Vibes FM, Lightning FM closed.

[Mrs Magpie]

I know people loved Vibes, and I do think commercial music radio is shite on a short stick, and pirate radio nutures a love of radio where other radio doesn't reach, and gives the enthusiastic amateur (in the very best sense of the term) a toehold but I don't miss it on the Radio 4 frequency at all. I think the radio authority has to have a rethink. Internet radio and podcasting, although full of possibilities, is not the answer as computers are not the same as a transistor.

 

[chio]

commercial music radio is shite on a short stick

Can I use that as my signature elsewhere?

I think the radio authority has to have a rethink. Internet radio and podcasting, although full of possibilities, is not the answer as computers are not the same as a transistor.

Which is why Ofcom have started to licence community radio outlets around the country - if a group wants to start a non-profit radio station, they simply have to apply. None of this advertising a licence and taking bids malarkey.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Can I use that as my signature elsewhere?

Feel free, use it wherever you like. I used to love Jazz FM. After about a year into it's licence it played less Jazz and then less and and less and less Jazz with each passing year. Now it's called Smooth FM and there's no Jazz, just lift music and crap adverts

 

[Donna Ferentes]

it's licence

Tsk.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Sorry, I've been drinking. It's as much as I can do to type, but because i've been drinking I have a lot to say and I've hardly been online for a fortnight.






suitably chastened.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

OK I'm gone now Donna. That's all from her and all from me to paraphrase the Ronnies.. I'm depressed by our holiday photo's. I'm a cross between my mum and Mrs Tiggywinkle.

 

[Mr Retro]

I'm depressed by our holiday photo's. I'm a cross between my mum and Mrs Tiggywinkle.

My wifes greatest fear. Looking like her Mum I mean, Mrs Tiggywinkle hasn't been mentioned yet.

 

[ska invita]

When a pirate is of a certain professional quality (as Vibes is/was) then they should be left in peace - Im sure they'll be back - ye-yeh!


(favourite show Mr.mighty) -

 

[JWH]

How much does it cost to broadcast in digital? Once we all have digital, does that mean we've got a shiteload of frequencies to hand out?

 

[Dan U]

i was wondering that last night.

does digital have unlimited bandwidth etc?

its certainly dead easy to broadcast on the net.

 

[jayeola]

-->Afrique FM, Tottenham & Wood Green, 2 transmitters seized <--
-->Baseline FM, Lewisham, 1 transmitter seized <--
-->Blues FM, Peckham, 3 transmitters seized
-->Déjà vu, Bow, 1 transmitter seized
-->Galaxy FM, Peckham, 2 transmitters seized
-->Genesis FM, Rotherhithe, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
-->House FM, Clapton, 2 transmitters disconnected
-->Itch FM, Whitechapel, 1 transmitter seized
-->Kool FM, Wapping, 1 transmitter disconnected
-->Lightning FM, Brixton Hill, 3 transmitters seized
-->N Power, Honor Oak, 2 transmitters seized
-->Naija FM, Plumstead & Wapping, 1 transmitter seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
-->Powerjam, Battersea, 1 transmitter seized
-->Ragga FM, Edmonton, 1 transmitter seized
-->Rinse FM, Wapping, 1 transmitter disconnected
-->Select UK FM, Rotherhithe, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
-->Surprise FM, Peckham, 1 transmitter seized
-->Unknown FM, Edmonton & Holloway, 2 transmitters seized and 1 transmitter disconnected
-->Vibes FM, Brixton Hill, 3 transmitters seized
-->Whoa FM, Elephant and Castle, 2 transmitters seized


Some of my best and most memorable musical experience have gone... for now. I don't know anything of the airwaves/frequency tech but I can say that:-
* I know I'll never miss commercial stations if they ever changed/left/disappeared.
* Commercial stations are crap^102.2
* It's very annoying for OFCOM to infer that stations are drug dealing dens.
i) There are so many stations and shows that __refuse__ to play "gansta" lyrics.
ii) Genesis, Vibes and Powerjam used to have phone-in talk shows. The presenters and callers of these shows used to slag off the other stations for blindly playing what ever was popular.
iii) They *hated* all of the "gun talk" and "grime" and the effects that it's having on our black youngsters

Big shout to the pirate radio community massive. My worst nightmare would be being locked up in a room and commercial radio blaring away.

"..and remember, dress to impress, no hats, jeans or trainers."

 

[chio]

It's a bit soon to be talking about these stations in the past tense. These raids happen all the time - all that's happened now is they've called it an "operation" and told the press. Probably so they're seen to be doing something in light of the controversy surrounding the role of Birmingham's Hot 92 and Sting FM in shit-stirring during the riots there.

(Declaration of interest: my living at present is coming from a commercial radio firm. Doesn't mean I think their stations aren't shite!)

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Yup, Vibes is back, interfering with my Radio 4 listening again

 

[chio]

You could always get one of those newfangled DAB things. No trouble with dodgy FM pirates out here in Cheshire since they closed down the Scouse stations a few years back, but the DAB has improved reception of the national stations no end, removing the hiss we've had for years.

 

[chio]

As far as I can see on the net, Vibes FM is 93.8 MHz while R4 from Crystal Palace is 93.2 MHz. Are you sure you're on the right frequency for R4? Stations shouldn't impact on one another that far apart. (You might be mistakenly tuned to the transmitter at Wrotham in Kent on 93.5 MHz. Try tuning downwards, away from Vibes, and you should hit Crystal Palace's transmission.)

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Yes, but when the transmitter is close to me, I get bleed...it's because I have always lived on council estates near tall blocks.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

You could always get one of those newfangled DAB things. No trouble with dodgy FM pirates out here in Cheshire since they closed down the Scouse stations a few years back, but the DAB has improved reception of the national stations no end, removing the hiss we've had for years.

I have a radio in every room in the house, and I can only afford one DAB radio.....and I can't sleep without the quiet voice of the BBC under my pillow from a small transistor. Got to say though, bad reception on an analogue radio is listenable and decipherable...squelchiness on DAB is neither listenable or decipherable.

 

[chio]

I have to admit that on the few occasions I've listened to the radio in London I've had trouble discerning one station from another and given up! Even Crapital doesn't seem immune from it. But I live almost underneath the transmitter for a local Cheshire station on 106.9 MHz and can still listen to weaker stations on 106.7 and 107.2. All I can suggest if it's that bad is to get a more selective tuner, but if you're going down that route you might as well get a DAB

 

[Louloubelle]

ii) Genesis, Vibes and Powerjam used to have phone-in talk shows. The presenters and callers of these shows used to slag off the other stations for blindly playing what ever was popular.
iii) They *hated* all of the "gun talk" and "grime" and the effects that it's having on our black youngsters

a very, very important point

commercial radio stations play 50 cent all day long and many people are really angry about the message that commercial radio stations send out to kids

Genesis, Vibes, Powerjam and Galaxy all run community based campaigns (the campaign to save Sanje Lewis started on Powerjam IMMIC) and these stations spend a lot of energy trying to counteract the negative messages and role models promoted in commercial radio. They should be awarded licenses on the basis of services to the community IMO.

It's ridiculous that while the met police spending money on activities designed to divert kids from crime, ofcom are prioritising raiding pirate stations that send out gun prevention, drug prevention and good citizenship messages all day long.

 

[mrtambourineman]

I have a radio in every room in the house, and I can only afford one DAB radio......

Proberbly stating the obvious, but have you tried 720 MW for Radio Four?

 

[chio]

Proberbly stating the obvious, but have you tried 720 MW for Radio Four?

The only trouble with that is that it's effectively a London "booster" for the LW programming, so you'll end up with endless cricket and religious transmissions.

 

[chio]

It's ridiculous that while the met police spending money on activities designed to divert kids from crime, ofcom are prioritising raiding pirate stations that send out gun prevention, drug prevention and good citizenship messages all day long.

What was that Operation Trident ad on Kiss all about then?! I've heard far worse violent / homophobic / racist shite on pirates than on legit stations. This is why we need a licensing structure and regulation of content - it stops this kind of thing being broadcast.

 

[PacificOcean]

They haven't mentioned Mrs M's inability to listen to Radio 4 on FM because of Vibes FM which I hated with a pure and deadly loathing and which forced me to buy an expensive DAB set. (OK it was dressed up as a Christmas/Birthday present for Blind Lemon, but actually it was so i could listen to The Archers without interference from 'shouts going out').

As long as pirate stations keep away from other station frequencies they don't bother me, but this one....

Have exactly the same problem here in Aldgate. I cannot get Radio 4 as it's freqency is blocked out by some god awful drum and bass station. I cannot get Magic either due to another one, but that is not such a big loss.

I had to borrow an acient radio from my mum and listen to Radio 4 on Long Wave, which was a bit rubbish as they kept breaking off from FM programming for cricket and stuff.

 

[Bob]

I can happily report that Vibes is up and running again. Sorry Mrs M.

 

[rennie]

I can happily report that Vibes is up and running again. Sorry Mrs M.

indeed.