bertvanschaick bertvanschaick <...> said:

Hi all,

I have said it before on this forum. The old Dutch saying goes for a number of you, you won't find a cow even if you trip over one.

In this forum numerous discussions have been going on about the old days of offshore radio. Pages and pages about the poor destiny of the Communicator, let alone the endless rumours about the Ross being moved or even better, used for an RSL.

Now there is a real 2007 radioship being equipped. You all have been able to whitness it from day one and still there is no to hardly any enthousiasm about this project. Bloody hell, there is an aerial erected on a radioship to be. It is floating in salt water and intended to broadcast on AM.

I was over the moon with the news. Finally ! Is it because I'm Dutch like the project? Despite so many UK radio-people being involved no interest from the UK? Had it been for Caroline, Laser or even more vintage Radio London, would that have helped?

People are putting everything on the line to make it work. To create something 80% of you lot are a member for of this forum in the first place. The best we (AN) can do is "What a waste of money".

I am past my fifties and I cherish the offshore days. I know these are different times, but I became a member of this forum to read about what people of today have to say about what I'm interested in. (Offshore) radio. Sometimes I drop a small remark myself. This time I opened AN being very curious for what my fellow anoraks would say about this fantastic news. I read things like "What a waste of money and time". May be the name of the forum should be altered in anoraks alienation, or anorak moaning as (some) people here are very very hard to please. May be some free tickets for a tour around the Ross revenge might bring a smile on their face.

I am not disqualifying anyone as many of you might be mostly readers like me instead of contributants, but I am slightly frustrated (to say the least) and I'm sure it shows. Some people in Holland have 6 frequencies and can't make even one work properly. If my memory serves me well for one of the frequencies is ship was needed…..? Now we have an organisation with only 1 frequency and two stations creating TWO transmitter sites that work of which one is on a ship.
I think we owe these guys some more credit than "What a waste of money".

I have seen a radio ship today. After so many years it made MY day.

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I think I've been described elsewhere as an armchair critic so let's clear that one up first. I have worked for two offshore broadcasters as a presenter, ferried transmitters across the North Sea under the nose of the then DTI, installed masts and climbed them in a force 9. After my offshore days were over I've worked in regional and local ILR and now run with my business partner two highly successful radio stations outside the UK - 'armchair critic' I am most definitely not.

I admire the effort that's going into this project but as I've said before anoraks just can't see the wood for the trees. Firstly it's AM which the real listener is switching off in alarming numbers and secondly all that effort should really be put into the programming which, to be blunt, is very poor. I think the focus is all wrong, normal listeners really couldn't care if it comes from some old boat with a big mast, they can't see it, what they do know about is what comes out of the speakers and if that's not right then all your effort's pretty pointless.