Reading through the ‘Preparing for Emergencies’ book we all got quite a while ago, I notice that I have to gather up my belongings and along with a load of spare batteries, I need to have with me a portable radio. Indeed, I also have to make sure I know how to tune in to my ‘local radio station’.
As a radio anorak, I think I know how to do that. However, I’m slightly puzzled about the lack of guidance as to where Emergency transmissions would be receivable.
I mean, if some horrible natural disaster had wiped out loads of buildings (including all the local radio transmitters) and culled 70% of the population, as the Emergency Government came on line, I assume they would start putting up replacement temporary transmitters to try to speak to us.
But, what broadcast band and technology would they use if they couldn’t plug into existing transmitters?
Would they set up a number of analogue AM (Medium Wave) transmitters, or try to set up one powerful Long Wave transmitter, or a series of FM transmitters, or even DAB transmitters?
The immediate answer appears to be they would try to get near national coverage from one huge Long Wave transmitter. Well, that’s all very fine, except for the very large percentage of the population without Long Wave radios. Equally, there are FM only radios, and AM only radios, and DAB only radios, if you get my point.
So, sitting in my makeshift bunker waiting for guidance on how I’m going to slowly die, which band do I scan and what do I do if my radio doesn’t have it?
I think we should demand a re-print of the handbook!
England's England 