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G8MNY > BDCAST 10.08.03 20:17l 75 Lines 3984 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 9611_GB7CIP
Read: DK5RAS GUEST
Subj: Redhill's MW DX station 17th Aug
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0BEL<CT4DK<ZL2TZE<GB7YFS<GB7TUT<GB7CIP
Sent: 030808/0857Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU #:9611 [Caterham] $:9611_GB7CIP
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU
To : BDCAST@EU
Hi Readers,
For the 10th year running a group of enthusiasts (several Hams me,
G6IXM G4WGD & G3TWJ) have put on a local charity fund raising 28 day broadcast
radio station (Restricted Service Licence) on air from mid August from studios
at a youth centre in Merstham near Redhill again this time in AM. The station
is called "SUSY" (SUssex & SurreY). Profits are to go to the IC Ward at East
Surrey Hospital.
The move from VHF to MW came about a few years ago after a donation of an old
Decca Navigator LW Tx (ex 300KHz aircraft CW beacon) that could just do the LF
end of MW, a studio site that could take a large wire aerial system, and also
the œ2K reduction in the Licences for MW RSLs.
The restricted licenced only permits low power of 1W ERP on 531KHz using
vertical polarisation from a 20M tall aerial system. At the LF end of MW band a
large amount of power is needed to obtain 1W ERP from the small radiating part
of such a low ground height & short aerial (1/14 dipole). 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 is at this end of MW band the ground wave propagation is much much
bigger than at the other end, about three times a far as at 1600KHz. The site's
ground conditions have usually been wet so the signal normally gets out well.
It is the 1st channel on the MW band so a Rx will pick it up first, and this is
a fairly clear frequency in the UK during the day at night there are 100KW
Swiss German speaking station & a Spanish station close the coverage area right
down to the typcial RSL station coverage due to the heavy slow beating QRM.
(The Spanish station is a few Hz off channel!)
This is the 3rd time MW has been used by SUSY RADIO, the first time we had
very good reports from far afield from listerners at QRM free locations (Mains
& SMPS QRM can be a problem at this end of MW!) as well as some really half
decent Rx reports from well into EU. There will be a Dxers Program this 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 60-90s, local traffic information,
phone-ins, SKY news, saturday night live OBs 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.
SUSY Radio is also on the Internet "http//www.susyradio.com" where the station
can be found as LIVE "REAL AUDIO" all the time. EMAIL studio@susyradio.com
Requests etc, to the studio on Tel 0870 7650531 when on air. (local call rate)
For general RSL/engineering infomation packet me or telephone the station
manager Colin on 01737 643767 Mon-Sat 09:00-10:00 & 17:00-18:00.
Reception reports would be much appreciated.
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.
73 de John (eng team) G8MNY @ GB7CIP
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