How often do you use the BBC Radio 4 shipping forecast?

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HughJames

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I am a final year student at Plymouth University, studying Navigation and Maritime Science, and I am undertaking research into the current usage and public image of the BBC Radio 4 shipping forecast amongst yachtsmen, both professional and recreational.

My hypothesis aims to highlight how recent technological advances within the yachting sector may have impacted the use of longer term services such as the BBC Radio 4 long wave shipping forecast. With the usage of the internet, smartphones and ‘apps’ on a continual increase, and the heavy investment seen by marine companies in this area, it may seem that the consumer is constantly being pointed towards a digital age of ‘one device fits all’ (mobile phones, multi-display chart plotters etc.).

As fellow mariners and professionals, I wish to invite you to partake in this research and share your viewpoint regarding the relevance of the BBC broadcast within this current mobile generation.
If you could find time to complete the following survey, I would be extremely grateful.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bbcshippingforecast

I look forward to listening to your opinions.
 
HughJames said:
I am a final year student at Plymouth University, studying Navigation and Maritime Science, and I am undertaking research into the current usage and public image of the BBC Radio 4 shipping forecast amongst yachtsmen, both professional and recreational.

My hypothesis aims to highlight how recent technological advances within the yachting sector may have impacted the use of longer term services such as the BBC Radio 4 long wave shipping forecast. With the usage of the internet, smartphones and ‘apps’ on a continual increase, and the heavy investment seen by marine companies in this area, it may seem that the consumer is constantly being pointed towards a digital age of ‘one device fits all’ (mobile phones, multi-display chart plotters etc.).

As fellow mariners and professionals, I wish to invite you to partake in this research and share your viewpoint regarding the relevance of the BBC broadcast within this current mobile generation.
If you could find time to complete the following survey, I would be extremely grateful.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bbcshippingforecast

I look forward to listening to your opinions.
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10. What is your PRIMARY source of weather forecast data DURING your voyage? BBC Radio 4 LW
11. Why do you not use BBC Radio 4 to receive the Shipping Forecast DURING your voyage? This question requires an answer.

?
 
THIS IS THE FUTURE CALLING........

"A recent study has shown that mariners no longer use the BBC Shipping forecast broadcast on R4LW in numbers significant enough to keep the service going, and in fact prefer to use other sources of weather data. In consequence the BBC will be abandoning broadcasts on Long Wave and closing its Droitwich transmitter"

Far-fetched?... Not at all...... http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/09/bbc-radio4-long-wave-goodbye
 
I use it. Many's the time I have stood at the chart table at 0520, bleary eyed and shivering, wondering whether I will soon be waking her ladyship with a cup of tea and insisting "We must leave at once" or alternatively, joy of joys, diving back into my sleeping bag for a couple of blissful hours extra kip. :D
 
elton said:
10. What is your PRIMARY source of weather forecast data DURING your voyage? BBC Radio 4 LW
11. Why do you not use BBC Radio 4 to receive the Shipping Forecast DURING your voyage? This question requires an answer.

?
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Thanks for that Elton, that question logic has now been fixed!

And the main reasoning for the research is that although there have been studies into the usage of the radio forecast for general mariners, none has been conducted regarding the yachting sector.

Being a young yachstmen, I have never utilized the Radio 4 forecast for.any passage planning, and have opted for more modern methods, such as the internet or word of mouth from the harbourmaster.
 
HughJames said:
Being a young yachstmen, I have never utilized the Radio 4 forecast for.any passage planning, and have opted for more modern methods, such as the internet or word of mouth from the harbourmaster.
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That's great if you're in harbour - but what if you're at sea? Unless you have expensive satellite gear you're not going to be getting a forecast from the Internet then. Like you, when in harbour I just look at a weather app on my phone - but I have listened to R4 once or twice when that was the only kind of signal we could receive.

Pete
 
prv said:
That's great if you're in harbour - but what if you're at sea? Unless you have expensive satellite gear you're not going to be getting a forecast from the Internet then. Like you, when in harbour I just look at a weather app on my phone - but I have listened to R4 once or twice when that was the only kind of signal we could receive.

Pete
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Well, when I have been at sea then I have relied upon the HM Coastguard service provided via VHF radio, or via NAVTEX (vessel dependant). However, I myself have never strayed more than 100nm offshore, so have always been able to rely upon coastal facilities.
 
A few logic errors in survey. (Won't get a PhD that way). eg Q11 assume that I don't use R4LW. Prev questions addresser "Primary". That its not primary doesn't mean no use at all.

R4LW comes from at least 3 transmitters, 2 of them in Scotland.
I used to listen to R4 in Iceland, and at various shutdown times of transmitters was able to determine that it was the 2 Scottish sites (Westerglen near Falkirk, and Burghead, near Elgin) that I was hearing, not Droitwich. The signal was good in Iceland, and Ok to listen to, though not as god as FM of course.
 
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It's getting pretty hard to buy a LW capable radio these days so I'd also be curious how many of those using the R4 forecast are even using this version rather than the FM version.
 
The BBC forecast is only useful to me if I happen to have the Radio on anyway for my better half to listen to The Archers.

Apart from that, I can get the same info easier via Internet, Navtex, VHF or phoning home without having to be tied to a stupid radio schedule.

I accept that for others more remote, technologically challenged or short of kit it may be of great benefit, bit it isn't to me.

P.S. if I do listen to it, it would be FM, not LW.
 
HughJames said:
Thanks for that Elton, that question logic has now been fixed!

And the main reasoning for the research is that although there have been studies into the usage of the radio forecast for general mariners, none has been conducted regarding the yachting sector.

Being a young yachstmen, I have never utilized the Radio 4 forecast for.any passage planning, and have opted for more modern methods, such as the internet or word of mouth from the harbourmaster.
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Word of mouth from a harbourmaster is that he will not tell you what is happening on 24 hrs. From a shipping forecast I can produce a synoptic chart and make decisions as to when predicted changes have happened or will happen. I still choice my tacks going west based on when the wind will change and where it will go. The updates and actual conditions with a time help with this. Navetex is too slow not sent till hours after the time of issue needs to be within an hour or two of time of forecast.
 
I don't use the R4 broadcasts these days, though I did in days gone by. These days I mainly use an App on my phone, or the CG broadcasts when on the water - both are more timely and in any case, I don't carry a LW receiver. But there are several reasons why I don't think they should be discontinued:
  1. They cover sea areas well beyond the reach of either VHF or mobile phone networks
  2. They are a resource of last resort; you can pick them up with simple equipment that will probably go on working when more complicated kit packs up
  3. If I were on a long distance passage I probably WOULD make an effort to receive them.
  4. The format is such that they can be used to create a sketch weather map if required, even if beyond the reach of higher tech. solutions.
 
MM5AHO said:
A few logic errors in survey. (Won't get a PhD that way). eg Q11 assume that I don't use R4LW. Prev questions addresser "Primary". That its not primary doesn't mean no use at all.
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Q11 should now be fixed, thanks for bringing it to my attention.
And the main purpose of the survey is to establish the relevance of the R4 broadcast, and therefore comparing its use to other sources. By establishing whether it is the 'primary' source used, the place in which the R4 broadcast takes in yachting society should come to light. (e.g. As a back up system when other sources are unavailable).
 
lustyd said:
It's getting pretty hard to buy a LW capable radio these days so I'd also be curious how many of those using the R4 forecast are even using this version rather than the FM version.
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We were - I had to take my great-aunt's old ghetto-blaster along specifically because it had LW and the boat's stereo didn't. The skipper sorted me out with a load of Army-issue batteries to power it, since it couldn't accept 12v.

Must admit, these days I'd probably use navtex instead. That's the only credible replacement for R4, but I know some people have difficulties getting it to work well on their boats.

Pete
 
It's all rather moot, is it not. It's been announced by Mark Thompson that there will be no more funding for Radio 4 LW and that no repairs will be made.

Could be hours, could be years, but it's going.

Time for those reliant on it to invest in alternatives.
 
Without spending money on Navtex, LW radio 4 has one huge advantage with range. Abroad (locally) it can be very useful, and at sea away from VHF range. Local sailing I use coastguard VHF tansmissions as they are more frequent and more sociable timings, but further afield I use LW.

I shall miss it when it goes.
 
I use the radio 4 shipping forecast on both VHF at home and LW on the boat. I also check the web pages for the shipping forecast. Marinecall is off line now. If I'm ashore I'll check on the harbourmaster's noticeboard too. I don't have Navtex or a smart phone and a smartphone's only good if you have a signal, so at sea R4 longwave is all I have.

Actually thinking about it further, I also listen out on VHF for coast guard weather broadcasts, but they often only give the inshore forecasts for their sea areas.
 
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I used to use the shipping forecast from the BBC, as my main source of weather info, but times change. The forecast areas are too large to give real meaning. Also, the BBC has gradually made the morning forecast earlier, and the night one later, making them much less user friendly.

I find the Inshore Forecast, either on VHF from the CG, or more now on Navtex, to be more relevant for me.

I'm iinterested to read here from those who say that they can draw a synoptic chart from the "General Synopsis". You used to be able to do so, but more often now, I find that the GS gives something like, "Low, German Bight, moving away east, and losing its identity", (and nothing else). Quite how you are supposed to draw a chart from that, escapes me.
 
NormanS said:
I'm iinterested to read here from those who say that they can draw a synoptic chart from the "General Synopsis". You used to be able to do so, but more often now, I find that the GS gives something like, "Low, German Bight, moving away east, and losing its identity", (and nothing else). Quite how you are supposed to draw a chart from that, escapes me.
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The individual area forecasts (along with the general synopsis) are used to draw up the synoptic chart. I think I could still do it. It used to be taught in the RYA sylabus, don't know whether it still is.
Nowadays I tend to use the inshore waters forecast from the CG on VHF. Very much more relevant information and more sociable hours.
 
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