WTF is this (UK) radio station?

Subject: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 05:35 PM

My car radio broke yesterday. It decided to ignore all normal button presses, and randomly changed station and volume for a while. Then it turned off completely. Then it suddenly came back on.



Playing continuous Renaisssance/ Baroque instrumental music. seamlessly, without explanatory breaks, just the stuff I love to hear.

But it doesn't display which frequency it's on, and a diligent search of 88-108MHz doesn't disclose any such station.

So WTF? I want to hear more of this station.

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 06:14 PM

Do you want people to google it for you? lol

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 05:51 AM

As the radio wasn't displying a frequency, are you you were listening to an FM broadcast. If good quality you probably were, and I'm not insulting your ears honest!!!!
Certainly a curious event.

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 08:59 AM

Is it possible you were picking up someone else's Fm transmitter ie those little jobbies that transmit your Mp3 player or phone to your car radio?

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 09:14 AM

FM stations are fairly local (line of sight stuff, mostly), and the lottle short range things manitas describes are VERY short range. Does it go away if you move the vehicle? Can you still find it? Where are you in the UK?

It sounds like an engineering signal being broadcast to test the transmitters before a new station goes officially on air. The absence of idiots jabbering is usually a dead giveaway. Are any new stations planned within say 30 miles of where you were?

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 09:23 AM

Unusual weather conditions CAN affect the way radio Signals get round ! I recall an occasion on an RAF Station when our receiver in the Control Tower was getting transmissions on a Low Power Vehicle Radio that was 127 miles away , on V H F , ALSO purely line of sight , and about 5 miles range !

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: NormanD
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 09:27 AM

I'd go with Richard's suggestion as the most likely explanation. A similar story is the station that broadcast a test transmission of bird song - a 30-minute loop that became quite popular over the months. It went off air last week, and caused some upset to birdsong fans.

On a related theme, I started up my car recently to hear awful shuddering noises. I was ready to pull over to investigate when I realised that I had left the radio on, tuned to Resonance fm.....

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 02:28 PM

Anyway, it's gone now. Sad.

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 06:36 PM

I thought that the birdsong broadcast was because DigitalOne would have lost the frequency if they had simply shut it down after OneWord folded.

They have now found a customer for the frequency.

Subject: RE: WTF is this (UK) radio station?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 04:44 AM

A nearby technical college had a local radio station for students to practice broadcasting. Between broadcasts they played a recording of waves breaking on the shore. It was oh so relaxing.