Hi Mike, I thought I would drop you a line about another easy build and cheap antenna design, it's for v.h.f./u.h.f. but can be scaled up to h.f.  As your web pages are used very often by myself, and quite a few other M3s and M6s that I know of in my area, as a great reference point for home brew antennas "a big thank you from me personally"

After the recent 100mph plus high winds here in the North of England, due to a dangerously bent pole, my 2m/70cm 4 element beam on the roof had to come down for safety reasons; I have been looking for an easy lightweight cheap home-brew (DIY) vertical antenna to replace it and relocate the beam to an easy access wall bracket on the side of the house. During my search I came across a very interesting webpage from down under (VK) which is well worth a look and could be a good antenna to include within your information. I hope it interests you.

Personally, so far, I have made a v.h.f. "slim jim" antenna, many end fed fishing pole HF verticals and a large fishing pole HF delta (which is also down after the winds) but definitely the best yet for my very poor RF location (QTH).
The Flower Pot Antenna: http://vk2zoi.com

Regards and 73, Phil M6MRP
[January 2012]

Hi Phil, Very many thanks for your email. I am glad that some of the pointers on my web pages have helped you and your friends.

When I first started out looking for a suitable antenna I did find it quite a daunting task to sift the wheat from the chaff, as it were. Ther is an awful lot of chaff out there - as you have probably found! I am very sorry to read that you suffered damage in the recent high winds. That must be very frustrating indeed for you.

I have a rather tall pole on the side of the house with a short 2/70 collinear mounted on top and I have to admit that I was certainly rather worried about it. However it survived I'm relieved to say. As a precaution before the winds arrived,  I had reduced the height of the sectionalised fibreglass Tecadi pole that I use to support my Inverted L, and reduced my telescopic aluminium mast that holds a vertical fibreglass collinear and a 2m / 70 cm yagi to its minimum height and lashed it down. They were both, thankfully, undamaged by the ferocious winds.

You seem to find fibreglass fishing poles as useful as I do! They really are great for both experiments and permanent installations. Thanks for the heads up to the http://vk2zoi.com site. The flowerpot looks very interesting indeed! I will have a good look through that information and put a link on the web pages. Great idea!

Thanks again for your really excellent email. Say hello to your fellow radio amateurs from me - and keep up your experiments. Brilliant stuff.

Cheers and 73
Mike
MØMTJ

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Hi Mike, After another trip down memory lane on your site I have something else to contribute to the BRMB pages. Firstly apologies, it wasn't Sue Foster in the newsroom but Sue Todd of course, the wife of the late John Russel. Blame my faulty memory.

2nd - you might be interested in posting the attached pic of me circa 1976 when I was in the newsrom.  See this page > .

3rdly - I note mention of George Gavin doing sport but whatever happened to George Reeves who assisted Tony Butler?

Re Tony Blackburn, I presume his stint at XTra-AM was short?
Whatever happened to Allan Nin?

Would love to hear from people like Rob Golding and Colin Palmer again. I will be in the UK in July for three months and would welcome the opportunity to catch up with any former colleagues at BRMB 1975-1977.

Regards,
John Rogers.
BRMB Newsroom, Aston Cross, 1975-1976.  [January 2012]

Hi John, Many thanks for the photograph and more thoughts about BRMB. I hope that more BRMB people will get in touch and help answer your questions - so let's through it out and kick it around! Please get in touch here >

It's such a shame that BRMB has pretty much met it's demise in all but name - and that could go by April 2012, if it's not all a desperate publicity stunt by a now beleaguered management!  So sad.

Thanks again John. All the best, Mike.

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Hi Mike, 

Some stations in the UK came through in the summer of 2000 here on the island of Oland in south east Sweden.

Here is a recording from  June 11th 2000 on 96.4 MHz vhf/FM at 19:38 hrs:   Audio file: BRMB received in Sweden in year 2000

Who is the nice presenter in this audio clip?

Best wishes,
Kjell Tunsater.
FM radio enthusiast.
[January 2012]

Hello Kjell, Thanks for your email and the audio recording.

The voice sounds like Stuart Ellis to me - but I have my doubts about that because I think Stuart Ellis had left BRMB by 1998, unless he was doing a 'stand in'. So, I think that it must be someone else, but I am not sure who.

I must admit that my enthusiasm for BRMB was fading by 2000. Capital Radio had bought the station some years previously (now sold on again) and the station was never as good again as it once was. I was listening occasionally in 2000 (always to the Breakfast Show with Les Ross), but I cannot accurately remember the names that were on air at that time.

It's amazing to think that you heard a local station so far away in Sweden when there must be so many other stations using 96.4. Some Sporadic E ?

I will try to think some more about that voice! In the mean time I wish you well and Good DX!

Best wishes, Mike.
P.S. I just found some air checks of Stuart Ellis on his website. Visit Stuart's website and click on "Audio Archive" and see what you think. http://www.stuartellis.co.uk

Does anyone know better. Please contact us here. Thanks!

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Hi Mike,  I absolutely loved your site regarding choices between the various multiband antennas, I thought the attention to detail was wonderful... Mind you, I'm still as confused as ever as each individual lot is obviously different?

Thank you so much for all the graft you have obviously put in,

Best regards, Mark, M6AWG [January 2012]

Thanks very much Mark - There's certainly plenty to choose from!  Best wishes, Mike.

Hi Mike, I just ran across your website, and as a fairly new ham, I want to thank you for putting so much information into one convenient page. I am just scratching the surface of your site, and look forward to spending much time sorting through all the info. I also really like your Ham station. Due to space limitations (i.e. children) , I have been forced into a small corner of my home, and it is nice to see someone running a quality station from such small corner. Now I realize I need to take my station equipment vertical, instead of horizontal!

Thank you again for the time you have put into your site. I hope to work you on the air sometime.

Best Wishes, Fred Lomax KK4BAW  [January 2012]

Dear Fred, Thank you very much indeed for your email, it's really great to hear from you. I am glad that you have found my page of interest and I hope that it may be of help to you. As you have seen, space is certainly a problem for me, both in the shack and for antennas outside. Nevertheless I have managed to squeeze it all in somehow!

I am glad that you like the idea of going vertical. It really was the only scheme that could work for me in the limited space. Good luck with you station - maybe you can tell me how you get on with arranging your shack in the future.

Thanks again. Mike.

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I response to our correspondence regarding his Rega Planar 2 turntable and replacement phono cartridge for playing a collection of vinyl records Eric writes:

Hi again. A comprehensive and generously helpful response.

Very many thanks once again for all your help and advice....more than enough to restore anyone's faith in the internet.

Best wishes
Eric
[January 2012]

Thanks Eric I am glad that I could help you get your discs spinning again so that you could play some of your favourite music.

Hi Mike, I wonder if you can help with a problem. I have attached a picture of an old amateur radio station who I believe to be a relative of my brother-in law John G3PTO. John G3PTO  (a QRP enthusiast) sadly died a couple of years ago. The station is possibly that of 2QW which I believe was located in the West Midlands area. Can you help with identifying the approximate date of the picture from the equipment or provide any further leads?

The photograph was possibly taken before the start of World War 1, and may be of 2QW which was possibly the first licenced radio amateur in the Wolverhampton area. This photograph is believed to show his West Bromwich home. He was my father's uncle, and the morse key is still in use by myself, having been passed down to me when 2QW became a silent key.

Your comments would be much appreciated.
73, Peter G3THW.  [ December 26th 2011 ]


Hi Peter, Many thanks for your email, the photograph is fascinating.

I honestly cannot date the image, but as you've already guessed I certainly could be from the 1920's. You have probably seen the 1920's Wireless Maps of Great Britain produced by The Wireless Press Limited on the website. The callsign certainly fits in with that era, though it is not actually mentioned on the map. The photograph of station VE2BV from 1936, also on my website, shows some early radio equipment, which bears some similarities.

Sadly, however, I have no other information. A search of Google appears to draw a blank too - as you will have no doubt discovered. If anything else springs to mind I will be sure to let you know.

If anyone reading this has more information on 2QW and any other very early amateur radio stations please do contact us. Thanks.

Best wishes, Mike

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Hi Mike, I suppose it's 'Men of a certain age' but over the last couple of years I keep finding your site. I'm a Radio Amateur (G8ZWN), have an interest in pirate radio, have just got a SL1200 and I've had cats all my life and would not be without one (or 2).

Thanks for a great site and a great resource. Out of interest what Turntable mat do you use on your SL1200, mine still has the dodgy slip mat and plastic thing from it's former life as a home DJ deck. The accompanied picture was put on face book entitled 'My Cat's A Ham' and some said I set it up but I didn't. Sadly this fellow isn't with me anymore but he was a good puss and his memory lives on.

Best Regards, Michael Barrett Davies. [December 2011]

Hi Michael,  Many thanks for you kind words. We do seem to have very many things in common!

I use the standard Technics platter mat on my turntable - it's not a DJ slip mat, just standard rubber, but quite thick. I love the photo of your beautiful cat - such characters aren't they! A sad loss. We love the photograph of your cat - thanks for letting us include it on the site.

Thanks again, Mike.

Hi, I'd love you to have a picture of my old mate on the site, attached is another. I won't bombard you but I have a lot of pictures af cats that have a definite interest in technology so If I send any your way feel free to do what you want with them. Some time ago when I buried an old cat i read something on the web which went along the lines of 'Remember me in the same way you did as when I was alive' and I do for all of the things I have loved that have moved on'.

Best Regards, Michael Barrett Davies.

Thank you! We'll put your wonderful photographs on the site soon. Best wishes, Mike and Jules

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[Regarding the Vinyl Heaven pages] - Hi, I wonder if you can help me?  My husband has recently dug out all his old vinyl and his old record deck - couldn't tell you what make it is but it's a pretty good one.  Anyway we went to try and plug it into our Yamaha CRX-330 mini hifi system only to discover it doesn't have a turntable input (Pre-amp) to enable us the two together.  To be honest we're quite happy with a little hifi but it could do with updating and I'd like to buy one for him for Christmas which has a turntable input - any advice?

Hope you can help. Gill  [December 2011]

Hi Gill, Thanks for your quaestion. Sadly, as you have found, most mini and micro stereo systems do not have a dedicated turntable input. A turntable requires a special input, that has a pre-amplifier with R.I.A.A. equalisation. Some stereo systems will have a standard line-level "AUX" input than can be used to connect a device such as an mp3 player, DVD player or cassette deck etc. This type of input is not suitable for connecting a turntable directly however, but using an additional external turntable preamplifier, such as the NAD PP2 or a Pro-ject Phono Box for example, will allow the use of a turntable with a standard line leve auxilary input.

Unfortunately the Yamaha CRX-330 system has no auxilary inputs whatsoever - so you'll need a new system. I recently researched some micro hi-fi systems and was very impressed with the Denon DM38DAB. Along with FM and DAB radio tuners and CD player, the Denon system has a multitude of additional inputs: A 3.5mm stereo input jack on the front panel for connecting any MP3 player or other device; a USB port for iPod docking and control; a tape deck loop consisting of four phono sockets on the rear panel; a standard line level auxilary input consisting of a stereo pair of Phono sockets on the rear panel. It sounded very good indeed and appears to be good value for money. This could be just the system you need.

You will still need a turntable preamplifier (e.g. NAD PP2 or a Pro-ject Phono Box) to connect your turntable to the system via the rear auxilary input. Please visit a specialst hi-fi dealer such as Superfi, Sevenoaks Sound and Vision, Audio T, Sight and Sound or Richer Sounds to have a look and a listen. I am sure that such a system will suit you very well indeed. Do let me know how you get on! Mike.

Great, thanks so much for your help!

Kind regards, Gill

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Good Evening Mike, I have just read your web page with interest as I have just acquired a Palstar PS30 power supply. However it was supplied without a user manual and I have been trawling the internet looking for details. I wondered whether it would be possible for you to scan and email me a copy. I would willingly contribute to any scanning/printing costs etc.

With kind regards, Chris, M6XJP
[November 2011]

Dear Chris, Many thanks for your email, nice to hear from you. Do you have a specific question about the PSU? I do indeed have a printed copy of the manual filed away, so I have added it to the website for you here.
Best wishes, Mike, M0MTJ


Good Afternoon Mike, Thank you so much, that was most kind of you. In response to your earlier email the reason for my enquiry was that, unlike the common perception that males just connect things up and then read the manuals at their leisure(if at all), I value my gear and wanted to make sure I didn’t do anything detrimental. I know it’s only a simple PSU but better safe than sorry.

I have to congratulate you on your website – a mine of really useful information – which I have tagged for future reference. I am also extremely envious of your obvious technical ability. I have to say that since obtaining my licence in March last year (a present to myself on achieving pensionable age!) I have found nothing but friendship and endless help from the Amateur fraternity. Your kind assistance on this matter is just further proof. Many thanks once again.

Kind Regards, Chris, M6XJP
[November 2011]

Hello Chris, Thanks for your reply. It's a pleasure to help you. I hope that the information was useful. You are quite right - it is always good to read the manual before connecting and using new equipment. I usually try to download the manual and read up on the basics before even buying something new.

Thanks for the compliments on the website. I always hope it's useful to someone, even if it's only the host of useful links! I am a relative newcomer to amateur radio too, but I have spent many years with an interest in radio, SWL and things of an electronic nature. I must admit that I am no expert, there are very many more operators on the bands with vastly greater experience than I have, and a more detailed technical ability - but thank you for your compliments! I keep trying!

I hope that your experiences in amateur radio continue to be good ones. I do always try to be of help where I can, and it's rewarding when that is possible. I must say that I (like everyone I suppose) feel that there is an an opportunity to learn something new every day!  Find out more about Amateur Radio here!

Best wishes, Mike.

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Dear Mike, I wanted to send out a quick thank you letter in regards to your sundials page. I work at an after school program and your resources have been very helpful, we've been making sundials the past few days.

The students and I have been working on creating a section of our website which has fun links for kids to use at home.  I used a few of your links in there for the kids and their parents to check out, so thanks!

Sincerely, Barbara Hayes
After Skool Kids - http://afterskoolkids.org/index.html
[November 2011]

Thanks Barbara!  Mike and |Jules.

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  Hi Mike, I am thinking about beginning as a licensed radio amateur. What is the minimum equipment that I must buy? I like a Yaesu FT-897d. I'd appreciate your comments very much. Thanks in advance

Regards, Fernando Osorio
[October 2011]

Many thanks for your email Fernando. The FT-897D is an excellent transceiver. It is very versatile because it is a nice size to use as a base station radio, but it is also transportable so can be used mobile ( /M) or even portable ( /P).

What else do you need? Well.....You will need to study for your licensing exams, so a good study book from you local amateur radio society is an absolute necessity.

Once you have passed your exam and been granted your licence and obtained your call-sign from the licensing authority you will need some other things: A power supply to power the radio. A 25 amp PSU is common for this radio. You will also need an antenna or antennas for H.F. work (1.8 to 29 MHz) and an antenna for 2metre and 70cms (144 and 430 MHz). Perhaps later you might consider another antenna for 6 metres (50 MHz). For H.F. operations you will need an Antenna Matching Unit (often referred to as an ATU) to match the varying impedance of the antenna to the 50 Ohm impedance required by the  transceiver.  Many ATU's have built in VSWR and Power Meters, but if not you will need a separate, external VSWR / Power Meter. A dummy load is pretty much essential too.

You'll also need basic tools, for example: Digital multimeter (DMM), 50W Soldering iron, screwdrivers, spanners, pliers, ruler, tape measure, calculator etc. You can read more here>. I hope that helps you. Good luck with your exam and licence.

73 (Best regards)
Mike
M0MTJ

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Hi there, I have been trying (unsuccessfully for a while now) to track down a copy of the instruction manual for a Lowe HF-125 receiver.  It has just come back to me after spending the last 15 plus years in a loft and I want to fire it up again.  Any suggestions as to where I might get my hands on a copy of the manual, would be much appreciated.

Best wishes,  Tony [August 2011]

Hi Tony, Thanks for your email. I have sent you a copy of the HF125 manual as an attachment. Hope that helps and that you enjoy using your classic Lowe HF receiver again!

Wow Mike, that's brilliant. Thank you so much.

Best wishes, Tony

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Hi Mike, I chanced on your site while reading up on DAB radio as my wife and I just bought a Sony DAB, I noticed your Siamese Sienna, as we have 7 Siamese and 2 moggies. We also show some of our Siamese cats. You may like to take a look at my wife's website to see all our cats! The URL is www.lizs-lot.co.uk  Maybe if you deem it worthy you would consider putting a link to it? if you do i will make sure a link is put on it back to your website.

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  Hi, I stumbled upon your website today and I found it endlessly interesting, it is a real treasure trove of information. When I get enough time I feel I may have to try and build one of the crystal sets, and if it's easy enough try and get my Scouts to complete some. I am going to have to book mark your page and keep coming back to it as it is very interesting.

I am a bit of a radio fan myself, I volunteer at Kingstown Radio which is Hospital Radio for Hull & East Yorkshire. Thanks for putting so much time into your site, I have included a link on my homepage http://www.richardellarby.co.uk

Yours, Richard Ellarby.
(July 2011)

Hi Richard, Thank you very much for your email - glad you found our site! A crystal set is always a fascinating project and could be a very good Scouts project. Thanks for the link! Best wishes, Mike.

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  Hi Mike, That Everyday Electronics ZN414 matchbox radio brings back memories.  I made exactly the same one in the long hot summer of '76.  I first used it on a coach trip from Surrey to Devon to join my parents on holiday.  I'd stayed behind to take my driving test.  Oh to be 17 again (but with the knowledge I have now ;¬)  Andy.
(July 2011)

Hi Andy, Many thanks for your email. Oh yes - happy days. The Matchbox Radio was a great project that I enjoyed building and re-building and modifying and taking everywhere! Thanks for your own memories of the project! Find the Matchbox Radio project here

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  Hi Mike, Regarding your Vinyl Heaven pages, have you heard of this Ed Saunders 'Red Ed' in conical and elliptical versions?  They seem to be OEM versions of the Goldring Elan and Elektra!  http://www.edsaunders.com/reded.htm  Regards, Felix Scerri.

Thanks Felix - That's a great find for budget conscious vinyl lovers! Cheers, Mike.

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  Hi, While living in Ashover in the UK I used to be good pals with Penny Lowe, her Dad owned Lowe Electronics. Do you have any idea what happened to the Lowe family? I now live in Vancouver after many years in Africa and America. Any leads would be appreciated.
Thanks for any help. Simon Fellows   supachramp [at sign] yahoo.com
(July 2011)

Hi Simon, Thank you very much for your email. Sadly I cannot answer your question so I hope someone that knows reads this and can let us know!
Best wishes, Mike.

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Hi Mike, I would like to congratulate you and thank you for your uploads of BRMB recordings from 80s and 90s. I was particularly interested in the George Gavin and Tom Ross football phone ins. I was a keen listener and never missed a show and never thought that I would hear them again until I came across your website. 

Kind Regards, Bobby. (June 2011)

Hi Bobby, Thank you for your kind comments - glad you enjoyed the BRMB archives! You can find the BRMB audio here>

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  Hi Mike,  Congratulations on a great web site. I remember building one of the Ladybird book circuits back in 1975 and was quite pleased with the result. This was at a time when transistors seemed expensive. Nowadays, I have amassed quite a stock of radio components, the result of being an electronics hoarder.  I am looking at building the Triple T  HAC receiver and noticed your nicely finished radio.

Best Regards, Symon McCabe. (May 2011)

Hi Symon, Tnaks for your kind comments. You can read more about the HAC Hear All Continents Triple T  Radio here>

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Hello Mike, I’ve tracked you down because I would love to know what happened to Martin Dean. Martin had a great late night show on Radio 210, playing new age and jazz funk. I recorded one of his shows which I still have on cassette and still listen to Even with access to internet radio stations around the world, I have not yet found a programme to better it Any news of Martin, or any other recordings of his programmes (this is a long shot) would be much appreciated

Many thanks, Terry Bailey, Basingstoke, Hants. (May 2011)

Hi Terry, Thanks for your email. Julian Watson is an enthusiast in that area and knows a great deal about Radio 210 and GWR (WR) so I have passed your details on to him and asked question. He replied:

"Hi Mike, Yes Deano did a great soul show. I do have a few clips from his shows post 102.9 going on air, so I can help Terry a little in this respect. As for what happened to Martin, he was always a keen computer man and the last I heard he had gone back to working with computers after he left 210. This was some time ago. Hope this helps. Julian"

More abour Radio 210 here>

Best wishes, Mike.

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Many congratulations on your excellent site about BRMB, which brings back many memories. I came across this interview with John Slater, in which he talks about his time at BRMB:  career-profile-john-slater-a-life-of-drive-time-162478

Regards, Stan Drew (April 2011)

Thank you Stan for alerting me to that excellent article - it all adds to the rich tapestry that was BRMB! Our BRMB pages can be found here>

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Hey Mike, Glad to see you are still around. Don't have time now to look around but I will later. My site, which I see I forgot to include (or maybe I did not have it up then!) is: http://www.tubemodules.com
Sorry, no cat pictures or personal stuff except my tech stuff, but I do have a wonderful Manx cat. She's black and somebody named her Pepper. She is quite verbal sometimes. Her meow is like that of a chain-smoking lounge singer... really rough and somewhat annoying. I've been trying to get her to learn a sweeter meow, but so far no luck. I have a picture of her here >.

Best to you all,
Mike Fratus, Houston, Texas  (and no, I don't have a horse or drive a pickup truck!) (April 2011)

Thank you Mike for your kind comments and photograph!

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Mike, I was passed your link from one of our club members and you had such a section on the pop pirates I thought this might interest you:

Eric G3PGM (now Silent Key) mentioned some thing in a QSO some years ago when he was alive! That he had been involved in something illegal and it had nearly cost him is marriage and his life. He asked me to scan some images and then he let on about his past writing this article which he had kept secret from club members but as time gone by he felt it would be of interest.

Eric would not print the part on the 2 women that got married while he was at sea but the News of the World printed it and his wife was not happy. At the end of the article you will see that he left a week early and his replacement was then drowned in the boating incident. Last year the sister contacted me for more information as she lives local in Henley on Thames, so I was able to point her in some directions but time has moved on and the information that was available is getting lost.

I’ve attached it for your reading and you are most welcome to use it or link to it. Read Eric's article here>

Min Standen  G0JMS
http://www.radarc.org/g3pgm.htm this is subject to change as we're doing a revamp of the website.
RADARC. Committee Member   http://www.radarc.org  (April 2011)

Hi Min, Thank you very much for your email and excellent aricle which you can read here>

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Hi, I've been reading your excellent history of radio broadcasting. I feel, however, that I must take issue with you on one point. You state that "INR1" was advertised as a non-pop licence, and was awarded to Classic FM " I  believe that this is incorrect because, if my memory serves me right, the licence was awarded to Showtime Radio, which was to broadcast from studios in Milton Keynes. The problem was, that the promised financial backing failed to materialise and the licence was handed back. It was then that the 2nd choice, Classic FM, was given the opportunity to become the first national commercial radio station.

During Classic FMs test transmissions they broadcast from the Peterborough transmitter as Radio 101.6 - "One O One Point Six" - and I believe the first voice on 101.9 was that of Nick Bailey. Other broadcasters included Petroc Trelawney and Henry Kelly.

I hope you are not offended by my contacting you like this and may I compliment you on your history site.

Kind regards, Michael B Cox (April 2011)

Hi Michael, Thanks for your email. I'd forgotten that little bit of detail, but I think that you are right.

I did remember that Showtime Radio was initially in the running, but dropped out due to financial trouble of some kind. I cannot remember if they actually got to the stage of winning the licence then handing it back, or if the licence went to Classic FM (due to the financial doubts over Showtime) before the actual licence award was made.

I do feel sure that the Radio Authority advertised INR1 on the basis that it would be a non-pop service - i.e. not the chart music oriented radio station. Showtime Radio would, I feel, have also fitted that description - as would a jazz, country or folk music based station I suppose.

Perhaps I'll have to research these finer points.

The pre-launch marketing tests for Classic FM were called "Radio 1 - 0 - 1 point 6"

These programmes were broadcasts from a series of 'RSL' transmitters dotted around the country, all broadcasting a simulcast of "Radio 101.6" distributed nationally (via satellite IIRC). The transmitters would all have been low power - perhaps 25 watts - to conform with the RSL restrictions of low power, fairly low aerial height and 28 day licence length.

GWR was one of the main backers of the Classic FM venture and at that time GWR had just bought Mercia Sound in Coventry. The city of Coventry was one of the locations for a "Radio 101.6" transmitter and perhaps the fact the GWR owned Mercia Sound meant that the city was part of the reason for this. I had assumed that they sited the RSL transmitting antenna on the Mercia Sound building in Coventry - but I never had this confirmed.

The purpose of "Radio 101.6" was for marketing and to test the 'sound', play-list and the content of Classic FM, when it launched.

Nicholas Tresillian was regularly heard presenting on "Radio 101.6" - I believe that he was the founding Chairman of the radio station WR/GWR.

Later, of course, work on installing the first stage of the main VHF/FM transmitter network began. First on air for test transmissions was Wrotham in Kent. Later, as you note, the main high power transmitter at Peterborough using 101.9 MHz was installed.

Thanks again. Cheers, Mike! 

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Hi Mike, Many thanks for your kind comments about Cool Gales and me on your website. Yet another customer has pointed them out to me recently, and I'm remiss for not thanking you much sooner.

Best wishes,  Ivan.  (April 2011)  www.coolgales.com
www.coolgales.com
Cool Gales Ltd
The Victoria School House
Henrietta Road
Bath BA2 6LU, UK
T 0800 043 6710
T +44 (0)1225 478400
F +44 (0)1225 478401

Dear Ivan, Thank YOU very much for your email and thanks. Thank you you also for your excellent service, that I mentioned on the web page.

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Hi Mike, Great memories of Mercia Sound from your site (it was the station that inspired me into radio), especially seeing “Private Life, Public Image” on which my father was featured one week. I'm now a part time presenter. I did have my own evening show on permanent station Corby Radio, have also presented on Ashby Radio, Whittle FM, & Radio Lutterworth, all of which were RSL. I now have a show Global Dancefloor which is broadcast by 58 stations worldwide, all the fault of Mercia Sound in 1980!  www.globaldancefloor.co.uk

Keep up the good work and memories.

Thanks, Julian Little.   www.domustiles.com  (March 2011)

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Hi, I was browsing trying to find someone who does repairs to Lowe Receivers and saw that you had contact with a Gary Elesmore who said that he did. Do you know if he still does this work, I would be most grateful if you could advise. I do like the website excellent info. Best regards Peter Cartwright. (March 2011)

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Hi Mike, I don’t know if you’re interested in any of the history, but I’d like to think I was one the main facilitators of CB in the UK from 79 to legalisation. If not the first, were in the first 2 or 3 major importers (and undoubtedly the largest), we supported CB Radio Magazine from when Miles first started it up, advertising in every copy from Issue #1 (I still have them all somewhere).

I also wrote the infamous ‘CB Song’ in 1980 with Spatz Melzer that was promoted on 10/4 day in 1980, and is still selling well on eBay.

The early pre-legalisation days were surreal in many ways, with some huge personalities, most of whom I’ve lost touch with. It’s interesting to see that some of the equipment suppliers on your links page were my customers in those days, over 30 years ago.

Anyhow, if there’s anything you’d like to know, drop me a line.

Andy Marshall  (now living in the USA) (March 2011)


Hi Andy, Thanks for sharing your early CB memories. Excellent!  More about Citizens Band Radio here>

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  Hello Mike, What a great site I compliment you on all your hard work. I remember BRMB back in 1974 when I lived in Stratford upon Avon. In fact I won a record and tee shirt!! I also did a lot of charity work for the blind driving a narrow boat up the cut to give the people a day out; I heard the appeal on BRMB.

I write to ask if I can put a link onto our club web site, the Barry Amateur Radio Society  http://www.bars.btik.com

Again my thanks and appreciation for a very informative site.

73  Glyn GW0ANA, Chairman, B.A.R.S. [March 2011]

Hi Glyn. Very many thanks for your email. Those far off days of BRMB in the seventies were indeed great times! We're only too happy to add a link to your club site at http://www.bars.btik.com.

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  Hi Mike, I have just stumbled across the article on community radio. Here are a couple of pictures to go with the text. I am the guy standing on the left and the guy on the right is from BBC Bristol  - sorry it was a long time ago! Chris Hibbert [March 2011]

Thanks Chris, that's much appreciated. See the article and Chris' photographs here: Community Radio 3

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  Hi Mike, Please can you put me in touch with a someone from whom I can order a permeanant crystal (diode) for my 1922 Crystal set. Many thanks for your help. Bob Lewis. [March 2011]

Hi Bob, I imagine that it would be quite difficult to source the original detector for this radio, but you may find something similar that would do the job. I have provided some company names and links below that may be able to help or point you in the right direction. If you cannot find a suitable detector immediately you could connect a modern germanium diode into the circuit. Diode type OA47 or 1N34 would work very well indeed, but you could also try an OA80, OA81, OA90 or OA91 if you have one. Here are the contact details that may be able to help with rare and vintage components:

J BIRKETT Radio Components - 25 THE STRAIT, LINCOLN, LN2 1JD. Telephone (uk) 01522 520767 
Birkett's often have rare and so called 'surplus' components in stock, particularly surplus air-spaced tuning capacitors.

6V6 - Electronic Nostalgia and Vintage Components. Visit http://www.6v6.co.uk

VINTAGE COMPONENTS - Another possible source of components, TRF valve radio kits and (most excitingly) low power AM Medium Wave transmitters for listeners and experimenters who no longer have a local AM broadcast station within range: http://www.vcomp.co.uk/index.htm

Here are some other interesting links for you: http://makearadio.com/crystal/17.php   http://www.midnightscience.com/kits.html#kit4D
http://www.midnightscience.com    http://www.kipgen.com/radios/sale/detectors.htm  Also try searching GOOGLE for Galena Detector, you will no doubt find some more!!

Best wishes, Mike. MDS975

Many thanks for your helpful reply to my enquiry. I am not very proficient with the computer. I will ring the company in Lincoln.   My receiver is in good condition, it stands next to a 1935 Ecko radio, the round type. Goodbye for the moment. Bob Lewis.
[March 2011]

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  Mike, I just thought I'd drop a line to say how pleased I am to have found your site.  I stumbled across it yesterday via the usual convoluted route - Town Hall concert in Leeds, listened to Purcell's Abdelazar suite, said to my companion that it used to be the intro music to a BBC radio service, couldn't remember what that was called, hit the web and bingo, found your site and the name Network Three.

I've just dipped in to Vinyl Heaven.  I have a load of LPs and inherited a Technics SL2000 deck from my dad about 20 years ago.  It still goes well although I've had difficulty sourcing styli and decent record cleaning kit.  When I've got a minute (!) I'll use the contacts on your site to get that sorted.  I inherited a pile of LPs from him too as he was a hi-fi fanatic but haven't managed to play them yet.

I intend to read your history of UK radio as I heard so much about the early days from my dad, who was building his own sets in the early 1920s.  I've 2 copies of the Radio Times from 1924, before it became the Corporation, and they give a fascinating insight into what wireless was like then. Thanks so much for putting your site together.  Keep up the good work.

Regards, Pete Shilson. (February 2011)

Dear Pete,

Thank you so much for your extremely kind email, it's really good to hear from you. I am glad that my brief radio history was of some help! It is just a brief account really and as such I included links to some other resources that provide greater insight and detail which I hope will prove fruitful for you.

As for vinyl records,  I still enjoy the medium very much. I wish I had the time and money and, particularly space, to invest in some classic, vintage hi-fi components from years gone by. I often look at photographs of hi-fi separates from the 1970's and 1980's and wish that I could collect and accommodate just a few of them! I still love the look and appeal of some of the equipment of that era from Rotel, JVC, Sony, Technics, NAD, Sansui and Akai - to name a few. I am really glad that I have the Technics turntable, that really is something I'd never change. What a piece of equipment!

I haven't used an SL2000, but I am certain that you'll spend endless happy hours with it. I don't know what sort of cartridge would be fitted to it, but assuming that the arm has a standard 1/2" headshell, then any good modern replacement cartridge could be fitted to it, which should make future stylus replacement a lot easier. The arm may also allow for a new headshell to be fitted, if necessary.

Look after those 1920's Radio Times!! Wow - fascinating indeed!  Happy listening - Mike.

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  Mike, Great site you have an excellent page on aerials, I'm looking to build aerials for hf and 2m now that we have moved house and have the space again. After viewing your pages I'm thinking fan dipole for the 20-10 metre bands, inverted trapped L for 160-40 metre bands and either a dipole or halo for the  2 metre band.

More interesting for me was too see your pages about Mercia Sound as the house we have just bought and moved into has been the family home of Stuart Linnell for the last eight years or so. I too remember the test transmissions and early days of the station here in Coventry, although my love of radio stems more from building a crystal (germanium diode) radio and listening to BBC's Radio 4 and 2 on a portable transistor radio my grandad gave me and then CB radio (handles Microchip and FM Deviator) here in Coventry from 1983/4 on and off to 2000, whilst a Telecommunications Technician Apprentice at GEC Telecommunications taking my RAE in 1988 at Coventry Technical College with the encouragement of a CB friend (and Elmer), (Mobile Mike, G4RCS). Anyway just wanted to say thanks for the info available on your site.

Best regards, Andrew Brookes (operator of amateur radio station G7KXM) (February 2011)

Hi Andrew, Thanks for your email. I have not experimented with a fan dipole personally, but I know someone who has and the results did seem very impressive. The inverted L should also be a very good choice. A dipole for 2m keeps things nice and simple for an effective home-brew project. As for Mercia Sound, it's fascinating to read that you have bought your house from Stuart Linnell. He's a rather interesting character I feel. He was there in the great and glorious days of Mercia Sound in the 1980's, but was also at the helm as the station went down market in the 1990's finding itself where it is today, at the lowest common denominator. I suppose we cannot really blame him entirely, the policy must have been set by the station's corporate owners and encourged / caused by the policies of the regulators The Radio Authority and its successor Ofcom. There must have also been some rocky times in more recent years with the Laser Broadcasting failure which affected Sunshine Radio in Hereford I beleive.

However it is now really pleasing to see Stuart Linnell doing what he does best, that is broadcasting at BBC Radio Northampton. Excellent!

As you may have read, my fascination with radio also stems from crystal sets and TRF radio experiments as a lad in the 1970's. On those radios I listened to Radio 2 on 1500m and sometimes Luxembourg on 208m if I was lucky! I also dabbled with CB and gained an amateur radio licence, but I am really still a listener day to day, while doing some occasional experiments and construction.

Thanks for your memories which are fascinating. Kind Regards, Mike.       Mercia Sound pages here>               Amateur Radio pages here>

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Hi Mike

I was very interested to see the Radio Vicomte mast photos on your website. I visited the studio some time ago and was shown around the small house. The station manager pointed out the small dish on the building which transmits the signal to the main transmitter on the hill through a gap in the trees and buildings. The receiving dish is visible in your photos. I'm going there next week and I would be happy to photograph the dish at the studio if you would like. The station transmits a rather bizarre mixture of music and is a very strong signal at my house in Vegennes.

Regards, Chris G4RBR (February 2011)

Hi Chris, Thank you very much for your kind email. The photographs were taken by our friend Martin Watkins when he visited that area of France. I'd certainly be very grateful for any new photographs of the TX site, studio building or dishes that you can take. I have not heard the radio station, but it does sound like a happy mixture!!  The photographs of the Radio Vicomte transmitter site can be seen here >

Thanks again - very much, and I look forward to some new photo's! Regards, Mike.

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Good day Mike. I stumbled across your website quite by luck while surfing for shortwave links. You certainly have a very extensive website! I've just spent a couple of hours, looking and reading, and have barely scratched the surface. I am particularily interested in your amateur radio activities/equipment/history etc. I've been an enthusiastic SWL'r [Short Wave Listener] for over 50 years and I love anything to do with radio, shortwave, antennas, ham gear. Never got my amateur licence but I do like to listen to the world. I use a Kenwood R-5000 receiver connected to a simple longwire antenna that is end fed with coax. Back-up is a Radio Shack DX-394. Both receivers are good performers.

I received a SWL'r certificate recently from SWARL and I joined eQSL.cc just 2 days ago. My sign is VE3022SWL. We live here in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada and this town is about 1 hour NW of Toronto. I looked you up on QRZ.com which I joined also, although I have no content posted there yet--something to work on!

I've included an attachment in this email--it's just a pic of my new SWL certificate. Back to your website now because it's only 19:37 hours here.

Nice to meet you and 73 de Doug Stevens in Canada! (February 2011)

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Very nice web site.  Excellent graphics.  Especially like the page on capacitor setups for loop antenna tuners.
Ed Ruff, Kennewick, Washington,  USA  (January 2011)

Hi Ed, Thanks for your email and particularly for your kind comments. I do try to do my best to make things clear, so I am glad that you found the medium wave loop antenna information helpful. Thanks again, Mike.

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Hello, I'm a big music and radio fan. Ssadly radio and music has changed but I still love listening to old music on the radio and I'm trying to find any memorabilia from Red Rose Radio before it became Rock FM, around the time Red Rose Gold started and all the presenters that were on at that particular time. Any information about the station and where a lot of the presenters moved on to would be gratefully received. Many thanks, Mick. (January 2010)

Hi Mick, Thank you very much indeed for your email. You are quite correct, music and radio has changed a great deal. Sadly commercial radio has changed a great deal for the worse and most of it is utterly dire these days. Regrettably the only recordings of Red Rose Radio from the 1980's are those that are already on the website, which you have probably already found. I wish there was more from that era. Hopefully you may be able to unearth some more audio of Red Rose somewhere - so Good Luck!

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Hi, Thanks for posting BRMB's Sleeping Beauty... I was listening to this on a very poor recording I had made. That made me search for this and I found your site... Great Posting! Gez Bos. (December 2010)

Thanks for your email and for letting us know that you enjoyed BRMB's hilarious version of Sleeping Beauty. BRMB's radio-pantomime Humbug is on here too, so we hope that you enjoy that too!

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Good evening Mike, Greetings  from the tropical island of the Philippines, I'm Eduardo Bolivar Simbol, thanks for bringing back memories of the Ladybird book on Radio, back in the early 1970's.  I was in the sixth grade then and I bought a brand new copy [of Making A Transistor Radio] for  2 pesos and 50 centavos from one of the  variety/toy stores here in our town of San Juan, Rizal. I vividly remember the beautiful illustrations, especially the colorful resistors and the crystal earphones. I was able to build a crystal set, but I was not  successful in finishing this radio project due to my meager allowance then..........and  the wonderful scent of the pages of the Ladybird books from the UK, I  thought to myself,  Britain, London, the UK, smells so good !!!.

I also bought  from that store, Matchbox toys made by Lesney of England (Jumbo crane, bulldozers, Lotus racing cars) and the small carton boxes have the same wonderful scent. I am a shortwave listener and back then and I got Radio Nederlands (they sent radio schematic diagrams by mail), Swiss Radio International (they had a contest where the prize was a Rolex watch ), Radyo Peking (in Filipino), BBC World Service and VOA - The Voice of America. 

Thanks again and  Best regards  

Eddie B. Simbol (November 2010)

Hi Eddie, Thanks for all those wonderful memories of Matchbox models, transistor radios and great shortwave radio stations!!

Best wishes to you! Regards, Mike.  See the crystal set and three transistor radio projects here >

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Hi, My Name is Roy Hart I have been trading in CB’s here in Kidderminster since before they were made legal back in 81. I have established a website. Would it be possible to be included on you CB Radio shop’s list?  Our website is:  www.cbradioshop.co.uk

Kind regards, Roy, CB Radio Shop, Kidderminster (November 2010)

Hi Roy, Thanks for your email, it is a great pleasure to add a link to your shop's website to our CB Radio pages. Thanks again, Mike.


That is wonderful, thank you very much. 73’s & 88’s -  Roy,  G1UXK

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With regard to article by Rev G C Dobbs; Three Transistor Radio,  I have a small supply of OC45 & OC71 transistors which I am happy to share should anyone wish to build this excellent radio. Regards Doug Wallace. (November 2010)

Hi Douglas, Thank you for your email. I have added your message to the Ladybird transistor radio page.

Thank you for your very kind offer Dennis. Best wishes, Mike.

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Hi Mike. Hope you are well, I am striving to set my [Technics Sl-1200] deck up for the best sound possible, not that it sounds poor at all. I wonder if you could give me some advice on the arm set up height please?

The Audio Technica cartridge I have, which [we] mentioned...in previous emails has a height of 28mm and should track at a 20 degree angle according to the specifications that came with it. The technics manual, in the setting up section for the arm height adjustment, only mentions adjusting height for cartridges up to number 6 on the dial for cartidges up to 20mm.  I have also read on the net that the front and rear of the tonearm should be level which would totally throw out the technics setting up instructions? Any advice greatly appreciated.

Many thanks, Mick. (October 2010)

Hi Mick, I don't know if you are using an At120 or an AT440, but both are similar. For my own AT120E I have the arm height setting on the SL-1210 set at about 3. This puts the cartridge height at about 18mm, this works very well for me.

Do also use the cartridge gauge that Technics supply with the SL-1200 to make sure that the cartridge is positioned correctly in the headshell. That should initially be good enough to set proper alignment and tracking.

However, as I mentioned, I also used a more specialist alignment protractor to ensure absolute accuracy. A word of caution though, this is a rather tedious and time consuming job to do accurately. So just use the Technics guide first of all and set the arm height adjuster to 3.

I hope that helps. Best wishes, Mike  -  See our Vinyl Pages here >

Hi Mike, My cartridge is an AT120E. Thanks again for the valuable advice. Much appreciated.
Mick. (October 2010)

Glad to help, Mike.