{"id":1687,"date":"2011-08-29T19:22:46","date_gmt":"2011-08-29T23:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=1687"},"modified":"2011-08-29T19:22:46","modified_gmt":"2011-08-29T23:22:46","slug":"a-west-dorset-view-on-the-rampisham-radio-transmitting-station-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/a-west-dorset-view-on-the-rampisham-radio-transmitting-station-closure\/","title":{"rendered":"A West Dorset view on the Rampisham Radio Transmitting Station closure"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Photographer: Nigel Mykura. (Creative Commons)<\/p><\/div>\n

(Source: Real West Dorset<\/a>)<\/p>\n

RAMPISHAM\u2019S radio transmission station may close before Christmas with the loss of more than 20 jobs, even though it\u2019s currently broadcasting into Libya.<\/p>\n

The proposed shutdown of the Dorset site follows the BBC\u2019s decision earlier this year to cut back on World Service shortwave broadcasting and stop it altogether by 2014, even though nearly half of the World Service\u2019s audience (184 million in 2010-11) listens via shortwave.<\/p>\n

The BBC says it\u2019s phasing out shortwave because the Foreign Office cut the World Service grant by 16% (\u00a346 million).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The author, Jonathan Hudston points out:<\/p>\n

Britain has three major sites broadcasting internationally on shortwave. The others are Woofferton in Shropshire and Skelton in Cumbria.\u00a0Rampisham broadcasts more hours than they do, is more reliable, and has a wider reach across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. (It\u2019s a little-known fact that the National Grid runs right through the Rampisham site, supplying 60,00 volts. I think it has only ever lost power twice in 70 years. Once was during the Great Storm of 1987, which shows it takes something pretty extreme).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He goes on to ask:<\/p>\n

Is it really in the UK\u2019s national interests to dismantle Rampisham and sell its equipment for scrap?<\/p>\n

The modern preference is said to be for internet-based services, but\u00a0Jo Glanville, in a good piece about\u00a0the World Service in the current edition of the London Review of Books<\/a>, makes the point that shortwave radio can reach many millions of people in ways that internet-based services cannot.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He has a very good point. As we’ve mentioned numerous times before<\/a>, shortwave radio crosses borders better than any other medium. It’s hard to block and untraceable.<\/p>\n

(Read the Full Article Here<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: Real West Dorset) RAMPISHAM\u2019S radio transmission station may close before Christmas with the loss of more than 20 jobs, even though it\u2019s currently broadcasting into Libya. The proposed shutdown of the Dorset site follows the BBC\u2019s decision earlier this year to cut back on World Service shortwave broadcasting and stop it altogether by 2014, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56],"tags":[327,352,420,556,557],"class_list":["post-1687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","tag-bbc-world-service","tag-bbc-world-service-cuts","tag-bbc-ws","tag-bbc-ws-cuts","tag-rampisham-radio-transmitting-station-closure"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-rd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33060,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/bbc-rmp-transmitting-site-up-for-sale-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":1687,"position":0},"title":"BBC RMP transmitting site up for sale (again)","author":"Thomas","date":"July 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Dorset Echo via Dave Porter) It helped the BBC broadcast its radio programmes across Europe. Now the vast site of the former radio transmission station in the west Dorset countryside is set for a new lease of life. The Rampisham Down site next to the A356 Maiden Newton to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/BBC-Rampisham-Down-Maiden-Newton-West-Dorset-e1530616017448.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/BBC-Rampisham-Down-Maiden-Newton-West-Dorset-e1530616017448.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/BBC-Rampisham-Down-Maiden-Newton-West-Dorset-e1530616017448.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47884,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/photo-gallery-of-the-rampisham-down-transmitting-site-in-2003\/","url_meta":{"origin":1687,"position":1},"title":"Photo gallery of the Rampisham Down transmitting site in 2003","author":"Thomas","date":"February 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Porter, who shares a link to the following site which contains an extensive galley of photos taken at the Rampisham HF transmitting site on October 11, 2003. Click here to view the gallery. Thank you for the tip, Dave!","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Rampisham-HF-transmitter-site.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Rampisham-HF-transmitter-site.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Rampisham-HF-transmitter-site.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Rampisham-HF-transmitter-site.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Rampisham-HF-transmitter-site.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1197,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2011\/06\/bbc-world-service-annual-broadcast-to-antarctica\/","url_meta":{"origin":1687,"position":2},"title":"BBC World Service annual broadcast to Antarctica","author":"Thomas","date":"June 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"(Thanks to Andy Sennitt for bringing this to my attention.) This year, it's difficult for me appreciate the annual tradition of broadcasting to the 43 scientists and technicians at the British Antarctic Survey in light of the recent BBC World Service cuts. Still, the broadcast is quirky, nostalgic and certainly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/BBC-WorldService.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":36325,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/channel-africa-and-other-broadcasters-affected-by-closure-of-meyerton-shortwave-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":1687,"position":3},"title":"Channel Africa and other broadcasters affected by closure of Meyerton Shortwave Station","author":"Thomas","date":"February 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ga\u00e9tan Teyssonneau, who notes that Channel Africa will end their shortwave service on March 31, 2019. The Meyerton Shortwave Station is closing which will effectively end Channel Africa's shortwave service but also end Africa relays for a number of other major international broadcasters. Alokesh\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27658,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/video-rampisham-towers-demolition\/","url_meta":{"origin":1687,"position":4},"title":"Video: Rampisham Towers Demolition","author":"Thomas","date":"August 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: YouTube via Wooferton UK Youtube channel\u00a0& Mike Barraclough) https:\/\/youtu.be\/H25isplBX64 Click here to view on YouTube.","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/H25isplBX64\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6108,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/allens-thoughts-as-bbc-cyprus-relay-station-closes-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":1687,"position":5},"title":"Allen’s thoughts as BBC Cyprus relay station closes today","author":"Thomas","date":"March 30, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Allen, writes: BBC's Cyprus relay station is being closed down today after more than 50 years of service. The BBC currently uses the station to broadcast its Arabic radio service to the Arab world on short wave. The BBC will still incur the cost of making its\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"bbc_arabic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/bbc_arabic.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1687\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}