BBC Radio 4 Long Wave closing down

[ProDave]

The Long Wave closure is the last full stop at the end of the last sentence in "The Long Wave goodbye"

Part of the problem is nobody manufactures the large transmitter valves any more and I believe they have the last few remaining that they have been nursing along at lower power for some time to prolong their life. A replacement solid state transmitter is out of the question so the closure would happen eventually when the last working valve failed.

Re the other closures. Am i the only one that finds a certain irony in BBC 4 going internet only, when it is only a short while since BBC 3 came back to "proper television" having had a long period of being internet only with viewer number keeping on falling. There is a saying about those that cannot remember the past.......

 

[oilybilge]

I'm going to miss the old teleswitch going clunk in my electricity cupboard at 0004 every night. It's not connected to anything these days, but it's a useful reminder to go to bed.

 

[LittleSister]

There is a saying about those that cannot remember the past.......

That sounds vaguely familiar.

 

[dutyhog]

LW BBC is often the only BBC radio signal we get here in our part of Argyll. There’s no MW BBC signal. There is FM from Antrim but it fades in and out, being more than 60 miles away. . Of course there’s no DAB. So we’ll really miss switching on the radio for R4, and will have to rely on satellite signals.

 

[Halo]

I used to really like listening to the medley of British songs just before the early morning shipping and inshore waters forecast on Radio 4. A new Herbert ( sorry BBC manager ) stopped that music and despite an uproar from many people stuck with the decision. I stopped listening to Radio 4 then and can find plenty of forecasts from various sources.

 

[zoidberg]

'Sailing By.....'

Part of our shared Heritage....

 

[capnsensible]

'Sailing By.....'

Part of our shared Heritage....

I hope the Deterrent Captains have been briefed.......

 

[LadyInBed]

'Sailing By.....'

Part of our shared Heritage....

As was the 'UK Theme' which Halo refers to.

 

[dunedin]

I used to really like listening to the medley of British songs just before the early morning shipping and inshore waters forecast on Radio 4. A new Herbert ( sorry BBC manager ) stopped that music and despite an uproar from many people stuck with the decision. I stopped listening to Radio 4 then and can find plenty of forecasts from various sources.

Must admit I have never heard the early morning shipping forecast on LW, so won’t be missed.
Previously listened to coastguard on VHF, used NavText, now forecasts received all online.

 

[Sandy]

Sometimes the forecast is as good as this one

 

[oldgit]

I hope the Deterrent Captains have been briefed.......

?
The price of everything the value of nothing. ?

 

[capnsensible]

?
The price of everything the value of nothing. ?

LW radio 4 ceasing transmission is one of the indicators of a global bad hair day.
It's in the public domain, this knowledge.

 

[ColinR]

I'd miss it. I often listen to R4 on long wave were there's no FM or 4G. And offshore.

 

[LittleSister]

'Boats have not needed the broadcast for decades'

‘A link across time’: how shipping forecast will outlast Radio 4 long wave

 

[SaltyC]

As was the 'UK Theme' which Halo refers to.

AAH the days when the BBC was patriotic and proud of Britain! Unfortunately we now have the bbc very woke and trying to please all minorities and ensure 'balance' and all minority groups are represented. Sorry thread drift.

 

[franksingleton]

Radio 4 LW Transmitter Droitwich, transmitted power 500KW or half a Megawatt, with all the extras, a serious electricity bill.

I forgot about Navtex, never used it.

NAVTEX uses 1kW by day and 0.5kW at might. It does not have the same range as 1500m LW, but there are stations from other countries. within the area of the UK shipping forecast you should always be able to get forecasts on NAVTEX.
The main problem, in my opinion with NAVTEX is that forecasts are usually only broadcast on a 12 hour cycle. On the other hand, forecasting has greatly improved in recent years. With care in planning, using GRIB data, it should be rare to be caught out by dangerously bad weather,

 

[franksingleton]

NAVTEX uses 1kW by day and 0.5kW at might. It does not have the same range as 1500m LW, but there are stations from other countries. within the area of the UK shipping forecast you should always be able to get forecasts on NAVTEX.
The main problem, in my opinion with NAVTEX is that forecasts are usually only broadcast on a 12 hour cycle. On the other hand, forecasting has greatly improved in recent years. With care in planning, using GRIB data, it should be rare to be caught out by dangerously bad weather,

Having said all that, NAVTEX is also living on borrowed time. The technology is 1950s or earlier. Like all terrestrial radio it has its problems. There is no way of eliminating skywave interference at night. The only real solution is satellite technology. It is a great pity that BT dreamt up the system and trialled just before Inmarsat got going. A satellite NAVTEX style receiver could have been produced at similar cost and all the money put into NAVTEX transmitters could have funded broadcasts.
Water under the bridge but a lost opportunity. I see no sign of IMO coming forward with a son of NAVTEX. They are like rabbits transfixed by the glare of the oncoming traffic. I guess that they just hope that the small craft community will all, eventually, go down the Iridium route in sheer desperation and cease to be a concern.

 

[Tea_Bag]

"
Having said all that, NAVTEX is also living on borrowed time....The only real solution is satellite technology....
"

I completely agree with your assessment. The link I put in an earlier posting on this thread suggests that the US government is considering removing support from Navtex in its current form too.

 

[franksingleton]

"
Having said all that, NAVTEX is also living on borrowed time....The only real solution is satellite technology....
"

I completely agree with your assessment. The link I put in an earlier posting on this thread suggests that the US government is considering removing support from Navtex in its current form too.

Yes, I saw that some while ago but it has gone very quiet. A few years ago USCG issued a similar warning about HF services on RadioFax but that also seemed to fizzle out For Radiofax although SITOR seems to have gone, I have no explanation. Their reasons were the problems of maintains obsolete technology.
I tried to raise awareness of these issue in an article for the Journal pf Navigation a few years ago. See The future of the GMDSS;[[<<]] A leisure sailor's view - Franks-Weather - The Weather Window but got zero response.
Draw your own conclusions.t