Re: [IRCA] Fwd: [mwcircle] Absolute Radio MW coverage cut approved

2018-04-14 Thread Russ Edmunds 
Absolute is still a beacon for us on the EC. Back in the 70's it was Germany on 
1586, France on 1554 or this one.


When the first two shut down, Croatia on 1134 took their place. Now it's 
Absolute and Spain on 684.


Russ Edmunds

WB2BJH

Blue Bell, PA

Grid FN20id


From: IRCA <irca-boun...@hard-core-dx.com> on behalf of Nick Hall-Patch 
<n...@ieee.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2018 12:17:38 PM
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America; Mailing list for 
the International Radio Club of America
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Fwd: [mwcircle] Absolute Radio MW coverage cut approved

I think you said a mouthful  Russ, at least with "propagation
conditions are marginal to begin with".

Most DXers could care less about carrier strength; they want to hear
an ID.   3dB  is half an S-unit, yet not small, it is half the power;
the accountants will be very happy.  I suspect that it will likely
significantly reduce the number of times weak audio is reported here
(and might be paralleled with a European SDR), but probably won't
reduce the few times that Absolute Radio is banging in enough that a
DXer actually hears an IDand yes, it has happened.

best wishes,

Nick




At 15:58 2018-04-14, Russ Edmunds wrote:
>While I am mindful of the tenuous nature of TA propagation to
>Western NA, my opinion is that propagation conditions are
>proportionately more responsible for these receptions, and the
>
>small reductions in power may not have as much impact as might be
>thought. If propagation conditions are marginal to begin with, then
>these power reductions could preclude reception, however under
>better conditions, perhaps not so much.
>
>
>Russ Edmunds
>
>WB2BJH
>
>Blue Bell, PA
>
>Grid FN20id
>
>
>From: IRCA <irca-boun...@hard-core-dx.com> on behalf of Nick
>Hall-Patch <n...@ieee.org>
>Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2018 11:32:04 AM
>To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
>Subject: [IRCA] Fwd: [mwcircle] Absolute Radio MW coverage cut approved
>
>Our trans-Atlantic beacon in western Canada  will lose some zip next
>season.   In the article that Mike Terry references below, the link
>references another link:
>
>https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/112918/Statement-Absolute-Radio-proposals-to-reduce-AM-coverage.pdf
>
>which gives more technical details.   The important thing for DXers
>is 3dB reduction in power output from their big transmitters, the
>ones most likely to make it overseas.
>
>
>
>  From Mike Terry, MW Circle:
>
> >a516digital.com
> >
> >13 April 2018
> >
> >Ofcom has approved Absolute Radio's plans to cut Medium Wave coverage.
> >Bauer Media, the operator of the radio station, threatened to close
> >the entire Medium Wave service if Ofcom didn't approve of the
> >change. The plans involve cutting the number of transmitters it
> >broadcasts from, while digital radio would remain unaffected.
> >
> >Following a public consultation, which yielded a variety of
> >responses for and against the move, Ofcom has agreed that the
> >changes can take place.
> >
> >The request to broadcast regulator Ofcom made at the beginning of
> >the year confirmed the change would reduce Absolute's analogue
> >footprint from around 90 to 85% of the UK and would involve a number
> >of Medium Wave transmitters being turned off, or put on reduced power.
> >
> >Absolute Radio's AM service from its transmitters at Brookmans Park
> >(serving London and the Home Counties), Droitwich (Midlands),
> >Moorside Edge (Northern England), Westerglen (Central Scotland) and
> >Washford (South West), will be put on reduced power this year.
> >
> >Meanwhile, MW transmitters at Plymouth, Redmoss (Aberdeen), Hull,
> >Torbay, Redruth, Hoo (Kent), Greenside Scalp (Dundee), Wallasey,
> >Pirbright (Guildford), Chesterton Fen (Cambridge), Rodbourne Sewage
> >(Swindon) and Sheffield will be turned off altogether.
> >
> >
> >Article continues here, with maps of coverage areas.
> >
> >https://www.a516digital.com/2018/04/absolute-radio-mw-coverage-cut-
> approved.html
> >
> >
> >
> >Posted by: Mike Terry <miketerr...@btinternet.com>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>Nick Hall-Patch
>Victoria, BC
>Canada
>
>___
>IRCA mailing list
>IRCA@hard-core-dx.com
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>
>Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the
>or

Re: [IRCA] Fwd: [mwcircle] Absolute Radio MW coverage cut approved

2018-04-14 Thread Nick Hall-Patch 
I think you said a mouthful  Russ, at least with "propagation 
conditions are marginal to begin with".


Most DXers could care less about carrier strength; they want to hear 
an ID.   3dB  is half an S-unit, yet not small, it is half the power; 
the accountants will be very happy.  I suspect that it will likely 
significantly reduce the number of times weak audio is reported here 
(and might be paralleled with a European SDR), but probably won't 
reduce the few times that Absolute Radio is banging in enough that a 
DXer actually hears an IDand yes, it has happened.


best wishes,

Nick




At 15:58 2018-04-14, Russ Edmunds wrote:
While I am mindful of the tenuous nature of TA propagation to 
Western NA, my opinion is that propagation conditions are 
proportionately more responsible for these receptions, and the


small reductions in power may not have as much impact as might be 
thought. If propagation conditions are marginal to begin with, then 
these power reductions could preclude reception, however under 
better conditions, perhaps not so much.



Russ Edmunds

WB2BJH

Blue Bell, PA

Grid FN20id


From: IRCA  on behalf of Nick 
Hall-Patch 

Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2018 11:32:04 AM
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
Subject: [IRCA] Fwd: [mwcircle] Absolute Radio MW coverage cut approved

Our trans-Atlantic beacon in western Canada  will lose some zip next
season.   In the article that Mike Terry references below, the link
references another link:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/112918/Statement-Absolute-Radio-proposals-to-reduce-AM-coverage.pdf

which gives more technical details.   The important thing for DXers
is 3dB reduction in power output from their big transmitters, the
ones most likely to make it overseas.



 From Mike Terry, MW Circle:

>a516digital.com
>
>13 April 2018
>
>Ofcom has approved Absolute Radio's plans to cut Medium Wave coverage.
>Bauer Media, the operator of the radio station, threatened to close
>the entire Medium Wave service if Ofcom didn't approve of the
>change. The plans involve cutting the number of transmitters it
>broadcasts from, while digital radio would remain unaffected.
>
>Following a public consultation, which yielded a variety of
>responses for and against the move, Ofcom has agreed that the
>changes can take place.
>
>The request to broadcast regulator Ofcom made at the beginning of
>the year confirmed the change would reduce Absolute's analogue
>footprint from around 90 to 85% of the UK and would involve a number
>of Medium Wave transmitters being turned off, or put on reduced power.
>
>Absolute Radio's AM service from its transmitters at Brookmans Park
>(serving London and the Home Counties), Droitwich (Midlands),
>Moorside Edge (Northern England), Westerglen (Central Scotland) and
>Washford (South West), will be put on reduced power this year.
>
>Meanwhile, MW transmitters at Plymouth, Redmoss (Aberdeen), Hull,
>Torbay, Redruth, Hoo (Kent), Greenside Scalp (Dundee), Wallasey,
>Pirbright (Guildford), Chesterton Fen (Cambridge), Rodbourne Sewage
>(Swindon) and Sheffield will be turned off altogether.
>
>
>Article continues here, with maps of coverage areas.
>
>https://www.a516digital.com/2018/04/absolute-radio-mw-coverage-cut- 
approved.html

>
>
>
>Posted by: Mike Terry 
>
>
>
>

Nick Hall-Patch
Victoria, BC
Canada

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Nick Hall-Patch
Victoria, BC
Canada 


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Re: [IRCA] Fwd: [mwcircle] Absolute Radio MW coverage cut approved

2018-04-14 Thread Russ Edmunds 
While I am mindful of the tenuous nature of TA propagation to Western NA, my 
opinion is that propagation conditions are proportionately more responsible for 
these receptions, and the

small reductions in power may not have as much impact as might be thought. If 
propagation conditions are marginal to begin with, then these power reductions 
could preclude reception, however under better conditions, perhaps not so much.


Russ Edmunds

WB2BJH

Blue Bell, PA

Grid FN20id


From: IRCA  on behalf of Nick Hall-Patch 

Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2018 11:32:04 AM
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
Subject: [IRCA] Fwd: [mwcircle] Absolute Radio MW coverage cut approved

Our trans-Atlantic beacon in western Canada  will lose some zip next
season.   In the article that Mike Terry references below, the link
references another link:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/112918/Statement-Absolute-Radio-proposals-to-reduce-AM-coverage.pdf

which gives more technical details.   The important thing for DXers
is 3dB reduction in power output from their big transmitters, the
ones most likely to make it overseas.



 From Mike Terry, MW Circle:

>a516digital.com
>
>13 April 2018
>
>Ofcom has approved Absolute Radio's plans to cut Medium Wave coverage.
>Bauer Media, the operator of the radio station, threatened to close
>the entire Medium Wave service if Ofcom didn't approve of the
>change. The plans involve cutting the number of transmitters it
>broadcasts from, while digital radio would remain unaffected.
>
>Following a public consultation, which yielded a variety of
>responses for and against the move, Ofcom has agreed that the
>changes can take place.
>
>The request to broadcast regulator Ofcom made at the beginning of
>the year confirmed the change would reduce Absolute's analogue
>footprint from around 90 to 85% of the UK and would involve a number
>of Medium Wave transmitters being turned off, or put on reduced power.
>
>Absolute Radio's AM service from its transmitters at Brookmans Park
>(serving London and the Home Counties), Droitwich (Midlands),
>Moorside Edge (Northern England), Westerglen (Central Scotland) and
>Washford (South West), will be put on reduced power this year.
>
>Meanwhile, MW transmitters at Plymouth, Redmoss (Aberdeen), Hull,
>Torbay, Redruth, Hoo (Kent), Greenside Scalp (Dundee), Wallasey,
>Pirbright (Guildford), Chesterton Fen (Cambridge), Rodbourne Sewage
>(Swindon) and Sheffield will be turned off altogether.
>
>
>Article continues here, with maps of coverage areas.
>
>https://www.a516digital.com/2018/04/absolute-radio-mw-coverage-cut-approved.html
>
>
>
>Posted by: Mike Terry 
>
>
>
>

Nick Hall-Patch
Victoria, BC
Canada

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contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its 
editors, publishing staff, or officers

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Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original 
contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its 
editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com