Radio 1 FM Switch-On

Recordings from the time of the switch-on of Radio 1's FM transmitters on 1 September 1988. Recorded in Yorkshire on 98.8MHz. Features the voices of Adrian Juste, Ian Parkinson, Sybil Ruscoe, Roger Scott, DLT, Bros, Steve Wright, Bruno Brookes, Nicky Campbell, Mark Goodier, Liz Kershaw, Andy Kershaw. From 2 September Adrian John, Simon Mayo, Rod McKenzie, Simon Bates. From 3 September Robbie Vincent and Mark Goodier.

[@MePeterNicholls]

I’m in my bedroom, aged 12, nicked dads stereo. Waiting for this moment. And it was glorious.

[@Waffledogchat]

It amazed me that Radio one didn't start on FM until 1988 (ignoring the little output for London in 1987), and didn't complete the network until a few years later. I know that the Police held the 100 mhz, 98 MHZ had always been free. Quite odd.

[@philstraintravels9281]

I was so excited for this as an 11 year old and would have been listening on my mono AM / FM / LW Saisho clock rock which had Radio 1 marked on the MW band and Radios 2 - 4 marked on FM. It's so sad that in 2020 we have many digital radio stations broadcasting in mono and make a big thing of moving to low quality stereo on DAB+.

[@christopherhulse8385]

More stations and less quality.

[@TheWillsy]

98.8 was used by Wrotham from 19th December 1989. It couldn't test until the night before launch. It had to wait for Holme Moss to move first.

[@scottpeacock5492]

There is only one FM, I remember the launch of the Radio 1 FM frequencies, Great Day for Radio 1 listeners,

[@ntmdisco]

Blimey this takes me back to when Radio 1 was good

[@TobyJoshuaRadio]

ntmdisco it’s still good now, just aimed at a different generation I suppose.

[@RobinBlamires]

Amazed it never crossed my mind that Liz Kershaw used to directly precede her brother on air. Though she'd depart evenings within a month, and he'd move to Sundays the following Spring.

[@JohnPeel3904]

According to the Genome website on 1st September 1988 after Liz Kershaw's show, there was Top Ten and then after that Andy Kershaw's show.

[@alhine1963]

"Scotland 98.6" - erm, FM transmitters only work in a 50 mile radius - it took more than one transmitter to cover all of Scotland from Shetland to Gretna!

[@marklevy7813]

And after all this, i'm listening to Radio 2 these days!

[@andrewsmith2757]

We didn't get BBC Radio 1 in FM stereo from Rowridge until mid-1990, so when they announce on TOTP (on BBC Four) that their show is in stereo via R1, it wasn't for everyone in early-1989. In our area you had to get a big aerial and receive it from Wrotham, and even then the reception was dodgy.

[@stephenham5343]

It was the same in Reading too as 104.8 was outside the Technical Service Area.. Only when Wrotham went full power (half the power of R2 - 4 on the same transmitter) did that get better but then they still had to add Reading separately years later. Oxford and the other signals weren't strong enough. Those in Dover had to wait even longer. The 98.8 signal could be heard loud and clear in Calais but not at all in Dover who were left on Medium Wave as the signal went straight over the hill and across the channel.

[@andrewsmith2757]

@@stephenham5343 - Anyway, Nicam Stereo came along not long after for TV, including TOTP... costing a fortune!

[@adambirchenall]

Great happy memories this, however a 2nd switch on would begin from 19th December 1989 with opening of more coverage to the UK and a change in Frequencies slightly, so for the Midlands, it would change from 98.4 to 97.9 and Holme Moss 98.8 to 98.9. Areas including Devon and East Cornwall would for the first time open up on 11th Feb 1990, plus a few others added and changing within 1990-91

[@daros194]

30 Years of VHF stereo! Funny the shows and programmes seemed better in the sharing days of 88-9 1MHz

[@stephenham5343]

Probably down to the compression used etc... and other factors.

[@marklevy7813]

Nowadays, I am listening to 88-91 more.

[@2Steppa2]

Tacolneston 250 kilowatts on 99.3 here 🙂 exciting times back then!

[@nicholasoconnor2097]

I remember this day well. Were i lived, i was able to get good FM Mono signal on 98.8 Holme Moss, two hours before we got switch on at Sutton Coldfield on 98.4, this was full signal strength in stereo being only short distance from Sutton Coldfield. Still 98.8 sounded 100% better than 1053 am with its background whistle at night. Radio 1 was a lot better back then. It went down hill in my opinion about the end 1993.

[@VMPhil]

Hugely enjoying the irony of Simon Mayo using a track from Sgt. Pepper to showcase the superiority of stereo, an album generally agreed to sound better in mono

[@stephenemmett9753]

He should've used a track with proper stereo activity - like "The Race" by Yello (see for example the racing car going from the left to the right channel).

[@VMPhil]

Stephen Emmett The stereo version of Sgt Pepper does have wacky stereo separation, it’s just that music critics tend to say that the mono mix is better for various reasons.

[@arthurvasey]

Should have been available in stereo from the get-go - it’s playing the latest hits - prior to Radio 1 being available on FM, the only way to hear the latest hits in stereo - or even pop oldies - was either commercial radio or actually having the records! Other than the occasional timeshare with Radio 2, it was only on medium wave across most of the day - only came on FM for John Peel on Monday to Thursday, The Friday Rock Show on Friday, Saturday afternoons between 1 and 7:30 pm and Sunday from 5 pm!

[@stephenham5343]

Johnny Beerling was the man who eventually got Radio 1 fully onto FM. They were tied to Radio 2 for too long and with poorer frequencies.

[@Nick-xi9lm]

It says Lincoln, ? I remember 98.8 about this time it was a poor signal east of Lincoln City Centre.

[@andrewsmith2757]

This must've been from the Holme Moss transmitter?

[@jkrupainwar6907]

Long live Britons

[@internetnerd_]

Do you have any more radio 1 recordings

[@RandomRadioJottings]

Yes, check out my Mixcloud uploads under 'Andy Walmsley' and my blog 'Random Radio Jottings'

[@davidthompson6834]

Bloody hell I'm actually first

[@RandomRadioJottings]

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