Longwave Reception in Cars

[Rose Chap]

Afternoon all,

Recent cricketing activities occuring during my drive to work in the morning have prompted me for the first time to tune my COMAND 2.0 system to pick up Radio 4 on 198 longwave.

However, reception when I'm moving is pretty awful, with it only getting better (and I use the term loosely) when I'm at a standstill. Also, it crackles and hisses when I drive under bridges, trees, leaves, fresh air, you name it.

So my question is, does anyone ever get reasonably clear longwave reception in the car? Or am I destined to drive to work with the feeling that its really 1941 and I'm waiting for Mr. Churchill to come on the wireless?

 

[Mr E]

That's the beauty of LW - the nostalgic whistling, whining and crackling of t'wireless....

Seriously, I get exactly the same on every car I drive (and even indoors) - all down to the science of the stuff, I believe. Upside is that you can listen to TMS in northern France (wifey found the Ashes almost interesting last year and stayed awake for 10 mins of the journey from Paris to Calais).

 

[pammy]

I can never see the piint to having LW on in a car as the reception is so dire. But then that's just the content of LW proggies

 

[Gollom]

Funnily enough I have been trying to find out how I get better LW reception in France on a normal set (not in car) I can do without sausages, cheddar, brown sauce - but the 2 things I cannot survive without are teabags and Radio 4!!!!

Any radio buffs on here who can advise how I can improve things (and I do not have t'internet in my house there)

Merci bien!

Steve

 

[DieselE]

As Radio 4 transmits on VHF, why would you need/want to listen to it via Long Wave. Maybe hisses, squeaks and whistles is your thing?

 

[Gollom]

As Radio 4 transmits on VHF, why would you need/want to listen to it via Long Wave. Maybe hisses, squeaks and whistles is your thing?

I may be missing something here - how do I get VHF in France? (Charante to be exact)

 

[DieselE]

I may be missing something here - how do I get VHF in France? (Charante to be exact)

As you don't have t'internet in your house in France, you've already ruled out what would be my first suggestion. I'm not a radio expert but have you tried a seriously large aerial.

 

[Benzowner]

Longwave reception in cars is generally cr4p an external ariel would improve things, but it needs to be long. Basically the longer the wave the larger the aerial, long wave is around 30m long, medium wave about 10m FM 2 to 3m. So basically to get the best reception, a full wave antenna would suit. The compromise antenna is what we have in cars and they are only just adequate.

 

[imadoofus]

I may be missing something here - how do I get VHF in France? (Charante to be exact)

Charente, to be really exact

Our house is there too, and we can't get Radio 4 on LW (or FM). It's not helped by hills and stuff. I've been led to beleive we can receive radio through the telly satellite dish when we get that put up next Spring. Don't have many details at the mo.

PJ

 

[Gollom]

Charente, to be really exact

Our house is there too, and we can't get Radio 4 on LW (or FM). It's not helped by hills and stuff. I've been led to beleive we can receive radio through the telly satellite dish when we get that put up next Spring. Don't have many details at the mo.

PJ

Smart***e! :bannana:

Suppose I'm lucky as I can get some sort of signal on LW but it's not very good at all. I'm in Paizay-Naudouin - whereabouts are you? Would you mind PM'ing me and letting me know ballpark cost for the dish? We are not over very much (sadly ) so it may not be financially practical!

Thanks

Steve

 

[imadoofus]

PM sent.

 

[Mr E]

As Radio 4 transmits on VHF, why would you need/want to listen to it via Long Wave. Maybe hisses, squeaks and whistles is your thing?

R4 splits some program content on LW - so Test Match Special is only available on LW while the normal schedule is on FM.

 

[Benzowner]

Charente, to be really exact

Our house is there too, and we can't get Radio 4 on LW (or FM). It's not helped by hills and stuff. I've been led to beleive we can receive radio through the telly satellite dish when we get that put up next Spring. Don't have many details at the mo.

PJ

The art of radio has all but dissapeared If you want to listen to LW in France, put up a long (20 to 30m) wire from your house to the nearest tree or farthest put the wire into an antenna socket, you will also probably need a ground....................anyone got a cats wisker Problem is, you probably have no way to connect the wire into the back of the radio so this advice is probably useless You could always listen to the radio on your PC

 

[imadoofus]

You could always listen to the radio on your PC

Rural France isn't too well served for broadband...

PJ