Unable to get Radio 5 on medium wave in house

melb

hi there I listen to radio 5 on and off all day if I'm in and like to go to sleep listening to it from about 10 ish onwards. Over the last couple of weeks at random times during the day (but always at night and overnight) all i get is loud buzzing throughout all the medium wave channels. this is on both mains and battery operated radios. During the day it's mainly OK but can suddenly have a really loud buzzing which makes it impossible to listen anyone got any ideas why? I'm in Leeds and there are some pylons about 200 metres away but this has never happened before in 17 years living here. could it be that someone nearby has started using CB radi? We're in a detached house but with neighbours close by. would appreciate any suggestions as Radio 4 isn't really my bag!

MX5huggy

You need to move to digital, ask for a DAB radio for Christmas. Or through your tv on freeview or sat. Or on a computer or even a phone on your wifi.

MW really is fairly bad.

retiredin2011

Broken ferrite rod aerial?

neilwoods

Have you changed anything in your home recently. new pc, new lighting, new anything. Could be your neighbour, maybe they have bought something new and use it when they come from work.

DAB is the way to go, however it isn't 100% coverage of the uk, so if in remote area, especailly long the coast then may be a problem.

debitcardmayhem

MX5huggy wrote: »

You need to move to digital, ask for a DAB radio for Christmas. Or through your tv on freeview or sat. Or on a computer or even a phone on your wifi.

MW really is fairly bad.

DAB <==> BAD , if your signal is like mine

lollipopsarah

I listen to my radio online but for the last month or so the reception has been awful.
xx

Iconic

This might help although it says Radio 5 is not affected http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/nov/09/bbc-criticised-closing-medium-wave-radio

It's also mentioned on the latest podcast here http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/

melb

thanks for your help - I have asked for a DAB radio for Christmas - also it's the only way to listen to Leeds utd on the radio as ken Bates has all the rights sewn up. It's just odd how it can be fine sometimes and completely unbearably buzzy at others and affects all the radios. will blame it on the neighbours!

john1

melb wrote: »

During the day it's mainly OK but can suddenly have a really loud buzzing which makes it impossible to listen anyone got any ideas why? I'm in Leeds and there are some pylons about 200 metres away!

Could be a heating thermostat, freezer thermostat loose wire in house electrical wiring the list is endless or ever the power line insulators on the pylons arcing or have you or a neighbour recently installed a power line Ethernet adapter any one of them can cause radio frequency interference.


To confirm the interference is not your own making you will need to isolate each electrical circuit whilst listening to the radio with the interference. Use the individual circuit isolators within your house power consumer unit to check if the interference goes if it does then you will have to go round the house and unplug each appliance on that circuit.
If interference still present then you can reasonably assume its external and may require further investigation by the BBC who are now responsible for interference tracking. Very difficult to persuade them to investigate but this is a start http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/analogueradio/am_reception.shtml or http://faq.external.bbc.co.uk/questions/help_receiving/radio_reception

have a look here http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81008
this link to RSGB may help
http://www.rsgb.org/emc/i-am-experiencing-interference.php

aerostar

Use a battery radio
Walk well away from your house with it on and check if the buzzing reduces, keep walking until it stops !

If you are a good half mile away and it still buzzes then it probably is not your house.

If it has stopped, walk towards your house and then past it, if the buzzing is greatest outside your house and falls away after you have passed it, then it probably is your house or something close to it, if it gets worse after you have passed your house, then when it is loudest the cause must be close by.

Ectophile

There are so many household appliances that interfere with AM radios.

Pretty much anything electronic that's mains powered - computers, TVs, Freeview boxes and so on. Dimmer switches for lights, and compact fluorescent lights. Air ionisers can put out a tremendous amount of interference. Even ADSL broadband causes noise if the radio is too close to the phone socket.

Using an AM radio indoors these days involves wandering around the room until you find the best spot.