Want to create a radio station? Let's get started.
Automate your schedule, broadcast live, and track listeners from one easy-to-use platform. Welcome to Radio.co.

Imagine the scenario. Britain has been wiped out by a surprise nuclear attack.

The prime minister has been killed. Should Britain's nuclear submarine fleet launch its own missiles in retaliation?

It's a decision that will hopefully never have to be made. //

The UK has four submarines capable of carrying Trident nuclear missiles.

Since 1969, one of those subs has always been on patrol, gliding silently through the world's oceans. //

Every prime minister has to write four letters - one for each submarine. They are addressed to the Royal Navy commander on board. They are usually handwritten.

The letters are locked in a safe aboard the submarine and destroyed, unopened, every time a new prime minister comes into office.

It's not known exactly what they say.

"There are only so many options available," says Prof Seligmann

"Do nothing, launch a retaliatory strike, offer yourself to an ally like the USA or use your own judgement.

"Essentially, are you going to use the missiles or not?" //

"The submarine has to make a judgement that the UK has been hit by a nuclear strike," according to Prof Seligman.

"The commander does that by trying to make contact with the UK via Naval Command or listening out for radio signals."

It's thought one of the key tests is whether the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 is still broadcasting.

If all the checks fail, the commander will go to the safe, remove the letter and find out what the orders are.

Beginning in the early 1980s, UK homes could have electrical meters installed with a radio teleswitch attached. These switches listened for a 198 kHz signal from the BBC's Radio 4 Long Wave service, primarily broadcast from the powerful Droitwich Transmitting Station. These switches listened to 30 messages per minute, waiting for a certain 50-bit data packet to arrive that signaled that electricity was now at cheaper, off-peak rates ("tariffs" in the UK).

With this over-the-air notice, homes that bought into Economy 7 or Economy 10 (7 or 10 hours of reduced-price power) could make use of ceramic-stuffed storage heaters that stayed warm into the day, prepare hot water heaters, and otherwise make use of off-peak power. How the electrical companies, BBC, and meters worked together is fascinating in its own right and documented in a recent video by Ringway Manchester (which we first saw at Hackaday). https://hackaday.com/2025/04/10/farewell-economy-7-a-casualty-of-the-long-wave-switch-off/

But BBC Radio 4's Long Wave transmissions are coming to an end, due to both modern realities and obscure glass valves.

Two rare tungsten-centered, hand-crafted cooled anode modulators (CAM) are needed to keep the signal going, and while the BBC bought up the global supply of them, they are running out. The service is seemingly on its last two valves and has been telling the public about Long Wave radio's end for nearly 15 years. Trying to remanufacture the valves is hazardous, as any flaws could cause a catastrophic failure in the transmitters.

Rebuilding the transmitter, or moving to different, higher frequencies, is not feasible for the very few homes that cannot get other kinds of lower-power radio, or internet versions, the BBC told The Guardian in 2011. What's more, keeping Droitwich powered such that it can reach the whole of the UK, including Wales and lower Scotland, requires some 500 kilowatts of power, more than most other BBC transmission types.

As of January 2025, roughly 600,000 UK customers still use RTS meters to manage their power switching, after 300,000 were switched away in 2024. Utilities and the BBC have agreed that the service will stop working on June 30, 2025, and have pushed to upgrade RTS customers to smart meters. //

Arstotzka Ars Scholae Palatinae
8y
970
Subscriptor++

Taunted Happy Fun Ball said:
Seems like the obvious solution would be for the regulator to decree that any customer using an older meter following the shutoff will be billed at the off-peak rates for all usage.

Then watch the utilities fall all over themselves to deploy updated meters.

It's rare you can have a technological solution to a people problem, but here it is -- the last transmission before shutdown can be "switch to cheap rates". The utilities will figure it out, after all, because it might cost them money. //

jvok Smack-Fu Master, in training
3y
7

plectrum said:
This is the BBC conveniently lying because it suits them. Nautel recently-ish (2017) installed a 2MW solid-state transmitter for Antenna Hungaria on 540kHz. Their NX400 system is based on stacking phase-locked 25kW modules feeding into a combiner - just buy as many modules as you need. 600kW is no problem - at 90% efficient they're much more efficient than vacuum tubes (50-60%).

I think the bottom line is the BBC just doesn't want to spend the money, on either upgrading the transmitter or on the power bill. Which is fair enough - LW reception is only getting worse given the amount of RF smog from power supplies nowadays so there aren't so many listeners out there any more - but they should own up to it.

I completely buy the idea that the transmitter needs replacing (its 40 years old after all), and that the limited number of listeners left on longwave doesn't justify the expense. It fits with the BBCs and other broadcasters pattern of closing down other legacy services over the last few years (e.g. the local radio AMs). The content broadcast on 4LW is the same as you get on Radio 4 FM and DAB now anyway, the opt-outs (e.g. for cricket coverage) were discontinued a few years back. Hell, how many people even still own a longwave radio?

I get a serious case of Gell-Mann amnesia reading that Guardian article though. I get the impression that the author heard some off-hand comment about the transmitter using valves and decided to turn it into some "OMG critical BBC infrastructure is still using old school valves" story. Even calling them glass valves (which isn't accurate) to invoke images of us all gathering round the wireless like its still the 1930s. When in reality high power transmitters using valves is pretty normal and they're still manufactured today. But of course the public doesn't know that so it still makes for a good story. //

video series on how the 900MHz system in the US works.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYlhncU2MojDY9gxU36pxNVkiylGGcbwq&si=D0j-q_xzW_uuYAQp

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has put the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio on notice that he has ordered an investigation into those outlets for violating federal law by airing paid advertisements. //

As Carr says in his letter, it is one thing to credit underwriters, but you cross the line into advertisement when they "promote the contributor's products, services, or businesses, and they may not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, or inducements to buy, sell, rent, or lease." //

Musicman
24 minutes ago
Let them run all the advertising they want...and cut off ALL government funding. I remember when this all started as “educational” TV. Ha! Now it’s propaganda TV and radio.

We're quality-obsessed radio programmers and music collectors with decades of on-air experience at top-rated major market stations, networks, and program syndicators. In this company's 16 years, we've delivered over 15,000 music libraries or fresheners to radio stations worldwide

Radio stations get the best music in the world from RadioMusic's 117,000 songs. Sold to on-air & Internet stations with music licenses ONLY.

The World ’s Most Comprehensive
and Up-to-Date Guide to Broadcasting

La Société suisse de radiodiffusion (SSR) est créée le 24 février comme organisation faîtière des sociétés régionales de radio. Le Conseil fédéral octroie à la SSR une concession exclusive pour diffuser des émissions radio en Suisse.

Radio Television Switzerland

Radiologik is a system suitable for both live DJing and 24/7 radio automation on the Mac that uses the Music app (or iTunes in previous macOS versions) as its database and those playlists as the logical building blocks for sophisticated programming.

Radiologik was developed for and is used in LPFMs, NCE-FM, college and high school stations, and online stations. It's also used by radio and live venue DJs, Sirius/XM channels, and is licensed to users in over 60 countries. Fully automated and unmanned stations use Radiologik to pick content by date, intro and outro artists and titles, announce the time, station ID, play podcasts, manage and play advertising by a separate schedule that integrates with the programming schedule, all completely autonomously. //

1. Radiologik DJ Download here

• Radiologik DJ can be used by itself as a DJ program for live events. It is also the player Radiologik Scheduler uses to make a full-time automated radio station.

Equally good: Live or full automation

• Radiologik is meant to be an equally good live assist and full automation DJ for radio so you can walk right in and take over and leave as you wish.

3 hot changeable audio outputs and 1 preview

• Radiologik DJ's primary is the program queue which essentially uses the first 2 players and the third for tight fits and voiceovers. It has 3 on-air players which can be sent directly to 3 distinct audio outputs with the right hardware. You get one more 4th audio output meant for off air used by the library player for previewing and properties player for editing ramp, start, stop, overlap, etc. //

2. Radiologik Scheduler Download here

• You can use the scheduler to run a 24/7 automated terrestrial or internet station. Basic and Advanced features are the same download and can be switched from the application menu.

• It uses iTunes/Music as its database utilizing playlists and particularly smart playlists for song selection with its own top logic using a weekly schedule.

• Radiologik Scheduler Basic is Free with DJ. It supports picks and fills from iTunes/Music playlists with time instructions, artist separation, unique track checking, and best fit exact time searching for top of the hour placement for station IDs or other arbitrary times.

• Radiologik Scheduler Advanced is a mode for scheduler which further supports voiceover intros and outros for specific tracks, artists, albums. It includes support of scheduling spot/ad flight runs, podcast subscribe and play, silence sensor, date matching track titles, and time announcements and sells for just $96.00.

A few months ago, our AM radio hot dog experiment went mildly viral. That was a result of me asking my Dad 'what would happen if you ground a hot dog to one of your AM radio towers?' He didn't know, so one night on the way to my son's volleyball practice, we tested it. And it was awesome.

There's a video and some pictures in my hot dog radio blog post from back in March.

Fast forward a few months and one Open Sauce later, and Jay from Plasma Channel visited us in St. Charles, MO, for round two—where my Dad and I were prepared to measure (almost) everything: SWR, RF forward power, SDR on site, AM field intensity 25km (16mi) away, meat thermals, and—courtesy of Jay—some taste testing!

Our OTR Library and Rotations

We play the widest variety of any old time radio station on the internet!

At one time or another most MF and LF operators have had an accident with their antenna systems where fire was involved. As a member of this club, I can say that its never fun when something burns up as it usually happens in a difficult to reach and repair location. Below are images from a few members of this hallowed club. Check back regularly as I expect the offerings to grow over time.

On this page you can listen to and control a short-wave receiver located at the amateur radio club ETGD at the University of Twente. In contrast to other web-controlled receivers, this receiver can be tuned by multiple users simultaneously, thanks to the use of Software-Defined Radio.

Fibber McGee and Molly - 400305 (238) Cleaning Hall Closet (Gracie Allen)
Originally broadcast Tuesday March 5th, 1940

All right, but that radish, you might have been more careful with.

Quick, help!

There's funny little insects all over me.

Brush 'em off, quick.

Oh, calm yourself, calm yourself.

them are my trout flies. [laughter] Doggone it, Molly, why did you have to go and mess up?

[knocking] Oh, dear, come in.

Pepper McGee and Molly?

Yes.

Tell me, with all these radio shows being changed, is it true that you're going to cut your program down to a half hour?

What do you mean, cut it down?

It's only a half hour now.

What?

Boy, it sure seems like an hour. [laughter] Well, as the guy says, when he fell off of the horse and heard something bust, that sounded to me like a rib. [laughter] Well, never mind that now.

We're going to go through that pile of whatnots and throw everything out we don't need.

Oh, yeah?

Well, I've been through this stuff a hundred times and there ain't a thing of it that I can spare.

Oh, there isn't?

No.

What's this old rusty horseshoe for?

Well, I found that in 19-aught-11. [laughter] As soon as I find three more, we can pitch horseshoes in the backyard. [laughter] I see, you expect to find three more, huh?

You betcha.

You don't think the automobile is here to stay, eh?

[laughter] Won't be if we don't catch up with the payments. [laughter]

Well, McGee, I've about exhausted my impatience with you.

Why?

Packing all this useless junk back in that closet.

How about these old books?

Let's see them.

Oh, them.

Well, that's my correspondence course in taxidermy.

Taxidermy.

Why on earth did you want to study taxidermy?

Well, how did I know it meant stuffing birds in animals?

And there I was, stuck with a chauffeur's license, a city map, and a pair of puttees.

Well, hurry up and put your playthings back in the closet.

Okay.

Looks terrible laying around here on the floor with it.

I'll get it. [phone ringing] Hello?

No, this is the McGee residence.

You got the wrong number.

Oh, is that you, Mert?

Oh.

He gadd every week the same thing.

Apologies to skinny Ennis.

How's every little thing, Mert?

What say?

Your Uncle Gulliver.

Oh, that's too bad, Mert.

Oh, my.

And they ain't found the body yet, eh?

Oh, heavenly days, McGee.

What happened?

Mert's uncle drove his car off a cliff and had to walk home.

They found the chassis up in a tree, but they don't know where the body is.

What say, Mert?

Oh, that's okay, Mert.

Everybody has the wrong number now and then, except Irving Berlin.

Well, now, let's see.

McGee, why are you saving this long stick of bamboo?

Why, Molly, that's got a very definite purpose.

If I was offered a job as sparring partner for Joe Lewis, that's the 10-foot pole I wouldn't touch it with.

Welcome Good Old Days subscribers!
Please find below your free downloads. You can click on the links to listen online or RIGHT click and choose “Save As” to download to your desktop:

Classic Radio Club
High quality audio of your favorite classic radio shows, Delivered Monthly

All 218 episodes in pristine audio quality (including more than 50 LOST episodes) transferred directly from the Ziv 16 inch discs //

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: This private collection of discs is uniquely rare. The vast majority of these discs are un-played! No needle has ever touched them. There are no scratches or damage so the surface noise is low to none. Normally, a transcription disc has two sides and if the episode is 30 minutes long, you have part 1 on one side and part 2 on the flip side. With matched discs, you need two discs to get two complete 30 minute episodes. One disc has (for example) part 1 of episode 19 on one side and the flip side is part 1 of episode 20. The second disc holds both part 2s.

The odds of finding a single disc in un-played condition is slim. The odds of finding a matched pair of discs in un-played condition is nearly impossible. The odds of locating an entire series of matched discs in un-played condition is one in a million and finding 41 complete series of discs of this condition is one in a billion. That is how rare this opportunity is. I can not stress this enough. This truly is finding an old-time radio Unicorn. To let this opportunity pass — to not save — and not create THE definitive sets of these Ziv radio series, would be an absolute tragedy. I am doing everything I can to prevent tragedy, one series at a time, with YOUR help!

All our apps use this same stream. But if you just need the URL, here it is:

https://streams.radiomast.io/844b0a81-f4b9-485e-adaa-aab8d3ea9f7f

Stream Details

• 64 kbps
• AAC encoded, better-than-FM quality at 64 kbps
• Icecast

The benefits of using a voltage audio transmission system in broadcast facilities is investigated. State of the art microphone preamplifier requirements and an ideal voltage system distribution amplifier are outlined. The application of the Peak Program Meter to the new systems and the modified installation at WABC-TV are covered.
Introduction

Over the years, many audio practices have been followed without anyone asking WHY? or IS THERE A BETTER WAY?

The [then (i.e. 1980)] present [but now deprecated] standard for Broadcast Audio Systems is EIA Standard RS 219 [1]. In light of the fact that the [then] current standard was published in 1959 (and this was merely a reaffirmation of an earlier standard), one might imagine that in relation to today's common audio practices, it is somewhat archaic.

I'll start our D-Day Memorial Broadcast around 5:00 pm EDT on the evening of June 5th and it'll run through June 7th.

Since Eastern Daylight Savings Time is the same as Eastern War Time, the NBC D-Day Broadcasts will begin at roughly the correct time of 2:45 am on June 6th.

The Antioch Broadcasting Network (ABN)
Playing today's date in history when available