Posted by STx on October 27, 2009, 10:24 am, in reply to "Re: Big signal on 1395 !!"
Hi Phil,
Re your comment on pirates using the LF end of the band. Here at radio albatross we have experimented with frequencies at both ends of the band from 1566 to 531, both ends have their strong points and difficulties. The challenge at the LF end is to get your antenna working without it being visible for miles and within the capabilities of you average tree climber. typically the same 'small' antenna will only be 1/10 as efficient at 531 compared with 1566. Associated with the poorer efficiency is the local reception. It will certainly not be particularly good compared with the HF end and will be anoraky within a few miles of the Tx to most fairly deaf ferrite rod equipped radios. Local noise from broadband lines and power supplies adds to the crud at the LF end. On the positive side as you point out the groundwave attenuation is much less and on balance will ultimately get your signal further across the country. The result of all this is that the audience for your transmission at LF is likely to be enthusiasts with loop antennas scattered around the countryside which is fine by me because we are an enthusiasts station.whereas operating at HF your coverage area is smaller but far better defined The signal is going to be crisper over the local area, and electrical noise is lower and thats great for services like WNKR providing a valuable alternative to networked stations where profit and listener numbers are everything to the detriment of the quality and extent of the playlist. So you pick your frequency according to what you hope to achieve and of course what is available.
As we approach the winter months and more hours of darkness the ground wave suffers from skywave interference much earlier and I notice that our 567khz transmissions are only really clear for about 2 miles before the sproggies set in after about 5pm. Again this is where the HF end scores in that the skywave from a station operating at the HF end can usually be heard elsewhere in the UK at night providing the channel is reasonably clear e.g Alfs reports of WNKR and Energy on 1395. I would be very suprised if Albatross on 567 can be heard at all at night other than within a stonesthrow of the aerial.
all the best
STx
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