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Irreplaceable Valves: The transmitter relies on high-power vacuum tubes (valves). These components are no longer manufactured, and the BBC has had to exhaust global supply stocks to keep the service running. [unquote]

They are not vintage valves, vacuum IOT 'Induction-output-tubes' water-cooled

Arqiva partners THALES # TH573v rated at 270kW rf available from www.tales.fr (France)

[Quote]
​Risk of Catastrophic Failure: Because these parts are so scarce and the rest of the installation is so aged, engineers have warned that attempting to force the system to continue could lead to major electrical faults, potentially causing permanent damage to the historic transmission masts themselves ​[unquote] 198 Long-wave antenna is NOT radiated from ANY mast structure.



FACT 700ft cage :: suspended between the southern masts C+D at Droitwich - radiating R5 & former Absolute Radio 1215kHz.

[Quote]
High Power Requirements: To provide coverage across a vast geographic area, the Droitwich transmitter requires roughly 500–600 kW of electricity. [Quote]

WRONG
The pair of IOTS generate the combined 540kW r/f
LW Transmitter does not {magically} take 500-600kW from National Grid.

> If you missed this 'fake' news -


BBCs Long-wave Goodbye
This article is more than 14 years old
Radio 4's long wave goodbye
This article is more than 14 years old

Last pair of valve transmitters signal end
of 198kHz, home of BBC's Test Match Special
and Today in Parliament

A handful of specially crafted glass valves each measuring one metre high are all that is stopping the historic home of Test Match Special, Yesterday in Parliament and the Daily Service going suddenly and permanently off air. BBC Radio 4 long wave, which transmits on the 198 kilohertz frequency, relies on ageing transmitter equipment that uses a pair of the valves – no longer manufactured – to function.

The valves, at Droitwich in Worcestershire, are so rare that engineers say there are fewer than 10 in the world, and the BBC has been forced to buy up the entire global supply. Each lasts anywhere between one and 10 years, and when one of the last two blows the service will go quiet. Last week, Mark Thompson, the director-general of the BBC, signalled the beginning of the end for the 198 long-wave service.

Dan Sabbagh 9 Oct 2011