Author Archives: Bill Tilford

About Bill Tilford

Bill has been a shortwave listener since the 1960s, a program host and producer for the past several years, and he currently produces and hosts From the Isle of Music, Uncle Bill's Melting Pot and WBCQ Concert Hall in addition to curating the Radio Angela block of entertainment programs on that station and periodic collaborative specials with other stations. He also writes about Cuban music including on the website TIMBA.com and is active in the music industry as a producer and liner notes writer.

WBCQ 4790 kHz (Radio Angela) Tests February 20-26

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WBCQ 4790 kHz (Radio Angela) runs its final week of propagation tests February 20-26 US local date (February 21-27 world date) as follows:
0300-0500 UTC February 20-21 world date (10pm-12pm EST US date)
0200-0400 UTC February 22-27 world date (9pm-11pm EST US date)
Programs used in the testing are Behavior Night, Marion’s Attic, From the Isle of Music, Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Bluegrass Frame of Mind, Jetzt Geht’s Los!, Tom Call Theater, Rock Wave and a sneak preview of WBCQ Concert Hall.
When the Radio Angela regular schedule begins world date March 1 (US date February 28), these programs will be joined by several new shows presented by talent from around the world. So far the signal is performing well in most of North America east of the Rockies and several countries in western and central Europe.
EQSLs are available from [email protected]

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FTIOM & UBMP February 20-26

FTIOM & UBMP To Cease Broadcasts From Germany & Bulgaria

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The following message is from “Uncle Bill” Tilford, producer and host of From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot:

I began From The Isle of Music six years ago and Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot five years ago, starting small on WBCQ and eventually expanding to Europe and beyond with Channel 292 for both programs and Space Line for FTIOM. I am not a wealthy man, and my programs have been literally 99.9% self-funded during that period. The very small handful of contributors has been appreciated but has never been large enough to put a dent in costs.

Over the past two years, my living expenses have increased precipitously while my income and contributions have not. With great reluctance, I must make some difficult financial decisions. One of them is that broadcasts on Space Line have already ceased, and broadcasts on Channel 292 will cease March 5. This is a purely financial decision, I have very much enjoyed working with both stations and will deeply miss the audiences that I will probably lose. While the financial support from listeners was minimal, the emotional support has been huge, many of those listeners feel like family now.

Broadcasts will continue on WBCQ The Planet where these programs began. FTIOM will continue on 7490 kHz, currently Tuesdays 0000-0100 UTC, and UBMP will continue on 7490 kHz Sundays, currently 2300-0000 UTC. Both of these livestream on WBCQ.com, so listeners unable to catch the terrestrial broadcast (or who are asleep at those hours) may be able to record live for later listening. Both programs will also be part of the new special lineup on 4790 kHz which is being fully sponsored by Angela and Allan Weiner. More details about that will be forthcoming, that frequency may reach parts of Europe terrestrially as an early morning show at a tolerable hour. Note however that both broadcasts on 7490 can be “breakfast listening” using the WBCQ.com website or some remote WebSDRs in Eastern Europe, a key target area for the broadcasts from Europe.

I regret the necessity for these changes and hope listeners will find the remaining options on WBCQ usable.

William “Bill” Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC

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FTIOM & UBMP February 13-19 (14-20); 4790 Test Schedule Update

WBCQ 4790 kHz Testing Update

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That’s not a typo, in addition to its flagship frequency 7490 kHz, WBCQ will be running staggered propagation tests of 4790 kHz during February for a new entertainment program
block sponsored by Angela and Allan Weiner and curated by Uncle Bill Tilford. When the
regular schedule begins in March, it will be 2 hours per night of music and other entertainment from around the world. Several new programs under development will participate when the regular schedule begins.
The February tests will use archival episodes of From the Isle of Music, Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot,
Marion’s Attic, Behavior Night, Rock Wave, Tom Call Theater, a Bluegrass State of Mind and Jetzt Geht’s Los!, a wonderful program from Germany of Weimar-era jazz. In March these programs will be joined by several new ones from around the world.
The first week’s tests will run from February 1-5 from 6-8pm EST (2300-0100 UTC). Each following week will run an hour later to determine optimum transmission times. An eQSL will
be available for reception reports sent to [email protected]
For February 6-12, tests will run from 7-9pm EST (0000-0200 EST)

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FTIOM & UBMP, February 6-12

WBCQ TESTS 4790 KHZ IN FEBRUARY

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That’s not a typo, in addition to its flagship frequency 7490 kHz, WBCQ will be running staggered propagation tests of 4790 kHz during February for a new entertainment program
block sponsored by Angela and Allan Weiner and curated by Uncle Bill Tilford. When the
regular schedule begins in March, it will be 2 hours per night of music and other entertainment from around the world. Several new programs under development will participate.
The February tests will use archival episodes of From the Isle of Music, Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot,
Marion’s Attic, Behavior Night, Rock Wave, Tom Call Theater and Jetzt Geht’s Los!, a wonderful
program from Germany of Weimar-era jazz. In March these programs will be joined by several new ones from around the world.
The first week’s tests will run from February 1-5 from 6-8pm EST (2300-0100 UTC). Each following week will run an hour later to determine optimum transmission times. An eQSL will
be available for reception reports sent to [email protected]
Watch these pages for weekly updates.

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