The terrible state of longwave broadcasting is all too clear in the 2025 edition of the WRTH

Hi there, you guys know I love the longwave band - the mellow audio and no fading etc. It's therefore such a shame that so many stations have closed in the past few years. The WRTH is a great reference, but my goodness some of the sections in it make for depressing reading!
Long live Antenna Satelor, Medi 1, BBC Radio 4, Polski Radio and Chaine 3!!
Thanks for watching and 73.

[@IrishvintageTVRadio]

It will be sad to see Radio 4 leaving Long Wave.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Yes, it really will....

[@walteredwards544]

I wondered why there was so much fluff at the beginning of the book. I feel that thise old SW and Longwave station are needed here more than ever ( Internet censorship and corporate takeovers and consolidations ) make this a terrible time to lose any perspective from other countries or even other regions within our own country. Maube some farsighted individuals or groups will see the opening and walk right through it. Even my glorious US Army is going back to HF, from satellites because of its many forgotten advantages over satellite and Internet coms

[@audiophileman7047]

I agree. I share your same concerns and hopes. We need real radio as a source of genuine freedom and connection.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

In the end its all about $$$$$ and £££££ Walter. Great to hear the US army is returning to HF though.

[@Kw1161]

Clint I feel for you as the entire bands below FM feels like it is on the chopping block, and if you are in Switzerland FM is too. The electric meters in the U.K. need "Mrs Bucket" (pronounced Bouquet) to make sure the meter reader read them right and take off their shoes...! 73! Have a great day!

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Love Keeping up Appearances lol. The first time I ever went to the USA - in think in 1994. I got to my hotel in Concord, switched on the TV and there she was! 73

[@johnnorth9355]

What is even more depressing is trying to talk to young people about radio - most have no clue about the different broadcast frequencies let alone ham radio bands .If it ain't on the internet ot mobile service provider it does not exist.

[@LouiseBrooksBob]

I watched a BBC web site video some years ago where they gave a radio to some young people and asked them to tune it to Radio 1 and most didn't know how.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

That is so true.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I'm not surprised - it's a bit depressing!

[@wa1ufo]

This is going to cost this young generation dearly. They are oblivious to what may happen in the future. The signs are here.

[@makerofthingsunique]

I had this issue with my 24 year old son. I told him i had passed my amateur radio examination and he said whats that :(

[@frano19626]

Very sad Clint - used to love listening to the Cricket 🏏 & still listening to Radio 4 & the World service on 198Khz - let's hope lots of people stall or refuse having smart meters 73s My Friend

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Me too my friend! Hopefully there will be further delays to thw switch off...

[@davidsradioroom9678]

The UK's 198 frequency is a national asset. It covers the whole country and would be indispensable in an emergency

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

100% agree David! 73

[@NorthPhilosopher]

Hi, as for Poland - it is not the case of the insufficient FM or DAB+ infrastructure, as the country coverage by the former media is circa 100% and by the latter - over 86% (as of the mid 2024, considering the availability per capita), saying nothing about the internet. And "the Polskie Radio 1" is present on each of these mentioned networks. As far as I know, the key reason of keeping it on LW (and currently there are no plans of cutting the LW transmission) is to offer an easy and reliable (in any conditions) access to Poles or those who understand Polish or just simply like to listen to it, living or staying in other countries of Europe or even on other continents (I believe it can also be received in North Africa or even on the East Coast of North America, at night). The second reason is (I am convinced about it and have heard of it many times) a contingency plan for any events of natural or "artificial" disasters which might ruin the sophisticated network facilities mentioned above, leaving the population with no source of any information or contingent communication. Long live also BBC4!!! 73!

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks for your really good comments. I get the rationale for keeping a LW transmission and totally agree with it! The BBC should keep Radio 4 for reasons of national security, if nothing else! 73

[@robertdec3713]

I'm from Poland and I must say that you are 100% right. "Polskie Radio 1" is everywhere on FM and DAB+ here. LW transmission is for europe and in case of w. . I don't know where the 700kW came from in the list, as far as I know the transmitter constantly works with 1MW power.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Polski Radio booms into Oxford. I listen to them nearly every night.

[@lacemi]

"It’s my favorite wave. I grew up with it since I was young. It was my youth, it was my hobby. It’s a shame that longwave is coming to an end. I don’t understand how expensive it is for them to shut it down."

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I know exactly what you mean - to me it means more than money and for the UK, 198 kHz is a national asset. 73

[@arcticradio]

I’m trying my hardest to get on air with good power. I have only managed low power tests. If money was no object I could have had 1.5MW right now two Tram 750’s……..I can dream.

[@johncrawford6640]

All the best with it. I see you use a Kenwood R2000, what's your opinion of it for SWL?? Thanks.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

We look forward to hearing you my friend. 73

[@arcticradio]

@@OxfordShortwaveLog Even today I have had talks with a former broadcaster about a Longwave transmitter so I work on this project at every spare moment I get. I don’t think anybody is trying as hard as me to get on air 😅

[@arcticradio]

@@johncrawford6640The R2000 is a good receiver, I’ve enjoyed using mine. I mostly now use the JRC NRD535DG though as it’s much better. If you can get an R2000 for under 200 euros it’s a good buy but there may be better radios for the money as you go up in price.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I'm sure of that my friend. Fingers crossed you achieve the (almost) impossible and get on air! 73

[@Blutnase]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@conorburns5956]

Did Algeria come back on 198? I thought that went off the air years ago. Guess I'll have to use the sounds app for listening to the today show in the morning when R4 leaves LW, as I'm well outside the reach of FM.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I guess they did although I've no chance of hearing them under BBC R4. 73

[@conorburns5956]

@OxfordShortwaveLog Thanks, I'll try picking it up on an SDR in southern Spain. Fairly sure 153 is also very intermittent. I really hope BBC stays going on 198 for a little while longer. As for MW there's a few Talk Sport transmitters going shortly as I'm sure you're aware by now.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

That's a good idea - if they're on-air, you should be able to copy them over R4 in Southern Spain. Yes, I think about half a dozen of the Talk Sport transmitters are closing, but it won't affect me - well not yet. 73

[@conorburns5956]

​@OxfordShortwaveLog No signs of Algeria on 153 or 198 tonight anyway. As for Talksport I don't really follow football so closing MW transmitters doesn't really affect me but either way it's not a good sign of the way things are going...

[@foobarf8766]

Here in the Pacific (NZ) the BBC world service stopped their Singapore station I think. Does the book mention the BBC frequency schedule? I haven't been able to get the world service for a few months going by the PDF on their website, but I can receive ABC, NHK, the NIST WWV (and I think I hear North Korea jamming NHK).

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Check out this link and then I'll check out the book later. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2x9tqt6mc05vB2S37j8MWMJ/global-short-wave-frequencies

[@audiophileman7047]

I hate to see any decline in broadcast radio independent of the internet. Are you familiar with Arctic 252 (252 KHz) out of Finland? They're a LW broadcaster that is attempting to bring back LW broadcast in Europe. It looks like they're facing some delay due to technical challenges and are seeking assistance with broadcast gear and antenna design and construction improvements. For a LW fan like you, it's worth following and offering assistance if you're able. When this is running, the reach could be over the arctic into Alaska, Scotland, and the West Coast of the U.S. where I live. I would love to hear their broadcasts. Hope they get it to work and buck the trend! 💪👊

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi yes, I'm aware of Arctic 252 - I've been in touch and remain hopeful that we will hear the signal soon. 73

[@audiophileman7047]

@ Good job, I'm not surprised that you're aware and encouraging them. I really hope it works out ,even if just for Europe. 73

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks, yes, totally! 73

[@KarlWitsman]

Here in the States, longwave was always a goal for me to tune in. I got some weak signals back in the 1980s, but now there is so much local noise, I caught perhaps one. Kind of a bucket list thing for me.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Keep listening my friend, you never know! 73

[@currentsitguy]

@@OxfordShortwaveLog Occasionally I can get a very weak Chaine 1 at night here in the western part of Pennsylvania, but conditions have to be just right.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Great DX for your QTH!! 73

[@TomSherwood-z5l]

i have a couple of beacon receivers that can tune down to 190 and can receive local/regional aero beacons but have never heard a LW broadcast in N. America. The only voice I recall is when I was a boy the beacons would sometimes have aero weather broadcasts repeating. I suspect I never will hear any, even with these reasonably decent receivers, unless I somehow end up out in a quiet rural area with a very long wire. Not in the cards I think.

[@Dazzwidd]

Large tuned loop antenna

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Obviously we are talking about very long wavelengths, so either a wideband active magnetic loop or a very long wire - a quarter wave of 198 kHz is not much less than 500 metres!

[@Dazzwidd]

@@OxfordShortwaveLog I have played a lot with homemade tuned magnetic loop antennas on medium wave. Also played a little on long wave with the aircraft beacons. They are the way to go for low frequencies because you have the option to orient them to reject interfering signals and QRN. I've done a lot of other experiments with other arrangements using differential amplifiers etc. but passive tuned loops are extremely good. What you want is a receiver that must have an external antenna connected to receive anything in the first place then you can feed it what you want it to receive and have your loop antenna on a gimbal/tripod arrangement

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I have also experimented with resonant passive loop antennas - they work very well indeed, even indoors. You need an LCR meter to check the inductance etc., but worth the effort. 73

[@RobPetty622]

An Icom 7200 advert from Gigaparts just appeared as I watched your video. How old is this and how did it pop up from years past?

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

This video was posted a couple of days ago!

[@timmoore60]

There’s also Arctic 252 in Finland at 1 kW. There more of a privately owned and run almost hobby station.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Yes I know and he's working very hard to get on-air.

[@marknesselhaus4376]

Yeah, Longwave has been disappointing for me here on the east coast of the US. I only seem to hear a few beacons and nothing else. I do have quite a lot of electrical noise in my area and that does not help.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Noise at longwave frequencies can be troublesome for sure. Here in Europe the few stations still on the band have strong signals so it's ok. I remember hearing various beacons on the band the last time I was in California (2019). 73

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

As you say, all very sad. I'm determined to hang on to my old electric meter until it is compulsory to have a smart meter. At present, you can't be forced to change meters but that may not always be the case.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I think this might delay the shutting down of R4...I've read as much recently, which, of course, is great news!

[@LouiseBrooksBob]

Apparently electric meters have an expiry date for accreditation and they are forcing people to accept smart meters that way. I got an email from the electricity supplier to that effect last month.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

That's right.

[@evanleeturner]

I am getting into the hobby now in my 40s. Seems there is a bit of comeback, but from the prepper community.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Great stuff!

[@evanleeturner]

@ I was going to buy the book, but its 69 $ on Amazon, wow!!!

[@wmitrader]

$50+ for the WRTH. It used to be at a reasonable price. Not anymore.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

It's a niche publication - but important for the hobby.

[@SWRadio36]

It seems that until some time the upper limit of long waves was not 283, but 400 kHz. 73!

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I think it was in some regions, yes.

[@SWRadio36]

@OxfordShortwaveLog I think that broadcasting on LW will continue for a long time. I remember in 2003 it was predicted that the tropical bands would be empty by 2014. So, it's 2025, and there are fewer stations in the tropics, but they still exist. 73!

[@bill-2018]

I'd say it's all frequencies except v.h.f. where there are many local stations on now. Short wave is nothing like it was when I listened in the 1970's and 80's when every European country had a s.w. station. On a good note perhaps our frequency allocations could be made larger on 472 kHz and 136 kHz to get away from other powerful users around those frequencies. G4GHB.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks, Bill, good comments. 73

[@bonnetdedouche437]

Still no sign of Arctic Radio on LW yet. The main one you can get easily is Châine 3 on 252 LW. Plus BBC Radio 4 of course. Châine 3 from Tipaza transmitter is immensely powerful. It's French language, but they play some eclectic music on it, particularly late at night. Manx on MW sometimes comes in strong late at night. Also the BBC Midwinter special is usually good from Wooferton and St Helena. Still not got my WRTH 2025 as I'm still grumpy with them 😅😂

[@arcticradio]

@@bonnetdedouche437 Arctic will be on air at some point. As I have mentioned I’ve been messed around with transmitters and time wasters. It’s ready to go as I get a transmitter.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Yes, I hear all of those stations and it's a pleasure to just relax with them on in the background. My WRTH was also delayed - the guys at the Radio Data Centre need to sort out their supply chain. 73

[@bonnetdedouche437]

@ good stuff, looking forward to hearing the Longwave revival in 2025! Wishing you all the good luck and best wishes for the project. How will you cope with the immense power from Chaine 3 in the region though?

[@bonnetdedouche437]

@ ah I've not ordered yet. I'll eventually pick up a copy though as despite their issues communicating to customers re: sending in updates, you are right, if we don't support the book it'll die and we'll be left with nothing. They need to up their game a bit though on the comms front and engage with their audience else it'll continue to draw apathy and drop off. 73 de EI3LH

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Exactly. I hope it arrives quickly when you do get around to ordering a copy. 73 de M0OXF

[@shayne109]

sad isn't it but don't forget the possible launch of Arctic 252 i hope that happens.

[@audiophileman7047]

I'm looking forward to and hoping for Arctic 252 as well, since I may be able to pick them up on the West Coast of the U.S. where I live.

[@arcticradio]

@@shayne109 It will happen but I’ve been let down with transmitters, empty offers that have wasted my time.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Not forgotten - looking forward to trying to catch their signal!

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Do you want to borrow one of my 100W rigs?! I've got an old Icom you can use...? It only TXs on sideband though!

[@arcticradio]

@@OxfordShortwaveLog I could transmit on SW as I have open TX on my Kenwood TS-430S but it only has a max of 25W on AM but maybe a linear amp would do the trick. SW is easy though 😅

[@andyf750]

Didn't the BBC relaunch the World Service on Short Wave in Ukraine? It would be useful to keep BBC Radio 5 Live on 693 & 909 MW and 198 Long Wave. Old technology has its uses in a crisis.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I'm sure they did launch a service that could be heard in Ukraine. Agree those AM stations should remain.