47-404: Educating Archie was a BBC Light Programme comedy show which was broadcast for nearly ten years between June 1950 and February 1960, mostly at lunchtime on Sundays. The programme featured ventriloquist Peter Brough and his doll Archie Andrews . The show was very popular, despite its unlikely central premise of a ventriloquist act on radio. Educating Archie averaged 15 million listeners, and
94-563: A skywave . The medium-wave transmitter at Berlin-Britz for transmitting RIAS used a cross dipole mounted on five 30.5-metre-high guyed masts to transmit the skywave to the ionosphere at nighttime. Because at these frequencies atmospheric noise is far above the receiver signal-to-noise ratio , inefficient antennas much smaller than a wavelength can be used for receiving. For reception at frequencies below 1.6 MHz, which includes long and medium waves, loop antennas are popular because of their ability to reject locally generated noise. By far
141-587: A fan club boasted 250,000 members. It was so successful that in 1950, after only four months on the air, it won the Daily Mail ' s Variety Award. The programme introduced comedians who later became well known, including Tony Hancock as Archie's tutor, who would greet Archie with a weary "Oh, it's you again" and always replied to any put-down from him with "flipping kids". Other "tutors" included Benny Hill , Harry Secombe , Dick Emery , Bernard Bresslaw , Hattie Jacques , and Bruce Forsyth – together with
188-747: A few specially licensed AM broadcasting stations. These channels are called clear channels , and they are required to broadcast at higher powers of 10 to 50 kW. Initially, broadcasting in the United States was restricted to two wavelengths: "entertainment" was broadcast at 360 meters (833 kHz), with stations required to switch to 485 meters (619 kHz) when broadcasting weather forecasts, crop price reports and other government reports. This arrangement had numerous practical difficulties. Early transmitters were technically crude and virtually impossible to set accurately on their intended frequency and if (as frequently happened) two (or more) stations in
235-576: A good idea ... son!". The duo recorded two songs from the show on the HMV label: "The Dummy Song" and "Lovely Dollar Lolly". Archie's the Boy was a spin-off series that aired from November 1954 to March 1955. The series ran for twenty half-hour episodes broadcast on the BBC Light Programme . It starred Peter Brough , Beryl Reid , Benny Hill , and Graham Stark . In 1958, Educating Archie
282-420: A jack-of-all-trades played by Dick Emery . Notes Bibliography BBC Light Programme The BBC Light Programme was a national radio station which broadcast chiefly mainstream light entertainment and light music from 1945 until 1967, when it was replaced by BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 . It opened on 29 July 1945, taking over the long wave frequency which had earlier been used – prior to
329-518: A lower one for omnidirectional and a higher one for directional radiation with minima in certain directions. The power limit can also be depending on daytime and it is possible that a station may not operate at nighttime, because it would then produce too much interference. Other countries may only operate low-powered transmitters on the same frequency, again subject to agreement. International medium wave broadcasting in Europe has decreased markedly with
376-625: A new closedown time of 2.02 am was introduced. The Light Programme closed down for the last time at 2.03 am on Saturday 30 September 1967. At 5.30 am, it was replaced by BBC Radio 2 and at 7.00 am by BBC Radio 1 on medium wave. Some programmes broadcast from the Light Programme still continue today, such as Junior Choice , The Archers , Pick of the Pops , Desert Island Discs and Woman's Hour . Other programmes included: Medium wave Medium wave ( MW )
423-442: A period of a year when the Light Programme was forced to end its broadcasting day one hour earlier at 11.00 pm. This commenced in mid-February 1947 as an effect from the appalling winter of 1946–1947 which saw a fuel shortage in the country with the government enforcing electricity saving measures, one of which was losing one hour of broadcasting per day from the Light Programme. Even after the fuel shortage had ended by spring 1947,
470-404: A poor vertical radiation pattern, and 195 electrical degrees (about 400 millivolts per meter using one kilowatt at one kilometre) is generally considered ideal in these cases. Mast antennas are usually series-excited (base driven); the feedline is attached to the mast at the base. The base of the antenna is at high electrical potential and must be supported on a ceramic insulator to isolate it from
517-436: A quarter- wavelength (about 310 millivolts per meter using one kilowatt at one kilometre) to 5/8 wavelength (225 electrical degrees; about 440 millivolts per meter using one kilowatt at one kilometre), while high power stations mostly use half-wavelength to 5/9 wavelength. The usage of masts taller than 5/9 wavelength (200 electrical degrees; about 410 millivolts per meter using one kilowatt at one kilometre) with high power gives
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#1732772635038564-420: A vertical radiator wire. A popular choice for lower-powered stations is the umbrella antenna , which needs only one mast one-tenth wavelength or less in height. This antenna uses a single mast insulated from ground and fed at the lower end against ground. At the top of the mast, radial top-load wires are connected (usually about six) which slope downwards at an angle of 40–45 degrees as far as about one-third of
611-499: A young Julie Andrews as Archie's girlfriend. Later, Beryl Reid took this role, playing the St Trinian's School -esque Monica with such catchphrases as "jolly hockey sticks" and "as the art mistress said to the gardener". Reid also played young Brummie girl Marleen, whose catchphrase was "Good evening, each". Max Bygraves later played Archie's tutor, with the catchphrases "I've arrived, and to prove it, I'm here" and "That's
658-462: Is a part of the medium frequency (MF) radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting . The spectrum provides about 120 channels with more limited sound quality than FM stations on the FM broadcast band . During the daytime, reception is usually limited to more local stations, though this is dependent on the signal conditions and quality of radio receiver used. Improved signal propagation at night allows
705-480: Is adequate for talk and news but not for high-fidelity music. However, many stations use audio bandwidths up 10 kHz, which is not hi-fi but sufficient for casual listening. In the UK, until 2024 most stations used a bandwidth of 6.3 kHz. However in 2024, Ofcom expanded the allowed bandwidth to 9khz, giving a noticeable improvement in quality. With AM, it largely depends on the frequency filters of each receiver how
752-433: Is available, (however digital radio still has coverage issues in many parts of Europe). Many countries in Europe have switched off or limited their MW transmitters since the 2010s. The term is a historic one, dating from the early 20th century, when the radio spectrum was divided on the basis of the wavelength of the waves into long wave (LW), medium wave, and short wave (SW) radio bands. For Europe, Africa and Asia
799-646: Is possible and is or was offered by some stations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Australia, The Philippines, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Italy and France. However, there have been multiple standards for AM stereo . C-QUAM is the official standard in the United States as well as other countries, but receivers that implement the technology are no longer readily available to consumers. Used receivers with AM Stereo can be found. Names such as "FM/AM Stereo" or "AM & FM Stereo" can be misleading and usually do not signify that
846-433: Is primarily only used by low-power stations; it is the preferred range for services with automated traffic, weather, and tourist information. The channel steps of 9 and 10 kHz require limiting the audio bandwidth to 9 and 10 kHz (at maximum without causing interference; ±4.5 kHz (9 kHz) and ±5 kHz (10 kHz) on each two sidebands) because the audio spectrum is transmitted twice on each side band . This
893-516: Is the ITU-approved system for use outside North America and U.S. territories . Some HD Radio receivers also support C-QUAM AM stereo, although this feature is usually not advertised by the manufacturer. For broadcasting, mast radiators are the most common type of antenna used, consisting of a steel lattice guyed mast in which the mast structure itself is used as the antenna. Stations broadcasting with low power can use masts with heights of
940-527: Is today for BBC Radio 4 , although adjusted slightly to 198 kHz / 1515 metres from 1 February 1988) and gave fairly good coverage of most of the United Kingdom , although a number of low-power medium wave transmitters (using 1215 kHz / 247 metres) were added later to fill in local blank spots. Over the course of the 1950s and 1960s, the Light Programme (along with the BBC's two other national stations –
987-569: The BBC Home Service and the BBC Third Programme ) gradually became available on what was known at the time as VHF , as the BBC developed a network of local FM transmitters. From its first day of broadcasting in 1945 until Monday 2 September 1957, the Light Programme would be on the air from 9.00 am until midnight each day, apart from Sundays when it would come on the air at 8.00 am until 11.00 pm. There was, however,
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#17327726350381034-449: The FM broadcast band but require more energy and longer antennas. Digital modes are possible but have not reached momentum yet. MW was the main radio band for broadcasting from the beginnings in the 1920s into the 1950s until FM with a better sound quality took over. In Europe, digital radio is gaining popularity and offers AM stations the chance to switch over if no frequency in the FM band
1081-624: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to shut down, reduce power, or employ a directional antenna array at night in order to avoid interference with each other due to night-time only long-distance skywave propagation (sometimes loosely called ‘skip’). Those stations which shut down completely at night are often known as "daytimers". Similar regulations are in force for Canadian stations, administered by Industry Canada ; however, daytimers no longer exist in Canada,
1128-490: The ionosphere and return to Earth at much greater distances; this is called the skywave . At night, especially in winter months and at times of low solar activity, the lower ionospheric D layer virtually disappears. When this happens, MW radio waves can easily be received many hundreds or even thousands of miles away as the signal will be reflected by the higher F layer . This can allow very long-distance broadcasting, but can also interfere with distant local stations. Due to
1175-601: The last station having signed off in 2013, after migrating to the FM band . Many countries have switched off most of their MW transmitters in the 2010s due to cost-cutting and low usage of MW by the listeners. Among those are Germany, France, Russia, Poland, Sweden, the Benelux, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and most of the Balkans. Other countries that have no or few MW transmitters include Iceland, Ireland, Finland and Norway. Large networks of transmitters are remaining in
1222-535: The 11.00 pm closedown each night continued as BBC Radio found itself in financial problems and needed to save money. The midnight closedown of the Light Programme resumed one year later from Sunday 11 April 1948. The long-running soap opera The Archers was first heard nationally on the Light Programme on New Year's Day 1951, although a week-long pilot version had been broadcast on the Midlands Home Service in 1950. From Monday 2 September 1957,
1269-456: The Light Programme's broadcasting hours would start to increase, with a new early morning start time of 7.00 am until midnight, later moving to 6.30 am from Monday 29 September 1958. In 1964, broadcasting hours were increased even more, with a new morning start time of 5.30 am from Monday 31 August. Up until September 1964, the Light Programme would always end its broadcasting day at midnight; however this changed on Sunday 27 September 1964, when
1316-533: The MW band consists of 120 channels with carrier frequencies from 531 to 1602 kHz spaced every 9 kHz. Frequency coordination avoids the use of adjacent channels in one area. The total allocated spectrum including the modulated audio ranges from 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz. Australia uses an expanded band up to 1701 kHz. North and South America use 118 channels from 530 to 1700 kHz using 10 kHz spaced channels. The range above 1610 kHz
1363-636: The MW band is thinning out, many local stations from the remaining countries as well as from North Africa and the Middle East can now be received all over Europe, but often only weak with much interference. In Europe, each country is allocated a number of frequencies on which high power (up to 2 MW) can be used; the maximum power is also subject to international agreement by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In most cases there are two power limits:
1410-560: The UK, Spain and Romania. In the Netherlands and Scandinavia, some new idealistically driven stations have launched low power services on the former high power frequencies. This also applies to the ex-offshore pioneer Radio Caroline that now has a licence to use 648 kHz, which was used by the BBC World Service over decades. In Italy, the government closed its high power transmitters but low power private stations remain. As
1457-807: The audio is reproduced. This is a major disadvantage compared to FM and digital modes where the demodulated audio is more objective. Extended audio bandwidths cause interference on adjacent channels. Wavelengths in this band are long enough that radio waves are not blocked by buildings and hills and can propagate beyond the horizon following the curvature of the Earth; this is called the groundwave . Practical groundwave reception of strong transmitters typically extends to 200–300 miles (320–480 km), with greater distances over terrain with higher ground conductivity , and greatest distances over salt water. The groundwave reaches further on lower medium wave frequencies. Medium waves can also reflect off charged particle layers in
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1504-542: The country and/or abroad), no longer having to broadcast weather and government reports on a different frequency than entertainment. Class A and B stations were segregated into sub-bands. In the US and Canada the maximum transmitter power is restricted to 50 kilowatts, while in Europe there are medium wave stations with transmitter power up to 2 megawatts daytime. Most United States AM radio stations are required by
1551-618: The end of the Cold War and the increased availability of satellite and Internet TV and radio, although the cross-border reception of neighbouring countries' broadcasts by expatriates and other interested listeners still takes place. In the late 20th century, overcrowding on the Medium wave band was a serious problem in parts of Europe contributing to the early adoption of VHF FM broadcasting by many stations (particularly in Germany). Due to
1598-578: The frequency. Because such tall masts can be costly and uneconomic, other types of antennas are often used, which employ capacitive top-loading ( electrical lengthening ) to achieve equivalent signal strength with vertical masts shorter than a quarter wavelength. A "top hat" of radial wires is occasionally added to the top of mast radiators, to allow the mast to be made shorter. For local broadcast stations and amateur stations of under 5 kW, T- and L-antennas are often used, which consist of one or more horizontal wires suspended between two masts, attached to
1645-423: The ground. Shunt-excited masts, in which the base of the mast is at a node of the standing wave at ground potential and so does not need to be insulated from the ground, have fallen into disuse, except in cases of exceptionally high power, 1 MW or more, where series excitation might be impractical. If grounded masts or towers are required, cage or long-wire aerials are used. Another possibility consists of feeding
1692-678: The high demand for frequencies in Europe, many countries set up single frequency networks; in Britain , BBC Radio Five Live broadcasts from various transmitters on either 693 or 909 kHz. These transmitters are carefully synchronized to minimize interference from more distant transmitters on the same frequency. In Asia and the Middle East, many high-powered transmitters remain in operation. China , Indonesia , South Korea , North Korea , Japan , Thailand , Vietnam , Philippines , Saudi Arabia , Egypt , India , Pakistan and Bangladesh still use medium wave. Israel returns to mediumwave after
1739-596: The limited number of available channels in the MW broadcast band, the same frequencies are re-allocated to different broadcasting stations several hundred miles apart. On nights of good skywave propagation, the skywave signals of a distant station may interfere with the signals of local stations on the same frequency. In North America, the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) sets aside certain channels for nighttime use over extended service areas via skywave by
1786-486: The mast or the tower by cables running from the tuning unit to the guys or crossbars at a certain height. Directional aerials consist of multiple masts , which need not to be of the same height. It is also possible to realize directional aerials for mediumwave with cage aerials where some parts of the cage are fed with a certain phase difference. For medium-wave (AM) broadcasting, quarter-wave masts are between 153 feet (47 m) and 463 feet (141 m) high, depending on
1833-613: The most common antenna for broadcast reception is the ferrite-rod antenna , also known as a loopstick antenna. The high permeability ferrite core allows it to be compact enough to be enclosed inside the radio's case and still have adequate sensitivity. For weak signal reception or to discriminate between different signals sharing a common frequency directional antennas are used. For best signal-to-noise ratio these are best located outdoors away from sources of electrical interference. Examples of such medium wave antennas include broadband untuned loops, elongated terminated loops, wave antennas (e.g.
1880-416: The outbreak of Israel-Hamas war . China operates many single-frequency networks across the country. As of May 2023, many Japanese broadcasters like NHK broadcast in medium wave, with many high power transmitters operating across Japan. There are also some low power relay transmitters for rural areas. Some countries have stopped using mediumwave, including Malaysia and Singapore. Stereo transmission
1927-699: The outbreak of the Second World War on 1 September 1939 – by the BBC National Programme . The service was intended as a domestic replacement for the wartime BBC General Forces Programme which had gained many civilian listeners in Britain as well as members of the British Armed Forces . The long wave signal on 200 kHz / 1500 metres was transmitted from Droitwich in the English Midlands (as it still
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1974-563: The radio will decode C-QUAM AM stereo, whereas a set labelled "FM Stereo/AM Stereo" or "AMAX Stereo" will support AM stereo. In September 2002, the United States Federal Communications Commission approved the proprietary iBiquity in-band on-channel (IBOC) HD Radio system of digital audio broadcasting , which is meant to improve the audio quality of signals. The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) system standardised by ETSI supports stereo and
2021-411: The reception of much longer distance signals (within a range of about 2,000 km or 1,200 miles). This can cause increased interference because on most channels multiple transmitters operate simultaneously worldwide. In addition, amplitude modulation (AM) is often more prone to interference by various electronic devices, especially power supplies and computers. Strong transmitters cover larger areas than on
2068-575: The same part of the country broadcast simultaneously the resultant interference meant that usually neither could be heard clearly. The Commerce Department rarely intervened in such cases but left it up to stations to enter into voluntary timesharing agreements amongst themselves. The addition of a third "entertainment" wavelength, 400 meters, did little to solve this overcrowding. In 1923, the Commerce Department realized that as more and more stations were applying for commercial licenses, it
2115-482: The total height, where they are terminated in insulators and thence outwards to ground anchors . Thus the umbrella antenna uses the guy wires as the top-load part of the antenna. In all these antennas the smaller radiation resistance of the short radiator is increased by the capacitance added by the wires attached to the top of the antenna. In some rare cases dipole antennas are used, which are slung between two masts or towers. Such antennas are intended to radiate
2162-486: Was adapted as a television sitcom produced by the ITV company Associated-Rediffusion and broadcast under the same name. This version, which was broadcast in 1958–9, featured the ventriloquist's dummy Archie Andrews taking on a life of its own, talking and walking all over its creator Peter Brough , aided and abetted by a housekeeper played by Irene Handl , a non-paying lodger played by Freddie Sales (later Ray Barrett ), and
2209-426: Was not practical to have every station broadcast on the same three wavelengths. On 15 May 1923, Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover announced a new bandplan which set aside 81 frequencies, in 10 kHz steps, from 550 kHz to 1350 kHz (extended to 1500, then 1600 and ultimately 1700 kHz in later years). Each station would be assigned one frequency (albeit usually shared with stations in other parts of
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