End of service - Long Wave

[whole diary]

[Trowres]

At 01:00 this morning, 27th June 2026, Radio 4 transmissions on 198kHz (long wave) ceased.

There was no special ceremony; just the usual end of day: "Sailing by" introducing the shipping forecast; the National Anthem; the time signal.

A few seconds silence, then a repeating closure information loop.

I decided to wallow in a bit of nostalgia (like a final train service day) and listened to this on a GEC transistor radio that is around 65 years old, like this one: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/general_el_bc502bc_50.html

This same radio has been in the family since I was a tiny tot. It was with me at university and relayed the results of the 1979 election that brought Margaret Thatcher to power.

In the days of e-waste mountains, it is a testament to how long electronic equipment can last.

[grahame]

The end of 1500m Long Wave feels like the end of an era.  Many happy and some not-so-happy times shared with Radio 4, including the start and end of broadcast times.

[Ralph Ayres]

It did get a mention on the previous night's 6 o'clock news but it's disappointing that they didn't mark it at least in a quiet way at the time. I was away from home without access to a LW radio so didn't tune in, but I'm glad I hadn't made a special effort given the lack of any real farewell.

[stuving]

The end of 1500m Long Wave feels like the end of an era.  Many happy and some not-so-happy times shared with Radio 4, including the start and end of broadcast times.

It is particularly the end of an era as it is the last west European long wave service to close. The nearest I can find still operating are in Poland, Romania, and north Africa. The last age of the era started in 1988, when the relay transmitters at Burghhead and Westerglen opened. At the same time all the national allocated frequencies shifted (mostly by 2 kHz) and the wavelengths became unround numbers (so not 1500 M, but still 1.5 km). 

I remember that as Westerglen was close enough I could see it while diving to work. At the time I was listening to France Inter from Allouis (164/162 kHz), which was swamped by local competition until I worked out how to exclude it. Allouis's transmitter power got up to 2 Mz by then, but the electricity bills for what was essentially a cloud heater became too much and it was turned down, and then off in 2016 (there is now a time signal).

In the pre-internet age it was the most reliable way to listen to other European countries' radios, without the complexity of receiving on short wave (which was not domestic services in any case).

[bobm]

The frequency changes in November 1978 may have moved frequencies by 2kHz but it also saw a change of slot for many BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) National Radio stations - Radio 4 took over the old Radio 2 Long Wave position, while Radio 3 took over Radio 1's famous 247 wavelength.

There was even a song about it.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbSMMNVOT0o

[patch38]

It did get a mention on the previous night's 6 o'clock news but it's disappointing that they didn't mark it at least in a quiet way at the time.

It did get a quiet mention. The duty continuity announcer Al Ryan finished reading the shipping forecast and then briefly paid tribute to the long wave service and the three transmitters - Droitwich, Burghead and Westerglen. Then the national anthem, the GTS and that was that.

[eightonedee]

Nostalgia moment…

My most vivid Long Wave moment was on a Danish campsite, near Aabenraa late in July 1977. A friend and I, both keen birdwatchers, went on a camping holiday across the Channel, to Belgium, Netherlands, West Germany and Denmark and back, my ageing Mini and his tent. I took my old transistor radio with me, I cannot remember why, but this was during the 1977 Test series against Australia, so I guess in hope that we might pick on some cricket commentary, as it was on 1500 Long Wave in those days.

On the first day of the Trent Bridge Test, I switched it on and put it up on the roof of the car, and with a bit of dial twiddling, ariel extension and moving the radio around a crackly signal was obtained. The big news of the day? A promising young Somerset cricketer called Iain Botham had been selected for his first test.

We were travelling back to the Netherlands over the next few days, and at each stop we were able to tune in for ever-clearer commentary as England secured victory. Happy days…. 

[Witham Bobby]

All was well with the world, wherever I was driving in Europe, as long as I could hear Christopher Martin Jenkins or Brian Johnston.  Instant transportation to The Oval, or Headingley or wherever other blessed turf.  Sometimes even Priory Bridge Road

[CyclingSid]

I remember listening to LW in BAOR^▸ (British Army Of the Rhine - stationed there after the War(s)). It somehow seemed more British than World Service, no doubt because of the familiar programs.

The inability to broadcast the 17:53 shipping forecast during the week is BS. If they got rid of all the "commercials" that now plague PM there would be adequate time.

[JayMac]

I'm assuming from the context that BAOR^▸ (British Army Of the Rhine - stationed there after the War(s)) is British Army of the Rhine?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes: I think we were there to remind the Germans of the error of their ways. As well as our Long Wave UK^▸ (United Kingdom) radio transmissions, obviously.

I remember a radio series of 'Forces Challenge', where a quiz pitched teams from different armed forces units against each other.  That may have been on Long Wave - or possibly Radio 4.

CfN^▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum). 

[ChrisB]

Radio 4 was carried on 1500metres Long wave

[Western Pathfinder]

I have a memory of listening to Forces Challenge on BFBS,along with A Jolly Good Show with DLT.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, chaps. I'm now feeling like a really old git.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm assuming from the context that BAOR^▸ (British Army Of the Rhine - stationed there after the War(s)) is British Army of the Rhine?

With thanks for your post, JayMac, I have now added BAOR to our 'abbreviations & acronyms' page.