Broadcaster Shuts Longwave Radio Transmitter in Iceland

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A longwave radio transmitter in Iceland has been shut down and demolished, as Iceland phases out that form of broadcast.

A team of police stood nearby to oversee safety concerns.

Destruction of the mast, standing 218 metres, Iceland's third tallest structure, took place because of a decline in the number of listeners to longwave radio broadcasts. The transmitter had been operated on 207 kHz by the Icelandic broadcaster RUV, which is now giving priority to FM.

Another RUV transmitter will continue operating for a little longer in West Iceland on 189 kHz. This is Iceland's tallest structure at 412 metres. There are also plans for that transmitter to close, once FM broadcast replace all of its functions.

The impetus for the change is being driven in part by Iceland's Civil Defence and other organisations looking to improve emergency notification capabilities. That role is going to be transferred to FM, which is slowly being upgraded throughout Iceland.

Ofcom Plan of Work

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Ofcom has published a statement on its proposed Plan of Work for the year 2023 to 2024. The statement describes plans for a review of amateur licensing arrangements. According to the document, consultation on the work is planned for the first quarter of the year. A subsequent statement is scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year. Once more details are available, the RSGB will review the consultation and provide guidance to UK amateurs on how to respond to Ofcom.

You can read the statement in full on the Ofcom website - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2023/ofcom-publishes-its-plan-of-work-for-202324

Echo of BBC’s first broadcast in Scotland 100 years ago is heard from centenary event at Pacific Quay

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Echo of BBC’s first broadcast in Scotland 100 years ago is heard from centenary event at Pacific Quay

An echo of the BBC’s first broadcast in Scotland 100 years ago today has been picked up internationally by radio amateurs in a special event to mark the centenary.

From an attic in Bath Street, Glasgow, on 6 March, 1923, John Reith, the general manager of the British Broadcasting Company – as it was then known – announced that “5SC was calling”.

That was the callsign for listeners to Station 5SC - a radio service which launched the broadcaster’s programming in Scotland.

And to celebrate the anniversary, the BBC Amateur Radio Group and West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society have been running an event which features the original callsign for that first audience who were listening on their crystal radio sets.

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