"The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" - Page 3 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ColinB · 20th Aug 2010, 11:06 pm

Does anyone know, is that a time-limited MP3?

cheers,

Colin

batterymaker1 · 21st Aug 2010, 4:21 am

I'm listening to it as I write this--

I'm in heaven--wonderful stuff.

fidobsa · 21st Aug 2010, 8:01 am

I missed this and it looks like it's not on iPlayer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/b...=dateavailable

Ah, just found the link to the Podcast though

techiesteve · 21st Aug 2010, 9:01 am

"radios in black bin bags maturing in the loft", I loved that. I listened to it last night and recorded as a 192 bps mp3 file. Just listened to it again as I fell asleep near the end last night, too many glasses of wine with my dinner.

Steve

geofy · 22nd Aug 2010, 3:15 pm

This is going to be re-broadcast as part of a program on Radio 4 at 18.15 this evening.

G0MEM Michael · 22nd Aug 2010, 5:56 pm

For the benefit of anyone who missed the programme, it's here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/do...ry_wells.shtml

TuningIndicator · 22nd Aug 2010, 7:41 pm

Listened to it via the download link above.
Fabulous stuff!

I wasn't too keen on how the producers would ask Mr. Wells a question, and then fade his reply half-way through!

It was featured on R4's 'Pick of The Week' this afternoon, which I listened to, more appropriately, on my Murphy A242!

threeseven · 22nd Aug 2010, 8:08 pm

Fading his reply was probably as a result of something the presenter commented on earlier in the program, the distinct possibility that much of the audience would not be able to comprehend the technicalities, fading his reply down added impact and avoided intimidation of the more casual listener. Frustrating to the technically aware though !

The program inspired me to attend one the workshops though, just to experience the ambiance and meet Mr Wells.

bobsterkent · 23rd Aug 2010, 7:34 am

I loved his final comment about what would he do if he retired.

Paul Stenning · 23rd Aug 2010, 8:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinB

Does anyone know, is that a time-limited MP3?

I don't think so but I will re-record it via analogue (playing it and recording "what you hear") just in case.

ajs37 · 23rd Aug 2010, 9:27 am

It got a lovely write-up in the Guardian this morning!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...s-radio-review

ENGLISH VICTOR · 23rd Aug 2010, 3:10 pm

I listened to the BBC World Service at the advertised time, well five minutes later at 00.05 GMT last Friday and heard the Wells Documentary. I did not listen to the two later broadcasts but would be suprised if they did not eventuate. The programme was advertised as starting on the hour but ran news headlines for the first five minutes.
Quite an interesting programme, I did not realise Gerry Wells disliked television despite his excellent collection.

Victor.

julie_m · 23rd Aug 2010, 4:35 pm

There is no such thing as a "time limited MP3 file".

Some (Windows-specific) media formats contain Digital Restrictions Management misfeatures such as this, but MP3 is an open specification (it's supposedly still covered by patents but these are 1. invalid in the UK and 2. about to expire anyway) and there are several Open Source implementations of encoders and decoders -- which anybody could modify not to respect any time limit specified in the data file.

Beside which, what would be the point of having such "restrictions" when they could be so easily bypassed by taking an analogue copy or resetting your computer's clock?

ColinB · 23rd Aug 2010, 9:01 pm

Fair enough. However, the BBC do like their DRM for TV shows sourced from Iplayer (no one else does...) so I wondered if this might not be the same. However, the file properties give nothing to suggest this is the case, as you say.

Not trying to go OT, I think this is answered now, thanks to AJS.

Phil G4SPZ · 23rd Aug 2010, 9:41 pm

I recorded the programme from Freeview onto an old VHS hi-fi recorder, then transferred it to audio cassette for listening. However I mixed it down to glorious mono! My favourite bit was when the psychiatrist conducted a battery of tests and eventually proclaimed, "You have an obsession with radio and electricity", to which Gerry replied "I could have told you that!"

Paul Stenning · 23rd Aug 2010, 9:46 pm

From http://faq.external.bbc.co.uk/questi...e_availability

Quote:

Once you have downloaded a podcast episode, it is yours to keep forever and will not expire.

johnmarshmanagain · 4th Sep 2010, 10:47 pm

Hey, did anyone get a recording ?
Missed out there
Thanks JM

Phil G4SPZ · 4th Sep 2010, 10:58 pm

Yep. Send me a blank cassette tape (or a data stick) and I'll give you a copy. PM for address.

McMurdo · 5th Sep 2010, 1:34 pm

I have the TV programme 'Obsession' on DVD here, essentially a filmed version of Gerry's radio programme. Any idea of a decent way to make it into an uploadable video clip? I have Xilisoft DVD Ripper here but it seems to give up after an hour whirring away.

Phil G4SPZ · 5th Sep 2010, 1:42 pm

Should we not be careful of infringing copyright law here? It occurs to me that I myself may have been guilty by offering to copy an off-air recording, however copying a commercial DVD is almost certainly illegal, and such action would also deprive Gerry and the museum of royalties, surely something none of us would wish to condone.

Lending your only copy to a friend for private use, however, is probably permissible. What do the 'workshop lawyers' out there think?

20th Aug 2010, 11:06 pm	#41
ColinB Heptode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Newton Abbot, Devon, UK. Posts: 761	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" Does anyone know, is that a time-limited MP3? cheers, Colin

21st Aug 2010, 4:21 am	#42
batterymaker1 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Posts: 674	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" I'm listening to it as I write this-- I'm in heaven--wonderful stuff. __________________ Just playing with high voltage....

21st Aug 2010, 8:01 am	#43
fidobsa Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Zala, Hungary Posts: 418	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" I missed this and it looks like it's not on iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/b...=dateavailable Ah, just found the link to the Podcast though Last edited by fidobsa; 21st Aug 2010 at 8:07 am.

21st Aug 2010, 9:01 am	#44
techiesteve Pentode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aylesbury, Bucks, UK. Posts: 161	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" "radios in black bin bags maturing in the loft", I loved that. I listened to it last night and recorded as a 192 bps mp3 file. Just listened to it again as I fell asleep near the end last night, too many glasses of wine with my dinner. Steve

22nd Aug 2010, 3:15 pm	#45
geofy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,798	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" This is going to be re-broadcast as part of a program on Radio 4 at 18.15 this evening.

22nd Aug 2010, 5:56 pm	#46
G0MEM Michael Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia. Posts: 102	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" For the benefit of anyone who missed the programme, it's here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/do...ry_wells.shtml

22nd Aug 2010, 7:41 pm	#47
TuningIndicator Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sussex, UK. Posts: 161	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" Listened to it via the download link above. Fabulous stuff! I wasn't too keen on how the producers would ask Mr. Wells a question, and then fade his reply half-way through! It was featured on R4's 'Pick of The Week' this afternoon, which I listened to, more appropriately, on my Murphy A242!

22nd Aug 2010, 8:08 pm	#48
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" Fading his reply was probably as a result of something the presenter commented on earlier in the program, the distinct possibility that much of the audience would not be able to comprehend the technicalities, fading his reply down added impact and avoided intimidation of the more casual listener. Frustrating to the technically aware though ! The program inspired me to attend one the workshops though, just to experience the ambiance and meet Mr Wells.

23rd Aug 2010, 7:34 am	#49
bobsterkent Hexode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Medway towns, Kent, UK. Posts: 271	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" I loved his final comment about what would he do if he retired. __________________ "Oh yes I love television, all those wiggly lines"!

23rd Aug 2010, 9:27 am	#51
ajs37 Heptode Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 900	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" It got a lovely write-up in the Guardian this morning! http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...s-radio-review Last edited by Station X; 23rd Aug 2010 at 9:28 am. Reason: Link added.

23rd Aug 2010, 3:10 pm	#52
ENGLISH VICTOR Hexode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 356	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" I listened to the BBC World Service at the advertised time, well five minutes later at 00.05 GMT last Friday and heard the Wells Documentary. I did not listen to the two later broadcasts but would be suprised if they did not eventuate. The programme was advertised as starting on the hour but ran news headlines for the first five minutes. Quite an interesting programme, I did not realise Gerry Wells disliked television despite his excellent collection. Victor. Last edited by ENGLISH VICTOR; 23rd Aug 2010 at 3:24 pm.

23rd Aug 2010, 4:35 pm	#53
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" There is no such thing as a "time limited MP3 file". Some (Windows-specific) media formats contain Digital Restrictions Management misfeatures such as this, but MP3 is an open specification (it's supposedly still covered by patents but these are 1. invalid in the UK and 2. about to expire anyway) and there are several Open Source implementations of encoders and decoders -- which anybody could modify not to respect any time limit specified in the data file. Beside which, what would be the point of having such "restrictions" when they could be so easily bypassed by taking an analogue copy or resetting your computer's clock? __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

23rd Aug 2010, 9:01 pm	#54
ColinB Heptode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Newton Abbot, Devon, UK. Posts: 761	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" Fair enough. However, the BBC do like their DRM for TV shows sourced from Iplayer (no one else does...) so I wondered if this might not be the same. However, the file properties give nothing to suggest this is the case, as you say. Not trying to go OT, I think this is answered now, thanks to AJS.

23rd Aug 2010, 9:41 pm	#55
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" I recorded the programme from Freeview onto an old VHS hi-fi recorder, then transferred it to audio cassette for listening. However I mixed it down to glorious mono! My favourite bit was when the psychiatrist conducted a battery of tests and eventually proclaimed, "You have an obsession with radio and electricity", to which Gerry replied "I could have told you that!" __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

4th Sep 2010, 10:47 pm	#57
johnmarshmanagain Pentode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northwich, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 206	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" Hey, did anyone get a recording ? Missed out there Thanks JM

4th Sep 2010, 10:58 pm	#58
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" Yep. Send me a blank cassette tape (or a data stick) and I'll give you a copy. PM for address. __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

5th Sep 2010, 1:34 pm	#59
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,274	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" I have the TV programme 'Obsession' on DVD here, essentially a filmed version of Gerry's radio programme. Any idea of a decent way to make it into an uploadable video clip? I have Xilisoft DVD Ripper here but it seems to give up after an hour whirring away. __________________ Kevin

5th Sep 2010, 1:42 pm	#60
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,748	Re: "The Wireless World of Gerry Wells" Should we not be careful of infringing copyright law here? It occurs to me that I myself may have been guilty by offering to copy an off-air recording, however copying a commercial DVD is almost certainly illegal, and such action would also deprive Gerry and the museum of royalties, surely something none of us would wish to condone. Lending your only copy to a friend for private use, however, is probably permissible. What do the 'workshop lawyers' out there think? __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts