CH
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
I've also heard that all TV frequencies would be taken over by the BBC. So in the event of a nuclear attack for example, if you switched to ITV1 or Channel 4, you'd simply get BBC One on the screen.
deejay posted:
In Radio, a system of 'Obit' alarms was in use certainly until recently (not sure if it still exists). It was relatively low tech, and relied I think on a LongWave carrier frequency to operate the beacons in newsrooms and studios. The receivers basically became obsolete, so as they failed, the system became less common.
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
I've also heard that all TV frequencies would be taken over by the BBC. So in the event of a nuclear attack for example, if you switched to ITV1 or Channel 4, you'd simply get BBC One on the screen.
SP
The R4 LW transmission has a low bitrate data stream attached to it, which as well as the RATS system handles the switching of dual rate electric meters between day and night rate, and apparently control flood sirens in some places.
Chie posted:
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
The R4 LW transmission has a low bitrate data stream attached to it, which as well as the RATS system handles the switching of dual rate electric meters between day and night rate, and apparently control flood sirens in some places.
DE
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
I've also heard that all TV frequencies would be taken over by the BBC. So in the event of a nuclear attack for example, if you switched to ITV1 or Channel 4, you'd simply get BBC One on the screen.
In a MAJOR civil emergency I suspect the Government or even Military would take over broadcasting. If Television broadcasts were possible (and they probably wouldn't be in the circumstances you're talking about) then it's possible that a single channel of information would be provided, maybe under the name of the BBC as state broadcaster, but maybe not. It's more likely that LongWave radio (Radio4 essentially) would remain on air in some form. If local stations were still equipped to rebroadcast such broadcasts to local or regional FM frequencies then all to the good.
Chie posted:
deejay posted:
In Radio, a system of 'Obit' alarms was in use certainly until recently (not sure if it still exists). It was relatively low tech, and relied I think on a LongWave carrier frequency to operate the beacons in newsrooms and studios. The receivers basically became obsolete, so as they failed, the system became less common.
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
I've also heard that all TV frequencies would be taken over by the BBC. So in the event of a nuclear attack for example, if you switched to ITV1 or Channel 4, you'd simply get BBC One on the screen.
In a MAJOR civil emergency I suspect the Government or even Military would take over broadcasting. If Television broadcasts were possible (and they probably wouldn't be in the circumstances you're talking about) then it's possible that a single channel of information would be provided, maybe under the name of the BBC as state broadcaster, but maybe not. It's more likely that LongWave radio (Radio4 essentially) would remain on air in some form. If local stations were still equipped to rebroadcast such broadcasts to local or regional FM frequencies then all to the good.
JR
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
Wouldn't that have the side effect of decreased range in comparison to mediumwave and shortwave though? I know those two are more susceptible to interference, but broadcasting on longwave would require the signal to be sent out to various transmitters around the UK, and those transmitters being powered. A simple rebroadcast system would not work.
Chie posted:
deejay posted:
In Radio, a system of 'Obit' alarms was in use certainly until recently (not sure if it still exists). It was relatively low tech, and relied I think on a LongWave carrier frequency to operate the beacons in newsrooms and studios. The receivers basically became obsolete, so as they failed, the system became less common.
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
Wouldn't that have the side effect of decreased range in comparison to mediumwave and shortwave though? I know those two are more susceptible to interference, but broadcasting on longwave would require the signal to be sent out to various transmitters around the UK, and those transmitters being powered. A simple rebroadcast system would not work.
BH
The key reason for using LW is that it propogates so well, so you only need to keep the one transmitter at Droitwich working to be able to broadcast to the whole of England and Wales. IIRC there are an additional two transmitters that cover Scotland and NI.
So it was rather unfortunate that despite all the resilience in place at Droitwich to keep the transmitter going at a time of national emergency, it got shut down for several hours last year when it flooded.
Chie posted:
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
The key reason for using LW is that it propogates so well, so you only need to keep the one transmitter at Droitwich working to be able to broadcast to the whole of England and Wales. IIRC there are an additional two transmitters that cover Scotland and NI.
So it was rather unfortunate that despite all the resilience in place at Droitwich to keep the transmitter going at a time of national emergency, it got shut down for several hours last year when it flooded.
RE
The key reason for using LW is that it propogates so well, so you only need to keep the one transmitter at Droitwich working to be able to broadcast to the whole of England and Wales. IIRC there are an additional two transmitters that cover Scotland and NI.
What about reception though? By which I mean - most radios sold nowadays, including car radios, don't have a LW tuner. How many people have working sets capable of receiving & understanding a LW signal?
LOL. Abso-tiv-ly typical.
Bvsh Hovse posted:
Chie posted:
The reason for use of LongWave is because LW frequencies would not be compromised by the effects of a nuclear attack.
The key reason for using LW is that it propogates so well, so you only need to keep the one transmitter at Droitwich working to be able to broadcast to the whole of England and Wales. IIRC there are an additional two transmitters that cover Scotland and NI.
What about reception though? By which I mean - most radios sold nowadays, including car radios, don't have a LW tuner. How many people have working sets capable of receiving & understanding a LW signal?
Bvsh Hovse posted:
So it was rather unfortunate that despite all the resilience in place at Droitwich to keep the transmitter going at a time of national emergency, it got shut down for several hours last year when it flooded.
LOL. Abso-tiv-ly typical.
SP
Didn't the aerial system get damaged in storms at one point (possibly the 1987 "don't worry there won't be a hurricane" incident) and they put the R4LW output on BBC1 over the testcard?
Bvsh Hovse posted:
So it was rather unfortunate that despite all the resilience in place at Droitwich to keep the transmitter going at a time of national emergency, it got shut down for several hours last year when it flooded.
Didn't the aerial system get damaged in storms at one point (possibly the 1987 "don't worry there won't be a hurricane" incident) and they put the R4LW output on BBC1 over the testcard?
DE
Didn't the aerial system get damaged in storms at one point (possibly the 1987 "don't worry there won't be a hurricane" incident) and they put the R4LW output on BBC1 over the testcard?
That's possible I suppose, but I hadn't heard of that happening. Presentation used to have direct feeds of the radio networks readily available but only generally used them as standbys for (for example) test match commentary should the OB fail. On the morning of the 1987 storm, Presentation was one of the few areas of TVC that remained powered. There were no programmes until a hastily converted 'Broom Cupboard' became an impromptu and very crowded Breakfast News studio. It would have been entirely possible that until that time, Presentation decided to transmit Radio4 over the testcard, but it would have been a direct feed from BH, rather than a locally recieved and rebroadcast version. Somewhere on the web there is a video clip of BBC South West opting out of the network to explain to viewers what the hell was going on.
Steve in Pudsey posted:
Bvsh Hovse posted:
So it was rather unfortunate that despite all the resilience in place at Droitwich to keep the transmitter going at a time of national emergency, it got shut down for several hours last year when it flooded.
Didn't the aerial system get damaged in storms at one point (possibly the 1987 "don't worry there won't be a hurricane" incident) and they put the R4LW output on BBC1 over the testcard?
That's possible I suppose, but I hadn't heard of that happening. Presentation used to have direct feeds of the radio networks readily available but only generally used them as standbys for (for example) test match commentary should the OB fail. On the morning of the 1987 storm, Presentation was one of the few areas of TVC that remained powered. There were no programmes until a hastily converted 'Broom Cupboard' became an impromptu and very crowded Breakfast News studio. It would have been entirely possible that until that time, Presentation decided to transmit Radio4 over the testcard, but it would have been a direct feed from BH, rather than a locally recieved and rebroadcast version. Somewhere on the web there is a video clip of BBC South West opting out of the network to explain to viewers what the hell was going on.
SP
It has been claimed that in the event of a nuclear attack, the commanders of Britain's nuclear submarines would establish whether anything remained of the UK by tuning to Radio 4.
If the Today programme was not broadcast for a number of days, they would assume everything, including the government, had been destroyed, and so were allowed to mount a retaliatory attack without orders from the Prime Minister.
deejay posted:
It's more likely that LongWave radio (Radio4 essentially) would remain on air in some form.
It has been claimed that in the event of a nuclear attack, the commanders of Britain's nuclear submarines would establish whether anything remained of the UK by tuning to Radio 4.
If the Today programme was not broadcast for a number of days, they would assume everything, including the government, had been destroyed, and so were allowed to mount a retaliatory attack without orders from the Prime Minister.
IS
Did the BBC bossed in London think that had the Millennium bug struck, it wouldn't have affected Birmingham, what with them not having computers north of Watford?
Exactly - In London, computers run the channels. The facilities in Birmingham were a couple of re-plugged edit suites manually run to playout programmes.
Millennium night was totaly belt and braces, everything was backed up several times
Spencer For Hire posted:
deejay posted:
The Mill was rigged and staffed by Presentation on the night of the infamous Year 2000 bug!
Did the BBC bossed in London think that had the Millennium bug struck, it wouldn't have affected Birmingham, what with them not having computers north of Watford?
Exactly - In London, computers run the channels. The facilities in Birmingham were a couple of re-plugged edit suites manually run to playout programmes.
Millennium night was totaly belt and braces, everything was backed up several times