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G8MNY > BCAST 23.08.06 22:41l 89 Lines 4682 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 43358_GB7CIP
Read: DK5RAS GUEST
Subj: Redhill's MW DX station 27th Aug
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<DK0WUE<I0TVL<ED1ZAC<IW8PGT<VE2RXY<F1HPZ<
ON4HU<GB7YFS<GB7COV<GB7COV<GB7CIP
Sent: 060823/2002Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU #:43358 [Caterham] $:43358_GB7CIP
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU
To : BCAST@EU
Hi Readers,
For the 12th year running a group of enthusiasts (several Hams G8MNY
G6IXM G4WGD G3TWJ) have been putting on a local charity fund raising 28 day
broadcast radio station (Restricted Service Licence) on air from end of August
from studios at a youth centre in Merstham near Redhill, again this time in AM.
The station is called "SUSY RADIO" (SUssex & SurreY). Any profits this time go
to local charities.
The move from VHF to MW came about by accident 6 years ago after 3 facts came
together. 1/ a donation of an old Decca Navigator 80002A LW Tx (ex 300kHz
aircraft CW beacon) that could just do the LF end of MW,
2/ a studio site that could take a large wire aerial system,
3/ and also the œ1K reduction in MW Licences compaired to FM.
The restricted 28 day licenced only permits a low power of 1W ERP on 531kHz
using vertical polarisation, from a VERY small 20M high aerial (radiating bit).
As with the LF ham band, the LF end of MW band needs a large amounts of power
to obtain the 1W ERP from such a small aerial with such a low ground height &
the short aerial on only a 1/14 of a dipole tall! Ideally a 141M tall copper
tower with a few square kMs of copper sheet is need to get 1W ERP from a 1W Tx!
The plus side of all thes effort is that at this end of MW, the wanted ground
wave propagation is much much bigger than at the other end of the MW, or for
that matter at VHF, in fact about three times a far as at 1600kHz, about 150km
is possable.
The underlying site's ground conditions have usually been wet (bit of a valley
bottom) so the signal normally gets out well. The Tx & aerial system has been
inspected by the radio regulator Ofcom & all was OK dispite the DX reports.
In EU, 531kHz is the 1st channel on the MW band so a Rx will pick it up first,
and it is a fairly clear frequency in the UK during the day at night there are
100KW Swiss German speaking station, a Spanish station & a Fairo Isle, these
dramaticly close down coverage area at night right down to the typcial RSL
station coverage due to the heavy slow beating QRM.
This is the 6rd time MW has been used by SUSY RADIO, the first time we had very
good reports from far afield such as YORK, SUNDERLAND, HOLLAND & the south
coast, from listerners at QRM free locations. Mains, SMPS & Broadband QRM can
be a major problem at this end of MW! There is usually a Dxers Program on the
last week so stay listerning for details.
The station is live from the studio 24 hours a day with a real mixture of
presenters young-old, playing music mainy 60-2000s, local traffic information,
phone-ins, national & local news etc.
The various licence costs are high compared to permenant local radio station,
for a 28 day AM RSL station, they are:-
DTI RA & RA Broadcast, about œ1000, (œ2,500 FM)
Performing Rights Society, about œ900, } N.B. not all published
Phonographic Performance, approx œ1150, } material is covered!
Mechanical Copying & Reproduction, œ60. } eg BBC records.
(Band3 1 Watt, RA stereo Link licence œ480. if Tx not co-sited)
In anyone's language this is "an arm and several legs" even for a fund raising
station! Direct sponsorship & adverts from major companies generally covers all
the fixed costs, any profit goes to the nominated charity. A œ28K sunshine
coach was recently been given partly by SUSY after several radio events in the
past.
SUSY Radio is also on the Internet "http//www.susyradio.com" where the station
can be found as LIVE AUDIO all the time. EMAIL studio@susyradio.com
Requests etc, to the studio on Tel 0870 7650531 nat call rate or 01737 644259
when on air. For general RSL/engineering infomation packet me or telephone the
station manager Colin G4WGD on 01737 643767 Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00 (except
Wednesday) DX Reception reports would be much appreciated, to me/Colin/Email.
Needless to say broadcast engineering eg. O.B. links, Digital Satellite links,
Phone systems, Computer Audio sources, Computer logging, Hifi audio sources,
Studio mixers, Stereo/AM limiters, Stereo coders, RDS coders, fixed radio
links, Broadcast Tx & Aerials systems, are just a little bit different from
mainstream Amateur Radio.
If anyone or a club would like a technical visit (or talk?) or would like to be
involved with the station please RSVP me.
SUSY RADIO failed in the last Ofcom bid round for a 5 year community licence, a
high level complaint has gone into Ofcom over thier faulty selection process &
a judicial review may result!
See my bul on the "1W UK MW aerial system".
73 de John (eng team) G8MNY @ GB7CIP
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