Historically FM reception in the Stroud valleys wasn’t always easy to receive but was fine on the low quality medium and long wave bands.
As fewer people now listen to Radio 4 on long wave all the LW transmitters in the UK are getting switched off for good on the 27th June 2026. That’s in two weeks time at the time of writing.
Along with reduced listener numbers there’s also a problem with obtaining replacement electronic components (huge valves) for the transmitters.
This is an historic event in the radio world, especially if you still have an old LW radio that you listen to R4 on while digging your allotment. Hey, this is Stroud, allotments rule!
This is only for the old LW (long wave) service. The service on FM / VHF / DAB will work as before.
Civil Defense Role
On a more serious note, this could have implications for civil defense as the long wave transmitters are capable of getting messages out to the whole of the UK and beyond from just a few transmitters.
By 2035 all the terrestrial TV transmitters might also be switched off as everything is moving to streaming platforms.
Bad actors are already mapping out our undersea network cables for possible sabotage and AI has been shown to be able to break into computer systems so Internet streaming and connections aren’t very secure.
Mind you, a huge flimsy transmitter tower is probably an easy target these days although it would be quicker to put up another one compared to replacing ripped out undersea cables!
Check out the article below about the old communications tower near Wotton-under-Edge.
YouTube Video
I’ve made a video about the LW shutdown for my electronics YouTube channel.
It features a couple of vintage radios tuned into the shipping forecast on long wave. While the shipping forecast will carry on on FM and DAB this is the last couple of weeks it will be heard on the long wave, so will be an interesting time capsule.
There’s also some interesting comments about the lack of radio reception in Ireland and Scotland.
Related articles
Communications tower at Ozleworth
Information on the old communications tower that’s a relic from the Cold War. This is found near the junction for Wotton-under-Edge and Dursley.
An article about old Stroud FM radio stations and modern streaming stations in the Stroud valleys.
