BBC Radio 4 long wave - gone!

 The BBC has turned off its 198 kHz transmitters.

BBC longwave ending

BBC Radio 4 longwave on 198kHz ends tonight for the very last time. I think it closes down at 0100BST. 

Apparently listener numbers have been falling for some years. 

Also, much of the TX transmitters are beyond the point that they can be maintained. 

It has been a long time since I last listened to Radio 4 longwave.

BBC longwave going QRT

Because of falling numbers and costs to keep it going I understand that the BBC is turning off its longwave broadcast transmitters towards the end of June. Sad, but understandable.  I am not sure what is happening to the utilities that depended on the 198kHz signal

I wonder what will happen to LW spectrum?  Maybe they will introduce a service like in the USA where anyone (part 15?) can operate a station as long as they run less than 1W to short antennas? Probably not in the UK!

How to win friends

 This was a quote from the BBC website. I will let you guess who said it!!

"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us."

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8jke9v9xv9t  .

End of longwave broadcasting by the BBC?

Yesterday Steve G1KQH passed on the news that the BBC is likely to stop longwave broadcasts later this year.  

The photo shows the Droitwich transmitter near Birmingham.

“Lord of the flies “ TV series

This famous book by William Golding is being serialised by the BBC.  It tells the tale of children isolated on a remote Pacific island following a plane crash. They revert to savages and hunt for food.

Much of western civilisation depends on inter-connected trade these days. It would take very little for western civilisation to collapse and us having to return to savagery . There’s a message here.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002qk4w/lord-of-the-flies

Really?

Presldent Trump has made some bold claims about the US economy. These have been fact checked by the BBC.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz6yg15lpw9t

Some would appear to be incorrect.

Is it only me, but I have come across not one person (absolutely no-one at all, really) outside of the USA that has a good word to say about the leaders of the USA currently. To many they appear brash and arrogant. This is sad as I have always found Americans kind and generous. Yet very many voted for Mr Trump. What he does in the USA i cannot comment on, but I can express my personal views as an outsider.

Uncertain times?

There was an interesting piece on the BBC website this morning about the state of the world. After a relatively peaceful time since WW2, it looks as if we are entering more troubled times. Since WW2 we have lived under the shadow of atomic war.

It looks like future wars will be more hybrid with enemies trying to disrupt the lifestyles of those they are wishing to hurt. As with the Cold War, whatever one side wants to do, the other side could do similar.

Like all periods, humans adapt.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4qp17e1lqo

Milking?

Whenever something sensational happens it seems the media "milks" the story, going on for days and days, 

Recently, we had what appears to have been a mentally ill person stabbing train passengers. Whilst fully understanding this must have been very traumatic for those on the train, I get really annoyed that the media goes on and on about it. In this case it was the BBC. It seems that every story must be rung dry and made to last. We rarely get good news as this is, sadly, not newsworthy.

Recent examples have included the UK Prince Andrew.

Ukraine, Gaza and BBC News - NOT amateur radio

The Middle East is on the brink of all-out war and the Ukraine conflict goes on. Yet on the BBC news headline pages neither is mentioned! Instead, they concentrate on the thugs rioting in the UK.

I am used to the news in the USA seemingly worrying about what happens in their own state at the expense of the next state and the world, but I am appalled by this from the BBC.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news .

More LF spectrum for amateur radio?

There is a very interesting piece on John EI7GL's blog about the demise of BBC Radio 4 on 198kHz long wave. 

Gradually, long wave AM broadcast stations are going. There are now very few radios covering LW broadcast bands. The present date for switch-off could be June 2025.

With so much LW spectrum becoming free, I wonder if amateur radio could get any?

New Zealand reverses smoking ban? - NOT amateur radio

The BBC reports that New Zealand is to reverse moves which (hopefully) would have phased out smoking. They have supposedly done this to fund tax cuts.  This would appear to be a step backwards. I do not know all the facts.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-67540190 .

BBC weather - NOT amateur radio

BBC weather rant time. 

Today the BBC was saying the clouds would burn back and we would have sunshine and light cloud as they are saying right now!!! 😉 It has been full cloud all day. I know BBC weather is a joke, but I object to my money being wasted on super-computers when looking out the window is free and just as good!! 

Rant over. I feel better 😁😉

BBC email? - NOT amateur radio

I cannot find the BBC email to whom I should send my complaint.  If you know it, please would you share it?

My complaint is that nearly every documentary seems to have loud and intrusive music that drowns out the speaker. Why? It is almost as if we have to have this music, but why is it so loud?  

It would be good if this music was much quieter or even not there at all! The music is added, I suppose, to give dramatic effect.

The latest culprit is David Attenborough's "Wild Isles" on BBC1.

Please, do not treat us as stupid.

Fame? - NOT amateur radio

To my surprise, an email I wrote to the BBC regional programme "Look East" was read out on the programme last night. It was about our local bus service. 

In the past, a couple of my photos have been used on the local TV weather forecasts, but this was a total surprise.

Myanmar executions - NOT amateur radio

This saddens me.  The BBC reports that some opposition people in Myanmar (was Burma) have been executed. Now, I do not know the facts admittedly,  but this seems brutal in the 21st century.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-62287815 .

Russia and Google - NOT amateur radio

The BBC reports that Russia has fined Google for spreading "fake news" about the "special operation" in Ukraine. Outside Russia it is called war, although by tight control of the media, most Russians are unaware.

I am puzzled why Russia is carrying out such aggression against people who (were) so close. It is clear that most in Ukraine hate Russia now and Mr Putin has even more countries now wanting to join NATO. Such aggression has no place in the 21st century.

Why?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62214564 .

Internet over free-space optical - NOT amateur radio

The BBC has an interesting piece about the use of free space optical communications to bridge the River Congo in Africa where optical fibre is impractical. This gives very high (not perfect) reliability and, in this case, is destined to carry internet traffic. Of course, this would not be suitable for places where fog is common, such as the bay area of San Francisco. 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58583600 .

Matt cartoon - NOT amateur radio

Everyday, the BBC website has the front pages of the UK's newspapers. One of these is the Daily Telegraph. I just love the Matt cartoons which are invariably a reflection  of current affairs.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-57844734 .

See https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ .

Hypocrisy - NOT amateur radio

From the outset may I say that we all are less than perfect and we all have things about ourselves we are not proud of and that we would rather not tell people about. We are human.

What really annoys me though are people who publicly pretend to be honest and upright folk, who clearly are not.

In the UK we have had the BBC and the BBC person who lied and covered up the devious means to get an interview with Princess Diana in 1995. 

We also had the case of the sub-postmasters accused of fraud when the fault was with the software. Some even went to prison or lost homes - basically lives ruined. All the while those in charge were in denial. One is even an ordained minister!! Gross hypocrisy!

In my view those involved in both these scandals should face custodial sentences and be made to pay for their gross misdemeanours. This includes those who did the deeds and those who covered them up knowingly.

Both the BBC and the UK Post Office must uphold the law at all times and be above reproach. We deserve nothing less.