FM radio via satellite: problem today?

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 09:17AM #1

I have FM/TV sockets all over the house.

I have a bog-standard clock radio connected to one of these sockets in my bedroom.

I receive all the BBC stations on FM via this connection.

AFAIK, this is coming via my Sky cable connection.

1. This morning it's not working. (But, Sky TV is working perfectly.) Anyone else have this problem?

2. My Sky TV subscription will stop in a week. Will I lose FM radio this way then too? If so, how can I get it back to my clock radio?

I know this isn't a satellite TV question. But, it does use satellite. I think! :P

Thanks.

D.

Thurston? · 12-03-2018 09:31AM

A VHF FM tuner won't get the radio stations broadcast from the satellites, so you could have an aerial that can pick them up, or some kind of in-house system to change the satellite signal to analogue FM, though more than likely it's just a cable TV connection that is/was still providing analogue radio & TV: what part of the country are you in?

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 10:52AM

Hi Thurston,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm in Dublin14.

We are currently (though about to disconnect from Sky) using Sky for TV and Virgin for phone/BB.

We switched to Sky about 7 years ago.

Before that, we were with a cable TV provider - I can't remember who it was, but everyone in Dublin was with them once upon a time. (Were they taken over by Virgin?)

I've been receiving BBC FM from this bedroom TV/FM socket since we moved into the house 12 years ago.

So, you're probably right, it must have something to do with our previous cable provider and not Sky/satellite.

But, why would it suddenly have stopped this morning after 12 years?

Maybe something has been turned off in the locality?

Thanks.

D.

lgs 4 · 12-03-2018 11:38AM

Dinarius wrote: »

Hi Thurston,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm in Dublin14.

We are currently (though about to disconnect from Sky) using Sky for TV and Virgin for phone/BB.

We switched to Sky about 7 years ago.

Before that, we were with a cable TV provider - I can't remember who it was, but everyone in Dublin was with them once upon a time. (Were they taken over by Virgin?)

I've been receiving BBC FM from this bedroom TV/FM socket since we moved into the house 12 years ago.

So, you're probably right, it must have something to do with our previous cable provider and not Sky/satellite.

But, why would it suddenly have stopped this morning after 12 years?

Maybe something has been turned off in the locality?

Thanks.

D.

Living in Dublin 14 a Rabbits Ears in the attic should give you FM reception, it may not be stereo but good mono

JDxtra · 12-03-2018 11:48AM

Dinarius wrote: »

But, why would it suddenly have stopped this morning after 12 years?

Maybe something has been turned off in the locality?

Thanks.

D.

Exactly. If you are not a Virgin Media subscriber (TV or broadband), then it sounds like they have disconnected the cable to your property. Nothing you can do about it really. Maybe look into alternatives like an internet connected radio to stream the BBC stations over your WiFi?

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 11:55AM

JDxtra wrote: »

Exactly. If you are not a Virgin Media subscriber (TV or broadband), then it sounds like they have disconnected the cable to your property. Nothing you can do about it really. Maybe look into alternatives like an internet connected radio to stream the BBC stations over your WiFi?

Thanks.

Yes, I have Virgin for phone and BB.

Just odd that FM would suddenly disappear after 12 years.

Not possible to stream to this bedside radio. So, a bit of a pain to get BBC now.

Thanks.

D.

Phoenix3 · 12-03-2018 01:12PM

I saw your post earlier and checked when I went home.I have been using the Virgin service for radio for many years and yes its missing as of now.It maybe a fault or it may be gone permanently.Time will tell.

In recent years it was never mentioned as part of their service so I always expected this day to come.

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 01:19PM

Phoenix3 wrote: »

I saw your post earlier and checked when I went home.I have been using the Virgin service for radio for many years and yes its missing as of now.It maybe a fault or it may be gone permanently.Time will tell.

In recent years it was never mentioned as part of their service so I always expected this day to come.

Thanks. So, I’m not dreaming.

If this isn’t a fault, but permanent, it will be a real bummer. I watch almost no tv, pretty much all radio.

So, getting BBC to the bedroom will be awkward.

D.

loyatemu · 12-03-2018 01:22PM

there may be cheaper options than this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roberts-Radio-Stream93i-Internet-Speaker/dp/B008R8B8QC/

Phoenix3 · 12-03-2018 01:47PM

loyatemu wrote: »

there may be cheaper options than this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roberts-Radio-Stream93i-Internet-Speaker/dp/B008R8B8QC/

I find the quality of BBC very poor through Roberts radio.

As an alternative if you have a dish you could pick up a satelite box cheap and use it for radio only.Obviously you will need speakers and and amp.Results are excellent if you are a serious listener,

Phoenix3 · 12-03-2018 01:52PM

I have just posted a query to this problem on the "Talk to Virgin Media" forum.

JDxtra · 12-03-2018 02:05PM

Dinarius wrote: »

Thanks.

Yes, I have Virgin for phone and BB.

Just odd that FM would suddenly disappear after 12 years.

Not possible to stream to this bedside radio. So, a bit of a pain to get BBC now.

Thanks.

D.

Thanks for the update. Then the service should be there. If multiple users are reporting it's not working, then it sounds like a fault at Virgin Media.

Gerry Wicklow · 12-03-2018 02:14PM

lgs 4 wrote: »

Living in Dublin 14 a Rabbits Ears in the attic should give you FM reception, it may not be stereo but good mono

Very unlikely to get BBC FM in Dublin without a large aerial.

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 02:19PM

Thanks for the replies.

Just had an online chat with a Virgin media support guy.

They have removed the cable radio service as of today because they now offer radio as part of their TV package.

Major bummer for me.

Thinking cap on..........

D.

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 03:00PM

Ps.

This is the radio I've been using as a bedside clock radio.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/ruark-audio-r1-mk3

It has a USB connection and it can receive Bluetooth.

Is there anything I can do to make it receive BBC radio stations?

I'm guessing not, but I may as well ask!

Thanks.

D.

Phoenix3 · 12-03-2018 03:28PM

ITS BACK

:D:D:D:D:D:D

Phoenix3 · 12-03-2018 03:33PM

I also noticed in the last few weeks that there was a bit of crackle on the service which seems to be sorted so I am very happy.

Phoenix3 · 12-03-2018 03:34PM

Dinarius wrote: »

Ps.

This is the radio I've been using as a bedside clock radio.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/ruark-audio-r1-mk3

It has a USB connection and it can receive Bluetooth.

Is there anything I can do to make it receive BBC radio stations?

I'm guessing not, but I may as well ask!

Thanks.

D.

Nice little radio.

homer911 · 12-03-2018 03:35PM

You could have just used your phone! I use Tunein Radio on my phone with Wifi

MenloPete · 12-03-2018 03:57PM

homer911 wrote: »

You could have just used your phone! I use Tunein Radio on my phone with Wifi

... and send via Bluetooth to the radio speaker

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 04:35PM

Phoenix3 wrote: »

ITS BACK :D:D:D:D:D:D

Halle........freakin'............lujah!!!

Was seriously concerned for a few hours!

Phew!

D.

Dinarius · 12-03-2018 04:38PM

Phoenix3 wrote: »

Nice little radio.

Not cheap.

But, it's a fantastic piece of kit.

Reception is superb.

But, it's killer app is this......I listen to radio very late at night when her nibs is long asleep.

If I fall asleep with the earphone still plugged in, this radio doesn't mute the alarm. Most clock radios do. That feature alone was worth the price for me.

D.

Dinarius · 02-08-2018 02:04PM

BBC Radio 3/4 and World Service gone again via Virgin Coax FM Cable as of yesterday.

BBC Radio 2 and 5 still working.

This is the second time in 5 months.

A bit longer this time.

Not looking good, unfortunately. :mad:

D.

Johnboy1951 · 02-08-2018 03:22PM

.... and I am still trying to figure out how you connect that radio to an FM coax socket .....

You have the possibility of using the Satellite dish & receiver to provide radio around the house if all else fails.

Dinarius · 02-08-2018 04:07PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

.... and I am still trying to figure out how you connect that radio to an FM coax socket .....

You have the possibility of using the Satellite dish & receiver to provide radio around the house if all else fails.

Entire house is fitted with FM/Sat/TV/Cat V socket panels. The bedside radio is connected to the FM socket. This gives perfect BBC reception, when the channels are there, as they have been for 12 years, less two outages.

This current one, the second this year, is the longest.

I already have WiFi radio downstairs, and I use my computer in my upstairs office. It’s the FM bedside radio reception that I’ve lost.

Not good!

D.

ondafly · 02-08-2018 04:13PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

.... and I am still trying to figure out how you connect that radio to an FM coax socket .....

unscrews the aerial - left with a coax connector would be my guess

Dinarius · 02-08-2018 04:35PM

ondafly wrote: »

unscrews the aerial - left with a coax connector would be my guess

No. The exposed copper wire core of the coax just has to touch the radio aerial to receive perfect BBC reception.

Anyway, I just had an online chat with a Virgin support person.

This is the gist of the conversation, after I asked why two BBC channels were still available, but the rest not....

"The (analogue radio) service will be removed totally for 20 August 2018 and the channels are being removed bit by bit."

So, if there is anyone out there who will give me analogue radio so I can have BBC radio in the bedroom, it's bye, bye Virgin for me.

Some problems, and bedside radio is one of them, need an old-school solution.

This is very, very shortsighted on Virgin's part.

D.

stanley1 · 02-08-2018 09:15PM

BBC radio app works fine on my tablet, connect via bluetooth to bose speaker

The Cush · 02-08-2018 11:11PM

Dinarius wrote: »

So, if there is anyone out there who will give me analogue radio so I can have BBC radio in the bedroom, it's bye, bye Virgin for me.

Some problems, and bedside radio is one of them, need an old-school solution.

Would an internet radio be an option you'd consider?

https://www.pricehunter.co.uk/prices/?camp=Open_Search%5E127&sem=967274579&sem_label=Pvg4CKDAyHIQ0-CdzQM&q=internet+clock+radios&gki=2exsosd-3dn6ycp-59porvo&idk=internet+clock+radios&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1YWMi7zP3AIVTrXtCh3qggToEAMYASAAEgLDTPD_BwE

Johnboy1951 · 03-08-2018 08:20AM

Because you "have FM/TV sockets all over the house" and are an avid radio listener, it might well be worth your time (and money) to distribute the satellite radio signals throughout the home. You might even find a means to use the existing coax distribution wiring.

Alternatively a wired or wireless LAN should be easily manageable.

It would be a big change from the simplicity of what you had, but it would all be in your own control and care and no subscription required.

Dinarius · 03-08-2018 08:34AM

It's back!

People power? Who knows?

I would say lot more people than they realize use the analogue radio signal. It's the best way to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live sport because you never get the, "Due to rights restrictions...." message.

Anyway, the guy told me in writing that they were ceasing the analogue signal August 20. Let's see what happens then.

D.

FM radio via satellite: problem today?

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