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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The MD of a new and as yet unlaunched CR station called me yesterday to say that he'd had a few complaints from people in the town - not a mile from his brand new transmitter - that they could hear the test transmissions well in the car - but couldn't get the station indoors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I looked around for a positive way of counteracting this - and as I couldn't find anything suitable, I've written this for him:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><br></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>“We
can hear you fine on the car – but not in the house. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Why’s
that?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>How
often have you heard that?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>How do
you respond?<br>
Have you got a feasible answer?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Modern
car radios are particularly good at dealing with small signals and are very selective
to reduce interference from unwanted stations.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Unfortunately,
small portable domestic radios – aren’t!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Listeners
aren’t going to want a long technical explanation – and certainly not a moan
about Ofcom not giving you enough power.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>The important
point here is that they do actually<b> want </b> to listen to you – but are finding it difficult.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>So
what’s the answer?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Turn
what looks like a problem into a benefit.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>The
logical procedure therefore is:<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Make
it a personal approach to the listener<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Arrange
a visit if you possibly can<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Explain
very briefly that you’re doing all you can on your part to help with limited
resources.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
the radio a very simple cheap one? – Suggest an upgrade as it’s probably old as
well<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
the antenna raised properly? – Move it around a bit and move the radio too.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
the radio obviously in a bad position for reception? – lots of walls or metal
objects between it and the transmitter – can it be relocated?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If
the radio is never moved – suggest a better mains-powered one.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If
it’s near a widow or vent – suggest a small external aerial.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Have
some details and prices of suitable ones – maybe some examples.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Have
an arrangement with local friendly aerial fitters and radio retailers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Publicise
on air that you’re doing this.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Broadcast
endorsements from listeners you’ve helped.</i><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> </div></body>
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