in the old days. I'm really not surprised they decided to end the service altogether. For me it was practically unlistenable at night. There seemed to be a slight echo noticeable in the clip from Catkins though I'd say it was acceptable - much better reception than I could get.

Nicola_Jayne · 22nd Jan 2023, 2:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruisin Marine

I wonder how many will notice? I have never known anyone who listens to it, and never heard it being played in public or in a shop.

a lot of people do listen on DAB or online

it;s one of two options at work that doesn't cause arguments witha work force ranging from 18 to 70 + ( the other being our local ILR station that is also fairly eclectic in what it plays )

line sync · 22nd Jan 2023, 9:07 am

I used to wake up to absolute every week day morning on my clock radio and i for one will miss it.

robin

emeritus · 22nd Jan 2023, 1:36 pm

This morning my local MW transmitter was still on air with that message saying that they were no longer broadcasting on that frequency etc.

raditechman · 22nd Jan 2023, 1:52 pm

I am sure many users of this forum, me included, are old enough to remember the Light programme first starting transmission on 247m in March 1950, so we have lived to see the beginning and end of a major UK MW service.

John

Richard_FM · 22nd Jan 2023, 6:02 pm

I found the jingles montage from Radio 1 finished on MW online a few years ago, which someone had turned into an mp3.

stevehertz · 22nd Jan 2023, 6:04 pm

Sad day, another one gone..

Cathovisor · 22nd Jan 2023, 7:10 pm

Interesting to see the reactions here: (mostly) the diametric opposite to another forum of more general persuasions where they are positively dancing on AM's grave.

Jon_G4MDC · 22nd Jan 2023, 7:59 pm

Somewhere I think I have Virgin's Test Transmission from just before 1215 got going in 1993ish.

Brookmans Park down the road has been playing a loop saying we are no longer broadcasting on AM. That seemed to start 3 days in advance of the published shut down date.

Maybe I will make a point of seeing what happens at midnight tonight. Will 1215 be a clear frequency?

factory · 22nd Jan 2023, 8:06 pm

Friday was a sad day indeed, I left early due to the weather and found myself with plenty of time to go through the stations left on LW/MW/FM while waiting to go into work, sadly couldn't find anything I liked, very depressing.
Unfortunately replacing the van radio with a DAB is not an option, just a waste of money IMO and a mobile contract for data is a luxury I can't afford, coverage is poor in the countryside anyway and it would only wear out the phone battery quicker anyway.
Listening to music while working hasn't been an option for a few years now, not allowed due to management cost cutting.

I've never listened to obsolete radio via the PC, not going to start either, youtube has everything I need.

On the plus side I've got the shed FM radio tuned to 106.1MHz XS Manchester, needed a good aerial as the signal is poor here, XS seems similar to XFM Manchester that went a few years ago.

David

Jon_G4MDC · 23rd Jan 2023, 1:02 am

Well it's past midnight and the loop is still wasting electricity at Brookmans Park.

Mitch-W · 23rd Jan 2023, 3:53 am

Still going strong, even received here in Slovenia...

Jolly 7 · 23rd Jan 2023, 12:42 pm

I am saddened at the loss of another MW station. I think Absolute Radio used to be called Virgin Radio back in the nineties. I once DXed it on 1215 kHz from India.

G6Tanuki · 23rd Jan 2023, 12:52 pm

It will be interesting to see what emerges in the way of DX on the frequency once Absolute clears it. There are still plenty of stations to hear on the MW band at night to add to your listening log. Spanish and North African ones being particularly notable in my recent nocturnal listening sessions.

Rich Woods · 23rd Jan 2023, 3:18 pm

A sad day for all vintage wireless enthusiasts.

Graham G3ZVT · 23rd Jan 2023, 3:38 pm

https://youtu.be/2tJ8OTLA0t8

22nd Jan 2023, 12:55 am	#62
G8KBG Tony Pentode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wombourne, South Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 225	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Hi Hamid, I didn't record it, but it's on YouTube. Here's one. Regards, Tony. Sorry Catkins, we overlapped. __________________ G8KBG - BVWS Member - BATC Member

22nd Jan 2023, 1:56 am	#65
hamid_1 Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks. UK. Posts: 811	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Thankyou for posting that. It brought back some memories. The reception in the clip posted by G8KBG Tony was far better than I could obtain at night. Daytime reception worked well for me - the signal was quite strong, but at night there was an echo from hearing local and distant transmitters at the same time, plus occasional distortion rather like Radio Luxembourg in the old days. I'm really not surprised they decided to end the service altogether. For me it was practically unlistenable at night. There seemed to be a slight echo noticeable in the clip from Catkins though I'd say it was acceptable - much better reception than I could get.

22nd Jan 2023, 9:07 am	#67
line sync Heptode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kinver, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 634	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 I used to wake up to absolute every week day morning on my clock radio and i for one will miss it. robin

22nd Jan 2023, 1:36 pm	#68
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,339	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 This morning my local MW transmitter was still on air with that message saying that they were no longer broadcasting on that frequency etc. Last edited by emeritus; 22nd Jan 2023 at 1:44 pm. Reason: typos

22nd Jan 2023, 1:52 pm	#69
raditechman Heptode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 867	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 I am sure many users of this forum, me included, are old enough to remember the Light programme first starting transmission on 247m in March 1950, so we have lived to see the beginning and end of a major UK MW service. John

22nd Jan 2023, 6:02 pm	#70
Richard_FM Nonode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,002	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 I found the jingles montage from Radio 1 finished on MW online a few years ago, which someone had turned into an mp3. __________________ Hello IT: Have you Tried Turning It Off & On Again?

22nd Jan 2023, 6:04 pm	#71
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Sad day, another one gone.. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

22nd Jan 2023, 7:10 pm	#72
Cathovisor Banned Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 418	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Interesting to see the reactions here: (mostly) the diametric opposite to another forum of more general persuasions where they are positively dancing on AM's grave.

22nd Jan 2023, 7:59 pm	#73
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Somewhere I think I have Virgin's Test Transmission from just before 1215 got going in 1993ish. Brookmans Park down the road has been playing a loop saying we are no longer broadcasting on AM. That seemed to start 3 days in advance of the published shut down date. Maybe I will make a point of seeing what happens at midnight tonight. Will 1215 be a clear frequency?

22nd Jan 2023, 8:06 pm	#74
factory Octode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cheshire, UK. Posts: 1,733	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Friday was a sad day indeed, I left early due to the weather and found myself with plenty of time to go through the stations left on LW/MW/FM while waiting to go into work, sadly couldn't find anything I liked, very depressing. Unfortunately replacing the van radio with a DAB is not an option, just a waste of money IMO and a mobile contract for data is a luxury I can't afford, coverage is poor in the countryside anyway and it would only wear out the phone battery quicker anyway. Listening to music while working hasn't been an option for a few years now, not allowed due to management cost cutting. I've never listened to obsolete radio via the PC, not going to start either, youtube has everything I need. On the plus side I've got the shed FM radio tuned to 106.1MHz XS Manchester, needed a good aerial as the signal is poor here, XS seems similar to XFM Manchester that went a few years ago. David

23rd Jan 2023, 1:02 am	#75
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Well it's past midnight and the loop is still wasting electricity at Brookmans Park.

23rd Jan 2023, 3:53 am	#76
Mitch-W Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Celje, Slovenia Posts: 70	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 Still going strong, even received here in Slovenia...

23rd Jan 2023, 12:42 pm	#77
Jolly 7 Octode Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,061	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 I am saddened at the loss of another MW station. I think Absolute Radio used to be called Virgin Radio back in the nineties. I once DXed it on 1215 kHz from India.

23rd Jan 2023, 12:52 pm	#78
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 It will be interesting to see what emerges in the way of DX on the frequency once Absolute clears it. There are still plenty of stations to hear on the MW band at night to add to your listening log. Spanish and North African ones being particularly notable in my recent nocturnal listening sessions. __________________ I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk.

23rd Jan 2023, 3:18 pm	#79
Rich Woods Pentode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 248	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 A sad day for all vintage wireless enthusiasts. __________________ It’s all about the music…….

23rd Jan 2023, 3:38 pm	#80
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,715	Re: Absolute Radio to end AM transmissions on 23/01/23 https://youtu.be/2tJ8OTLA0t8 __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT