Following upon my previous ramblings about 648 kHz, I now wonder why
Radio Caroline is limited by Ofcom to 4 kW output. AIUI the frequency
is authorised for 400 kW, there are no other stations in the UK or
this side of Europe using the frequency (which was the BBC World
Service) and that the Caroline transmitter is capable of 25 kW. Why
should Ofcom impose such a restriction in what I thought was 'light
touch' regulation?
Incidentally, I have discovered that 648 kHz is tolerable (only just)
on my car radio in the Glasgow area so long as it is away from
excessive electrical interference.
I suspect politics. Caroline only has a restricted licence for a "local" service at the moment, so has to stick to the rules regarding such. They
were given a ridiculously high price for a DAB slot in Manchester. Our Gibberment have never really forgiven the pirate stations except for
Radio Jackie.
John Williamson <johnwilliamson@btinternet.com> wrote:
I suspect politics. Caroline only has a restricted licence for a "local"
service at the moment, so has to stick to the rules regarding such. They
were given a ridiculously high price for a DAB slot in Manchester. Our
Gibberment have never really forgiven the pirate stations except for
Radio Jackie.
Probably commercial radio stations would complain if Caroline were allowed
to 'compete' with them, who have spent large sums of money on getting their licences.
According to wikipedia Babcock removed their transmitting equipment when vacating the site in 2012, so the current setup must have new equipment (at Caroline's cost, presumably). Also they're using the omni aerial which is only rated at 250kW (the other aerials are directed at Europe and away from the UK; the omni was the backup for use during maintenance).
Also higher TX power means higher electricity costs, which Caroline may not be able to afford based on their income. It seems that the various power supplies used to the research station at Orford (10MW for the Cobra Mist radar!) have been decommissioned and the National Trust is running the lighthouse via off grid solar and generator, while the transmitter is still on the 11kV network:
https://www.irgon.org/power-supply/
Following upon my previous ramblings about 648 kHz, I now wonder why
Radio Caroline is limited by Ofcom to 4 kW output. AIUI the frequency
is authorised for 400 kW, there are no other stations in the UK or
this side of Europe using the frequency (which was the BBC World
Service) and that the Caroline transmitter is capable of 25 kW. Why
should Ofcom impose such a restriction in what I thought was 'light
touch' regulation?
On 23/12/2024 17:19, Scott wrote:
Following upon my previous ramblings about 648 kHz, I now wonder why
Radio Caroline is limited by Ofcom to 4 kW output. AIUI the
frequency is authorised for 400 kW, there are no other stations in
the UK or this side of Europe using the frequency (which was the
BBC World Service) and that the Caroline transmitter is capable of
25 kW. Why should Ofcom impose such a restriction in what I thought
was 'light touch' regulation?
How might you suggest Radio Caroline could afford the electricity
bill for 25 kW, never mind 400 kW ! ?
As it is, I gather they are using solar power to help mitigate the
cost.
Transmitter power is not a problem, as the power supply for the BBC transmitter is still in place, and they are negotiating for the use
of the main aerial, which would increase coverage with no power
increase. With wider coverage, they would be able to charge more for advertising.
On 23/12/2024 17:19, Scott wrote:
Following upon my previous ramblings about 648 kHz, I now wonder why
Radio Caroline is limited by Ofcom to 4 kW output. AIUI the frequency
is authorised for 400 kW, there are no other stations in the UK or
this side of Europe using the frequency (which was the BBC World
Service) and that the Caroline transmitter is capable of 25 kW. Why
should Ofcom impose such a restriction in what I thought was 'light
touch' regulation?
How might you suggest Radio Caroline could afford the electricity bill
for 25 kW, never mind 400 kW ! ?
As it is, I gather they are using solar power to help mitigate the cost.
On 24/12/2024 05:37, Theo wrote:
John Williamson <johnwilliamson@btinternet.com> wrote:Caroline would be paying the same for their licences aa the other
I suspect politics. Caroline only has a restricted licence for a "local" >>> service at the moment, so has to stick to the rules regarding such. They >>> were given a ridiculously high price for a DAB slot in Manchester. Our
Gibberment have never really forgiven the pirate stations except for
Radio Jackie.
Probably commercial radio stations would complain if Caroline were allowed >> to 'compete' with them, who have spent large sums of money on getting their >> licences.
commercial stations. There is, though, a policy not to allow any new >nationwide analogue stations in the UK. (Which is why the big commercial >players are buying up all the small local stations as fast as they can.
They then install a computerised playout system and putting a four hour
show together takes less than an hour at head office. The presenters
often work from home over a broadband link.)
Caroline have a presence on DAB in some big cities, which puts out the
same programming as they do on 648 kHz.
According to wikipedia Babcock removed their transmitting equipment whenThey are currently using the Nautel transmitter that was on board the
vacating the site in 2012, so the current setup must have new equipment (at >> Caroline's cost, presumably). Also they're using the omni aerial which is >> only rated at 250kW (the other aerials are directed at Europe and away from >> the UK; the omni was the backup for use during maintenance).
ship, and, if my source is correct, a microwave or 4G link from the ship
to the transmitter. They also have a land based studio.
Also higher TX power means higher electricity costs, which Caroline may not >> be able to afford based on their income. It seems that the various power
supplies used to the research station at Orford (10MW for the Cobra Mist
radar!) have been decommissioned and the National Trust is running the
lighthouse via off grid solar and generator, while the transmitter is still >> on the 11kV network:
https://www.irgon.org/power-supply/
Transmitter power is not a problem, as the power supply for the BBC >transmitter is still in place, and they are negotiating for the use of
the main aerial, which would increase coverage with no power increase.
With wider coverage, they would be able to charge more for advertising.
Their only major cashflow problem at the moment is that the ship needs
to be dry docked ot check on the damage cause when she grounded in a
storm after the anchor broke loose. The last time she was out of the
water was in the 1990s, so it is well overdue. There is a crowdfunder in >progress if anyone is feeling generous.
On Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:50:53 +0000, Mark Carver <mark@invalid.com>
wrote:
On 23/12/2024 17:19, Scott wrote:
Following upon my previous ramblings about 648 kHz, I now wonder
why Radio Caroline is limited by Ofcom to 4 kW output. AIUI the
frequency is authorised for 400 kW, there are no other stations in
the UK or this side of Europe using the frequency (which was the
BBC World Service) and that the Caroline transmitter is capable of
25 kW. Why should Ofcom impose such a restriction in what I
thought was 'light touch' regulation?
How might you suggest Radio Caroline could afford the electricity
bill for 25 kW, never mind 400 kW ! ?
I think you have just answered your own question in the next sentence
:-)
As it is, I gather they are using solar power to help mitigate the
cost.
On 24.12.2024 06:22 Uhr John Williamson wrote:
Transmitter power is not a problem, as the power supply for the BBC
transmitter is still in place, and they are negotiating for the use
of the main aerial, which would increase coverage with no power
increase. With wider coverage, they would be able to charge more for
advertising.
This was already discussed some years ago. https://mediumwave.info/2020/08/14/united-kingdom-9/
I dunno about the current situation.
On 24.12.2024 09:50 Uhr Mark Carver wrote:
How might you suggest Radio Caroline could afford the electricity
bill for 25 kW, never mind 400 kW ! ?
Maybe they could only turn on the old 500 kW Telefunken TX for special transmissions. I assume this will be a regulation problem.
On 24.12.2024 12:54 Uhr Scott wrote:
On Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:50:53 +0000, Mark Carver <mark@invalid.com>
wrote:
On 23/12/2024 17:19, Scott wrote:
Following upon my previous ramblings about 648 kHz, I now wonder
why Radio Caroline is limited by Ofcom to 4 kW output. AIUI the
frequency is authorised for 400 kW, there are no other stations in
the UK or this side of Europe using the frequency (which was the
BBC World Service) and that the Caroline transmitter is capable of
25 kW. Why should Ofcom impose such a restriction in what I
thought was 'light touch' regulation?
How might you suggest Radio Caroline could afford the electricity
bill for 25 kW, never mind 400 kW ! ?
I think you have just answered your own question in the next sentence
:-)
As it is, I gather they are using solar power to help mitigate the
cost.
Building an array of solar panels for that power will cost a lot of
money - and it won't provide this power all the time. Especially in the >evening when it is dark the TX would be nice, but can't be powered from
the panels.
On Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:13:40 +0100, Marco Moock
<mm+usenet-es@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
On 24.12.2024 12:54 Uhr Scott wrote:
On Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:50:53 +0000, Mark Carver <mark@invalid.com>
wrote:
On 23/12/2024 17:19, Scott wrote:
Following upon my previous ramblings about 648 kHz, I now wonder
why Radio Caroline is limited by Ofcom to 4 kW output. AIUI the
frequency is authorised for 400 kW, there are no other stations in
the UK or this side of Europe using the frequency (which was the
BBC World Service) and that the Caroline transmitter is capable of
25 kW. Why should Ofcom impose such a restriction in what I
thought was 'light touch' regulation?
How might you suggest Radio Caroline could afford the electricity
bill for 25 kW, never mind 400 kW ! ?
I think you have just answered your own question in the next sentence
:-)
As it is, I gather they are using solar power to help mitigate the
cost.
Building an array of solar panels for that power will cost a lot of
money - and it won't provide this power all the time. Especially in the >evening when it is dark the TX would be nice, but can't be powered from
the panels.
Yes I know. That is why the word 'mitigate' is being used as a term of
art. See:
'On 3 August 2021, Ofcom announced that it had granted a power
increase to combat human-made noise and interference
Scott <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:13:40 +0100, Marco Moock
<mm+usenet-es@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
Building an array of solar panels for that power will cost a lot of
money - and it won't provide this power all the time. Especially in the >evening when it is dark the TX would be nice, but can't be powered from >the panels.
Yes I know. That is why the word 'mitigate' is being used as a term of
art. See:
'On 3 August 2021, Ofcom announced that it had granted a power
increase to combat human-made noise and interference
It's probably the QRM from the inverters for the solar panels.
I'd expect that a ground mount solar system could be done for a fairly good payback time (~5 years) if they are creative about saving on the fixings - it's not like they're short of space. Whether they or the owners of the
site have the money is another question.
On 24/12/2024 14:40, Theo wrote:
I'd expect that a ground mount solar system could be done for a fairly good payback time (~5 years) if they are creative about saving on the fixings - it's not like they're short of space. Whether they or the owners of the site have the money is another question.
I can buy bare solar panels retail and delivered from about £130 per kilowatt at the moment.
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