You didn't mention this bit!!!
Radio Caroline looks to the future
by Lawrie Hallett October 26, 2023 9 min read
The M.V. Ross Revenge at anchor. Photo: Colm O’Laoi
NORWICH, England — Always outside the mainstream, Radio Caroline, launched back in 1964 as the United Kingdom’s first offshore “pirate” radio station, continues to challenge perceived wisdom within the radio industry. While many other European broadcasters are gradually closing their AM outlets, Radio Caroline is successfully moving in the opposite direction.

Although also operating on DAB and online and recently adding terrestrial DTV coverage across England, the station’s main 648kHz AM site at Orfordness on the Suffolk Coast of the U.K. remains central to its operations. This facility, audible across southeast England and parts of France and the Benelux countries, saw a power increase just two years ago. The station is also investigating additional AM facilities and securing additional licenses, with a view to providing its online and DAB gold service “Caroline Flashback” to a wider audience.

Since completing the previous 6dB power increase in late 2021, the station has continued investing in the Orfordness transmitter site. In June 2022, it installed solar panels with a maximum generating capacity of 26 kilowatts. At present, Orfordness requires some 12kW of power for the totality of its operations, meaning that the station can also obtain additional income by generating excess power and exporting it back to the energy grid. The solar installation at Orfordness is designed with future capacity increases in mind. It would, for example, be possible to operate a second frequency from the site (as was previously the case when the BBC also used 1296kHz there).

Given its “pirate” past, it is perhaps unsurprising that questions remained over its ownership when the vessel first returned to U.K. waters.

Proposed power boost

Earlier this year, in light of the continued success of its AM operations, Radio Caroline approached the United Kingdom’s broadcast regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), with proposals to further increase its radiated power on 648kHz. Ofcom initially rejected the proposal but, in its response, pointed out that a new U.K. Media Bill is currently being drafted, which might impact the future of AM broadcasting regulation. The regulator expressed the view that it would “be happy to have an open conversation to consider various matters with regard to content delivery” once it has “a better idea of how this may impact our responsibilities in utilizing this spectrum.”

Radio Caroline remains confident of a positive outcome. More immediately, Ofcom plans to consult on its analog engineering code later this year. The work will include a review of AM technical parameters. Considering the need to counter the increasing levels of interference experienced by AM listeners, this could, for example, lead to a change in the signal level deemed to constitute the daytime coverage contour. Currently considered to be 66dBuV (2mV per meter), a move to, say, 72dBuV would provide a clear engineering rationale for further increases in transmitted power levels.