Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

G6Tanuki · 6th Jan 2021, 5:31 pm

See https://youtu.be/RwbzV2Jx5Qo

Al (astral highway) · 6th Jan 2021, 11:00 pm

Thank you , I’m going to investigate!

Nymrod121 · 7th Jan 2021, 12:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

See https://youtu.be/RwbzV2Jx5Qo

Excellent. I watched this via a smartphone using a 5.8GHz WiFi connection to a fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband service and which in turn was 'smart-view-connected' to my TV ... I couldn't help but reflect on how technology has changed over the years.
Guy

m0cemdave · 7th Jan 2021, 3:17 pm

That youtube version is "unofficial" , and the person who wrote and produced the programme (G3SEM) recommends using this link instead:
http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5108

Radio Wrangler · 7th Jan 2021, 5:01 pm

The opening shot is of an RAF 'type D' key. (REF No 10F/7373), with its cover removed, which is not likely at all to be the source of the signals our secret listeners would be secretly listening to.

No, I'm not that much of an anorak that I keep Air Ministry reference numbers in my head, I read it off the one beside me, plugged into my transceiver.

David

7th Jan 2021, 5:25 pm

And they pronounced Hunstanton correctly "Hunston".

chriswood1900 · 7th Jan 2021, 6:19 pm

Fantastic, thanks for highlighting it. I just wish we could get documentaries on TV now as interesting and enlightening.

AdrianH · 7th Jan 2021, 8:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by m0cemdave

That youtube version is "unofficial" , and the person who wrote and produced the programme (G3SEM) recommends using this link instead:
http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5108

Unfortunately possibly just for me the video via that link requires Flash, which has disappeared from my PC and I guess a few others.

Adrian

SiriusHardware · 7th Jan 2021, 8:11 pm

Thanks for that, I've always greatly enjoyed anything to do with what Churchill liked to call the 'Wizard War' but I have never seen that particular documentary before. I watched the 'Official' version flagged up by dave in #4.

m0cemdave · 7th Jan 2021, 10:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianH

Unfortunately possibly just for me the video via that link requires Flash, which has disappeared from my PC and I guess a few others.

Adrian

That's odd, it works for me and I thought I didn't have Flash (latest versions of Ubuntu & Firefox)

The eafa video link goes here:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/e...340909-Low.mp4

Paul Cort-Wright (G3SEM) gave a very interesting talk about the making of the programme at an RSS Reunion about ten years ago.

AdrianH · 7th Jan 2021, 10:37 pm

Not a problem, and I have ubuntu 18.04 LTS on this PC and have recently done some updates.

The 1st link posted comes up with this on my screen: -

Click image for larger version

Name: flash.png
Views: 85
Size: 62.9 KB
ID: 224095

The second link you posted which is the bbc direct link is fine: -

Click image for larger version

Name: direct.png
Views: 80
Size: 128.5 KB
ID: 224096

Adrian

majoconz · 8th Jan 2021, 12:25 am

Quote:

The opening shot is of an RAF 'type D' key. (REF No 10F/7373), with its cover removed,

I have one of those, amazingly still with it's bakelite cover intact - it's actually a very nice key.

Radio Wrangler · 8th Jan 2021, 12:28 am

Mine's intact with a cover too. They have a delightful feel. Some people used to put ha'pennies under the bottom contact to reduce its resilience.

David

G3VKM_Roger · 10th Jan 2021, 8:10 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler

The opening shot is of an RAF 'type D' key. (REF No 10F/7373), with its cover removed, which is not likely at all to be the source of the signals our secret listeners would be secretly listening to.

No, I'm not that much of an anorak that I keep Air Ministry reference numbers in my head, I read it off the one beside me, plugged into my transceiver.

David

I believe the sender of the opening message is Hugo/G6ZG, who lived in the Great Yarmouth area at the time the video was made by BBC East.

73

Roger/G3VKM

John_Dw · 10th Jan 2021, 11:53 am

Very interesting documentary, many thanks for the link....

SiriusHardware · 10th Jan 2021, 1:43 pm

As a matter of interest does anyone know what is being sent in the closing shot? I can't 'decode' or send morse without a tone and even then, not very well.

G3VKM_Roger · 10th Jan 2021, 10:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiriusHardware

As a matter of interest does anyone know what is being sent in the closing shot? I can't 'decode' or send morse without a tone and even then, not very well.

I can't quite get it but it is a repeated phrase beginning with "The".

Cheers

Roger

G3VKM_Roger · 11th Jan 2021, 10:46 am

Doing a bit more listening this morning, I think the last part is "GAP AS" where "AS" is the prosign for WAIT and is sent without the gap between letters.

I've asked a local Morse guru for his advice!

73

Roger/G3VKM

Keith956 · 11th Jan 2021, 12:16 pm

It's a great account. My grandfather was in RSS/SCU3 and ran VIs in the south east region from Arkley View - he worked with the likes of Lord Sandhurst, Ted Maltby, Morton Evans, Cole-Adams and Roland Keen. Sadly he died the year I was born, and my father talked only a little about their role in the last war.

Edit: 'The Secret Wireless War' by Geoffrey Pigeon is a good public source on info too.

JohnBG8JMB · 11th Jan 2021, 10:10 pm

I too get the 'run flash screen" wot dont work no more, see. I emailed EAFA and got the following reply:
Dear Mr Button,

Adobe Flash has indeed been discontinued. Thankfully it is not required in order to watch video on our website!

What internet browser were you using to access our website? We recommend Google Chrome, no Flash required.

Best,

Peter White
Senior Technician"

Not true... The reply seems typicai of an l IT dept- they wear special blinkers and earmuffs that ensure isolation from the real world - without flash I cannot see this video on the EAFA site
I avoid google and all its works as far a possible so no Chrome and no EAFS flash videos.

regards
John G8JMB

"Normal Service will be resumed as soon as possible"

6th Jan 2021, 5:31 pm	#1
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,995	Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) See https://youtu.be/RwbzV2Jx5Qo

6th Jan 2021, 11:00 pm	#2
Al (astral highway) Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,496	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) Thank you , I’m going to investigate! __________________ Al

7th Jan 2021, 5:01 pm	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,858	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) The opening shot is of an RAF 'type D' key. (REF No 10F/7373), with its cover removed, which is not likely at all to be the source of the signals our secret listeners would be secretly listening to. No, I'm not that much of an anorak that I keep Air Ministry reference numbers in my head, I read it off the one beside me, plugged into my transceiver. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

7th Jan 2021, 5:25 pm	#6
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) And they pronounced Hunstanton correctly "Hunston".

7th Jan 2021, 6:19 pm	#7
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,479	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) Fantastic, thanks for highlighting it. I just wish we could get documentaries on TV now as interesting and enlightening.

7th Jan 2021, 3:17 pm	#4
m0cemdave Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,218	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) That youtube version is "unofficial" , and the person who wrote and produced the programme (G3SEM) recommends using this link instead: http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5108

7th Jan 2021, 8:11 pm	#9
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,548	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) Thanks for that, I've always greatly enjoyed anything to do with what Churchill liked to call the 'Wizard War' but I have never seen that particular documentary before. I watched the 'Official' version flagged up by dave in #4.

7th Jan 2021, 10:37 pm	#11
AdrianH Octode Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,572	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) Not a problem, and I have ubuntu 18.04 LTS on this PC and have recently done some updates. The 1st link posted comes up with this on my screen: - The second link you posted which is the bbc direct link is fine: - Adrian __________________ Asking questions and learning, or trying to! Youtube EF91Valve

8th Jan 2021, 12:28 am	#13
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,858	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) Mine's intact with a cover too. They have a delightful feel. Some people used to put ha'pennies under the bottom contact to reduce its resilience. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

10th Jan 2021, 11:53 am	#15
John_Dw Tetrode Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 93	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) Very interesting documentary, many thanks for the link....

10th Jan 2021, 1:43 pm	#16
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,548	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) As a matter of interest does anyone know what is being sent in the closing shot? I can't 'decode' or send morse without a tone and even then, not very well.

11th Jan 2021, 10:46 am	#18
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 773	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) Doing a bit more listening this morning, I think the last part is "GAP AS" where "AS" is the prosign for WAIT and is sent without the gap between letters. I've asked a local Morse guru for his advice! 73 Roger/G3VKM

11th Jan 2021, 12:16 pm	#19
Keith956 Heptode Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 737	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) It's a great account. My grandfather was in RSS/SCU3 and ran VIs in the south east region from Arkley View - he worked with the likes of Lord Sandhurst, Ted Maltby, Morton Evans, Cole-Adams and Roland Keen. Sadly he died the year I was born, and my father talked only a little about their role in the last war. Edit: 'The Secret Wireless War' by Geoffrey Pigeon is a good public source on info too.

11th Jan 2021, 10:10 pm	#20
JohnBG8JMB Pentode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset, UK. Posts: 130	Re: Wartime Radio The Secret Listeners BBC (1979) I too get the 'run flash screen" wot dont work no more, see. I emailed EAFA and got the following reply: Dear Mr Button, Adobe Flash has indeed been discontinued. Thankfully it is not required in order to watch video on our website! What internet browser were you using to access our website? We recommend Google Chrome, no Flash required. Best, Peter White Senior Technician" Not true... The reply seems typicai of an l IT dept- they wear special blinkers and earmuffs that ensure isolation from the real world - without flash I cannot see this video on the EAFA site I avoid google and all its works as far a possible so no Chrome and no EAFS flash videos. regards John G8JMB "Normal Service will be resumed as soon as possible"