Intermittent service interruptions on 14 March 2025

[Hadrian_Bolt]

Around 14:15 yesterday (Friday 14th March) we were suffering frequent interruptions in Radio 3 FM reception (4 element aerial points at Holme Moss). So I switched to DAB (6 element aerial points at Emley Moor). The brief (approx. 1 to 2 second) interruptions continued. At about 14:40 I left by car for the "school run". Car using DAB for Radio 3. Interruptions continued. Still happening about 10 miles SE of home at about 15:10. The teenager I was collecting from school isn't a Radio 3 fan (and I wasn't about to inflict the annoying interruptions on her), so I can't say when the situation improved, but it was o.k. in the evening.

Surely that's enough to show that the Radio 3 feed was at fault, not the transmitter or my kit ? But can find no acknowledgement from the BBC. Do they ever admit to foul-ups, or just hope we'll blame Arqiva.

[french frank]

Welcome H_B

Didn't affect me, but some local techies will hopefully be around to comment on this.

[Pulcinella]

Might be worth contacting them (when they're open/available):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/contact-bbc-reception-advice

And welcome from me too.

[smittims]

I had this problem. I'm relieved to find it wasn't my old Grundig FM radio! It's been OK since then.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Around 14:15 yesterday (Friday 14th March) we were suffering frequent interruptions in Radio 3 FM reception (4 element aerial points at Holme Moss). So I switched to DAB (6 element aerial points at Emley Moor). The brief (approx. 1 to 2 second) interruptions continued. At about 14:40 I left by car for the "school run". Car using DAB for Radio 3. Interruptions continued. Still happening about 10 miles SE of home at about 15:10. The teenager I was collecting from school isn't a Radio 3 fan (and I wasn't about to inflict the annoying interruptions on her), so I can't say when the situation improved, but it was o.k. in the evening.

Surely that's enough to show that the Radio 3 feed was at fault, not the transmitter or my kit ? But can find no acknowledgement from the BBC. Do they ever admit to foul-ups, or just hope we'll blame Arqiva.

Yep same thing here yesterday and I’m on the South West. The transmission chain has so many elements but it almost certainly wasn’t a transmitter fault more likely a break in the digital feed to to the transmitters. Yes they do admit to technical problems and it’s worth contacting them. The fact that you have times and know what transmitter you’re receiving from is also very useful.

[Roger Webb]

My tautologically inclined electronics instructor used to say it was only intermittent sometimes

[smittims]

[Roger Webb]

Just been for a long walk in the woods that surround Wyastone Leys, the home of Nimbus Records (and now Lyrita), so am just playing SRCS 34 Holst Lyric Movt, Brook Green, Fugal Conc. etc......John Ireland SRCS 88 Piano works lined up next.

[Serial_Apologist]

Just been for a long walk in the woods that surround Wyastone Leys, the home of Nimbus Records (and now Lyrita), so am just playing SRCS 34 Holst Lyric Movt, Brook Green, Fugal Conc. etc......John Ireland SRCS 88 Piano works lined up next.

Nice idea, Roger. Many moons ago I drove down to Sussex with my then-girlfriend for an afternoon run; we stopped off at Amberley, and I got my cassette of Kathryn Stott and played the Amberley Brooks track. Unfortunately it is not possible these days to park along Chelsea Embankment for a listen to Chelsea Reach, from the same recording (iirc), although there is the strong likelihood that one would be at a standstill at any point along that stretch!

[Roger Webb]

Nice idea, Roger. Many moons ago I drove down to Sussex with my then-girlfriend for an afternoon run; we stopped off at Amberley, and I got my cassette of Kathryn Stott and played the Amberley Brooks track. Unfortunately it is not possible these days to park along Chelsea Embankment for a listen to Chelsea Reach, from the same recording (iirc), although there is the strong likelihood that one would be at a standstill at any point along that stretch!

We either stopped at the Black Horse, Amberley, or The Bridge Inn at Houghton on our regular visits to my home county....I've always been a John Ireland fan, and have searched out connections in London (Gunter Grove), Jersey and Guernsey and, of course, Sussex...Chanctonbury Ring...Rock Mill (John Ireland's home - they used to do cream-teas on the lawn!) and the museum started by Ireland's housekeeper Mrs Nora Kirby in Steyning. About this, a sad tale: I motored over to Steyning one day and there was a police cordon round her house - she had been found dead that morning! I don't think they suspected foul-play, but were taking no chances. I have tried to find out what happened to the contents of the museum - much of Ireland's personal effects were left to Nora...but to no avail.